Spring Quarter is Winding Down

This quarter has gone by so fast, we're down to three weeks left of classes and one week with 4 finals. That's right, somehow we went from like 9 classes to only 4. We're left with immunology, parasitology, renal physiology, and hematology. Plus my two electives, small animal radiology discussion and the equine neonatal course. 

Overall it has been a great quarter, I have struggled in one of my classes (I'm not perfect), but have really excelled in others. I really enjoy immunology and parasitology. Hematology is very interesting as well, learning all about blood can be really fun. Plus, these three courses overlap with one another! They have a lot of material that overlaps, like blood smears, the immune response, immune cells, etc. 


I have experienced a lot of new things this quarter, I've been able to work and attend classes. I love my job in the equine ICU and work with a lot of wonderful, very knowledgeable people who have the patient's best interest in mind. I am learning a lot!

I have taken new opportunities to be a leader for the Mercer clinic (treating pets of the homeless in Sacramento) as well as becoming a coordinator for the Coalition for Community Cats feral cat clinics in Sacramento. 

I think the scariest thing so far this year has been in passing the second year students in the hall. Their spring quarter is really tough, they all are taking many classes and have so many tests! I heard they had five exams in three days. They all look very tired and it is just slightly scary that I will soon be in their shoes.  

If any of you pre-vets are looking for experience, try the UC Davis Summer enrichment program: http://sharonostermann.blog.com/2011/05/10/pre-vet-get-experience-at-uc-davis-with-the-summer-enrichment-program/

 I wish life was this easy!

Tails from the Trenches

I love the VBMA (Veterinary Business Managment Association). They give veterinary students such wonderful experiences such as their panel discussion at Sudwerks "Tails from the Trenches." The panel consisted of five different successful veterinarians who were very open about their experiences. They answered questions regarding their experiences, career choices, personal achievements, as well as their adversities. I love going to discussions and lectures like this one because I learn so much about my profession and often discover something I had never thought about before. There are so many avenues that this profession has to offer and everyone in it is happy to share their pathway to their contribution to medicine.

The benefits and downsides of going into internships after graduation from veterinary school was debated. I feel it sometimes seems like internships are the thing to do after veterinary school, but according to the panel, in the past, internships were usually reserved for the really smart, high GPA graduating veterinarians and the others typically went right into general practice. Internships offered them a chance to get more advanced skills and training than the average veterinary graduate. Internships were highly competitive and some still are, but there are many mor to go around. 

Times have changed and people are demanding more advanced care for their animal companions. They often want someone who is experienced and will offer the best quality of medicine to their pet. I believe more veterinary students are leaning towards completing internships upon graduation because they feel like they are not confident in themselves as a starting veterinarian. I also think a lot of people take internships to gain valuable experience working at prestigious clinics with some of the most talented doctors. I think internships can go both ways, it depends on the internship and what the new graduate wants to get out of the experience. With more internships now available, I think that graduating veterinarians seeking internships need to be more careful about the internship they select. Not all internships provide an ideal learning environment for recent grads, many of them do not pay very much at all. I think it is really important to have at least done an externship at the practice you select for your internship because you want to make sure you get the experience you need out of it. 


One of the panelists from the VBMA talk was a graduate from 2009 and had completed an internship after graduation. We were very lucky to have such a recent grad willing to share personal experiences with us. When looking for jobs, many of the practices glazed over her experience at an internship, it did not seem that important to many of them. However the one that she ended up getting a job at did care about her internship. They were thrilled to have someone with that experience. 

 

Round 2: Applying to Veterinary School the second or multiple times

"I applied to Davis this year but didn't get in. I was expecting it though,  I'm pretty sure it was because I have so little experience but I have to wait to schedule a phone interview in April to figure out. Did you do the phone interview after your first application? Any suggestions on questions to ask?" 

This is a great question I recently received from a UC Davis SVM applicant, talk about perseverance, this person is all over it! Way ahead of the game by thinking about these things early. 

Personally, when I applied to Davis the first time, I didn't expect to be admitted, but I did hope to learn a lot from the application process and I sure did! 

I have to say, I am not one of the ones that actually did a phone interview to find out why I had not received admission, but this is NOT advisable. Looking back, I honestly do regret not having done a phone or in person interview with the admissions committee to find out what I could improve, but I was a little scared to have someone point out my "faults" (If you could even call them that...). I guess I felt I knew what I had to do to improve and didn't want it driven into the ground. 

