Article in DVM 360

LINK TO ARTICLE


I was contacted by a DVM 360 writer in response to a blog post I wrote earlier this year about graduating veterinary students entering a tight job market. Here is part of the article below:

"Krissy, who will be starting her second year of veterinary school this year at UC-Davis, is already taking a hard look at the job market and trying to prepare herself the best she can. While her passion is equine medicine, Krissy says she is so worried about finding a job after graduation, she is also taking courses in small-animal medicine. 

"I have to make a living somehow. The debt we're supposed to have is roughly $200,000 and how are you possibly going to pay that back?"

"I think there's a big disconnect between the students and the schools. I wish the universities would do more to help us out," she says. "They're investing more in the future generation, but they're not here now. Why not help the people who are struggling now?"
Krissy says she suggested UC-Davis institute mentorship programs between recent graduates and current veterinary students at the school, but nothing has taken shape yet. There are few resources in terms of job placement and career guidance—or at least that students know about and regularly use, she says. 

Students who want to round out their education may have to look beyond university borders to professional groups and student organizations" 

I'm just now thinking I should try to implement a mentorship program with our graduating seniors this year. Maybe I could have them fill out a google doc anonymously reguarding if they are employed, perusing an internship/externship or don't know what they are doing. More to come later on this hot topic!

Alternate Majors and the Road to Veterinary School

I recently received an email from a blog reader who posed some really great questions about applying to veterinary school. Since my blog is aimed at helping pre-vets, I thought I would share her questions since I'm sure she is not the only one out there who wants answers. 


"I did not major in the sciences (I majored in Sociology and Psychology). In my last year of college, I met a vet student and she encouraged me to carry out my life's dream of being a veterinarian. It's always been something that I wanted to do, but I never actively did anything about it because I was too scared of failure. I remember speaking to an Animal Science adviser my freshman year and she said that I had to get straight A's. My senior year, I joined the Vet Aide Club and got internships at the VMTH. Through these internships, I realized that I really do want a career in veterinary medicine! The internships introduced me to a world that I absolutely loved--it was challenging but really exciting. It was nothing like the experiences I received in my other non-veterinary internships! After graduating last year, I moved back home and I have been going to a local community college, getting my lower division prerequisites for veterinary school. I feel like I have no help here..the counselors don't know anything about grad schools, let alone vet schools! I know it's nearly impossible to get in, but it's my dream and I really hope to get in one day.. I'm doing the best I can, but it's hard because I don't know if I'm doing enough." 

Concerns:

Many veterinary students did not major in Animal Science or a Biology related program, one of my classmates was an English major. You only have to complete the prerequisites for veterinary school. It is often appreciated by the application committee that you have a more unique background than other applicants, but the important thing is they want to know why you decided to pursue that. What inspired you about psychology and sociology in the first place and steered you that direction rather than Animal Science (and the reason can't be only because you feared the prerequisites for veterinary school). Then they want to know what steered you back towards veterinary medicine? You seem to have an excellent explanation for that! You realized your true passion and calling through internships. I went to Davis and still didn't feel like I had a lot of help from the advisers. I would recommend making your own game plan. Visit the UC Davis Veterinary School Website and really read through every part of it, use it as your encyclopedia!    

Questions:  

"How do I balance going to school and getting experience?"

This is a tough one, it can be difficult to work and go to school, but it is possible. I did it during my undergraduate career and from experience I know it takes persistence and a lot of your free time. I think in your situation, you need to focus first on your coursework, since you are heading back to school for additional courses (and I'm not sure what your GPA was when you graduated), but you should get at least A's and B's in the prerequisites for veterinary school since you are only taking those. I would pace yourself through those difficult courses, like don't take more than (3) a semester. Give yourself time to have a part time job or volunteer getting animal experience.

"What type of experience that I should be getting?" 

This website has an amazing breakdown of experience types that veterinary school admission committees typically look for: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/prospectivestudents/experience.aspx


"I have a lot of small animal experience, but not a lot of horse experience, how can I get that?"


