Using references from the same clinic

[biommmm]

I'm not sure if this has been asked before I looked but couldn't find anything.

I was just wondering how badly does having 2 references from the same clinic affect your chances of getting in? Personally I do have three from all different clinics but my back up reference is from the same clinic as one of my other ones. If my one reference falls through and I have to use 2 from the same clinic how will it affect my application.

For reference I have what I think is average expereince
Small animal clinics - aprx 1000 hours over the last 2 years at 2 different clinics
Large animal- 130 hours
Non vet Animal experience - 60 hours

Thank you

[ovc2017]

``There is a strong preference for veterinarians from different clinics or workplaces.``

This is stated on the website:

www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/recruitment/en/applyingtodvm/Nonacademicrequirements.asp

[Guest24]

I had experience in 2 clinics but due to a last minute issue, I had 2 references from 2 vets from the same clinic and I got an interview this year. I didn't get in but since references are looked at before interviews I think it's fine. I think it's mainly to make sure you have varied experience, which you can list on your BIF.

[dreizehn]

As a short answer I'd say, in all likelihood, it would have no impact whatsoever on your chances of getting in, so long as your references all remained highly positive, which I think is the far more important factor when choosing referees. While OVC admissions does state a "...strong preference for veterinarians from different clinics or workplaces," keep in mind that it also states only "two of the three referees selected must be veterinarians..." (all emphasis mine). Hence, what's really required insofar as referees go is just two vets preferably from different clinics, with the third reference being a completely free choice (i.e., it shouldn't make a difference if it is a DVM from the same clinic, a different clinic, or not a DVM at all). As you have said you already have three references (I'm assuming all DVMs) from three different clinics, you will in any case have a minimum of two vet references from different clinics, even if you end up using your "back up" referee.

Personally, only two of my referees were DVMs, and both were from the same clinic. I made that choice as, though I did have experience at other clinics with other DVMs, it was a good number of years earlier (~8 years), so I felt I could get far more relevant, highly positive references from the two DVMs I had worked with more recently, and from a third, non-DVM referee.


Out of curiosity, while you look to have a relatively good amount of vet experience (especially small animal), I was wondering why the non-vet animal experience you're claiming seems, to me at least, to be quite minimal at only "60 hours"... Are you sure you've considered all the different types of activities that qualify?

[biommmm]

Thanks that takes so much stress out of my life!

I've volunteered at the humane society for (50 hours) and spent some time in a swine research lab and on a swine farm. Other then this I've only owned pets. I haven't had the time between trying to find veterinary experience, working, and school to look for more plain animal experience. I felt DVM experience was priority and I've only been getting experience for roughly a year and a half.

The store I work in has a pet department which I sometimes help in, I know pet stores count as animal experience, but its not really a pet store. So I didn't think it counted.

In your opinion should I stop focusing so much on veterinary experience and focus more on animal experience or will it affect my application at all?

[Guest1232123]

Hey
I have a similar situation
I have lots of small animal experience (700 hrs) some large (100 hrs) and only 40 animal experience hours.

Should I focus more on getting animal experience rather then more veterinary experience?

or am I fine if I continue volunteering at my clinic?

Thanks

[dreizehn]

Personally, while I think both sections can be important, I wouldn't forgo vet experience just to buff up the animal experience section, so long as the vet experience is quality, and you're still managing to get a good overall variety of experience with a range of different animals and fields, as I think that is the larger goal of these sections on the BIF, as well as helping to demonstrate you as a well-rounded individual.

I think the vet experience and animal experience sections combined should provide a solid insight into your relevant experiences with animals in a veterinary context or otherwise, while also being useful to potential future students themselves by helping to ensure they have put in a good amount of time looking into this profession, and are sure this is a path they want to follow. I think the animal experience section also probably exists as it provides the opportunity and flexibility to get relevant experience in situations when a veterinarian may not always be present (e.g., in some areas it might be difficult to get exotics experience with a vet, but there could be a volunteer opportunity available; or one might find it difficult to find a large animal vet to go on calls with, but could more easily find a work opportunity on a farm; or experience with lab animals may be available, but the researcher is not a veterinarian; etc.). Getting animal experience when a veterinarian is not always present can also potentially be helpful in terms of providing experience from a different viewpoint (e.g., working with livestock on a farm could provide better insight into the producer's point of view and challenges).

[biommmm]

Thanks again your answer was very helpful. Thinking about my experience I realize that it is well rounded all my clinic expereince (large and small) included a lot of not veterinary tasks. One clinic I was in charge of the boarding animals and then going to assist the veterinarians with appointments. As well my large animal expereince is 30% caring for horses boarding (mucking stalls, lunging ext.) and 70% veterinary experience. So ill be able to write that on my bif and hopefully that will be taken into consideration!