I realize now, that it was NOT the best decision I have ever made, and I think I could have probably been a stronger, more competitive applicant had I chosen to reflect on my "faults" and sought out specific places my application needed improvement. That is the whole basis of the veterinary profession, to learn from your mistakes and be a better person/veterinarian because of it. No one is perfect, so we might as well get comfortable with that fact and do our best to get close to it.  

In response to the question, what can you ask the admissions committee (whom are very friendly people at least at UCD I must add) is that ask them anything you would ask someone you consider to be your mentor. First of all, make sure you care about what you are asking, if you don't at least pretend to care. They don't want to waste their time talking to you if you don't really care what they have to say. I think it is important to keep in mind how many applicants they talk to every year including those that are selected for interviews and those who are not. To be quite frank, to them, you are just another applicant, when you call to find out why you were denied an interview, I believe it is also part of your application process (although I doubt they write anything down, they may remember talking to you next year when they select the new interviewees). I'm just saying it is important to act professional at all times when applying to such a competitive program, I wouldn't let my guard down.

When assessing what went well and what could be improved in your application, I would begin with a "self reflection." Look over your application and pretend you are the admissions committee, what really stands out that convinces them you are the right person for their veterinary school? What do you feel are your strengths and weaknesses. 

When I did this for example, I was almost rolling on the floor laughing when I re-read my personal statement that I had submitted with my first application, it was pretty bad. It was a good start, but definitely lacked individuality. I also realized what little experience I really had in vetmed and knew I was already improving those experiences by getting involved at the veterinary school in research and internship positions. Another weakness I had was the GRE, my scores were not great. My strengths were that I was determined and worked hard to do better my second go around. I also had a lot of experience working with horses and I knew that veterinary medicine was my passion. 

After the "self-assessment", I would recommend discussing your application with your mentor, close friend, or family member (or all of the above). Just having an outside opinion comment on your thoughts about your strengths and weaknesses will really help identify things you might have missed or overlooked. 

The second personal statement I wrote, I had to work very hard to articulate what I felt in a 1500 word essay. I had to convince the committee that they wanted to interview ME. It was about a three month process and I really got tired of reading about myself! In the end, I think it turned out fine though and I did land myself an interview.  

I don't think you need to wait to April to figure out a game plan for next year's application (which I already know you will start EARLY). I don't think it would hurt to make a plan now and then discuss your plan with the admissions committee in April. You can always edit the plan later and go from their if they give you additional advice. 

The best advice I can give personally is it really is sometimes about WHO you know and WHAT you have done. Who wrote your letters of recommendation? were they good letters? were those people dependable and influential in their field? That was one of my biggest improvements, I had done research with a UCD SVM faculty member who is a highly respected professor/veterinarian/researcher and just a wonderful person who wrote my third letter of recommendation. Among the other two letters, one was from the same person who had written my first letter and the other from a horse trainer I had know and worked for for almost 8 years. 

Don't underestimate your experiences, don't sugar coat them or exaggerate them. If you really haven't gotten the experience to confirm you want to and can be a vet, I think you shouldn't apply to veterinary school. These pre-vet experiences are vital to your success in veterinary school and in the profession.

Lastly, I encourage you to look at the link below to maybe answer some of your questions. These are common questions asked by applicants every year. Make sure you try not to ask these questions when you have your phone appointment with the admissions committee, unless you need more details. Again, remember how many people they have to talk to. 

And even after that, don't give up on your dreams! You can improve, just have perseverance!  

UC Davis Frequently asked Questions

Cow Power!

Yep, it's time to palpate the RUMEN! As a vet student, you need to know what you're dealing with and thanks to the lovely fistitulated cows that make their home at UCD, we get this great opportunity! 

 And here is the money shot, I was eventually shoulder length in Rumen! 

 Above: The layers of the rumen

Above: This is a collection of metal collected on a magnet placed in a cow's reticulum. Why put a magnet in there? Cows often consume hardware which could potentially penetrate the diaphragm and possibly the pericardium or even heart. Magnets trap metal objects the cow may happen to digest and prevent them from harming the cow. The magnets are administered orally, that is unless you are a fistitulated cow! You can pull the magnet in and out through the fistitula!

 Above: a shot into the fistitula of the cow. Really cool! A lot of rumen contents has already been removed, but will be returned to the cow after everyone has had a chance to palpate.

 What makes up a rumen?

What to do with my animal science degree?

