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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.

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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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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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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 strategy call 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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• 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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Successful Personal Statement For Veterinary Medicine At Cambridge

Last Updated: 6th April 2022

Author: Rohan Agarwal

Table of Contents

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

Enrolling on our Cambridge Veterinary Science comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

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.  

Discover our Premium Programmes today to learn how you can enrol and triple your chances of success.  

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:

Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

Successful personal statement for economics at cambridge, successful personal statement for land economy at cambridge, successful personal statement for chemistry at oxford, successful personal statement for geography at oxford, successful personal statement for classics at oxford, successful personal statement for law at oxford, successful personal statement for classics at cambridge, successful personal statement for engineering at cambridge, successful personal statement for philosophy at cambridge, successful personal statement for psychological and behavioural sciences at cambridge, successful personal statement for psychology at oxford, successful personal statement for history at oxford, successful personal statement for physics at oxford, successful personal statement for cambridge mathematics and physics, successful personal statement example for computer science at oxford, successful personal statement for english at cambridge, successful personal statement for oxford english language and literature, successful personal statement for medicine at oxford university, successful personal statement for modern languages at oxford, successful personal statement for engineering at oxford, successful personal statement for natural sciences (biological) at cambridge, successful personal statement for economics & management at oxford, successful personal statement for ppe at oxford, successful personal statement for law at cambridge, successful personal statement for dentistry at king’s college london, successful personal statement for medicine at cambridge.

Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide 

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.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Cambridge Veterinary application.

With our  Cambridge Veterinary Science Premium Programme, we help you craft the perfect Personal   Statement , score highly on the NSAA and teach you how to  Interview effectively .

Discover our Cambridge Veterinary Science Premium Programme  by clicking the button below to  enrol and triple your chances of success.

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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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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.

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Life In Vet School & Tips On Getting In

So you want to become a veterinarian. Now what? Some people say that veterinary school is the hardest type of professional school to get accepted to. I disagree. Getting accepted in to veterinary school is not that hard, but it does take strategy! This blog will: 1) Provide information to aspiring veterinary students that will help them become the most competitive candidate they can be. 2) Provide a glimpse into what veterinary school is like at UC Davis. Enjoy! -Sharon

How to Write a Personal Statement for Vet School

Posted on June 21, 2010 Author [email protected] 4 Comments

Personal statements are often the most difficult and yet the most fun part of the veterinary school application. Most of the VMCAS application is simply a matter of entering in data from transcripts or copying and pasting information from your resume or CV. The personal statement is the one and only area of the VMCAS application that allows the admissions committee to get a sense of who you are and your personality. This is why I consider the personal statement to be fun!

My advice for writing a winning personal statement for veterinary school:

• Don’t force yourself to write. While you may be able to write a paper for class at the last minute (or even ahead of time) by simply forcing yourself to sit down and write, this is generally not an effective strategy for a personal statement. Rather than forcing yourself to start, simply let ideas formulate in your head for some time before you actually sit down to write.
• Jot ideas down as they come to mind. When you’re working in the field or just going about your daily life, jot ideas down as they come to mind. Many of them you will ultimately not end up using; nevertheless it is beneficial to get those ideas down on paper as they come to mind so that you can contemplate them more later. Of course, writing down one word might not do the trick. I can speak from personal experience that you may write down a word or two when you have an epiphany and then come back to your notepad hours or days later and the notes mean nothing and you stare at the words, confused, wondering whether that is really your hand writing and what you might have been getting at. That being said, be sure to write down the thought process or at least where you’re going with your idea. The more you can include in your notes, the more helpful your notes will be when you sit down to write your statement.
• Don’t expect to write the entire statement in one, two, or even three sittings. Sure it can be done, but you really don’t want that to be the case for you. The amount of time and thought you put into your statement will be readily apparent in the finished product. Sit down to write when inspiration strikes and stop when you’re feeling like you’re tired or have run out of things to say. Come back to it later to add, revise, etc. I know even once I created the first full draft of my personal statement (which took many writing sessions), I did another 13 revisions before I was content with the final version.
• Do not waste time or space attempting to put your resume into your personal statement. There are places in the VMCAS application to list all veterinary, animal, and other employment experience as well as to list honors and activities you’ve been involved in. Your personal statement should not sound like an autobiography! If it does, you should scratch it and re-write or make significant revisions.
• Spend the most time on the first sentence! You need to catch the audience’s attention and draw them into the statement, making them excited and interested to read and learn more about you. You can do this in many ways and there is no real way to advise you to write the perfect introductory sentence, but you’ll know it when you have it. My personal statement began with the following, “Brakes screeched, tires squealed, and the car abruptly came to a halt.” You may wonder how that statement is at all related to veterinary medicine, but I can guarantee you that it all tied in. In fact, I will be posting my own personal statement on this blog in the near future — so stay tuned for it!
• Make sure the first paragraph and the last paragraph are the strongest. Notice that I do not call these paragraphs the introduction and conclusion; that is because a personal statement doesn’t necessarily have to have the strict format that is generally used in literary essays. That being said, if you are able to, try to tie things together by referencing something from the first paragraph in the last paragraph, excellent! If not, don’t stress over it. Sometimes it just won’t work and it is better not to force the connection. In psychology we talk about something called primacy and recency effects. This is a principle that describes how people tend to remember the first and last things in a list or, in this case, essay the best. A good way to gauge whether or not you have effectively developed your first and last paragraphs is to read them by themselves and ask yourself whether or not you sound like a person that should be accepted.
• Proofread, proofread, proofread! I cannot stress this enough! Proofreading can often get difficult when you’ve read your statement so many times that you can practically recite it by heart (yes, I almost got to that point). Once you’re there, no matter what you read, it will sound correct to you. My advice is to read it aloud and slowly — perhaps to a friend or family member, if they are around. By doing so you are forcing yourself to hear how the words sound and often makes mistakes or awkward sentences more apparent. Or, you can do the reverse and have a friend or family member read the statement aloud to you. This is particularly useful because you are able to hear how an admissions committee member is likely to read the statement and will make any potential issues readily apparent.
• Get feedback! Once your statement is at a point that you are happy with it and it’s been proofread for any and all grammatical and spelling mistakes, email it out as an attachment to anyone and everyone who would be willing to read it. Don’t just send it out though — be sure to ask people ahead of time whether they will have time and are willing to provide feedback to you on your statement. The more people, the better, but try not to send it out to multiple people at the same time. This is for multiple reasons: 1) many of them will provide the same feedback which creates redundancy 2) it gets difficult to coordinate the changes of so many different people. It’s okay to ask people if they can have it back to you by a certain date/time so that you can pass it on to the next person.
• Let your personality shine through! The entire purpose of the personal statement is to give the reader an idea of what you’re like. This can give the admissions committee a “good” or “bad” feeling about you, so be sure to make a good impression! Of course, I would advise you to avoid things like negativity and sarcasm, even if that is really your personality as they won’t translate well to admissions committees. W hen you ask people for feedback, be sure to ask them whether or not the statement sounded like “you” and had your personality. If they know you, they’ll be able to gauge that pretty well.

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Certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs)

A certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI), also known as a health certificate, is an official document issued by a Federal, State, Tribal, or accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals identified on the document have been inspected and were found to satisfy the regulations pertaining to their intended movement—within the same state, between states, or internationally.

CVIs might be required to transport animals from one area to another or for animals to participate in certain events, such as specific shows, rides, or sales. These pre-entry requirements help to ensure that the animals being moved do not carry illnesses or parasites that would be harmful to the people or animals that are in the destination area or that are participating in the same event.

In addition to meeting various physical health criteria and depending on the species, age, origin, destination, and purpose of travel, the animals to be moved may need to have certain tests, treatments, vaccinations, or other procedures done before they qualify for inclusion on a CVI. The process may vary from simple to complex depending on the requirements of the destination.

