personal statement for veterinary medicine

Personal statement advice: veterinary medicine

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The University of Liverpool's veterinary science department gets straight to the point when it comes to making an application to its veterinary science department: 'the competition is fierce.'

This is where a good personal statement can be an asset. 'Most applicants will have good predicted grades and references, so your personal statement is your main opportunity to set yourself apart from the rest,’ the Royal Veterinary College adds.

Work experience: do your research

Normally, you will need to have a range of relevant work experience before you apply and to reflect on this in your statement. The quality of your insights into the profession is crucial.

You also need to be clear about what individual veterinary schools expect, because it varies. For instance, Liverpool requires a minimum of ten weeks’ experience, while most others require a minimum of four or six weeks. The range of experience typically needs to include:

at least one veterinary practice
working with large domestic animals on a livestock farm, especially dairy or lambing
other animal experience such as stables, kennels, catteries, zoos, wildlife, or rescue centres, pig or poultry farms, or something more unusual

A day at an abattoir may be especially beneficial, and observing research in a veterinary or biomedical laboratory could be valuable too.

Do note that the University of Cambridge's requirements are slightly different, as they are more concerned about your interest in 'the scientific principles that underlie both the health and disease of animals.' They do require you to demonstrate a commitment to the profession and say that some experience will be useful, but they don't want you to give up on your other extra-curricular interests for the sake of gaining extensive work experience.

It's essential to research this in detail beforehand. Check out department websites and, where possible, attend open days or events.

Getting the balance and flow right

With the required experience under your belt, the next step is to achieve the right balance between brevity and detail in your statement, and to gear it to what your chosen universities are looking for. It will probably be a challenge to condense it all down to 47 lines, but here are some key points you could include:

Motivation: show what has motivated you to follow this career path. Be specific, and make it current or recent. What aspects are of special interest to you? Where do you hope the degree will lead? Reflect on what it is that’s driving you now, not something out-of-date.
Experience: provide some detailed evidence that shows you’re realistic and informed about the challenges you will face. Describe some of your experiences and observations, both of veterinary practice and from your wider animal experience. Get the balance right. They want you to show the breadth of your experience, but they want depth as well. Try to write briefly but reflectively about some of the highlights and what you learned from them. Also, try to include something that demonstrates your understanding of why interpersonal skills are crucial.
Academic interests and wider reading: give them a glimpse of your current academic and scientific interests, whether it’s from your studies, a project or issues you’ve come across in journals, books, blogs, events you’ve attended, and so on. If Cambridge is amongst your choices, it’s especially important to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity and your passion for science.
Extra-curricular activities: demonstrate your resilience, initiative, self-motivation, compassion, or other relevant transferable skills. This could be through the contribution you have made to school, college, or community activities, volunteering, your part-time work, or any wider interests, personal achievements, or responsibilities. Again, be specific!

Then consider the flow of your statement. Tell them enough to engage them and win yourself an interview, but leave enough unsaid that can be discussed in more depth at the interview itself. Remember that everything you write could be used as an interview starting point.

Successful Personal Statement For Veterinary Medicine At Cambridge

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rohan Agarwal

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it.

Today, we are looking through a Veterinary Medicine applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Cambridge University. The Veterinary Medicine Course at Cambridge offers a world-class opportunity to study the scientific basis of veterinary medicine and clinical veterinary science.

Read on to see how this candidate managed to secure an offer from a world-class department.

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement (the applicant uses most of the 4,000 characters available):

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

LONDON VET SCHOOL

INTERVIEW + REJECTED

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With our Cambridge Veterinary Medicine Premium Programme, your tutor will give you regular actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.

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Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement

Witnessing the birth of a calf was a wonderful experience and has helped to confirm my long-term ambition to be a vet. This desire has been a motivating force in all my decisions at school. Veterinary medicine is a challenging and worthwhile career that encapsulates my profound interest in animal welfare, scientific enquiry and problem solving. It will satisfy my passion to work with people and animals as well as my love of science. It requires academic rigour, is scientifically-based and provides opportunities for further research either in laboratory or clinical settings. It involves considerable practical skills and the potential for great job satisfaction with the possibility of running my own practice.

My work experience has been thoroughly enjoyable and included working with a country vet, a farrier, at a private stables, a commercial reptile centre, a dairy farm and a small animal clinic. With the country vet I observed two successful treatments on cows to correct displacement of the abomasum by external manipulation and surgery. I helped with TB testing, learning the process, its importance and the wider context. Working with the farrier opened my mind to other people who interact with the veterinary profession. Whilst involved in cleaning and feeding at the private stables I developed a great respect for horses including an awareness of the danger they can pose for humans and other animals. At the reptile centre I handled a bearded dragon, monitor lizard and snakes whilst assisting in an educational talk and at Beaver World learnt to care for guinea pigs, rabbits, beavers, pheasants and fish. During my nine-day stay on a dairy farm I took part in the daily routine of milking, and as well as observing the birth of a calf, I saw the deterioration of a cow and the eventual decision to put her down. It was apparent that working in a small animal clinic involves many routine operations like the castration and spaying of cats and dogs. I learnt that diagnosis involves history-taking, examination and investigations such as blood tests and diagnostic imaging. To gain more experience I plan to work at a city farm, participate in the delivery of lambs and carry out placements at London Zoo and the London Aquarium.

I attended VetMedlink at Nottingham University, thirty six lectures on all aspects of veterinary care. As part of this course I voluntarily undertook my own research into potential new uses of stem cells and submitted a paper which was marked and for which I received a distinction. This is due to be published on-line sometime this year. My focus was how stem cells inserted into the brain could be used in the future to improve intelligence and treat neural problems such as Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, I will be attending a course in November to enable me to administer aid to stranded or injured marine mammals.

As well as good examination grades, my other school achievements include prize certificates in mathematics and biology; I was especially pleased to win Gold Certificates in the UK Maths Challenge. This year I was commended for the quality of my answers in the Chemistry Challenge set by my school which required logical reasoning skills. I have a special aptitude for mathematics and attended six maths lectures at Greenwich University on themes which included matrices and types of mathematical proof.

I aim to involve myself whole-heartedly in university life, using my musical skills by playing the keyboard and perhaps playing in or starting a sports team.

I truly believe I have the ability to work effectively with people and animals. I am excited about the veterinary course since it offers the opportunity to undertake research projects, understand the scientific basis of medicine, gain in-depth knowledge of veterinary practice and develop key practical skills. I am determined to become a vet and eager to begin the formal course of training in what I know will prove to be a fascinating field of study.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

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Good Points Of The Personal Statement

A well written and well-structured statement that provides a good insight into the student’s character and development, both academically as well as personally. The student demonstrates a good scientific foundation, achieving various degrees of academic excellence and also demonstrates a wide range of different work-experience attachments giving insight into different specialities of veterinary medicine. This is particularly important due to the wide range of differences between different animal species. The broader the experience before starting the degree, the better. Furthermore, the work-experience placements will provide valuable contacts for when the student will be required to conduct care attachments during his/her studies at university.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

One of the central points of veterinary medicine not related to the academic side is the funding structure. Recognising the challenges that come in regard to the treatment of patients, as well as in regard to the interaction with owners, is an important component. Since the student experienced care in different practice settings, it is likely that he/she has come across this issue.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

Good statement giving good detail about the student and his/her motivation as well as his/her individual development. It could be improved by additional reflection on the challenges of veterinary practice, for example, the existing funding structures.

This Personal Statement for Vet Med is a good example of demonstrating motivation and development which is vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Cambridge, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Go to our Free Personal Statement Resources page for even more successful personal statements and expert guides.

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Veterinary School

Vet school personal statement examples

When you are putting together an application for vet school, vet school personal statement examples will be a great way to learn how to write your own. Samples statements are like templates, or a beaten path showing you the way forward.

You’ve consulted the vet school rankings , made your decision, and are getting set to apply to your top-choice schools. You need to ace the personal statement to go right along with your polished grad school resume and grad school letter of recommendation .

This article will give you a few veterinarian school personal statement examples to look over so you can perfect your own statement. We will also cover some helpful hints to make your statement as effective as possible, and some pointers on what writing mistakes you should avoid.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Article Contents 10 min read

Vet personal statement example #1.

“Saddle up,” is my favorite phrase of all time and it conveys with it a sense of adventure that few other phrases ever can. I suppose a lot of this comes from my early years where I loved cowboy stories, but it continued on through my life once I started learning about horses. I think that’s why I loved stories of the wild west to begin with: the horses – majestic, powerful, and almost living embodiments of freedom and adventure.

I grew up with horses. My cousin, Brianne, had horses and I spent as much of my time at Brianne’s place as I could. I found that other girls my age liked the idea of owning a pony, but weren’t as interested in the care of the animal. I didn’t mind it. I made connections, and learned rudimentary caring techniques. As I grew, I became more invested, and I started learning about how to care for animals on a deeper level.

My favorite thing that I learned was about trimming horse hooves. There are different schools of thought about shoeing, but I have always favored trimming and caring for horse hooves in their natural state. It is a difficult skill to master, but one of many I learned while looking after horses.

With that in mind, I took up my next job working in an animal shelter, and we dealt with all kinds of different animals that came through, mostly dogs and cats, but one animal we wound up with for a time was a chameleon named Fred who had been abandoned and neglected by his owner.

Fred proved to be a challenge – a less familiar creature than typical housepets. I started to read up on the care of lizards, tropical animals, and other exotic pets. I had to keep his cage warm, but mist it with water, and I learned that if another chameleon came into the store I would have to keep them separate, since they prefer living alone. I became fascinated with this lizard for these unique care items, and for his strange feet and rotating eyes. I knew that this was an area of study I wanted to pursue.

In case you were worried, Fred the chameleon is fine; I adopted him and he says, “Hello,” in his lizard way.

As much as I loved my job at the shelter, I decided that my experience would best come from the zoo. We live fairly near the city zoo, and a short bus ride brought me to work every day. I got first-hand experience working with exotic animals, and at last, my career goals, my love of exotic animals, and my love of adventure came all together to form one, clear path forward.

Whenever the zoo’s vets would come by and make their rounds, I would ask them questions and offered to help them with their activities. Through this, I got to “assist” on several routine events, usually with helping to control the animals and keep them still while medicine was being administered or a checkup was happening.

One of those doctors, Dr. Martin Bellford, offered to help me out with my studies, and has proved to be as inexhaustible at answering questions as I am at asking them. He has let me come with him on all subsequent zoo visits and has explained a lot of exotic animal medicine to me. He taught me about how to stay on my toes. There are so many different kinds of animals that a vet needs to know about!

My extracurricular activities inspired my academic pursuits. I have been studying biology extensively, and my favorite classes are my biology labs. I was a bit uncomfortable dissecting frogs; I didn’t know how to feel as an animal-enthusiast. I was grateful for the ability to learn about animal anatomy, but I do believe strongly in ethically caring for animals and ensuring their health and wellbeing, as well as their rights and welfare.

Someday, I hope to be an exotic animals specialist who works with strange, wild species. I’d also like to continue to care for horses, and serve as an expert or volunteer for organizations, like the World Wildlife Fund, to continue to aid the cause for wildlife preservation. Lofty goals, but goals that are filled with adventure and animals.

Saddle up.

I was screaming at a birthday party, trying to fold in on myself so completely that I couldn’t be seen by the dog sniffing me. My best friend Jake had a dog and I was terribly afraid of dogs. I had been knocked over when I was little and I guess that memory stayed with me long enough to develop a Pavlovian reaction to seeing a canid.

But, here I am, all these years later, writing this letter with two dogs’ heads resting on my lap. I went from terrified to an enthusiast.

This change of outlook happened while pet-sitting for a family friend. I was forced to come up against dogs. At first, I was all nerves and anxiety, but one of the dogs, named Lion, really was insistent that I play fetch. At first I was throwing the ball to get Lion away from me; without realizing it, I began to throw it for fun. That evening, I found myself petting Lion while watching TV. I made friends, and started to love those dogs.

I wanted to know more about animals and work with them. My uncle Carl is a vet, and in early high school days I asked if I could work for him at his clinic. He agreed, and while I mostly did menial office tasks befitting a summer job, I also got to help out with the animals

Most of what I did there was feed the animals and look after any overnight patients, but sometimes Uncle Carl would show me about a particular procedure, and he always made time to answer my questions. One day he got me to help him with a dog’s hurt hindleg – how to settle the animal, hold it gently but firmly, and how to dress the wound so that it would heal.