I would recommend volunteering at a therapeutic riding center near you. It's difficult to start getting horse experience if you don't know anything about horses, but you can volunteer at an animal sanctuary or any kind of farm really, but I feel if you get a diverse range of small animal experiences, you don't need the horse experience, although it would be nice. Putting only several weekends of experience with horses won't really make much of a difference especially if you want to enter into small animal practice anyway. http://vetschoolinfo.blogspot.com/2008/12/how-to-get-veterinary-expierence-and.html
  

Two weeks Back

As the second week of my second year in veterinary school comes to an end, I look back on all I have learned in my first year and have yet to learn in subsequent years. I have accomplished 1/4 of becoming a veterinarian. I remember when I was only excited to complete 1/12. I must realize that I still 75% of my education left to go, but the first year went by so very quickly! 

First year laid down the basics for what is to come in my veterinary career. Second year material is more clinically oriented, while third year is more hands-on clinical. 

I think one of the coolest things about this year is getting a "little sib", a first year veterinary student that can come to me with any questions/concerns and whom I get to pass my gigantic test file down too. (Trust me, I was more than ready to get rid of that thing). I met my little sib years ago in an undergraduate course when we were both still dreaming of going to veterinary school one day. She is really sweet, smart and will make an awesome veterinarian. When I was notified that she requested me, I was happy to see her again and find out she too had achieved her life-long dream of becoming a veterinarian.

I recently moved closer to school, very close in fact and am getting settled into my new place. Rent is not cheap for a one bedroom apartment so I have planned to off-set the costs by offering housing to externs that come to rotate through clinics at the VMTH. It's great, cause I live so close and they can easily walk or bike to the clinic or the grocery store. Also I am very excited to meet people from other veterinary schools inside and out of the US. 

I like how second year is starting off with the equine nursing courses (at least for me). I already got to put a catheter in a horse's jugular vein! 



Many of my friends, colleges, and family wonder how I balance my busy schedule...full time student, part time job at the horsie hospital, out of town boyfriend, MERCER coordinator, feral cat spay clinic coordinator, equestrian, equine medicine club secretary, etc, etc...and the list goes on. 

Truly, I don't know how it all seems to fit for me, but I do know that I really enjoy all of it. Somehow, my wheels just keep on turning round and I get through it all. 

I try to make the best use of my time when I do have it. For example, this summer, I took a lot of "me" time to relax. And school hasn't taken it's toll quite yet, I got to go wine tasting in Napa this weekend with my boyfriend and friends. I feel studying looming over my shoulders, but it hasn't quite become the reality yet. 


I look forward to making some awesome blog posts this year, so stay tuned and let me know what you would like to hear or have answered.

Neurology/Neurosurgery Service Summer Clinic Experience

http://www.ecvn.org/

This summer, I participated in ONE summer clinic. I was very selective on which summer clinic I wanted to do mostly because I really wanted to focus on working at my job as a technician in the Equine ICU and also get in some R&R over my well needed summer break.

I selected the Neurology/Neurosurgery rotation for my summer clinic. My experience in this service went above and beyond my expectations before I started. I learned so much and got to work next to some really amazing residents, faculty, colleagues and technicians. 

Summer clinics are offered at UCD every summer to give veterinary students the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the teaching hospital.  It's really a glimpse into what you will experience during your entire fourth year of veterinary school.

This “summer clinic” experience really throws you into survival mode simulation of your fourth year of veterinary school. Students are given patient responsibilities such as nursing care, and maintaining medical records. There is never a time when students are unsupervised, as they are guided by knowledgeable residents, faculty, and extraordinary veterinarians. The goal of the clinic is to follow patients all the way through a diagnostic work-up and immerse yourself in helping that animal return home to be more comfortable and live a better quality of life. 

When you hear hoof beats....think horses...

http://www.rdsvs-horsesociety.co.uk/4.html

What to Expect: Volunteering at a High Volume Spay/Neuter Clinic

A wonderful question from a blog reader: 

There will be a spay/neuter clinic at the MSPCA next week that myself and some members of the pre-vet club I'm in will be attending. I've never volunteered at one of these before, but I'm excited to get involved! I know you participate in these clinics a lot, so I was wondering if you had any advice on how to prepare, what to bring, how to really get involved, etc?

And you are right, it is kinda tough your first time when you don't know what to expect! I'm sure you know, but wear scrubs, you'll probably get dirty! Things I would bring: pens (2-3), watch with a second hand for monitoring respiratory/heart rates, a stethoscope (only if you have it) if not I'm sure they will have plenty there. Bring a snack/plenty of water, these things usually provide volunteers with something, but I never rely on that just in case I bring something like a granola bar.  