Step-by-step CVI help

Amid all the variables that may be involved with issuing CVIs, there are fundamental administrative, logistic, and regulatory factors that need to be considered every time. AVMA members can access these step-by-step guides to CVIs, so you can spend less time chasing down information and more time on other things you need to do.

Download Interstate CVIs step by step Download International CVIs step by step

Note: Regulations vary across states, territories, and countries. The information provided here is basic guidance and does not impart any kind of regulatory authority. If at any point, you have questions about CVIs, contact your state animal health official and/or your USDA APHIS Veterinary Services district office.

Collaborating with animal owners on CVIs

Working with owners to help make sure animals and documentation meet the import requirement of the receiving country, state, or territory is a critical part of protecting animal and public health—and clients might not be aware of these requirements. It’s important to make sure that clients understand several points about transporting animals:

• Animals might require official identification, specific tests, vaccinations, other treatments, or even quarantine upon arrival, depending on the species and destination.
• In some cases, the animal species being transported might not be permitted in the destination country, state, or city.
• Deviation from the requirements could disqualify their animals from being moved or cause the animals to be quarantined on arrival.
• Animal health prerequisites for CVIs may start months in advance.

You’ll need to know some basic information to help the animal owner:

• The origination and destination locations, to look up import and export restrictions and contact animal health officials if needed
• The travel date or date range, to help establish the timeline of appointments and procedures, working backwards from the travel date and using the destination’s import requirements as a guide

Unfortunately, some animal owners make unethical and illegal requests regarding CVIs. Fulfilling these requests can put your federal accreditation and veterinary license in jeopardy and can result in prosecution.

The AVMA offers educational information for animal owners about safely transporting pets and other animals, CVI timelines, and other travel and transport considerations.

International CVI tips

Animals are regularly transported internationally, and international certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs) are vital components to facilitate the movement while also aiding in animal disease surveillance, prevention, traceability, and control. Just as the U.S. has regulations in place governing the importation of animals, other countries do too. The regulations protect people, animals, and ecosystems by helping to prevent the spread of diseases, pests, invasive animals, and injurious animals. Countries that receive animals from the U.S. rely on our nation’s established regulatory framework, which includes accredited veterinarians, to ensure that animals reaching their ports meet their requirements.

• Know to contact your local USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) District Office with any questions you may have regarding international CVIs, including electronic CVIs.
• Be federally accredited in the proper category for the given animal species.
• Understand that most countries require CVIs to be completed by federally accredited veterinarians.
• Review the “Role of Agencies, Health Certificates” and other modules within the APHIS Approved Supplemental Training that are related to CVIs.
• Be familiar with the resources available within the AVMA’s Veterinarians’ Quick Reference on Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs ), including the material on this page and the step-by-step algorithm for completing CVIs.
• Know about the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Rule and your responsibilities under it.
• Be aware of how to avoid common CVI mistakes .
• Know where you can find regulations pertaining to animal import and export .
• Work with the animal owner or caretaker to help ensure the destination’s import requirements are met.
• Know about acclimation statements .
• Be aware that sometimes a dual heath certificate is required. If this is known to USDA, a downloadable copy is generally available on the USDA’s Animal and Animal Product Export Information website.
• Determine an appropriate fee structure for services provided.

Common CVI mistakes and how to avoid them

Common cvi mistakes include:.

• The CVI form or parts of it are illegible.
• Official ID is missing.
• Addresses are missing, incomplete, inaccurate, or a post office box.
• Information or documentation about tests, vaccinations, or other required treatments is missing, out of date, or incomplete.
• Required statements are missing.
• Import permit number is missing.
• Rabies certificate is missing.
• The timeline for completing animal health import prerequisites deviates from the requirements.
• Age/sex/breed information is missing.
• CVI was completed by a non-accredited veterinarian or one not accredited in the necessary category.