Again, my thirst for knowledge took over, and eventually Uncle Carl couldn’t keep up with me questions. He told me which classes I should be taking in school to learn more. I took as many biology classes as I could, and I read up on extra material. I found that I learned best by re-wording what I learned, and wrote several extra essays just so I could understand the material better.

Through working at Uncle Carl’s practice, I have discovered that I gravitate towards domestic animals. Pets are so important to me, and I want to enter a field where I can provide care for the fuzziest of family members

Last year, Uncle Carl promoted me, and I have been more directly helping with the animals under his supervision. I have come to appreciate and understand the complexities of the vet profession, and have received many hours of direct experience with medicines, evaluations, care, and treatment options for household pets. Dogs, cats, rabbits, mice, and a few spiders and snakes have all come under my purview.

I also volunteer several days every month with an animal shelter, bringing in my knowledge of how to care for these animals and help them with their health

I don’t have lofty ambitions of changing the world on a global scale; I want to be a family vet, caring for pets. I think that’s plenty of world-changing for many people who need their family cared for and their pets looked after. I have seen the relationship that vets have with their patients, and it is rewarding and wonderful.

There was nothing I could do, because when you have a three-inch gash across the stomach of a seven-inch piglet, it’s almost guaranteed to die. But hopelessness is for other professions. I’m a farm boy, so I dosed the piglet with Stresnil, grabbed a needle and thread, and sewed the little guy up.

Life on a farm has taught me a lot of things. It’s taught me about how to be tackled repeatedly by my older brother, how to fall in creeks your parents didn’t even know were there, and how to care for animals. I have seen every aspect of animal care, and participated in most of them as well.

I was there to welcome in newly-farrowed piglets, to care for them as they grew, to administer medicines and vaccinations, to feed them, scratch their backs, and put them down as quickly and humanely as possible when all else failed. Never have I lost an animal I haven’t fought for, and never have I given up on them, even in the last hours.

There is no question that this life has given me an excellent skillset and a lifetime of experience in working with animals, caring for them, and coming to understand their needs. As much as I appreciate being a farmer, my favorite aspect of the job is the care for the animals, and I want to focus on that. That’s why I want to go into the veterinary profession instead of following in my family’s business. Don’t worry, my brothers will keep the legacy going.

Maybe I shouldn’t tell you about my failures, but I feel like they were an important part of my journey, so I will. In college, when I started to study subjects I would need to become a vet, I found I had to get over myself. My experiences were valuable, but I didn’t know nearly enough. I had brought an arrogance with me; because I had direct experience with animal care, I thought I would breeze through my coursework and studies. I was wrong.

My first test score I got back for my environmental science course took me down a peg or two and I found out the hard way that I needed a better attitude, better studying habits, and to move into the hard sciences with more determination.

The attitude was a fairly easy adjustment. I have three brothers, and between their teasing and besting me in wrestling matches, my ego isn’t so fragile that it can’t take another hit. I accepted the fact that I needed to learn even more than my peers – I had allowed myself to fall behind. Then I fixed my study habits by setting a regular routine – I would always study directly after doing chores in the barn.

Finally, I took a whole new approach to my studies: I went in ignoring my grade entirely and instead just asking one question after another, allowing my curiosity to fuel my search forward. I have found that a need to understand is a far better incentive than a grade. A grade-seeker gets nothing more than a number, but a curious mind receives knowledge.

I won’t say I’m pleased that my grades have greatly improved, although they have, because I am far more wary of becoming egocentric again, but I will tell you that my studies are fairing better. I put in the work and have done some extra credit work to make up for my slow start.

Between school and farming I don’t have a lot of spare time, but I have made space to volunteer with an animal rescue organization, and I have even been fortunate enough to join them when they go out to retrieve loose animals. I have helped out with countless animals now, of many different kinds, and I am starting to expand my knowledge of the animal kingdom beyond those found on farms.

With that said, I do want to specialize in farm animals and become a veterinarian for farms. I might not be taking over for my parents, but I still love that life and those animals. I can’t save every piglet with a heavy wound, but I can try. What’s more, with training, I have the best chance possible of making every animal’s life a little bit better.

Each personal statement needs to answer one crucial question: why do you want to be a veterinarian? Answering that question is the main point of your VMCAS essay , but it must be more than that, or that reason won’t be impactful. Anybody can say “I like animals,” you need to say and show why, and you need to tell the story of your journey to getting to where you are.

The reason is because your personal statement being good also hinges on whether or not your story is personal, unique, and shows your journey in the best light. You’re going to show the application committee why you are the perfect fit for the profession of veterinarian.

You have probably done more than one thing, focused on something other than just being a vet, have a hobby or multiple types of experiences in the professional or academic fields \u2013 highlight that diversity in your life. Just make sure you stick to 2-3 main experiences. You don\u2019t need to include every connection you have with animals, just a couple of your finest experiences. Showing the admissions committee a well-rounded individual with a variety of experiences and accomplishments will go a long way to being an impressive candidate. "}]">

Could your personal statement apply to any number of candidates? Then it isn\u2019t good. Your personal statement should be, first and foremost, personal to you. The more unique it is, the more it highlights your individual traits and experiences, the more valuable it is to you. "}]">

A personal statement is one of the best ways to stand out to the applications committee. This makes you more than a number or a list of accomplishments. It gives context to those accomplishments and shows your humanity and uniqueness – two very important factors in your acceptance and moving towards your future as an animal doctor.

Different schools process applications in their own way – including personal statements. With that said, most aren’t going to mark or grade the statement. That’s why it’s so imperative to make a statement that grabs your reader and makes you stand out. It needs to be a statement that makes the committee think, “I need to interview this person; I want to meet them.”

Again, it really depends on the institution; some will weight the statement more or less than others.

What you need to know is that your statement needs to grab the attention of the reader and that you should consider all aspects of your application to be of utmost importance.

All kinds are valid, and more types are better.

If you have cared for pets, volunteered at a shelter, or have more direct, medical experience with animals, anything is on the table and valid. Get as many different types as you can. More impressive candidates will demonstrate a rapport with animals – caring for them – as well as medical and scientific knowledge.

No, it isn’t. Obviously, if you have direct contact with the kind of animal you want to specialize in, that’s great, but wanting to be an elephant doctor or somebody who helps save pandas from extinction are great goals, and you won’t be penalized because you’re not one of the rare few people who have access to pandas.

Focus on the experiences you do have to get to the ones you don’t.

No, but you should be an animal lover, so to speak. Even if you aren’t 100% sold on creep-crawlies like millipedes, you can still love animals and want to care for them. Nobody’s asking you to give a shot to an arthropod, anyway.

Animal shelters, farms, pet stores, zoos, aquariums, and possibly even a vet’s clinic will all be places you can volunteer or work to gain experience working with animals.

Not at all. You just have to be interested in animals and their wellbeing, the skillset, and the requisite academic requirements and experiences. Pet owner can be part of that, but it’s not the only factor.

Brainstorm for a couple minutes. Just take a paper and pen and free-associate about vets and animals for two minutes. Time yourself and stop at the end of those two minutes; you’ll probably have a lot to work with.

If you’re still stuck, try thinking of the moment or series of events that led you to your decision to be a vet. Start telling that story, highlight your achievements and growth along the way, and you’ll mostly be done your statement right there.

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Tips for Your Vet School Personal Statement

Your vet school personal statement is a crucial part of a successful vet school application. The statement tells your story, shares your values and goals, and introduces the person behind the transcripts and test scores.

Your veterinary personal statement is an opportunity to tell your story and make yourself stand out from the crowd. Applying to an accredited veterinary program — such as Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine* (Ross Vet) — can seem a bit daunting at times. But with a few helpful hints, you may feel more confident to begin your application and the vet school personal statement — a sometimes undervalued element of the application package. Transcripts and scores tell your academic story; the vet school essay reveals who you are. It also shows how you differ from other applicants.

VMCAS PERSONAL STATEMENT TIPS

1. give yourself time..

Most students apply for vet school through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS), but you should prepare your VMCAS personal statement well in advance. Good writing takes time. Demonstrate your communication skills , which play an important part in how applicants — and veterinarians — are evaluated. Students must speak and write well in vet school. As for veterinarians, clear, concise communication can help speed a life-saving treatment or calm the frayed nerves of a pet owner. So yes, give your VMCAS essay careful consideration, and get started long before it’s time to submit.

2. Remember Your Audience.

Make your VMCAS essay personal, but remember who is reading it: an admissions committee often made up of doctors of veterinary medicine (DVMs). You want your veterinary personal statement to stand out against a crowded field of applicants. Writing that you love animals and have wanted to be a vet ever since you were a kid, for example, is too common and superficial. You should demonstrate a love of medicine in general and a curiosity about the science of veterinary medicine in particular. After all, you will be a doctor who treats animals, not a vet tech or assistant. Describe your desire to be a DVM. Perhaps it’s your calling. And remember that your VMCAS essay won’t be read in isolation — it will be compared to many others. You may need to dig deep to write a memorable essay.

3. Hook Your Reader.

A “narrative hook” is a literary device that catches a reader’s attention at the very beginning of a story — and isn’t that what you want to do on your vet school personal statement? Start the essay with a catchy story, quote, or memory — perhaps the moment you realized you wanted to be a veterinarian more than anything else. Or it could be some other experience that helped guide you to that realization, or even some unrelated significant and transformational moment altogether. The point is to make the reader want to keep reading.

4. Highlight Your Experiences.

After putting the hook in the reader, you’ll want to keep them on the line. Flesh out your relevant and unique experiences; explain your background and expertise. Show how life has prepared you for the academic and psychological challenges of vet school. Remember that you’re applying to get a doctoral degree, so go easy on the cutesy charm and don’t overshare. The admissions committee doesn’t need gory or emotional details. Be concise, mature, and — above all — interesting.

5. Articulate Personal Growth.

Your VMCAS personal statement details your journey. You may have fallen out of the crib loving animals, but it took time and mature decision-making to decide to become a veterinarian. Vets are doctors, and it’s not all about cuddles: Doctors have to make tough decisions, perform necessary procedures, and often share heartbreaking news with owners who cherish their pets. Your mature growth should be on display — you’ll need it both as a student and as a DVM. The admissions committee knows this better than anyone; they’ll be looking for it.

6. Define Your Values and Aspirations.

Your VMCAS personal statement should illustrate your passion, commitment, and values. What makes you happy? What drives you to excel? What makes you excited for the future? What makes you feel satisfied at the end of the day? And on the other hand, what failures or shortcomings have kept you awake at night? Recognizing your faults — admitting that you have them — shows maturity, particularly if you feel you’ve overcome them. Don’t distract the admissions committee with trite or common misadventures. Make your points significant, but keep them brief and purposeful.

7. Show, Don’t Tell.

Without boasting or self-congratulation, showcase the qualities you have that will make you a good student and a good vet. Demonstrate your compassion, dedication, and maturity — perhaps your calm in times of distress. But don’t just say you’re intelligent, for example; show it: I love organic chemistry! If you’ve already mentioned an experience elsewhere in your application, perhaps you can expand on it here to further show the occasion’s significance and lasting effect on you.

8. Avoid Assumptions and Overgeneralizations.

Remember your audience — the admissions committee — but be careful not to make unwarranted assumptions. Don’t say: “It’s rare to find a vet applicant like me who has a background in engineering.” Is it rare? Rather, explain how a background in engineering gives you a unique perspective on veterinary medicine, or an advantage in problem-solving. Let the reader decide how rare or exciting something is, even if you grew up among a pride of lions.

9. Conclude With a Vision.

Sum up your experience to show what a well-rounded vet school applicant you are. Show how your background, personality, and passion make you an ideal candidate. You want the admissions committee to believe you will succeed in both vet school and the veterinary profession. And lay out your vision for the future: What veterinary specialties interest you? What is the main purpose behind your desire to be a veterinarian? Is your aim to help individual animals, communities, or something bigger? Also be quick to admit that the way you feel right now, as an applicant, may change as you go along. You are passionate, well-intended, and open and eager to expand your horizons.

10. Proofread and Enlist Help.

Check your vet school personal statement for errors several times. You might be surprised how often students undermine their VMCAS essay with misspellings and grammatical errors. Take care with medical and technical terminology. Misspellings and bad grammar reduce your credibility, as do misused terms. To help catch errors, enlist others as proofreaders. A fresh set of eyes can spot mistakes or other problems that you may have missed.

What Do You Need for Your Ross Vet Application?