As far as what to do at the clinic, first I would remember to take initiative, people will be busy and can't always give you a job, for example if you see something that could be cleaned, go ahead and do it, they will REALLY appreciate it. Try to avoid standing around if you can, get your hands dirty and ask questions. Ask if there is anything they need help with. There are many different positions they might put you guys in. Like sugery prep, monitoring during anestesia during surgery, monitoring recovery, etc. The thing to remember is that they will teach you everything you need to know to help them, they do this a lot with new volunteers. Another big thing is if you have a question, don't be afraid to ask, there are NO stupid questions especially when it comes to your and the animal's safety. 

The experience is what you make out of it! Take initiative to help/ask questions and you will learn a LOT! That's all I can think of right now, also document the volunteer hours as Veterinary hours for your vet school application! If you get a chance, introduce yourself to the vets who are volunteering at the event (obviously when they aren't busy) and thank them for their time, then tell them you are a pre-vet and see what they say, a lot of them love to talk about their pathway to veterinary school which is very helpful information first hand from someone who did it! 

http://www.innocentenglish.com/funny-amazing-pictures-videos/cute-kitten-puppy-animal-pics/caption-cute-kitten/caption-this-cute-kitten-pic-1.html

Finishing my First Year!!! And summer plans...

So I had my last freshman veterinary school class yesterday. I can't believe it's already been a year! I feel so honored to be here, so proud of myself and my classmates for getting through the first year! We can now call ourselves 1/4 doctors. The fourth years graduated today, I bet it's one of the best days of their life! 

This summer, I plan to take it easy, make some blog posts to help more prevets, and just enjoy my summer. That doesn't necessarily mean that vetmed is out of the question. I will still be working at the equine ICU this summer, I have a couple trips/camping trips planned, and I got a summer clinic (2 weeks) in neurology at UC Davis. I also have my friend's wedding in Capitola, I am so happy for her and so fortunate to be in her wedding.

I have a lot to look forward to this summer, like seeing more of my family and spending more time with them. Also hanging out with my wonderful and supportive friends. I hope the summer doesn't go by as fast as first year did, I want to relish it! 

Is there a veterinarian shortage in rural animal practice?

The US economy is suffering, this is leading to problems and saturation of the job market for recent graduates (from all types of educational background). With the rise in tuition, and decrease in available jobs, it is a scary place for anyone pursuing a college education these days, let alone financing one! 

According to the American Association of Bovine Practitioners' (AABP) Ad Hoc Committee, there is no shortage of veterinarians in rural food-supply veterinary practice! I was shocked to hear of this report, because for years, the AVMA and other veterinary organizations have stated the growing need for food animal veterinarians.

In an email from one of my colleagues, they say, " I can tell you from personal experience that jobs are very tough to find.  The class of 2011 is all but graduated, yet I would estimate that only about 50% of those who are food animal track have secured employment-and its not for lack of trying."

Their opinion is reflected in the DVM360 news article (link below): 

"In fact, creating an 'over supply' of food supply veterinarians will lead to widespread unemployment or underemployment of food-supply private practitioners and will have a significant detrimental effect on salaries for all veterinarians. 

We do not want to flood the rural practice market," Navarre says. "It will have an impact on the entire veterinary job market. If graduates can't find jobs in those areas, they are going to be competing with other students. And, we need to ask ourselves, do we really need to increase the overall number of veterinarians in general -- not just rural practitioners?"  

This is an emerging issue and a hot topic among veterinary professionals. If veterinary schools increase veterinary school class sizes, will they flood the job market with new graduates? Another issue, is their thought of increasing the amount of out of state applicants accepted to veterinary schools, this is an even more absurd idea to solve their current budget crisis. Out of state tuition is very expensive and may bring the school more revenue, but may it lead those students to go bankrupt and on top of that also be "job-less"? We really need to consider our plan for this downfall in the economy and think of other ways to solve our economic issues.  

Links to More Information:

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Veterinary+news/Report-Rural-vet-shortage-exaggerated/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/724093?contextCategoryId=47831


http://www.aabp.org/

http://www.avma.org/fsvm/fsvmc/default.asp

http://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=18590 

http://www.free-online-veterinarian-advice.com/new-veterinarians-face-tough-job-market.html