Hi, I'm 15 and in Year 10 at Secondary School. I have always loved animals, especially my pets (guinea pigs and a cockatiel) and equines. I have also always been interested in Biology, and always wanted to become a small animal pet vet. Being 15, I haven't started applying to colleges let alone Universities, but I was wondering what can I do now to give me the best possible chance of getting accepted into Vet school and becoming a veterinarian? I am hoping to try and get experience over my summer holidays, although most places don't allow under 16's. Should I perhaps see if I could go to a vets every evening of a weekday? Will experience now count, such as going to a vets in my summer holidays for as many weeks as possible? I was thinking of either a date log of what I did each day, or an overall review of what I saw, experienced and learned, or even a scrapbook? Or would it be best to do something like 2 weeks pet shop, 2 weeks vets? Or one week my local boarding kennels and cattery (all one place), one week pet shop, one week veterinary? Or 4 weeks veterinary! And has any vets found that carrying on to the Silver Duke of Edinburgh will help a lot to get you into vet school? (P.s. I don't mind animal experience at all- it's just finding the time and getting the perfect place and the proportions right)! Here's what I currently do: Grades: I haven't sat any GCSE's yet (besides IT coursework), but I am in the top set for all of my subjects and roughly predicted A's. I'm working hard in revision and in class and think I could pull of some A*s. My most strongest subject is English, and I'm also quite strong at Biology too! I have done a exam (not a mock though) in Physics and I got an A*, and in my English controlled assessments I am reaching the top band and got full marks in one! In my mock RE GCSE I got an A, and I got a Merit in IT which I've been told is equivalent to an A apparently. Subjects: I'm in the top set for all of my subjects. I do Chemistry, Biology, Physics, English, Maths, PSE, RE, and my options that I picked are Spanish, Business Studies and History. Volunteering/ work experience: -Year 10 Work experience: Booked in at a small animal veterinary practise for 5 week days. -Every Saturday I spend all day at a local stable, mucking out sometimes but particularly working with horses in brushing, tacking up and leading in lessons. I also have my own riding lesson at the end. I have been doing this for about a year, and continue to do this.(I do love horses)! Extra: I am just finishing my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award. (Physical= improving my horse riding, Volunteering= Helping out at the stables- though I have been doing this long before DofE, Skills= Learning 2 new languages). I'm also volunteering as a peer reader for year 6's after school each week, and applying to be a prefect and possibly a head girl. Other places i.e animal rescue centres I have spent hours researching and looking into, but all either have special requirements e.g.have to be over 16, or are hours away!https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?6,22246,22246#msg-22246Sat, 30 May 2026 20:13:41 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?6,22246,27597#msg-27597 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?6,22246,27597#msg-27597
Many thanks in advance :)]]> Suzeeeee Veterinary StudentsTue, 16 Feb 2016 11:12:46 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?6,22246,22263#msg-22263 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?6,22246,22263#msg-22263
I can only repeat what I have said to Rhiannon, which is work as hard as you can at your subjects. You have to aim for Science and Maths at top grades at GCSE and A level. Animal related work experience is helpful when you can get it but from my experience in practice there is always a queue of people wishing to spend more time at a vets and you would be very lucky to secure a long term placement with one for the holidays or any other period of time. Make sure your school know that you want a veterinary/animal related longer work experience and see if they can help support any application for that. D of E awards are an indication of your resourcefulness and I believe are character building but still the most important factors in selection for all Vet Schools are good academic grades, with as much practical animal experience as possible. Good luck.]]> Cathy Wickenden Veterinary StudentsSun, 31 Mar 2013 09:12:11 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?6,22246,22246#msg-22246 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?6,22246,22246#msg-22246I'm 15 and in Year 10 at Secondary School. I have always loved animals, especially my pets (guinea pigs and a cockatiel) and equines. I have also always been interested in Biology, and always wanted to become a small animal pet vet.
Being 15, I haven't started applying to colleges let alone Universities, but I was wondering what can I do now to give me the best possible chance of getting accepted into Vet school and becoming a veterinarian? I am hoping to try and get experience over my summer holidays, although most places don't allow under 16's. Should I perhaps see if I could go to a vets every evening of a weekday? Will experience now count, such as going to a vets in my summer holidays for as many weeks as possible? I was thinking of either a date log of what I did each day, or an overall review of what I saw, experienced and learned, or even a scrapbook? Or would it be best to do something like 2 weeks pet shop, 2 weeks vets? Or one week my local boarding kennels and cattery (all one place), one week pet shop, one week veterinary? Or 4 weeks veterinary! And has any vets found that carrying on to the Silver Duke of Edinburgh will help a lot to get you into vet school? (P.s. I don't mind animal experience at all- it's just finding the time and getting the perfect place and the proportions right)!

Here's what I currently do:

Grades:
I haven't sat any GCSE's yet (besides IT coursework), but I am in the top set for all of my subjects and roughly predicted A's. I'm working hard in revision and in class and think I could pull of some A*s. My most strongest subject is English, and I'm also quite strong at Biology too! I have done a exam (not a mock though) in Physics and I got an A*, and in my English controlled assessments I am reaching the top band and got full marks in one! In my mock RE GCSE I got an A, and I got a Merit in IT which I've been told is equivalent to an A apparently.

Subjects:
I'm in the top set for all of my subjects. I do Chemistry, Biology, Physics, English, Maths, PSE, RE, and my options that I picked are Spanish, Business Studies and History.

Volunteering/ work experience:
-Year 10 Work experience: Booked in at a small animal veterinary practise for 5 week days.
-Every Saturday I spend all day at a local stable, mucking out sometimes but particularly working with horses in brushing, tacking up and leading in lessons. I also have my own riding lesson at the end. I have been doing this for about a year, and continue to do this.(I do love horses)!

Extra:
I am just finishing my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award. (Physical= improving my horse riding, Volunteering= Helping out at the stables- though I have been doing this long before DofE, Skills= Learning 2 new languages). I'm also volunteering as a peer reader for year 6's after school each week, and applying to be a prefect and possibly a head girl.

Other places i.e animal rescue centres I have spent hours researching and looking into, but all either have special requirements e.g.have to be over 16, or are hours away!]]> Beckyluvsguineas Veterinary StudentsThu, 28 Mar 2013 16:59:53 +0000