The keys to avoiding mistakes: Time, personnel, supplies, and equipment

Veterinarians generally have access to most of the equipment and facilities that might be needed to perform the tasks associated with completing CVIs. However, there are times when needed resources (ID tags, RFID reader, vaccine supply, additional personnel, mobile chute, etc.) are committed elsewhere or otherwise unavailable (on back-order, equipment repairs, staff sick or on vacation, etc.).

Because the animal’s eligibility for travel—and possibly the owner’s travel as well—can depend on meeting the destination’s travel requirements on time, veterinarians need to consider potential resource limitations when working with an owner to establish the schedule for their CVI-related appointments. Ordering any needed supplies (microchips, ID tags, vaccine, etc.) well enough in advance and reserving their use will be helpful too.

Do not skip or modify steps or requirements. While it is understandable that you want to meet your client’s needs, you have a professional responsibility and an accreditation standard to uphold. Violations of professional ethics or practice acts could jeopardize your licenses, accreditation, and career. Doing so may also result in prosecution by state or federal government. If a violation by a veterinarian results in import or export problems with the animals, the veterinarian may be found liable.

Animal travel and transport

Learn more about animal transport regulations, like interstate regulations, import and export requirements, and acclimation statements.

Who to contact with any questions you may have on CVIs

• Your State Veterinarian
• Your local USDA APHIS Veterinary Services district office

Travel and transport tips for animal owners

Share these resources to help clients and animal owners safely transport their animals.

• Basic transport requirements and considerations
• Timelines for interstate and international travel
• Dogs or cats
• Exotic pets
• Fish or other aquatic animals
• Livestock or poultry
• Wildlife or hybrids

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Doctor charged for unauthorized access to personal information of pediatric patients at Texas Children’s Hospital

HOUSTON – A Houston doctor has been indicted for obtaining protected individual health information for patients that were not under his care and without authorization, announced Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The case against Ethan Haim, 34, Dallas, has now been unsealed, and he is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Yvonne Y. Ho in Houston at 2 p.m.

The four-count indictment alleges Haim obtained personal information including patient names, treatment codes and the attending physician from Texas Children’s Hospital’s (TCH) electronic system without authorization. He allegedly obtained this information under false pretenses and with intent to cause malicious harm to TCH.

According to the indictment, Haim was a resident at Baylor College of Medicine and had previous rotations at TCH as part of his residency.

In April 2023, Haim allegedly requested to re-activate his login access at TCH to access pediatric patients not under his care. The indictment alleges he obtained unauthorized access to personal information of pediatric patients under false pretenses and later disclosed it to a media contact.

If convicted, Haim faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum possible fine.

FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S Attorney Tina Ansari is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law .

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Aultman Hospital is sending out letters to alert patients of a possible data breach

CANTON ‑ Aultman Hospital has begun notifying some patients that someone may have gotten unauthorized access to their personal information.

The hospital said in a Friday afternoon statement it learned April 24 that someone had used an Aultman employee's work email account to send out phishing emails, which are emails intended to trick recipients to provide logins and passwords. The unauthorized person had gained access to the account sometime from April 22 to April 24.

Aultman said it secured the email account. It said it discovered that whoever had accessed the account had not used it to get into the hospital's electronic health records system. Nor did the data breach disrupt Aultman's services or operations.

More: Aultman warns patients of privacy breach

While the likely purpose of the intrusion was to use the email account to perpetuate a data phishing scheme, Aultman said it can't rule out that the person who got unauthorized access to the email account was able to obtain emails and attachments in the account with patients' personal information.

That personal information includes patients' names and medical record numbers and may also include dates of births, addresses, patient account numbers, health insurance identification numbers and information about diagnoses of the patient's medical condition and treatment.

Aultman said it began sending out letters to the affected patients, notifying them of the breach. Those who believe they were affected and have questions can call 800-482-2349 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday except holidays.

Aultman advises that affected patients review any statements they got from healthcare providers and health insurance plans. If they find services they did not receive on the statements, they should contact the providers and health insurers immediately.

