Anything else I can do ....

Re: Anything else I can do ....

S-J — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:07:15 GMT

i did my degree training at Hartpury and they were quite good,i must admit i hardly had any experiance before i went there other than some work ex that i did. but i made it all ok

Re: Anything else I can do ....

Pippa Louise — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:51:47 GMT

I'm in the area of North Wales and trying to escape!! there are minimal job or training opportunities in Wales and I'm not Welsh and dont speak Welsh either which has limited my job search even more as lots of discrimination goes on!! :(

At the moment, I'm volunteering one day per week at a veterinary surgery, and I've just been awarded a 13 week placement for 25 hours p/w at a rescue home! :)

Re: Anything else I can do ....

Kim Buckley — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:20:34 GMT

[quote user="lesley o"]

I also got offered a place at RVC where the interview was much tougher but personally I was not as impressed as I was with Middlesex.

[/quote]

I did the degree when it was combined between the RVC and Middlesex and I can't comment as to what it is like now because it has been 2 years since I left but Middlesex were rubbish at the time. Glad things are obviously better now because it was a bit of joke when I was there. Turned up to an exam once and they hadn't even printed the exam papers!

Re: Anything else I can do ....

Lesley M — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:30:08 GMT

Hi,

I am at Middlesex and there are a mixture of people on my course with differing experience. There are some that have only 2 weeks work experience in a veterinary practice which to be honest I do not feel is enough. I had 2 years in a rescue centre and a year part time in a veterinary practice but am a mature student so was a bit different for me. I also got offered a place at RVC where the interview was much tougher but personally I was not as impressed as I was with Middlesex.

Re: Anything else I can do ....

Lynn Perry — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:05:17 GMT

Be wary of going to Bristol, I've heard rumours on the grapevine that they're not looking so sharp at the moment. Could be gossip and hearsay, but make sure you do the research.

As for extra-curricular, what area are you in? If you're in the Somerset region (am assuming you are if you're looking at Bristol and Hartpury), take a look at volunteering at Secret World Wildlife Rescue, they're always looking for extra hands and it gives you some valuable experience in a similar field. That or see if the RSPCA in Bristol or the PDSA take on volunteers. It's hard to find 'saturday work' at practises so it might be worth extending your thoughts to similar organisations.

Re: Anything else I can do ....

Pippa Louise — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:28:27 GMT

At the moment I'm begging lol I've just discovered I'm 6 level 3 credits short of meeting the requirements !! I'm absolutely gutted but I'm trying to do everything I can to get in. So far, I've picked (in this order) RVC, Bristol, then either Hartpury, Harper Adams or Middlesex.

Re: Anything else I can do ....

littlehays — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:17:27 GMT

i would say as much hands-on practical experience as possible, with different species - maybe volunteer at an animal sanctuary/vets/wildlife centre - anything like that can only be a bonus.

i take it you're applying to do vn degree?

Re: Anything else I can do ....

Stella Skelton RVN — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:16:36 GMT

I'm too old to remember how UCAS works but i worked voluntarily at my local dog pound to show i was dedicated to working in the animal field and this experience and attitude helped me get my first veterinary assistant (nurse) job without any previous veterinary experience. I'm now in a different practice undertaking the NVQ to become a qualified vet nurse. It's definitely worth getting as much animal work experience as you can...if not just for the UCAS etc, but also for yourself - to make sure you are really getting into the field you should be. Sometimes it can be a whole lot different than you imagine. Good luck.