At Ross Vet , a personal essay is required as part of your application. If applying through VMCAS, the personal statement will be accepted as your essay. There is no set of rules mandating what a strong personal statement should include, but here are a few more tips to help you successfully craft an effective and winning personal statement:

Discuss how you would contribute to the profession and animal care.
Explain why you are a good candidate for veterinary school. In a pile of 100 applications, does your statement stand out?
Convey your passion for veterinary medicine.
Avoid repeating information from your transcripts or reference letters.
Ask yourself if this essay is a good representation of your character, ideals, and aspirations.

Notice how the prompts focus on your values, goals, and individual qualities. Vet school is a formidable academic challenge that requires perseverance and drive. Highlight your personal values, your dedication, and the contributions you hope to make to veterinary medicine and the larger world. But do not just talk about your values. The best VMCAS personal statements show how values have been gained through experiences, volunteer work, relationships, and personal growth.

Now that you’ve read our vet school personal statement tips, get to work on that essay! For motivation, check out Ross Vet and learn more about our DVM program , our campus , and the island of St. Kitts that we call home. It may just inspire you to apply for admission ! Ross Vet provides an accelerated, broad-based curriculum that integrates unique research opportunities, classroom study, and hands-on experiential learning. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Related Resources:

Tips for Preparing a Strong Vet School Application
VMCAS Letter of Recommendation: How To Obtain It
DVM Degree Program Admissions

* Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine confers a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, which is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA COE), 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173, Tel: 800.248.2862. For more information please visit https://www.avma.org/education/accreditation-veterinary-colleges.

The AVMA COE uses defined standards to evaluate veterinary medical education programs, including facilities, clinical resources, curriculum, faculty, student outcomes and research programs. The standards are interpreted and applied by the AVMA COE- accredited veterinary medical education programs in relation to its mission.

The information and material contained in this article and on this website are for informational purposes only and should not be considered, or used in place of, professional medical advice. Please speak with a licensed medical provider for specific questions or concerns. Ross Med is not responsible for the information maintained or provided on third-party websites or external links.

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Vet school personal statement: how to write + examples.

Reviewed by:

Jonathan Preminger

Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine

Reviewed: 4/26/24

Writing your personal statement for vet school is no easy feat, but we’ve got you covered! Follow along for expert tips and successful examples of vet school personal statements.

When it comes to your vet school application, one of the main requirements is your personal statement, which can hold a lot of weight. This essay is your first opportunity to demonstrate your personality and why you would be an excellent candidate beyond your grades.

For some, an excellent personal statement can even help make up for low grades or test scores, so it’s important to get it right.

Luckily, we’ve compiled our best tips and successful vet school personal statement examples to help you through the process. We’ll review tips from our experts on how to write a stand-out essay, examine each of our essay samples, and explain what made them successful.

If you’re currently applying for vet school and are looking for assistance on any part of the application process, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our experienced admissions advisors at any time. We know how hard it is to get into vet school ; we can help!

Let’s get started!

Get The Ultimate Guide on Writing an Unforgettable Personal Statement

How to Write a Personal Statement for Vet School

Here are some of our top tips when writing a personal statement for vet school.

Write Now, Edit Later

In most writing scenarios, getting started is the hardest part. The best way to relieve that stress is to start writing and keep going. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it can be longer or shorter than the word count initially. The purpose of this method is to pull out all the information and review it later on.

Try writing out your entire story, front to back, of how you grew up and developed an interest in vet school . Make sure to include two to three relevant work experiences.

Once you have nothing left to say, look at what you’ve written and highlight the best, most relevant parts. Then, you can begin editing backward and pull out your best ideas.

Consider Your Unique Perspective

Your story, no matter what it is, has value. Vet schools are competitive, and your admissions committee will see hundreds of applications. Finding a way to frame your unique perspective in your personal statement can help to create a memorable essay that will leave a lasting impression on readers.

Consider your hometown, culture, family, passions, etc. Some students compare their passion for learning a challenging skill like playing the piano to the commitment and dedication required for vet school.

There are no wrong answers here, as long as you can connect what makes you unique to your work experiences and why you would be an excellent vet school candidate.

Revise, Revise, Revise!

It may sound obvious, but there has never been a more important time to revise an essay repeatedly. Remember, vet school is competitive. Something as small as a spelling or grammatical error could make the difference between getting in or not.

Run your work by your teachers, family, and friends for revisions - not rewrites! Every word should sound like something you would authentically say. It would help if you had others help you edit, but ensure the paper still sounds like you.

Vet School Personal Statement Examples

Here are three excellent examples of vet school personal statements. Below you’ll find veterinary school personal statement samples and our explanations of why the essay was successful.

1. Example From the Veterinary School at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

“Living with my single mother, a nurse who often works over 60 hours a week to support my family, has taught me the value of hard work. From her, I have learned to be passionate and meticulous in all the work that I do. She instilled in me the need to constantly stay busy and involved. I thrive in an environment that challenges me and requires quick thinking. Due to the influence of my mother, I have developed a strong perseverance and sense of determination. My parents’ divorce kept me in a changing environment growing up–I had to adapt to a variety of living situations with little finances to support us. From this, I acquired the skills of being thrifty and knowing how to make sacrifices. The characteristics I have developed through my home environment growing up made me into an ideal candidate for vet school and a future veterinarian – a person who is passionate and dedicated to their work, but who also can cope with a fast-paced environment and problematic situations. For the past seven years, I have applied these qualities to volunteering and caring for animals, developing my interest in veterinary medicine further. When I was thirteen, I volunteered at Birmingham Zoo in Alabama. A large part of my role there included guest education about the animals on exhibit, usually using artifacts such as animal hides and skulls to explain various topics. I worked mainly in the lorikeet exhibit, where I stayed in the exhibit with the birds while guests walked through. My jobs were to watch over the interactions between the birds and the guests, as well as to educate the guests about the birds. From working there, I realized that I really liked getting to educate people about animals, a large portion of the job of a veterinarian. The most influential experience I’ve had on my decision to become a veterinarian was working at Elk Grove Pet Clinic. I have been a kennel attendant there since 2007, where my job is to take care of all the in-house pets, care for the boarding animals, assist in appointments, give medications, and help with the cleaning of the clinic. I have observed numerous surgeries, including routine spay and neuter surgeries, but also more unusual surgeries such as a 6 pound tumor removal from a dog and a surgery on the clinic’s ferret to remove tumors from his pancreas. I have handled and cared for not only cats and dogs, but also macaws, cockatoos, snakes, ferrets, chinchillas, and tortoises. Through working there, I had the opportunity to observe the duties of a private practice vet and see how they normally handle appointments, surgeries, and client communication in difficult situations. I have observed the doctor discussing with clients care options and the possibility of euthanasia, as well as assisted in euthanasia. I have also assisted during emergencies, such as immediate care for a dog hit by a car. Through working at Elk Grove Pet Clinic, I have seen the responsibilities of a vet in caring for an animal in appointments and emergencies, as well as the importance of educating and discussing options with the pet owners. I spent my junior year of college interning at the Champaign County Humane Society. I did an Animal Care Internship in the fall and a Medical/Lab Internship in the spring. The Medical/Lab Internship reaffirmed my decision of wanting to go to veterinary school. While interning, I was able to gain experience performing physical exams, drawing blood, giving treatments and medications, restraining animals, microchipping animals, trimming nails, and learning what signs to look for in a sick animal. I learned how to make and read an ear cytology slide, as well as how to tell if an animal has a bacterial ear infection or ear mites. The animals that I worked with were mainly cats and dogs, but also included guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, chinchillas, and bearded dragons. I was able to compare the duties of a shelter veterinarian and a private practice veterinarian, which varied due to the financial constraints of a shelter and the fact that the animals in the shelter do not have owners for the veterinarian to consult with. Through my internships, I learned how much I enjoy doing physical exams, finding out what is wrong with an animal, and learning how to treat it. As a veterinarian, I would be able to apply all of these experiences by working in a science that is continually advancing, while contributing to the field through research and public education. The skills that I have developed and the knowledge I have gained through working with animals have strengthened my interest in veterinary medicine. Overall, my experiences with animals, my profound passion for science, and the characteristics I have developed through my home environment have shaped me into an excellent candidate for veterinary school.”

Why this essay works:

In this example, the student begins by connecting their passion for vet school to her childhood experiences. The applicant then lists their valuable experience to demonstrate continued investment in their chosen career path.

They conclude by summarizing their writing - mentioning their passions for animals, science, and experience, all as reasons to accept them into the program.

This essay is strong overall; however, it lacks a bit of reading flow. While it’s good to remind the admissions committee of your achievements and how they helped you grow, keep in mind that they’ve already seen these accomplishments on your CV.

Your personal statement should be focused on telling your story rather than simply listing your achievements. Still, this student wrote a successful essay.

2. Example from the University College Dublin’s Veterinary Medicine Program (Graduate)

“From an early age, it was clear to me that my career path would involve working with animals in a clinical context, as I have always had a passion for science, animal health, and welfare. My first exposure to the veterinary clinical environment was through a high school program, which provided me with the insight into how rewarding and fulfilling it was to be able to use scientific knowledge in order to diagnose, treat, prevent and ideally cure diseases. This has led me to study Biochemistry for my undergraduate degree, as I wanted to have a solid basis for a comprehensive understanding of the metabolism and function of animals in health and disease. During my postgraduate studies, I had conducted a one-year research project working with Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agents for African Trypanosomiasis, an infectious disease of wild and domestic animals and humans of sub-Saharan Africa. As African Trypanosomiasis is a zoonotic disease, this research experience had introduced me to the ‘One Health’ transdisciplinary approach and increased my awareness of the intricate relationship between human and animal health. I have developed a strong appreciation on the importance of both veterinarians and human health professionals working together in order to detect, prevent and control disease outbreaks, as well as the key role that veterinarians play in the bigger picture of society. My latest internship at a companion animal veterinary clinic has taught me the importance of high-quality animal care and optimal health maintenance by providing routine treatments and the appropriate vaccinations. I thoroughly enjoyed working in a veterinary clinical setting, from communicating with the clients to determine the animal’s medical history, aiding during the clinical examinations, using the various laboratory equipment for diagnostics, to the hands-on component of the job such as dental cleaning and assisting during surgical procedures. I want to become a veterinarian because I am dedicated to improving public health goals and outcomes by assessing, investigating and managing animal health and zoonotic disease risks. I will enjoy collaborating with other veterinarians and various health professionals, such as epidemiologists and pathologists, to understand and identify new and emerging diseases and control them, reducing the time they circulate in the animal population. Working as a public health veterinarian would also involve protecting the welfare of animals by ensuring that the standards of animal-keeping are met. This would ensure that the animals, especially livestock, would be healthy, and diseases that could have repercussions on human health will be reduced as much as possible. In this regard, I would also like to foster better collaboration with human health professionals so that future interdisciplinary public health issues can be tackled more efficiently. I believe that my educational background and experience have prepared me well for a veterinary medicine program and I would be honoured to be able to attend the University College Dublin’s Veterinary Medicine (Graduate Entry) program to pursue my career as a veterinarian.”

This applicant displays a passion for veterinary medicine through their unique initiatives and career experiences. Something unique that this student focuses on in their personal statement is how they intend to improve the world of veterinary medicine.

This is an excellent perspective to present in your personal statement! Consider the specific shortcomings you’ve noticed in veterinary medicine and how you intend to improve upon those areas. It’s not essential if you don’t have any ideas, but it looks great on an application.