"I am a Senior at UCD with a major in Animal Science & Management. I have been having trouble deciding what to do with my life after graduating since my GPA is less than 3.0 and I have little experience at veterinary hospital or animal clinic. I have finally decided to perhaps enroll in a Veterinary Technician program so that I can take the Veterinary Technician examination, but my major adviser and the pre-vet adviser did not know anything about it. I did some research on my own, but I am still very confused, and I am not quite sure who else can I ask about it.

I have found out that there are many colleges in California that offer accredited Veterinary Technician programs, but UC Davis is not one of them.

http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/vettech_programs/california.asp

So I assume that the courses I took to fulfill my Animal Science & Management degree are not sufficient, and I am not able to take the exam until I complete the program?

Even though I will be studying Veterinary Technology, I still hope to go to a vet school afterwords. Is there anything else I should do besides gaining more experience with animal-related internships or jobs?"

 

Having trouble deciding what to do with your life after graduation is a very important question that I am sure a lot of people have (especially animal science and pre-veterinary majors).

I think the first question I would ask you is what ARE your goals? Do you want to go to veterinary school? Do you know where you want to see yourself in 10 years? I don't think you should let a GPA lower than 3.0 prevent you from pursuing veterinary school if that is your goal/dream/passion. I have friends that got in with GPA's lower than 3.0 and are doing well (although working hard) in vet school.

Second, I would like to address your question about pursuing a veterinary technician program. Why do you want to do this? I'm wondering what you think you will get out of attending a technician program on top of your animal science degree at UC Davis. You do not have to be a licensed veterinary technician to work at a veterinary clinic. I think the technician program would be great (although expensive/time consuming) when you could just get employed working and learning veterinary technician skills at a veterinary clinic. I would also recommend internships first or volunteering at an SPCA to gain veterinary clinic technician experience if you cannot find a job in a veterinary clinic, chances are there is something out there for you. Maybe even start by working the front desk and gradually work your way to helping with patients in the back. It's important to see how all aspects of a veterinary clinic run anyways. I'm guessing that after you graduate, you might want to begin earning money, but if you are set on the technician program, I know of a local one offered by consumes river community college. http://www.crc.losrios.edu/Areas_of_Study/Careers_and_Technology/Veterinary_Technology.htm
In order to get an RVT (registered veterinary technician) you have to attend an RVT school. UC Davis animal science courses are not sufficient for that program. Some of my classmates in veterinary school were RVT's, but most of us just worked in veterinary clinics with essentially the same responsibilities as an RVT. 

 

How to Become an RVT in California

Third, before you graduate, take the chance to get involved (or more involved) in the vet aides club which will help you get experience at the MERCER clinic or feral cat clinics, actual veterinary experience with animals. This club is really great and it's only available to you while you are at Davis. If you are considering veterinary school, most applicants have over 1,500 hours of VETERINARY related experience. They want to make sure you understand the profession and demands required of a veterinarian/veterinary school.

Fourth, look at prospective veterinary schools you would like to attend. See what they require of their applications (general to specifics) and find out what they want in applicants. It is also important to select a school that you want to go to. For example, do you want to stay in the US or are you willing to go out of the US to pursue veterinary school. Most veterinary schools have the same prerequisites, but some of them are different. 

 

Fifth, why not pursue a Master's or PhD program or gain experience working with animals in a laboratory setting? I would highly suggest researching your options with higher education as I know that veterinary school admissions committees hold higher education very high on their list when selecting new applicants. I'm not saying you shouldn't also get veterinary-related experience, that is also ESSENTIAL and VITAL should you choose to pursue veterinary school.

 

Also, consider other animal science related careers, one of my back up plans was to become an agriculture education (FFA) instructor. I've always been interested in educating, but there are additional jobs as well out there as well.  

Another Helpful Link: Animal-Related Careers

 

I would highly recommend anyone in graduating in this economy start looking for jobs/careers early upon graduating. There is some intense competition out there for good jobs. Make sure you get the full experience from your education/university before graduating. Use their advising services, use their tutor centers, use their career centers, these are valuable resources right at your finger tips. School can be overwhelming (especially with science courses), but don't forget to get valuable hands-on experience that will be useful to your future. Apply for internships, make connections at job fairs, explore possible career/academic choices.  

Please let me know if you have any more questions: hamaleo11@gmail.com

 

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine 2011 Interview Workshop

I was on the panel for the UC Davis interview workshop. I had a great time answering questions about veterinary school and the vet school interview process. Our student panel and interview workshop was recorded, as well as a talk about the new curriculum. I even had the opportunity to eat lunch with interviewing applicants for the class of 2015. Looking at my blog, I realized I had not finished my "How to Rock Your Vet School Interview Part 2", so I thought the student panel I was on could help answer your questions if you are still wanting more of an explanation of how to "rock" your vet school interview.  

