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Post by thinkingofvet on Sept 9, 2013 13:10:57 GMT -5
Hi, I was wondering how easy it is to find a job in the summer as a vet student ... or do most people find they have to work during the year because of competition? Are there jobs that are offered through the school as well? Thank you very much. The main point I want to learn is how likely is it to get through vet school with the least amount of debt possible while still doing jobs that are animal related?
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Post by dreizehn on Sept 9, 2013 18:00:04 GMT -5
Hi, I was wondering how easy it is to find a job in the summer as a vet student ... or do most people find they have to work during the year because of competition? Are there jobs that are offered through the school as well? Thank you very much. The main point I want to learn is how likely is it to get through vet school with the least amount of debt possible while still doing jobs that are animal related? I'd say it's probably a little easier as compared to getting a job while still in an earlier undergrad program, partially just because I think being a vet student gives an application a little more clout (i.e., more experience and demonstrated excellence to get into vet school, plus some vets may be more apt to consider vet students since you are now "in" the profession). As well, keep in mind that as one progresses though the years one gains more useful and applicable knowledge, experience, and applied skills, so naturally one's employment applications will become more competitive. Also, being in a veterinary program opens up some new opportunities, as some positions are specifically seeking vet students, or state a clear preference to hire vet students. As with any other time applying for jobs though, you still need to have the experience, knowledge, and skill set they're looking for, as well as be capable of demonstrating that (i.e., just being a vet student isn't a free ticket to an easier job application process). As before, simple interviews are likely the most common, though I know several large animal clinics that look for more of a working interview or ride-along day in order to get a better practical sense of the student's capabilities, while still going through many of the more standard questions during the downtime driving between appointments. Honestly though, in many cases there's not much of a difference to the job search while a vet student as compared to being in an earlier undergrad program, and, as before, it's often just about contacting vet clinics or other potential employers individually, inquiring, and applying. Here's an earlier post with some current DVM students' thoughts on holding a job during the DVM school year: fvc.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=6498&page=1#11965Also check out the OVC's page on employment opportunities, etc.. There's a variety summarized, some just applicable to vet students, some just to grads, and some others that are more general. There are also a number of opportunities for research-based positions, many of which are also available to non-veterinary programs, all of which I think are highly competitive: DVM students also get e-mailed early in the winter semester about a number of summer student positions available in many OVC departments (e.g., ICU, large animal wards, etc.), for which there is a strong preference for DVM students. A lot of people also return each summer to work at the practice or other place where they gained their earlier veterinary or animal experience, as they already have an existing relationship, and are therefore sometimes allowed to do more. Pay-wise I don't think you'd find a major difference, since we are still just students, though, as always, this of course depends on where you're working, what you're doing, your experience and skill set, as well as how many hours you put in. If you're already working in undergrad both during the school year and the summer, the biggest difference you'd probably notice is that it would likely be necessary to scale back your number of hours during the school year, as the DVM program is much more time intensive than undergrad. As such, it may be necessary to take on more debt each year than in your earlier undergrad program simply because you don't have the time to work as much.
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Post by thinkingofvet on Sept 18, 2013 11:31:06 GMT -5
Thank you Dreizehn!
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