3. Example from the University of Scranton

“Ever since I can remember I have always had a passion for animals. Their beauty and ability to comfort me are only outmatched by their honesty, loyalty and faithfulness. My path to realizing that my true calling lies in veterinary medicine began when I took a life biology course in high school. In this course I realized my intrigue with animals went far beyond their cute and cuddly parts. I was interested in how they worked from the inside and realized that I should be their doctor. Ever since that first high school class I have focused my educational path in pursuit of becoming a veterinarian. I have volunteered at animal shelters, worked in clinics, shadowed veterinarians and participated in basic science research. Now that I stand at the doorstep of college graduation I cannot imagine my life if I do not attend veterinary school. I shadowed my veterinarian Dr. Henry Nebzydoski and was amazed by his precision, immense knowledge and skill. I learned that in medicine many things can go wrong in a situation, but there are also many ways to solve problems. I loved being able to meet clients whose love for their pets was apparent. That love between an animal and its owner drew me further into the love of veterinary medicine. This shared compassion and love for animals helped me relate to clients. Volunteering at local shelters, I gained more perspective on a career as a veterinarian. I learned how to care for abused and homeless animals and to let go of the animals I had grown to love when it was in their best interest. While shadowing Dr. Michelle Falzone, I observed that each veterinary practice was different. Doctors bring their own personality to make each experience unique; it is never just a routine doctor's visit. I believe that I, too, will bring individuality to the field of veterinary medicine that will benefit my clients. I obtained a job at an emergency animal hospital where the number of patients and the variety of problems presented was vastly different from daytime practices. Veterinarians have to work under time constraints and I learned about the hard choices a family often makes. At first, I thought the patient-doctor bond was absent in these cases, but the doctors make sure the connection is still present by spending time talking to clients and personally calling them to disclose test results. I learn a great deal everyday at the emergency clinic, such as filling medications, diagnosing symptoms and caring for patients and animals in difficult situations. Seeing many prognoses, I learned that there is hope for even the worst one and that a doctor's optimism is important. Most importantly this experience taught me the value of communication skills in veterinary medicine. I have to explain procedures and calm down many patients in order to be able to understand the problems involved with their pets. I will never forget the first time I watched a pet euthanized. Distraught, I thought for a time I would refuse to perform euthanasia in my practice. As I took in more of the doctor-patient interactions, I realized this would not be fair. The bond between a veterinarian and a pet owner becomes very important and is needed throughout the animal's life. The doctor, who has been there throughout the good and difficult times, needs to be there for the owner and the pet when the only choice left is to end the suffering of the animal. For more than a year I have been interning at The Commonwealth Medical College. I am conducting a research study with Dr. John Arnott on the expression of connective tissue growth factor in osteoblasts. This experience provided me with new insights into the importance of the basic sciences and I have developed great respect for their study and place in clinical medicine. More than anything scientific research has taught me humility and that success requires tenacity. This experience has helped me grow as an individual and to find that I am capable of doing things I never dreamed. With my help, we are one step closer to figuring out the steps in the cellular pathway to bone growth and thus are closer to potentially identifying molecules that will enhance bone growth. Veterinary medicine is a love of the science used to care and treat animals. This coincides with the compassion for and communication with pet owners. As these animals are unable to communicate as a human might, veterinarians become dependent on the owner's ability to detect and describe problems. This challenge continues to fascinate me and I look forward to devoting my life to the field of veterinary science. Becoming a veterinarian began as a dream many years ago for me, and is now close to a reality. My dream has always been a simple one - to pursue a love I have harbored since a youth, carrying it from a fascination and love of animals, to creating a successful veterinary practice. I am ready for the next step to fulfill this dream.”

Why this essay works:

This essay is the most successful example we’ve shown due to its readability. Notice how the applicant includes descriptive language when they mention their previous experiences.

They present their personal statement as a cohesive, flowing story from when they first became interested in veterinary medicine to now. It’s simple, compelling, honest, and - perhaps most importantly - easy to read.

These examples of personal statements for vet school should guide you in the right direction when creating yours.

FAQs: Personal Statement for Vet School

Here are our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about personal statements for vet school.

1. What Should A Vet School Personal Statement Include?

Your vet school personal statement should describe how your passion for veterinary medicine began, and two to three experiences you’ve had that demonstrate how you’ve improved upon that passion. It should flow nicely, be easy to read, and conclude by reinstating your passion for the profession and how you intend to improve the field.

2. How Long Is A Personal Statement For Vet School?

Personal statements for vet school are typically one page or 3,000 words long. However, schools will often give you specific parameters for your essay. Pay close attention to the prompts given to you throughout your application process.

3. How Do You End a Vet School Personal Statement?

There are several ways to end a vet school personal statement successfully. You should always reinstate your passion for veterinary medicine and end on a high note. Suppose you have a specific way you intend to improve veterinary medicine. In that case, the end of your personal statement is an excellent place to state your intentions.

4. What Makes a Good Personal Statement for Vet School?

A good veterinary medicine personal statement must include your passion for the field, showcases unique experiences and qualities, exhibits a strong connection to animals, and utilizes effective storytelling and structure.

It must also exhibit strong and concise writing and attention to detail. It should authentically convey your motivation and leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee.

5. How Important Are Personal Statements for Veterinary Schools?

A personal statement for veterinary school is extremely important. It provides applicants a platform to showcase their individuality, express their motivation, and demonstrate their suitability for the veterinary profession.

Personal statements offer insights into applicants' personal and professional qualities that may not be apparent from other application components.

Final Thoughts

Your vet school personal statement should be thoughtful, heartfelt, and informative. You should ensure that your story is easy to read by using descriptive language and lining up the highlights of your work experience in order.

Consider your unique perspective. Remember, these programs are competitive. Putting your unique twist on your essay will help you stand out from the pack and remain in the minds of the admissions committee.

Good luck!

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July 11, 2024

Vet School Personal Statement Examples to Guide You

You’ve done the work you needed to to prepare yourself for vet school. The academic work. The volunteer work. The clinical work. And now you must answer the VMCAS (Veterinary Medical College Application Service) essay prompt “Why do you want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine?” You have just 3,000 characters with which to do so.

Many vet school candidates find writing scientific lab reports or manuscripts easier than writing a narrative vet school personal statement. And there are so many suggestions of what you should and should not do when writing a personal statement that it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

To help you better understand what a strong vet school personal statement looks like, in this post, we present the following example, which was written by an Accepted client who ultimately received several offers of acceptance.

Titans. In Greek mythology, the Titans were the pre-Olympians, the elder gods. They ruled the Earth and had enormous amounts of strength. In my childhood, I had a titan too, a canine. At the age of nine my family adopted a healthy Leonberger puppy that we named Titan. Little did we know at the time that his name would not only represent his size but also his unwavering strength. At the age of one, he was diagnosed with a multitude of chronic health issues and was not expected to make it to two years of age. However, as a true titan, he proved everyone wrong. I watched his bravery and will to live as the veterinarians went above and beyond to help Titan with numerous treatment plans all while showing great kindness and empathy. This helped me realize I wanted to be a veterinarian to help other animals and foster strong relations between clients and veterinarians; Titan was my defining moment.

Growing up, I lacked self-confidence and avoided talking to people I did not know. With Titan as my constant companion, I had a plethora of strangers ask me questions about him, thus fostering my interpersonal communication skills. Being able to confidently answer questions about Titan, his breed, and his health helped to prepare me for similar conversations I currently have in my position as a veterinary assistant. I am able to handle both easy and difficult conversations with pet owners by being an engaged listener, an empathetic pet owner, and having confidence in my knowledge of animals and in myself. I also recognize that not all owners have the courage or understanding to ask the questions needed to best support their animals. With this in mind, one goal I have as a future veterinarian is to help bridge the gap of knowledge that exists between animal owners and those in the veterinary industry by providing more education for owners about their animals.

Another aspect that I will bring to the veterinary profession is inclusivity. My older brother has special needs and I have seen the progress he has made through interactions with our dogs and cats. He has gained confidence, become more social, and is able to more freely express himself. My long-term goal to contribute to the field of veterinary medicine is to create a veterinary practice that employs people with disabilities. My future practice would offer a valuable and engaging place of employment by helping decrease the stigma surrounding the capabilities of those with special needs, and foster meaningful relationships between people and animals.

The connection and experiences I had with Titan started me on my path to becoming a veterinarian. I have persevered through every opposition I have faced, learning from my mistakes and successes while remaining dedicated to my goal of becoming a veterinarian. By being a strong communicator and working well with others I have shown my ability to lead by example. All of these attributes and more are why I will be a successful veterinarian.

This vet school personal statement has three key strengths:

#1: The initial narrative about the applicant’s childhood pet, Titan, coupled with the writer’s ability to be vulnerable (e.g., stating that they lacked self-confidence), allows an adcom reader to form an image of the candidate and want to learn more. Furthermore, the connection between the candidate and their dog clearly lays the foundation for their interest in the field of veterinary medicine.

#2: This applicant not only refers to their position as a veterinary assistant but also notes very specific skills they’ve cultivated in that role, such as being an engaged listener and their ability to have difficult conversations. This demonstrates that the applicant is actively invested in the process of learning as much as possible while working.

#3: The applicant does a great job of highlighting their vision of their future as a practitioner, both holistically (i.e., wanting to be a good educator) and specifically (i.e., wanting to employ staff with special needs). This lets the adcom know that the applicant is thinking not just about the point of matriculation but also about being a provider who will contribute to the growth and development of the field.

As the former assistant dean of student affairs and career development at the William Beaumont School of Medicine, Dr. Valerie Wherley worked directly with the dean of the School of Medicine, the associate dean of student affairs, the associate dean of clinical curriculum, and the assistant dean of admissions, as well as with Year 4 students on both residency application reviews/critiques and mock interview preparation. Work with Valerie! Schedule a free consultation today!

Related Resources:

Highlighting Your Leadership Experience in Your Application
Four Tips for Displaying Teamwork in Your Application Essays
How Personal Is Too Personal In Your Application Essays?

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How To Write a Vet School Personal Statement

Personal statements are one of the first big steps towards becoming a vet, but how do you write one? Find out in our detailed guide.

How to write a vet school personal statement

Getting into a great veterinary school can be tough. Vet course admissions are very competitive, so you need to do everything you can to prove that you are an exceptional candidate. This includes writing a great veterinary personal statement. We look at how to write a personal statement for vet school, key items to include, and why nailing your personal statement is important.

Why we have to write personal statements

Your personal statement is an important part of your application process, as veterinary school is highly competitive. This is the chance to add a personal touch to your application and make you stand out from the crowd. While your resume will list all of your accomplishments, educational background, and experience, your personal statement allows you to tie all of this together and let your passion, personality, and enthusiasm for veterinary medicine shine through. Your personal statement is also where you can mention anything that doesn’t fit into the other sections of your application, and it’s an ideal place to reinforce how you meet the admission requirements .

Here, you’ll introduce yourself and explain why you’ll be a great fit for the program, touch on what has inspired you to further your studies, and why you think you are good candidate to become a veterinarian. You might also want to include what you like about this particular program and how you think it will enrich your knowledge and understanding of veterinary medicine.

This means that when you get an interview for admission, the admissions officer should already know a bit about you and allows you to jump straight into answering their questions.

Demonstrate your passion for animals

Since you only have limited space on your personal statement, it’s important to use this space to convince the admissions team that your passion for animals would make you an excellent veterinarian.

In order to uniquely demonstrate your passion for animals, try to think outside of the box. Don’t just talk about family pets. Mention times you’ve been proactive, hands-on, and gained experience with animals. This might include helping with the birthing season on a local farm, volunteering in kennels, or helping strays find foster homes in animal shelters.

It’s also important to specify what type of animals you have interacted with. Did you grow up riding horses and love tending to large mammals? Or did your family raise small animals? Whatever your particular interest in the veterinary world, be sure to add it. Schools like to see students who have a plan of where to specialize and continue their education.

Of course, don’t forget that most vets have to work with people too, so it’s a good idea to include something that shows you can work as part of a team or with clients.

Highlight all relevant experience

Whatever you’ve done for animals outside your normal household, include it, especially if it’s something related to wellbeing and health. Even better, if you can remember a particular interaction that made you want to be a veterinarian, be sure to include it.

Your resume will list your experience and qualifications, but your vet school application personal statement is where you can say why your experience is relevant to the program. When you’re planning your statement, you can make notes of what experience you have, and what transferable skills you have gained. Then you can find ways to tie this into veterinary medicine. For example, if you’re an empathetic person who has worked in customer service, you can relate this to dealing with clients at a standard vet practice. If you have experience running a social group, this ties into leadership skills and motivation to go above and beyond for something you’re interested in.

Remember, you’ll have gained invaluable experience from almost everything you do, whether that’s education, work, voluntary roles, or hobbies. You just need to think about how it is relevant to what you want to do next.

Set yourself apart from the crowd

First, you should try to think about what makes you unique. Try to think about the things you’ve done that other people haven’t, or experiences you’ve had. Remember that you’ll be competing for a seat against people all over the country and potentially all over the world, so even the most basic things might be unusual compared to other applicants.

Just like in the previous section, think about how your background gives you a different perspective or relevant skills. Try to tie it into the topics you’ll be learning in vet school, and the challenges you would face in your daily life as a veterinarian.

While you might want a large portion of your statement to be positive, you can also bring up any difficulties you’ve had and how you’ve used problem-solving skills and resourcefulness to overcome them. It shows that you’re willing to do a lot to reach your dream, which suggests you’ll be a focused and dedicated student.