“At Aultman, we take this incident very seriously and sincerely regret any concern this may cause,” Aria Walker, Aultman's chief compliance officer said in the statement. “To help prevent something like this from happening again, we’ve increased cybersecurity training and implemented additional safeguards and technical security measures to further protect and monitor our systems.”

Reach Robert at [email protected]. X formerly Twitter: @rwangREP.

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In Virginia, Bob Good’s Republican Primary Has Split the MAGA Movement

A contest between the chairman of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus and another right-wing politician who has the backing of former President Donald J. Trump has splintered the G.O.P.

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By Annie Karni

Annie Karni, who covers Congress, traveled through the Fifth Congressional District in Virginia for this article, reporting from Goochland and Powhatan.

• June 17, 2024

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia stepped off a tour bus wrapped in “Trump 2024” decals one afternoon this month in south-central Virginia with a simple message: Representative Bob Good of Virginia, the chairman of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, was a traitor to former President Donald J. Trump.

“We need loyalists,” Ms. Greene barked at about a dozen voters gathered on a baking parking lot in Goochland. Mr. Good, she said, had “kicked Trump when he was down, and went and endorsed another candidate.”

John J. McGuire, a state senator, former Navy SEAL and election denier, is challenging Mr. Good for the Republican nomination on Tuesday. Mr. McGuire, who attended the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, “is the true MAGA, the true Trumper loyalist!” Ms. Greene said.

Not too far down the road the following evening, Stephen K. Bannon, the former Trump adviser, was on hand to rally with Mr. Good, an important injection of MAGA bona fides for a congressman dealing with the potentially crippling fact that Mr. Trump has endorsed his opponent.

“They think you’re a bunch of morons who don’t count,” Mr. Bannon told a large crowd gathered on a pleasant summer evening in front of the Powhatan Court House, surrounded by rolling farmland. He reminded the audience that Mr. Good was one of eight rebel Republicans who voted last year to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his post, and he cast the fight for re-election as a battle against the traditional G.O.P.

“Why are we here today?” Mr. Bannon asked. “Because of Kevin McCarthy. We’re here because we were sold out by the Republican establishment. They hate anybody that will stand up to them. This is not about President Trump.”

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Wider Reading: Veterinary Personal Statement

In preparation for your Veterinary application, you may have been told that you need to do some “wider reading.” It can be difficult to know what to read, how much to read and how to approach writing about what you have read in your Veterinary Personal Statement. Within this article we aim to outline why reading books and engaging in projects, or societies will boost your Veterinary application.

Common Questions: Wider Reading

What do we mean by “wider reading”.

Wider reading involves going off to research or read about a topic that is not part of your national. It involves personal efforts to go and learn more about a topic that you may have particular interest in.

Why do I need to do wider reading?

Wider reading allows students to actively demonstrate an interest in Veterinary. Reading is an excellent way to explore your interest in science and the career. By reading you can build up an accurate representation of what being a Veterinary professional is really like. The point of showing that you have done wider reading is to show you have put the effort in to research a topic you’ve probably stumbled across and found interesting and wanted to learn more about.

more about.

What are some examples of wider veterinary reading?

Examples of wider reading that you may include in your personal statement involve: 

• Scientific journals (such as those found on pub med, google scholar etc) 
• Magazine articles (be careful and only use official veterinary magazines eg In practice or Vet Record). 
• Books (any veterinary anatomy books such as Dyce, Konig etc) or you may have other veterinary physiology books you can reference. 
• Internet articles (be VERY careful about saying that you have read something on the internet without being sure it’s from an accredited source. You do not want to be referencing a Facebook comment)! 

Check out the introductory reading list created by the University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine for ideas of where to start with your reading.

Help! I have not read any Veterinary books…

Wider reading is not essential for having a successful veterinary application. If you have not researched anything or done any wider reading, then do not panic. You do not need to start reading things just to say that you have done wider reading. Try not to stress about having to learn and teach yourself a whole topic just so you can include it in your Veterinary Personal statement. Do not be unkind to yourself by stressing trying to force learn something you do not really enjoy (because also if it comes up at interview this will show). The chances are, that if you have not done any wider reading, then you will likely have engaged with other academic hobbies and have academic achievements.

