Generally, most veterinary schools are seeking students with a diverse record of experiences. There are various categories of experience, including:
- Veterinary—Working (paid or volunteer) under the supervision of a veterinarian in clinical practice or nonclinical settings like public health, government, or uniformed services
- Animal—Caring for or handling animals outside a veterinary context, as through 4-H or FFA participation, volunteering at an animal shelter or rescue, or working on a farm or at a kennel
- Research—Leading a specific research project or actively contributing through data collection, management, or interpretation
- Employment—Paid work done outside the animal or veterinary field
- Volunteer—Unpaid work done outside the animal or veterinary field
- Extracurricular activities—Involvement in things like sports, clubs, social or community groups, certifications, or hobbies
Veterinary experience is key as it gives you firsthand insight into the day-to-day realities of veterinary practice and provides opportunities to build meaningful relationships with veterinarians who can later serve as references. Animal experience is important, too, as it helps to build practical skills and knowledge that will make you a stronger candidate. Experiences like working in a research laboratory or with a veterinarian who treats a variety of species also can help make your application stand out.
Keep a record of all these different types of experience, including dates, key activities you were responsible for or carried out, number of hours, and names and contact information for the people you worked with or were supervised by. This information is needed when completing your veterinary school application and can help your references write personalized letters of recommendation (more on this later).
As you consider new opportunities or reflect on past experiences, think about why each one appealed to you and what you learned—or hope to learn. Ultimately, what really counts is having meaningful experiences where you can share that you were truly involved and/or provided a significant contribution.
The depth and diversity of experience often matter more than quantity. This said, some veterinary schools have required minimums for experience hours, so be sure to check out each school you're interested in and confirm that you'll meet their experience requirements.