You should also be sure to be personable in your personal statement. Vet school committees will expect you to remain professional and precise in what you say with word limitations in mind. However, you should aim for a conversational, friendly tone. Your personal statement is about you, so it should give the admissions committee an insight into your personality. Try to find a happy medium where you don’t sound too stiff and formal, but also don’t use slang too much.

Preparation is key

There are a lot of different things you will want to cover in your personal statement for vet school, and it’s more than simply a ‘why I want to be a veterinarian’ essay. That’s why it’s vital to prepare and plan your statement before you write it.

Just like any other assignment, you should break the statement down into sections. Make sure you highlight the goal of each section – one section might be talking about your background, and one might be about your experience. Then plan out each section with some key points to include, such as the skills your experience has provided. Then you can write the actual contents without wavering too much – and you definitely don’t want to waste words.

Afterward, be sure to proofread it thoroughly. If you can, you should ask someone else to read it too. Ask them if it makes sense, as well as get them to note any errors they find.

If you’re ready to take the next step and start studying at a leading vet school, contact us to speak to one of our expert advisors. St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine provides graduates with new knowledge, skills, and methods necessary to become caring, competent veterinarians.

Check out webinar events at St. Matthew’s School of Veterinary Medicine for more information about the application process, including your personal statement.

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Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement

Get advice on how to start writing your personal statement for Veterinary Medicine and stand out from other applicants.

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If you would like to apply to study Veterinary Medicine , you’ll be required to make an application via UCAS . The application will have to include a Veterinary Medicine personal statement – which could make a big difference for vet schools looking to screen applicants prior to interviews!

How to Write a Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement

Aspiring veterinarians will all have to meet specific grade requirements and provide suitable references. This means that one of the few chances to really stand out from the crowd is your personal statement.

It is your opportunity to showcase your interest and motivations in the field, as well as experiences, skills and attributes.

Personal statements need to be submitted before the UCAS deadline, which is typically in October for Veterinary Medicine.

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Structuring Your Personal Statement

The structure of a veterinary medicine personal statement consists of three key elements: the introduction, body, and conclusion. Each section serves a specific purpose in conveying your motivation, experiences, and goals.

Introduction

The first section is your introduction. This is your opening pitch, which should grab the reader’s attention. It is your opportunity to make a strong first impression.

Avoid clichés like “I have always wanted to be a veterinarian” and instead focus on stating your motivation for pursuing veterinary medicine. Highlight any personal experiences or events that sparked your interest in the field. This section should demonstrate your genuine passion and commitment to veterinary medicine.

The next element is the body of your personal statement. Discuss any work experience, volunteering, or extracurricular activities that have contributed to your understanding of veterinary medicine.

Showcase transferable skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, and empathy. Provide specific examples to illustrate how these experiences have shaped your desire to become a veterinarian.

This section should highlight your dedication, knowledge, and readiness for the challenges of veterinary medicine

The third and final element is your conclusion. The conclusion is your opportunity to summarize the main points of your personal statement and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Reinforce your passion, commitment, and future goals in veterinary medicine. Emphasize how your experiences have solidified your decision to pursue this career path. End with a strong and memorable statement that reflects your enthusiasm and readiness for the challenges and rewards of being a veterinarian.

This section should leave the reader with a sense of your determination and excitement for your future career.

Personal Statement Help

Focus on one-to-one help with an admissions tutor for your Veterinary School application

Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement Tips

Use our tips for writing your Veterinary Medicine personal statement!

Showcase Your Passion and Motivation

You should demonstrate your genuine passion for animal welfare and explain how your motivation aligns with Veterinary Medicine’s values.

You might be motivated by family members or friends who are in the Veterinary Medicine field. Or you might have developed a passion for animal welfare from a work experience placement at your local veterinarian’s. Whatever your motivation is, you should write about it in your personal statement and explain why it is relevant.

Highlight Relevant Experiences

Veterinary schools are looking for breadth and depth of experience, which typically needs to include:

At least one veterinary practice
Working with large domestic animals on a livestock farm, especially dairy or lambing
Other animal experience, such as in stables, kennels, catteries, zoos, wildlife, or rescue centres, pig or poultry farms, or something more unusual
At least one veterinary practice, working with large domestic animals on a livestock farm, especially dairy or lambing and other animal experience like stables, kennels, catteries, zoos, wildlife, or rescue centres, pig or poultry farms or something more unusual.

You should reflect on any lessons learnt, as well as how these experiences helped you to grow. Don’t forget to specify how many weeks of experience you have obtained!

Demonstrate Suitability for Veterinary Medicine

You should demonstrate that you understand the challenges and responsibilities of the Veterinary Medicine profession and highlight your ability to work in a team, handle stress and make ethical decisions.

You should also demonstrate your commitment to ongoing learning throughout your Veterinary Medicine career and staying up-to-date with veterinary science developments.

However, you should not just consider experiences. You should also discuss key skills and attributes and provide examples of how you have demonstrated these in academic and personal settings.

Other writing tips

After writing your personal statement, you should review it carefully to ensure it is clear and coherent. You should also review it for any spelling or grammatical errors.

You should tailor your personal statement to each veterinary school you apply to. Veterinary schools have unique curricula, research opportunities, and values, and they want to admit students who align with their mission and can contribute to their community.

By tailoring your personal statement, you can highlight how your experiences, skills, and goals align with the specific strengths and values of each school, showing your genuine interest and dedication.

You might also want to get feedback on your personal statement! You could ask a relative to read it and give you their thoughts or ask a friend or a teacher to comment on what impression it made on them.

You might also like to get professional help with your personal statement,

Get a Personal Statement Review by an Admissions Tutor
Focus on one-to-one help with Personal Statement Tutoring for your Veterinary School application

Things to avoid

Some common personal statement mistakes include:

Lack of focus: A common mistake is not having a clear focus or central theme in the personal statement. It is important to have a central idea or message that ties your experiences, skills, and goals together. Without a clear focus, the personal statement may come across as disjointed or lacking direction.
Generic statements: Using generic statements or clichés, such as “I love animals” or “I have always wanted to be a veterinarian,” can weaken the personal statement. Admissions committees are looking for unique and genuine perspectives, so it is important to provide specific examples and personal anecdotes that demonstrate your passion and commitment to veterinary medicine.
Lack of self-reflection: A personal statement should not just be a list of experiences or achievements. It should also include self-reflection and insight into how these experiences have shaped your desire to pursue veterinary medicine. Failing to reflect on the impact of your experiences can make the personal statement appear superficial or lacking depth.
Poor organization and structure: A disorganized or poorly structured personal statement can make it difficult for the reader to follow your narrative. It is important to have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, with each section flowing logically into the next. Use paragraphs and transitions effectively to ensure a smooth and coherent flow of ideas.
Grammatical and spelling errors: Neglecting to proofread your personal statement can lead to grammatical and spelling errors, which can detract from the overall quality of your writing. It is important to carefully review your personal statement for any mistakes and consider seeking feedback from others to ensure it is error-free.
Overemphasis on grades and test scores: While academic achievements are important, focusing solely on grades and test scores can give the impression that you are only interested in the academic aspect of veterinary medicine. It is important to showcase a well-rounded profile that includes experiences, skills, and qualities beyond academic performance.

A well-written, persuasive and stand-out personal statement is your key to a potential veterinary school interview .

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Applying to Veterinary School in 2024: Veterinary Personal Statement Top Tips From Cambridge & RVC Graduates

Applying to vet school can seem intimidating. In this article, we hope to demystify the process for you, discussing top tips for writing your personal statement, exploring the subject prior to interviews and preparing you to follow your veterinary dreams!

Preparing a Veterinary Personal Statement

When writing your personal statement, it is important to ensure breadth and depth, discussing topics in detail and ensuring you can mention a range of different topics/ experience to show a wider knowledge of the subject area. Make sure you mention people as well as animals, and choose topics you would be comfortable discussing further at interview.

Why are you applying?

Before you begin preparing for your veterinary application, it is worth taking a few minutes to think about the reasons why you wish to study veterinary medicine. This will be crucial for personal statement writing and you may be asked about your motivations for applying at interview. Your reasons for application should be well-thought out and specific. When you have some work experience of volunteering done, you can incorporate these experiences in your answers.

Begin by planning how you will structure your response. You could split your answer into three sections:

1. Why the university?

Extensively research the university, societies you might want to join etc. and know the style of veterinary school. N.B. Most veterinary schools will have a page dedicated to what they want from applicants - take your cue from them!

2. Why veterinary?

Think about what YOU will gain from the degree itself

Think about what the degree will allow you to do once you are done e.g. The different routes you could take: Veterinary surgeon, zoo industry, scientific research, higher education lecturer, conservation work, charity sector (RSPCA) etc.

Ideas: You could think about how veterinary scientists benefit our community, maintaining animal welfare standards, improving food security, informing policy changes, the lifelong learning experience…

What are your ambitions? What interests you about veterinary medicine?

Consider the top 6 qualities you think it will be most important to evidence in your personal statement – consider practical and non practical skills

3. Why are you a suitable candidate?

When answering "Why me?" style questions at interview, or brainstorming when writing your personal statement, you must be able to demonstrate your quality and relate back to veterinary.

What makes YOU suitable for this subject? What relevant skills do you have? What relevant experiences or achievements can evidence these skills?

Which qualities would your chosen university most admire? e.g. practical skills, communication skills, problem solving, empathy and sensitivity

Work experience is great to mention as the stimulus that led you to apply for veterinary medicine, rather than just "helping animals", which is the formulaic answer a surprising number of students give! Work experience placements also make perfect examples for questions on your skills/ attributes and veterinary as a career.

Example skills

How to ensure breadth and depth in your Vet personal statement

Those who are going to review your personal statement for university admissions, or interview you, live the subject. They have decided to dedicate their lives to studying this discipline. Therefore, it is important to show that you are closely involved with the subject, even though it is not a subject studied at school. How to do this?

Background Reading/ Research for Vet Science

Evidence of off-curriculum exploration and outside reading is crucial to success in entry to the top veterinary schools . Research some relevant topics in veterinary medicine such as one health, bovine tB, animal welfare, pet obesity and nutrition (80% of horses are obese!), euthanasia and equine notifiable diseases.

Also think about current "“hot topics” in veterinary e.g. equine herpes virus is a hot topic in the UK after a recent outbreak. Students may also like to mention Covid-19 on their personal statement and the questions/ issues the pandemic has thrown up e.g.

Zoonotic diseases (diseases spread between animals and people): The origins of the pandemic are unclear

Coronavirus in pets e.g. dogs: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.html - Concerns over animals/ pets with reported SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in vets being pooled into the research

The effectiveness of tele-consultations/ whether this accelerated the possible digitalisation of some elements of veterinary practice

The importance of non-emergency treatments: Vets encourage dog owners to come for vaccinations each year, but these were classes as non-emergency during the pandemic. Does this mean vaccinations are not essential for dogs?

Are vets key workers? (They were not classes ad key workers originally)

Puppy farming/ ethics of imported rescues

Pet travel/ passports

You could keep a reading chart with a page dedicated to each veterinary related topic. This will be useful for personal statement writing and prospective interviews too. To practise for interview, why not try presenting the topic out loud and pre-empting questions?

New Scientist: Great for articles on current affairs in veterinary science: https://www.newscientist.com/search/?q=veterinary

BBC Radio 4 In Our Time : You’ll find a number of veterinary-related episodes e.g. “The Evolution of Horses” or “Echolocation”

Linking research/ work experience to skills

Mention a range of different topics to show a wider knowledge of the subject area

Pick a topic or experience to discuss in more detail in your personal statement, but use this to show off a quality of yours

Example: Communication skills are central to being a successful vet – you could mention how you used communication skills during work experience or watched a vet demonstrate communication skills in a challenging scenario such as an angry or upset client

Work experience:

Consider which of these placements you have enjoyed the most, and why

Consider a time during your work experience placements when you have learnt something about the practical aspect of working in veterinary science, and also a non-practical aspect

You could also refer to examples of cases seen during work experience

Extracurricular

These may or may not be relevant to veterinary science. If unrelated e.g. a sport, public speaking, music, ensure you link back to why undertaking the extracurricular activity stands you in good stead for a veterinary degree i.e. what skill has it honed? Mention of non-veterinary related extracurriculars should be c.4 lines at the end of the statement.

Example Activities:

Write, write, write! For other subjects, essay competitions are a great way of delving into a topic area in depth and trying your hand at high level academic writing. Whilst veterinary competitions are slightly harder to come by, there are some opportunities for students to get involved in/ mention on their personal statement. Even if the deadline is passed, why not practise brainstorming an answer to, essay planning, or writing a full essay in response to the questions? Questions such as these could also be asked at interview. Even if you don’t mention the competition, you could mention an interest in the field on your personal statement or even turn it into an independent research project

The Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics Competition : Example Question - “ Even when animal euthanasia is ethically indicated, many veterinarians and vet staff become stressed because they feel like executioners. What might change their paradigm?”