Talking about your wider reading at Veterinary Interviews

It is fair game for the interviewers to quiz you about anything you have written about. During your veterinary MMI / panel interview admissions officers may ask you about your insights and opinions relating to the books or journals named. If you choose to mention wider reading in your Veterinary Personal Statement, make sure you’ve actually researched it properly. Interviewers are not superhuman and clearly won’t have read every piece of literature; despite this you never know what and interviewer has read or researched. Those interviewing you may have similar interests and be keen to engage in discussion on these topics.

When discussing your wider reading at your Veterinary interview our top tip is to stay calm and not panic. We reassure you that people often enjoy questions about their reading.  Approach them as casual and intellectual discussions.

Top Tips for Writing About Your Veterinary Wider Reading

By taking on board our advice, you will be able to show that you have a genuine passion and interest in Veterinary. Being immersed into the world of Veterinary before you begin your training is key!

Don’t list too many examples of wider reading.

There is no set guidance for how many wider reading examples you should describe. Our general advice is to read as much as possible and make the most of all wider learning opportunities.  Immerse yourself in super-curricular activities because you have a passion for science and are excited to study Veterinary medicine. 

Include a variety of examples of wider reading.

Engaging in super-curricular activities does not just mean reading books relating to Veterinary Science. Any form of wider reading about a topic of interest should be mentioned. Any form of wider reading shows that you are proactive, keen and intellectual.

Show don’t tell.  

Aim not to just list what you have read in your Veterinary Personal Statement. Try to show excitement and passion. The following guidelines may give you some ideas of how to write about what you have read:

• State what it is that you found interesting.
• State what you’ve read (i.e. where it’s from) – do not copy and paste the whole journal reference, but instead if you read something in a book (Dyce for example).
• State what about that topic that interests you. 
• State how this is going to impact you as a future vet/ what you have learnt from this. 

Keep it brief.

Aim to write a sentence or two at most. Reflections on your wider reading should not make up the bulk of your Veterinary Personal Statement.  Most of your personal statement should be paragraphs about your work experience and motivation for veterinary. Try not to lose focus. If you are very passionate about a particular topic you may get easily carried away writing about it adding excessive detail. Try to remember that the person reading the statement may know nothing about the topic you are talking about, you do not want to cause confusion. Show your enthusiasm for the topic, but in short bursts. 

Structure your Veterinary Personal Statement appropriately

The best place to reference your wider reading is in the penultimate/ last paragraph of your Veterinary Personal Statement. Within this paragraph you should talk about your own achievements, and hobbies etc, and relate them back to how this will make you a good vet. 

Walkthrough Examples: Wider Reading Personal Statement

When writing about wider reading you have done in your Veterinary Personal Statement you want to consider your writing style. Below are examples of good and excellent reflections. Before you read our comments see if you can spot the difference between them yourself.

Veterinary PS: Example 1 – GOOD

‘I particularly enjoyed reading about epigenetics from New Scientist magazine.’ 

This statement does have some merit. Name dropping “New Scientist” shows that the student has engaged with a reputable source. It indicates that the student has read higher level texts. However, this statement is very superficial. Admissions tutors may think that this student is simply ‘fact-dropping’. The student could improve by being more specific as seen below.

Veterinary PS: Example 2- EXCELLENT

‘My interest in epigenetics was sparked by my reading of New Scientist magazine, in particular, I find it fascinating how scientists are now using manipulation of epigenetics in veterinary to treat mammary cancers, in a process called epigenetic dysregulation. I look forward to learning more about this treatment in my time at vet school, and it has made me interested into where the future of veterinary medicine can be if this method is used to treat other diseases.’ 

This student is not just name dropping what they have read but they are discussing the content of their reading and contextualising it related to their application. Give it a go and  try to link how your reading is relevant to being a vet. 

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

Frequently Asked Question

→how do you mention a wider reading in a personal statement.

