u/Fennecritter

Hi guys!!

For some background, I (22F) took a 4 year Animal Biology, BScH degree, with the intention to apply to the Ontario Veterinary College. However, year after year, I’ve been struggling *hard* to get vet experience… I’ve heard ALL the reasons not to take volunteers; insurance reasons, no time, lots of vets to be at and we’re not the best clinic, etc. etc. Now I’m graduating and I want to apply for vet school by this winter, but I feel like I’m at such a loss. Every winter, summer, etc. I kid you not I call 100+ clinics, leave my resume, etc. (I have animal rehab volunteer experience and farm hand experience, and I also own a successful online business).

This summer, a vet in my super tiny home town wanted to give me a chance as a cleaner a few days a week (3 days). I said yes, given that I have literally no other options, but the job is what it is… cleaning. I have zero client interaction, I am not present for surgeries or in exam room etc., I just clean. I’m on my second week and I’m super bored, and I feel like my experience here will not satisfy vet school admission requirements.

I am honest and upfront with the vet. I want to do a good job, and I have been completing a lot of cleaning my tasks, but I feel like I’m not really learning a lot. She says that I can learn a lot just by poking around, reading posters, etc. I get it, but she also says that the reason why she hired me as a cleaner was because I had “no skills”. I just don’t understand how to build these skills when I’m not really trained or given the chance to learn them.

How do I get veterinary experience without being enrolled in vet school or becoming a veterinary technician? Am I missing something? I honestly feel like I’m going nuts. 🐿️

This experience has been so difficult that I’m literally thinking about just enrolling in vet tech school so that I can get vet experience… LOL. I know it’s a waste of time and money if the final goal is to become a veterinarian, but there’s no way I’m getting into vet school without the appropriate experience. My grades are decent (last 4 full time and pre reqs average out to a 92% for the OVC, 3.88 cgpa) , but my vet experience is pretty much nonexistent.

Hi guys!

A bit of background about me: I (22F) have recently begun the role of a veterinary cleaner at a smaller clinic in my home town (really small- one tech, one doctor, and a manager).

I figured that this would be a great way to start to accumulate veterinary hours for an Ontario Veterinary College application (I plan to apply by this winter).

However, I must say: I’m super bored. I know that it’s necessary to keep the place clean, especially in between examinations, but I’d like to learn more so that I can eventually become a veterinary assistant. I’ve only been there for a week, but they seem to have no intention on ever teaching me how to run labs, do inventory etc. (so that I can learn Avimark), or having me engage more with clients. I’ve been making the best of it and have been asking people questions, especially the veterinarian, out of interest - but I just got in-trouble with the manager for talking too much with coworkers? I don’t get it since it’s been a slower week and there really isn’t a whole lot to do, but I’m not only there to clean, I am there to learn and to take the experience to vet school apps.

I dunno, my assumption is that it’s too early and if I expressed interest in a few months, my answer might be different. But, it’s just a little disheartening since I almost actually got a veterinary assistant role a few weeks ago, and I would’ve had a lot more responsibility than sweeping and mopping all day.

Hi guys!

A bit of background about me: I (22F) have recently begun the role of a veterinary cleaner at a smaller clinic in my home town (really small- one tech, one doctor, and a manager).

I figured that this would be a great way to start to accumulate veterinary hours for an Ontario Veterinary College application (I plan to apply by this winter).

However, I must say: I’m super bored. I know that it’s necessary to keep the place clean, especially in between examinations, but I’d like to learn more so that I can eventually become a veterinary assistant. I’ve only been there for a week, but they seem to have no intention on ever teaching me how to run labs, do inventory etc. (so that I can learn Avimark), or having me engage more with clients. I’ve been making the best of it and have been asking people questions, especially the veterinarian, out of interest - but I just got in-trouble with the manager for talking too much with coworkers? I don’t get it since it’s been a slower week and there really isn’t a whole lot to do, but I’m not only there to clean, I am there to learn and to take the experience to vet school apps.

I dunno, my assumption is that it’s too early and if I expressed interest in a few months, my answer might be different. But, it’s just a little disheartening since I almost actually got a veterinary assistant role a few weeks ago, and I would’ve had a lot more responsibility than sweeping and mopping all day.