Lucy Cavendish College Veterinary Competition : Example Question - ”’Brachycephalic dogs spend their entire lives struggling to breathe. Their popularity is regrettable and their breeding should be strictly regulated.’ Discuss.”

Newnham College, Cambridge Biological Sciences Competition : Example Question - “Replace, reduce, refine: Why do we still need to experiment on animals?”

Research Projects

Zooniverse allows you to take part in science research projects from home. For example, the project “Whooping Cranes” involves virtually looking for large white birds (Whooping Cranes) in Northern Canada to monitor the population of the endangered species, or the “Monkey Health Explorer” project allows you to learn more about monkey health by identifying white blood cell types

We also offer specialised research projects through our co-curricular division, Minds Underground™ . The projects are great to mention on personal statements, and make impressive talking points at interview, particularly for top UK universities such as Cambridge, who favour applicants with an interest in scientific research

These are typically taken over a 4-week duration, involving weekly hour-long project tutorials and a final review session. The aim is to combine teaching of high-level subject-specific content with exposure to real-world applications of these concepts, giving you the opportunity to undertake a project that is both useful for a university application and future career

We have a selection of projects available on the website, but further veterinary projects can also be customised around your interests with a mentor who has a specialism in the field

Veterinary Courses/ Masterclasses

We run an online Veterinary Summer School (June - August), with two hosts from the Royal Veterinary College

If you have missed the summer course, we also host all of the masterclasses as 1-1 sessions, price on application. Example masterclasses: https://www.mindsunderground.com/stem/veterinary

Online Veterinary Summer School

12 interactive masterclasses on topics such as “Immune Response and Vaccines”, “Basic Life Support and First Aid in the Emergency Patient” and “Veterinary Case Studies: The Vomiting Dog, The Cat Losing Weight, and the Horse with Colic”

Designed to support content building for personal statements, and prepare for veterinary interviews

Hopefully this article has given you more of an idea as to how you should go about content building, writing and structuring a standout vet personal statement. Be concise (you only have 4000 characters!), be honest and speak in detail about specific interests within the veterinary course, emphasising a few in-depth discussions of experience and topics of interest to convey your passion for the subject.

Looking for a Personal Statement Tutor or Support For Your Wider Veterinary School Application?

Veterinary science personal statement.

U2’s Oxbridge-educated mentors have a close insight into what admissions tutors like to see in a veterinary personal statement, and can help students to convey their skills, motivations, and long term goals, in order to stand out from other applicants. The statement should be the candidates own work, but our mentors will provide direction and guide you through the process of content building and writing. We offer offline drafting as well as tuition sessions.

Veterinary Mentoring (Cambridge, RVC and More)

U2 offers both ad hoc tuition and wider Medical School / Oxbridge Mentoring programmes ( book a free consultation to discuss options ). We have a great team of Cambridge-educated and RVC Veterinary mentors, with experience supporting students in application to the UK’s top veterinary schools.

The Process:

1) We suggest a Veterinary mentor and send their full CV for review. Our mentors are deeply familiar with the admissions process and are well-placed to guide you through personal statement curation, test preparation (if applicable) and the interview process. We may suggest a range of application tutors to choose from with slightly differing rates depending on qualifications and level of experience.

2) We typically suggest beginning with a 1.5 hour informal assessment/ taster session , where the mentor will informally assess the student’s current performance level for application. Following this, we issue a report with feedback, and structure a plan to best prepare.

3) U2’s approach for regular veterinary application sessions: The main focus of tutorial sessions will be to explore material that can be discussed in the personal statement and at interview. Mentors ensure each student refines their interests within veterinary, and is exposed to a range of key themes and topics. Together, we build a case for the student, solidifying the stance and direction they will take during interview.

Frequency of sessions can be decided between student and mentor. Students can take either ad hoc sessions, or we structure a full programme for preparation, which may include further co-curricular opportunities such as our research projects , Veterinary summer school and mock interview days.

Sessions from £70/h.

Applying for Linguistics at University in 2024: Reading, Personal Statement and Interview Tips From an Oxford Linguistics Graduate

How to approach the ucat test in 2024: tips for the best ucat preparation.

Personal Statements

Your personal statement is a one-page essay that gives veterinary admissions committees a clear picture of who you are and, most importantly, why you want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine

UGA Supplemental Application questions for 2024-2025 application cycle:

Veterinarians contribute to society in many different ways. Describe several roles they play in society and how you hope to contribute, including the qualities or traits you would bring to the profession. (3500 character limit)
Describe a significant experience or challenge in your life that was unrelated to veterinary medicine, what you learned from that experience, and how you have grown from it. (3500 character limit)
Personal Statement

What should be included?

Although there is no set of rules mandating what a strong personal statement should include, here are a few tips to help you successfully craft an effective personal statement:

Explain a defining moment that helped steer you toward a career in veterinary medicine. Consider using that moment as the focal point of your essay.
Be original and thoughtful: Discuss how you would contribute to the profession and patient care, all of which will help you stand out from other applicants.
As you are telling us why you want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine , explain why you are good candidate for veterinary school. Ask yourself—in a pile of 100 applications, would I enjoy reading my statement? Be sure to convey your passion for veterinary medicine in your statement.
Many of you have had meaningful experiences with animals or veterinarians as children and these are important but should only be mentioned briefly.
Your application materials already contain a summary of your accomplishments, so avoid repeating information from your transcripts or reference letters.
Give yourself time to organize your thoughts, write well and edit as necessary.
Ask yourself if this essay is a good representation of your character, ideals and aspirations.
Don’t forget to proofread!

What should NOT be included?

Avoid cliches: How many times do you think admissions committees have read the phrase, “I love animals”?
Avoid being vague: "[Insert experience] was challenging and rewarding." What does that mean? Be specific about what was impactful and how it affected you.
Avoid brash decision-making: Your decision to become a veterinarian should be the result of a series of thoughtful, conscious, and reflective decisions. NOT an instantaneous realization. Similarly, you have not “always known” that you want to be a vet. No one is "born to be a vet." Nothing is innate, you have to work for it.
Avoid excuses: In general, there are better uses for your essays than explaining away and justifying poor grades, incidents of misconduct, etc. However, if you choose to address these subjects, be sure to focus on what you have learned from those incidents and how your experiences have made you a stronger person. Never, ever blame anyone else for your mistakes.
Avoid restating resume: Choose ONE or TWO significant and distinguishing experiences to elaborate upon.
Avoid grandiosity: For example, claiming that you “know what it is like to be a vet from [shadowing/clinical volunteer experience].” No, you do not. That is precisely why you are hoping to go to vet school.
Avoid inflammatory or controversial topics: You do not know the values, beliefs, and background of the person who is reading your essay. For these reasons, it is advisable to avoid making any strong statements regarding politics, religion, and other polarizing topics. Be extremely cautious to avoid expressing any views that could be construed as derogatory to any group. Additionally, your beliefs are not the only “correct” beliefs.
Do not lie: Honesty and ethical behavior are the hallmarks of being a veterinarian. Do not include details that you are not prepared to talk about or are simply untrue.

When should I start writing?

You need to begin working on your essays early in the fall semester prior to the application opening in January. Remember that the people who are helping you with your essays will need time to review them and you will need time to work through multiple drafts. You should have several different people objectively read your personal essays and provide constructive feedback. There are also resources on campus that can assist you, such as the Career Center and UGA Writing Center . Consider the feedback you get carefully, but be sure that the essays are still written in your voice. In addition, some of your letter writers will want to see a copy of your essays before they write your letter, so you should strive to have competent drafts on hand by October or November. Your letter-writers are often a great option to help review your essays.

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Idiopathic issues, virmp® personal statement: dos and don'ts.

If you’re planning to pursue an internship or residency after vet school, you have probably already started working on your VIRMP ® Application Packet. This packet, which is sent to each program to which you apply, contains your application form, transcripts, CV, letters of reference, and your personal statement. (1)

The personal statement acts as a cover letter for your application packet. Its goal is to provide a better picture of you as an applicant.

Your personal statement should answer three major questions:

What do you expect from an internship/residency program?
What are your long-term career goals?
What can you contribute to the institution?

Personal Statement Dos and Don’ts

Do discuss what you will bring to the program. This is your opportunity to show what makes you unique! Without restating what’s covered in your CV, talk about significant professional or life experiences that have prepared you for this position.
Don’t get too creative or casual. Although your personal statement should reveal something about you as a person, this is not the time for a haiku. Your personal statement should be written in a formal style, like a business letter. Although contractions, ellipses, and casual phrasing may be appropriate for a blog post, they should be avoided in your personal statement.
Do keep it concise. Although your personal statement can be up to two pages in length, try to be concise and limit it to one page. Stick to three paragraphs: one to describe your goals, one to describe your skills/experience, and one to describe how you can help the practice or institution. (2)
Don’t describe yourself in vague platitudes. Be specific and give examples. Don’t tell the committee that you are hard-working; show them that characteristic by discussing a particular achievement, discussing your previous experience in a grueling program, or relaying an anecdote of a time that you overcame an obstacle.
Do proofread your personal statement carefully. After you have corrected all the errors that you can find, email it to several friends or family members for editing. Others are more likely to catch your mistakes.
Don’t procrastinate. I’ve spent the last four years as a freelance writer, so I understand what it’s like to have writer’s block! For me, the best way to start an intimidating project is to sit down at my laptop and start typing something (anything!) related to the topic. Whether it’s a rough outline or a few poorly-constructed opening sentences, getting something on the page always helps. You can always go back and change what you’ve written, but the hardest part is getting started!
Application Packets. Veterinary Internship and Matching Residency Program.
Suggestions for Application to Internships and Residencies. Kansas State University.

Topics: VIRMP

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Veterinary personal statement: The Introduction

Top tips for writing your veterinary personal statement introduction., write the introduction last.

It might seem logical to start writing your Veterinary Personal Statement from the beginning, brainstorming introduction starters. However, the introduction is arguably the most difficult paragraph to write. Many students fixate on writing a “killer opening line”, if you overthink your introduction, you many end up procrastinating from tackling the rest of your Veterinary Personal Statement. If you find that you are struggling with crafting an introduction, then it might be better to start writing the other sections (such as work experience or talking about your personal achievements) first.

Table of Contents

Make it Personal.

When describing your motivation for studying Veterinary think about what you have learnt about being a vet and then why you want to be a vet. The introduction should be based around your personal motivation to study Veterinary Medicine, so avoid making your reasons generic.

Grip the reader immediately.

The introduction of your Veterinary Personal Statement should be the first thing to grasp the reader’s attention, make it snappy and captivating. This is the difference between your application grabbing someone’s attention and it being like all the others they have read. Use your judgement to assess whether your opening lines are authentic and personal to you.

Show an understanding of Veterinary as a degree and profession.

It is important to demonstrate that you understand what a career in Veterinary Medicine involves. Do not fall into the trap of describing your “love for cuddling animals.” This phrase will make the reader question if you are aware of what the job actually involves (it actually involves quite little of this). There are difficult, messy, and upsetting parts to the job.

The Veterinary Schools Council Website provides excellent information about careers and admissions into Vet School

Common Pitfalls in a Veterinary Personal Statement Introduction

Using clichés..

Avoid sounding cliché and using phrases such as ‘I love animals and science.’ This is a hackneyed phrase that will not make you stand out. The word “Passion” croups up lots of times in Veterinary Personal Statements. Passion is an emotion… and it does not fit well describing your chosen career as an emotive feeling. Lastly, avoid using the word ‘dream’ and saying, ‘veterinary medicine is my dream’. This may be the case, but if you mention this it doesn’t come across as very professional, and can sound like you’re unaware of the realities of the profession.

Using unnatural language

Using flowery and verbose language will not impress the admissions tutor. By using unnatural language, it immediately looks like you have used a thesaurus to change up your words. A common example of this is using the word ‘relish’ to describe how much you like doing something. You may want to use synonyms to avoid repeating words. Make sure if that you are still using appropriate concise words in their correct context.

Using Sob Stories

You can use personal anecdotes to help explain your reasoning for wanting to study Veterinary Medicine. Be careful not to make these sound too cliché. Steer away from phrases such as ‘When I was 5 I had a pet hamster that became sick and its treatment at the vets is what inspired me to become one’.