SEE OUR VIDEO RECORDING OF THE INTERVIEW WORKSHOP VET STUDENT PANEL HERE

Hard Work: What it really means

I have a lot of appreciation for those that work hard in life. Hard work is the basis for everything worthwhile you will achieve in life. Hard work is the process of changing both the world and yourself so that at the end you and the world have become more connected: you've become more real to other observers in the world and they have become more real to you.
My parents always taught me to work hard for things I wanted in life. I have always worked hard for anything I wanted, things have not been handed to me that often and when they are, I am greatly appreciative. When I started riding horses, my parents payed for a weekly riding lesson, well I wanted to spend more time with the horses and learning how to ride so I arranged to clean tack and groom horses in exchange for an additional riding lesson each week. The more I worked around horses, the more I learned about them. I stood out from others in my group lessons who just came for their weekly lesson and eventually grew tired of the whole horse thing altogether. I found a passion for horses and working hard to spend time with them. At eight years old, I was already working off my riding lessons. As I got older, I really wanted my own horse. I saved all the money I got for my birthdays, from chores, etc. for 2-3 years. I saved enough to buy a $500 Arabian gelding that taught me a lot about working hard. Comson was my first horse and I was able to keep him for free at my grandmother's house. I had to buy his hay and pay his vet and shoeing bills, but luckily I did enough chores to afford that. I also had to feed him twice a day which meant persuading my mom or dad to take me by my grandmother's house morning and night. Comson was high strung and bucked me off a lot, he was a firey little horse with a big heart and full of tough love. After owning Comson for two years, I sold him in hopes to use the money to return to a stable for more riding lessons. I remember when Comson's buyers were surprised when they met a 12 year old girl selling her first horse. I was always mature for my age and my dad taught me how to hold my ground on a set price and market my horse in the local newspaper.

I got my first "real job" (actually paying taxes) when I was 15 years old. It was a part-time job working some weekends and after school during weekdays. I actually had to get a work permit from my high school that allowed me to work under the age of 16. I worked at a Take and Bake Pizza restaurant down the street from my house so I was easily able to walk there until I got my driver's license on my 16th birthday. The perceived potential benefits of youth employment include earning money, gaining relevant work experience, achieving autonomy, easing the transition from school to work, and developing work attitudes.

Read more: Working in Adolescence - Advantages And Disadvantages Of Adolescent Employment - School, Youth, Job, Time, Youths, and Experiences http://social.jrank.org/pages/690/Working-in-Adolescence-Advantages-Disadvantages-Adolescent-Employment.html#ixzz1E3wOmidg

Some may think that this is ridiculous for a teenager to work while going to school, but let me tell you how rewarding it has been for me. I have had the opportunity to work with the general public in several different capacities, by working during high school, I discovered that I wanted to attend college in order to improve my ability to find a job that I loved working. While attending college, I always had a job, I worked hard to keep up on my studies and good grades, get scholarships, and keep a horse (for the first year of college). I have a lot of appreciation for people who work and pay their own way through school. In this economy, that is no easy feat and having done it myself, I know that work in addition to school can be challenging.


I feel sorry for those people that have never had a job and don't have any experience working with the general public. More than that, working for money that you can spend/manage is a very rewarding experience. Getting your first paycheck is really awesome. Having the autonomy to do what you want with it is even a better experience. Working is part of growing up and I don't understand why anyone wouldn't work hard to do that. 


I feel sorry for those people who's parents incapacitate their children from learning these very important life lessons. By giving your child everything he/she desires, you are only hurting them. As kind as it may seem, your children need to face reality and realize that the way you enjoy life is working hard for the things you want in life. 


Having got into veterinary school, there is no doubt that I have worked hard to get here. I want to work hard and have fun doing what I love (veterinary medicine) and most of all, I want to make a difference. I want to make lives better for animals and people. I am in great debt to my previous experiences that have molded me into the person I am today. 

I have a strong appreciation for those that are hard workers that strive every day to reach their goals and improve this world for others. I think people that choose not to work hard and take the easiest route by letting mommy and daddy shield them and shower them with everything are the ones in danger of not learning anything from their lives. I encourage all parents to foster creativity and a hard work ethic with their kids. It is so important to their success as an adult and their interactions with those around them.


Check out all my experiences: http://livingmydreamkn.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-experiences.html

"You will never find happiness if you do not conquer your own doubt"