3 referees for OVC

[biommmmm]

So, I'm a little confused. I know that 2 of the references must be veterinarians, however, I don't know what the criteria is for the 1 professional reference is? Can it be someone you've known forever with a degree, or does it have to be someone you've worked with?
Thanks

[cbarne01]

I understand the third reference as another person who can speak to the qualities that will make you a good vet. For example, a kennel owner who you worked for over the summer, the barn owner where you keep your horse (and do weekend chores), etc. I would expect that someone who isn't familiar with your animal experience would be fine too as long as they can speak to soft skills, maybe a supervisor at summer camp, the organizer of a volunteer program you're involved with... Pick someone who will give a positive reference

"Confidential referee reports will be required from three persons qualified to give unbiased, informed, critical assessments of the applicant."

[dreizehn]

cbarne01 has already written a good response with some good examples; I'm just posting the below as I previously wrote it in response to a similar question in another thread (the second question/response, 3/4 down the page - fvc.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=admissions&action=display&thread=6431), so you may find it useful as well:

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For the third reference (who can be a vet but doesn't have to be), the only guidance the admissions page gives is that the person must be "...qualified to give an unbiased, informed and critical assessment..." Ms. Lowenger also speaks about the referee requirement in this year's video for unsuccessful applicants: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAtjLtwOGmQ#t=34m31s. The keys things I take away are:

• The person should be in the position to be able to give a reference (e.g., usually has supervised you in some manner, knows you well enough to be able to assess your attributes, etc.)
  
• Should be able to fill out all (ideally) or at least the vast majority of the assessment categories on the reference sheet (e.g., maybe the third reference did not observe interaction with animals, but they observed essentially everything else)
  
• No friends, family members, friends of the family, etc. (i.e., no biased people)
  

Regarding the references, the admissions page, checklist, etc. do use the word "professional," but I think (my opinion) they're using it more so in the sense of it being an unbiased and informed reference (i.e., not in the sense of it having to be from a recognized profession, like doctors/vets, lawyers, professors, etc.). I think some people get a bit caught up on thinking they should get a reference from a professor, etc. to "impress" the admissions people, but this isn't necessarily the best approach. For example, sometimes a person simply has not worked closely enough with a professor to develop a relationship such that the professor could make a meaningful assessment. In such a case, really all one would be getting is the title, as the professor would not be able to give a meaningful or useful assessment.

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cbarne01 gives some good examples, and Ms. Lowenger also gives some in the video, so hopefully this gives you enough to get a better idea of what they are looking/hoping for.

Looking at you question itself more directly:

"Can it be someone you've known forever with a degree, or does it have to be someone you've worked with?"

• The first part of this statement sounds dangerously close to being a "friend," which is not really what they are looking for as it would be a biased reference.
  
• I don't think the reference needs to have a degree necessarily (e.g., you could have a coach, volunteer program supervisor, etc. who may not have a degree, but may be able to assess your skills and suitability meaningfully)
  
• You don't specifically have to have "worked" with the reference (e.g., one of my references actually was a professor. So, I didn't work for her, but did have a well developed professional/academic relationship)