Being Generic

Mentioning that you like science can be another common pitfall in Veterinary Personal Statement introductions. Veterinary medicine combines science and a love of working with animals’ hand in hand. Try to be original when explaining why you like the science aspect of the job. What specifically do you enjoy? How have you had experience of veterinary science in your schooling? e.g. dissections in class or learning about the heart can relate a lot to veterinary anatomy.

N.B. – Do not let the fear of sounding too generic put you off from mentioning animals at all in your introduction. If you are studying to be a vet, you should like animals and you should talk about them in your Veterinary Personal Statement. Try to individually explain why you like them, what is it about working with them that you enjoy? Why is studying veterinary medicine a good choice for you given that you like animals?

A Veterinary Personal Statement Introduction Idea

Consider beginning your Veterinary Personal Statement describing a particular ‘ology’ that you have enjoyed learning about or researching. Think about how you can use this to explain why you want to be a vet. For example, you may describe that you have an interest in cardiology, because you’ve seen a cardio case on your Veterinary work experience. Did this inspire you to look into the future of veterinary cardiology?

Check out our other Veterinary Personal Statement guides and feel free to leave any comments or questions below.

Frequently Asked Question

→what should a personal statement introduction include.

→What is a personal statement for vet school?

As part of your UCAS application you must submit a Personal Statement. Your personal statement is an opportunity to demonstrate to the course providers why you want to study veterinary and why you’d make a brilliant student.

→Should I start my personal statement with a quote?

It is advised to avoid using quotes in your personal statement. Not only do quotes take up valuable space but they can be perceived as being cliché making your statement less credible.

→How long should my introduction be in my veterinary personal statement?

The length of your introduction may vary depending on the specific requirements of the programme you are applying for. However, most veterinary personal statement introductions are typically around 100-200 words in length.

→How can I make my introduction stand out in my veterinary personal statement?

To make your introduction stand out in your veterinary personal statement, you should use clear and concise language to convey your message. You should also focus on your personal experiences and qualities that make you a strong candidate for veterinary medicine. Using a creative hook or anecdote can also help to grab the reader’s attention and make your introduction more memorable.

→Why is the introduction of a veterinary personal statement important?

The introduction of a veterinary personal statement is important because it sets the tone for the rest of the statement and grabs the attention of the reader. It is the first opportunity for applicants to make a strong impression and demonstrate their motivation and passion for veterinary medicine.

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Veterinary Personal Statement

Sample Veterinary Personal Statement

Having always been interested in animals, my fascination has only increased as my understanding of their biology has grown. Looking into the twin processes of evolution and selective breeding has allowed me to understand some of the genetic drawbacks that certain species face, such as ventricular septal defects in bulldogs, and has awoken a desire within me to apply this knowledge to diagnosis and treatment. Veterinary medicine offers an opportunity to combine this concern for animal welfare with an ever-changing, intellectually stimulating professional environment.

Convinced of my desire to study veterinary medicine I have concentrated my studies on science and maths, particularly excelling in Biology, demonstrating my natural affinity with the subject and laying an excellent foundation for study. Chemistry and Physics have rounded out my understanding of the sciences, while Maths has improved my ability to approach problems in a rational, measured manner. My overall performance at GCSE demonstrates my positive attitude to study and my willingness to work hard to succeed in all subjects.

In addition to my commitment to studying the relevant subjects and increase my knowledge, I have undertaken a range of work experience to further my awareness of what the job actually entails. Beginning with a 2-week placement, where I assisted with preparing work surfaces prior to surgery or consultations and holding dogs and cats during injections. It was particularly impressive to see that way in which the vet approached all situations calmly, utilising impressive interpersonal skills when dealing with owners. Observing and assisting with consultations and surgery at Fern Cottage Veterinary Surgery allowed me observe the differences between practicing in South Africa and practising in the UK, offering employment experience across an international context. At Sjeal Arabian Horse Stud Farm I learnt about the connected processes of husbandry and breeding, and a vet’s role within them, as well as worming horses and observing a farrier at work. By developing this knowledge at Eye Horn Farm Stables, where I gained experience of checking for soundness and laminitis in racehorses, I have gained a strong sense of equine treatment in particular. A week spent lambing at a local farm, where I learnt about the Bluetongue virus and the Culicoides midge, also introduced me to the basics of veterinary medicine within a farming context.

Outside of my academic interests I am a keen sportsman, applying the same dedication to training as I have to my studies and work experience. As a Silver Sports Ambassador, I am charged with promoting Olympic values and encouraging younger members of my community to get involved in sport. This is a particularly exciting opportunity for me to pass on my passion for rugby, having played for both Sheppey RFC and my school team for a number of years. I also enjoy combining my passion for sport with raising money for charity, regularly running in the Paul Trigwell Island Run. Perhaps my proudest achievement was forming part of an expedition to Tanzania, which included summiting Kilimanjaro and working to improve a local primary school. While also improving my teamwork and leadership skills, this expedition allowed me to experience a different culture and has instilled in me a love of travelling.

As a hardworking student , I have applied the same dedicated attitude to my studies as I have to gaining employment experience in my chosen field. Through work experience and attending a Vetsim course, where I developed a particular interest in avian veterinary surgery that I would be keen to develop later, I have gained a real sense of what working within the field entails and am convinced that, as an empathetic person with excellent communication skills and a strong affinity with animal welfare issues, I have what it takes to make a real contribution to veterinary medicine.

We hope this great sample Veterinary personal statement has been helpful.

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Writing A Personal Statement For Veterinary Medicine

Start writing your personal statement early as many people will get through a huge number of drafts before they are happy with their PS. This is the general format for a PS and some good advice (you don't have to use this format, just make sure you include all the sections).

If you know where you want to apply, make sure you have a look on the websites for any specific advice on what they want to see in your personal statement as different universities may have different things they want you to include. For example, most places want the time spend at each placement mentioned somewhere in the personal statement although this is by no means set in stone as most places ask for the volume of work experience during the work experience stage. Remember, everything you put in your personal statement can be asked about at interviews. So the surgery name you wrote that looks fancy may actually be the main topic at one of your interviews so make sure you know your personal statement inside out and back to front and able to talk about it to a frenzy. A good starting point I found was to underline every part of my personal statement that could be expanded on in interview and then finding everything out I could about that topic within reason that I could understand with having no previous degree training.

Introduction

Your introduction needs to be interesting to the reader. Don't overuse words such as passion, and other clichés. The admissions department want to know why vet med interests you, and why no other career would do. Although you can state that this is a long-held ambition, remember that you have not 'always wanted to be a Vet' - no-one emerges from the womb shouting 'I want to be a Vet!'. You must explain early on, and very clearly, why you want to be a Vet. It might sound obvious, but many people don't do this as they assume that the fact they are applying for this degree course is enough proof - it isn't. Do not get 'clever' and try to make this part 'grab' the reader. The admissions tutors will have read plenty of personal statements that say the same thing. This isn't an entertaining short-story, its an explanation for why you are applying for Vet Med and why you want this as a career. Keep it straightforward and factual.

Work experience paragraph

This section should be around 70% of your whole personal statement. It is vital that you get this bit right as it can be a deciding factor in whether to interview you or not

The most important thing here is not to waste space listing names of places you've been to. It wastes valuable word space! So instead of 'I went to The Mill Equine Veterinary Centre', say 'I went to an equine veterinary centre'.

Don't mention an operation or treatment you observed, without explaining why you are mentioning it! Throughout this section, you should be commenting on how this has helped you reflect on life as a vet, the reality of farming and animal rescue work etc. So don't just list what you saw or did!

Explain clearly what you learnt or anything you realised about yourself - 'Whilst spending a week lambing, I realised I work well under pressure in a fast paced environment and despite being tired and cold can still make good decisions'.

Your work experience should include a mix of veterinary/clinical work, farm work, RSPCA/cattery, equine, kennels, abattoirs/food production and any others you can think off. Make sure you get a good mix of vet experience, ie. not just farming/big animal or not just companion animals. You MUST get experience in more that one Vet's practice and this MUST be longer than 4 weeks in total, with at least another 4 weeks of 'other experience'. If you live in a big city and getting big animal/rural experience is difficult mention this, but take full advantage of other opportunities you have like Zoos, pet shops etc.

Voluntary work paragraph

Whilst being a Head Boy etc might sound good, its pointless mentioning this unless you explain what you did and why this is relevant. It doesn't have to be a 'named job' btw. If you help out with the Year 7s, run parent tours at Open Days or sing solos in the school choir, mention it. You should also be able to talk about any voluntary stuff you do outside school - church, helping out at Brownies, working in an Oxfam shop, doing Race for Life etc. If you play sport regularly, are a member of a team of any sort, have won any academic or social prizes (preferably outside school) mention it. Being good at science is not enough - all rounders make better vets.

Extracurricular paragraph

In this section you need to tell the admissions department what you do in your spare time. Remember it has to relate to your application. You may enjoy going to the cinema but what does that actually bring to your personal statement? This paragraph is very important. It shows the reader that you can balance an academic life with extracurricular activities. If you mention a hobby that doesn't relate to veterinary medicine, don't try to relate it. It'll be obvious to the reader your clutching at straws. Its up to you if you want to relate everything to vet medicine. Some things will have an obvious link so your wasting words explaining everything.

Gap Year Plans

If you have any gap years plans, mention them and what you hope to learn from them. Whilst some structure is preferable, it doesn't have to be 'all about animals'. It is fine to say 'I'm taking a year out to travel to Australia in order to gain some independence and get some experience life beyond school' etc. The more 'I organised' the better - if it looks like something you bought off the shelf (exotic volunteering etc) then it won't teach you much at all.

Sum up your application up in a sentence. Again try to avoid clichés. Don't introduce anything new. Don't tell the Admissions Tutor you will make an excellent student.

Optional Extras

Don't add 'padding'. Only mentions things that are relevant. If you did an EPQ and it relates to Vet work or science in general, explain it briefly. If there are any important details about your family life or a medical condition that have affected your grades, again mention this very briefly. If you are from overseas, why do you want to study in Britain? If you are a mature applicant, what else have you done with your life?

Advice from an Admissions Tutor

Starting your PS with any reference to a family pet, anything that happened to said pet when you were 6 and/or your admiration for the vet that saved its life. In fact, don't mention this anywhere in your PS if you want to be taken seriously. You are no longer 6. Your desire to be a vet must be based on something far more profound than this.
Avoid anything that sounds like 'I have always loved animals' or 'I want to combine my love for animals with my interest in science'.
Don't use silly words/phrases like 'zeal', 'plethora', 'I relish' and 'it piqued my interest'. If your best friend would laugh at you using the word or phrase to their face, don't put in your PS.
Do not list experiences at your Vet work experience without explaining what it made you think/feel/realise. ie. 'I watched a c-section, dissected a cow's testicle and intubated a cat' is meaningless on its own. Far better is pick one event/moment that made you step back and think about what had just happened and why you felt differently about being vet because of it. Explain your reflection/realisation not just the event.
Don't show off. 'I spent 3 weeks working on a turtle conservation project in Belize'. Do not kid yourself that this is 'relevant work experience'. This is an exotic holiday with 1 day of 'pretending to be a volunteer'. We would be far more impressed if you'd spent 2 weeks lambing in a freezing shed with no sleep.
Do not mention James Herriot, Steve Irwin or David Attenborough.
Do not tell us that your mother is a doctor or your big sister is a vet. They aren't applying for University - you are.
Make the precise number of weeks you have spent on work experience crystal clear, and differentiate clearly between Vet/clinical experience and 'other' animal experience. Make it clear how many Vets you've worked in and how many 'other situations'.
Explain clearly WHY you want to be a Vet. Just loving animals is NOT enough. Nor is 'wanting to make them better'.You must show that you are thinking about this as an adult not a child. Think bigger than this. How would a VET explain this?
Include what else you do with your time apart from animals! Universities are interested in people with a sense of civic and social responsibility. We want to see long-term voluntary work, team sport, personal achievements etc. PS. DoE is very boring - so is World Challenge. PLEASE find something that the school did NOT organise for you!
Check your spelling, punctuation and grammar carefully. It matters.

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Long, skinny arms, and strong shoulders - the most important requirements for a large animal vet! (According to a lecturer at Vet Six '06.) I couldn't have agreed more, as I thought back to my first attempt to relieve dystokia in a ewe in Feb '04. That week spent milking and lambing on a farm in Somerset, my first farm animal work experience, served to fuel my childhood ambition of practising veterinary medicine.

It began from a love of science from infant school onwards, and a lot of animal contact at home. My family has always owned dogs and horses; At 3 years old, I saw the whelping of 7 healthy puppies from my Bearded Collie. Since then I have seen another litter of puppies born at home and the foaling of our welsh mountain pony. Our collection has now risen to 8 dogs, 9 horses, 50 chickens, 7 ferrets and a cockatiel.

Owning my first pony from age 4, I enjoy training both my own horses and those bought to sell on for profit. I compete in several equine spheres, notably eventing, almost every weekend and have represented both my Pony Club and Riding Club up to national level. A member of the Pony Club and British Horse Society, I hold my PC 'B' test, and BHS Stages I, II and III, demonstrating a high level of proficiency. I am Team Captain of my WHSG Horse Riding Team, which was set up by myself a year ago.

Employment as a riding instructor since Dec '05 has given me first-hand experience of a commercial riding school. It demands a high level of responsibility, as I am in sole charge of around 10 children aged 5 to 13, and several junior members of staff. This job has furthered my 'people skills' - the doting, pushy parent can be one of the most difficult of people, standing me in good stead for problems faced in the consultation room!

As previously mentioned, I have shown aptitude for science very early on; upon leaving my primary school I was awarded the 'Science Trophy', indicating the most capable scientist in my year. In year 8 at high school I attained the highest marks of the year group in the science end of year exams, and I continue to put full effort into my study of all three science subjects at AS level.

My capabilities are not limited to scientific subjects; at GCSE I enjoyed the humanities and have always been politically minded, a basis for choosing Government and Politics at AS. I am an active member of the Conservative party, and took part in canvassing in the recent local elections. I am also a member of the Countryside Alliance as I support their ideologies, and my school's debating club. Another subject I have always enjoyed is Drama; I am a keen student within lessons and always show support for extra curricular dramatic events, becoming involved in several productions and the House Drama competition. Additionally I have a place on the 3 upcoming part-time courses run by the School of Physical Theatre. These subjects not only broaden my studies but also build character and the ability to speak confidently in front of people. I develop these skills in my role as Senior Prefect, the main support for the Deputy and Head Girl. Organisational skills and responsibility are furthered by my active membership of my local scout association - most recently on a 5 day hike around the peak district, for the Queen's Scout Award, of which I have completed all the 'challenge' sections.

Since March '05, I have attended Cherrydown Veterinary Practice weekly to see consultations and many types of surgery, from routine spays to a splenectomy and toe amputation. From this I have gained theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, for example practising skin sutures on dead animals brought in for autopsy and on one occasion I performed the skin sutures after a routine bitch spay. My employment at a kennels and cattery, another week on a cattle farm in Essex in Aug '06, and 2 weeks work experience at Runningwell E.C. in April '04 I feel show my high level of dedication and capabilities for a career as a vet.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by samkbrowne for application in 2007.

samkbrowne's Comments

This personal statement got me an interview at 3 out of my four applications for veterinary medicine. I ended up with an ABB offer from the RVC and AAB offers from Nottingham and Liverpool. I didn't make any of my offers - despite being predicted 4 A's I didn't try anywhere near hard enough to pass my A-levels. I am currently studying veterinary science at the RVC and will be applying for vet med as a post-grad, provided I achieve at least a 2.1. I wrote this about 3 years ago and to me, some sections look immature, but it worked at the time!! My advice would be, don't ever ever stop working hard. I had been told that getting the offer was the hard part - its not. ALL OF IT IS HARD!!! good luck everyone applying xx

This personal statement is unrated

Related Personal Statements

Hiya, im in lower 6th on my.

Mon, 20/04/2009 - 19:35

hiya, im in lower 6th on my second last year of secondary school now and looking to apply for veterinary medicine and was wondering when you mentioned you achieved a conditional offer of AAB did you say? and was wondering was is a definate AAA not required for entry? thanks!

To any vet students who have

Thu, 07/05/2009 - 13:05

To any vet students who have applyed or received offers from universities, please post your personal statements here, I would love to see one from someone who has applyed without having an obscene amount of exta-curricular activities to do as well as difficult a-levels to study for! I have loads of work-experience under my belt, but I don't do any extra-curricular activities except for piano & driving lessons and I 'm still struggling to get good grades at a-level. How can anyone possibly have the time to do all of this?! Please, any people who are in a similar situation, post your personal statements. Thankyou.

Don't use this!

Tue, 19/05/2009 - 23:37

This is a great example of what a personal statement should not be. Addmissions tutors see through the rubbish but they don't overlook it. Anybody tempted to emulate this style of personal statement please think twise as it may cost you an interview and will certainly get you a grilling from your interviewer on things you claim to have done but may actually not know much about!

in reply...

Sun, 14/06/2009 - 13:47

to the first person who commented - i think you are asking if you do not always need 3 A grades to get into vet med? In my experience, the offer they give you will depend on the quality of your interview. The RVC offered me ABB because they thought my interview went well - a very good reason to practice this part of the application A LOT!!

2nd comment - 2 other girls from my school with less work experience than me got offers for veterinary medicine, and lucky them they made the grade and are studying the course now! You do not have to do loads. But the more you do, the more it helps your application. Don't let extra curricular get in the way of your studies though!! The pub was my downfall... oops :P xx

3rd comment - of course you should not use this personal statement. this is MY personal statement, about ME! it covers everything i have done both inside and outside of education. The point of a personal statement is to sell yourself to the person reading it. Clearly this worked well as I got three interviews out of four - most people I know only get one. Also, everything on the statement is true so how can I be 'grilled' and given are hard time when I do actually know what I'm talking about?!

You've basically accused me of bullsh*t on the statement. Out of interest, have you ever had a successful application for vet med? Be interesting to know.....

Wow you had so much w/e well

Sun, 14/06/2009 - 19:41

Wow you had so much w/e well done you! Hope you do well in your degree and make it in to vet med next time you apply. I think you come across as very passionate about what you wwant to do!

Whilst this is not a bad

Thu, 17/09/2009 - 01:41

Whilst this is not a bad statement, I might point out that whichever veterinary surgeon let you close up a bitch spay was terribly irresponsible! Letting a student us a staple gun which has a set tension is one thing, but imagine if it were your pet and it all went wrong!

Thanks for everyone that said

Tue, 22/09/2009 - 15:21

Thanks for everyone that said nice things :D

also, skin sutures aren't that much of a big deal when the vet is watching your every move and talking you through it... there's also a technique so you literally cannot get the tension wrong. If you did a bad one the vet can always correct it... plus he had taught me on the dead animals before so it all ran pretty smoothly so don't worry he wasn't being irresponsible! (this is my personal statement btw, forgot my password so didn't login :P)

This is brill!

Sat, 03/04/2010 - 01:41

To the person who said this personal statement is bad, you're so wrong. I applied to vet med this year, got 2 out of 4 interviews (one being Liverpool who don't even look at your PS, the other was Nottingham and I only got that cos I scored highly in the questionnaire) and from unis that I didn't get interviews for they said it was because my personal statement is very poor - me being completely misguided by my school. When e-mailing for feedback I sent detail of everything I'd done extra curricular and wrk exp in bullet points and was told had I specified in this way in my personal statement I would have been assessed differently. I was rejected as soon as they read it - they didn't even look at my wrk exp references until I asked for feedback.

Mine is the complete opposite to this, and having spoken to external careers advisors, I'm not surprised at all that this got so many interviews. I have a similar amount of work exp & extra curriculars, plus had 2 jobs yet my format was awful and I didn't portray myself well.

So what I'm trying to say is that your personal statement is SO unbelievably important and from my experience if your school isn't great at giving advice (we hardly have ever had vets) then seriously go and find someone external who is.

Good luck to future apps!

Also, I believed that you

Fri, 02/07/2010 - 12:59

Also, I believed that you were an undergraduate however, to be employed as a riding instructor, and not a junior helper you must be over the age at 18 and at Runningwell over the age of twenty one. I know this as I have connections with management. Good luck in the future.

Tue, 28/09/2010 - 11:47

I think your statement is brilliant, it covers every aspect of you as an individual. i want to be a vet nurse and your statement has been a great inspiration to me!! best of luck with your course!!! thank you for all he hep as well :)

to be quite honest this is

Tue, 19/10/2010 - 19:40

to be quite honest this is pretty good..no wonder you got it with all that experience. I even enjoyd reading it haha

I thought your personal

Mon, 04/07/2011 - 17:49

I thought your personal statement was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, most definately the best one i've read! Hope you're enjoying university!

I'm writing my personal statement at the moment, and was wondering whether you think it would be a good idea to include philosophical quotes which can be related to veterinary medicine, in order to demonstrate other types of knowledge from my philosophy and ethics a-level?(i've heard they like ethical studies)

Sajinthan Theivasothy

Fri, 30/09/2011 - 09:23

Sajinthan Theivasothy 33 Newbury Road Erith Kent DA8 2BZ

01322342559 [email protected]

Thu, 25/07/2013 - 09:06

A round of applause for your blog post.Really thank you! Will read on...

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Bats from the Colombian Caribbean Reveal a new subtype of Influenza A (H18N12)

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Influenza viruses have an excellent capacity for mutation and adaptation in mammalian hosts, which makes them viruses of medical and veterinary importance. Influenzaviruses have been studied mainly in birds but minor in bats. It is unknown whether Chiroptera are reservoirs of influenza viruses. However, circulation in bats showed molecular divergence from H17N10 (Guatemala) and H18N11 (Peru), and they were designated as new subtypes. The study aimed to characterize the influenza A virus detected in the fishing bat Noctilio albiventris. A surveillance study of pathogens of public health interest was carried out; rectal samples were taken from four fishing bats (N. albiventris) captured in Talaigua Nuevo, Bolivar, Colombia. The samples were sequenced by NGS using DNBseq (MGI-G50) and analyzed with bioinformatics tools. Eight viral contigs associated with the Orthomyxoviridae family were obtained. The identified segments showed around 90% similarity with H18N11, except for the neuraminidase (N). The phylogenetic analysis of the N protein showed the appearance of a basal branch to the N11 subtype, and the molecular clock indicates that it does not share a recent common ancestor. 3D modeling indicates that the N protein of N. albiventris presents three mutations (K363R, T242K, and I139V) near the hypothetical active site of the protein. These mutations potentially increase the interaction with the HLA-DR of bats, which could have significant implications for the virus's behavior. The phylogenetic, evolutionary, and antigenic divergence of the N protein of N. albiventris suggests a new subtype called H18N12. Its role as a pathogen must be studied.

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PDF Veterinary School Personal Statements
as well as what makes a personal statement stand out within this specific career field. METHODS UC Davis has been ranked the number one university for veterinary medicine in the United States for the sixth consecutive year as of 2020 (Wood, 2020), as well as the top university for veterinary medicine globally in 2020 (Easley, 2020).
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Successful Personal Statement For Veterinary Medicine At Cambridge
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Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement Example 3
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Influenza viruses have an excellent capacity for mutation and adaptation in mammalian hosts, which makes them viruses of medical and veterinary importance. Influenzaviruses have been studied mainly in birds but minor in bats. It is unknown whether Chiroptera are reservoirs of influenza viruses. However, circulation in bats showed molecular divergence from H17N10 (Guatemala) and H18N11 (Peru ...

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Successful Personal Statement For Veterinary Medicine At Cambridge

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Tips for Your Vet School Personal Statement

VMCAS PERSONAL STATEMENT TIPS

2. Remember Your Audience.

3. Hook Your Reader.

4. Highlight Your Experiences.

5. Articulate Personal Growth.

6. Define Your Values and Aspirations.

7. Show, Don’t Tell.

8. Avoid Assumptions and Overgeneralizations.

9. Conclude With a Vision.

10. Proofread and Enlist Help.

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Vet School Personal Statement Examples

1. Example From the Veterinary School at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2. Example from the University College Dublin’s Veterinary Medicine Program (Graduate)

3. Example from the University of Scranton

FAQs: Personal Statement for Vet School

1. What Should A Vet School Personal Statement Include?

2. How Long Is A Personal Statement For Vet School?

3. How Do You End a Vet School Personal Statement?

4. What Makes a Good Personal Statement for Vet School?

5. How Important Are Personal Statements for Veterinary Schools?

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Vet School Personal Statement Examples to Guide You

This vet school personal statement has three key strengths:

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Demonstrate your passion for animals

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Introduction

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Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement Tips

Showcase Your Passion and Motivation

Highlight Relevant Experiences

Demonstrate Suitability for Veterinary Medicine

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