The best place to reference your wider reading is in the penultimate/ last paragraph of your Veterinary Personal Statement. Within this paragraph you should talk about your own achievements, and hobbies etc, and relate them back to how this will make you a good vet.

→What does wider reading mean?

Wider reading refers to the practice of reading extensively outside of a prescribed academic syllabus or curriculum. It involves reading beyond the required texts and materials and exploring a variety of sources, such as books, articles, journals, and online resources, to gain a deeper understanding of a particular subject or topic.

Wider reading is often undertaken by students who are seeking to develop their knowledge and skills beyond the confines of their academic coursework. It is a way to broaden one’s understanding of a subject and to gain a more comprehensive perspective.

→What should a vet personal statement include?

A veterinary personal statement is your opportunity to show the admissions tutors why they should give you a place. The statement should include an introduction exploring your origin of interest for Veterinary or science, reflections from your work experience, motivation for veterinary, description of extracurricular and super curricular activities and a conclusion re-emphasising your passion for veterinary and summarising your skill sets.

→Why is wider reading important in a veterinary personal statement?

Wider reading demonstrates your passion and commitment to the field of veterinary medicine. It also shows that you have the knowledge and understanding necessary to succeed in the program.

→Can I mention wider reading that isn't related to veterinary medicine in my personal statement?

While it’s certainly okay to mention wider reading that isn’t directly related to veterinary medicine, you should make sure to tie it back to your interest in the field. For example, if you’ve read a lot about animal behavior, you could discuss how this has informed your desire to become a veterinarian.

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Introducing Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that puts powerful generative models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac

New Capabilities for Understanding and Creating Language

Image Playground Makes Communication and Self‑Expression Even More Fun

Genmoji Creation to Fit Any Moment

New Features in Photos Give Users More Control

Siri Enters a New Era

A New Standard for Privacy in AI

ChatGPT Gets Integrated Across Apple Platforms

Text of this article

June 10, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

Setting a new standard for privacy in AI, Apple Intelligence understands personal context to deliver intelligence that is helpful and relevant

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today introduced Apple Intelligence , the personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence that’s incredibly useful and relevant. Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It harnesses the power of Apple silicon to understand and create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks. With Private Cloud Compute, Apple sets a new standard for privacy in AI, with the ability to flex and scale computational capacity between on-device processing and larger, server-based models that run on dedicated Apple silicon servers.

“We’re thrilled to introduce a new chapter in Apple innovation. Apple Intelligence will transform what users can do with our products — and what our products can do for our users,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Our unique approach combines generative AI with a user’s personal context to deliver truly helpful intelligence. And it can access that information in a completely private and secure way to help users do the things that matter most to them. This is AI as only Apple can deliver it, and we can’t wait for users to experience what it can do.”

Apple Intelligence unlocks new ways for users to enhance their writing and communicate more effectively. With brand-new systemwide Writing Tools built into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.

Whether tidying up class notes, ensuring a blog post reads just right, or making sure an email is perfectly crafted, Writing Tools help users feel more confident in their writing. With Rewrite, Apple Intelligence allows users to choose from different versions of what they have written, adjusting the tone to suit the audience and task at hand. From finessing a cover letter, to adding humor and creativity to a party invitation, Rewrite helps deliver the right words to meet the occasion. Proofread checks grammar, word choice, and sentence structure while also suggesting edits — along with explanations of the edits — that users can review or quickly accept. With Summarize, users can select text and have it recapped in the form of a digestible paragraph, bulleted key points, a table, or a list.

In Mail, staying on top of emails has never been easier. With Priority Messages, a new section at the top of the inbox shows the most urgent emails, like a same-day dinner invitation or boarding pass. Across a user’s inbox, instead of previewing the first few lines of each email, they can see summaries without needing to open a message. For long threads, users can view pertinent details with just a tap. Smart Reply provides suggestions for a quick response, and will identify questions in an email to ensure everything is answered.

Deep understanding of language also extends to Notifications. Priority Notifications appear at the top of the stack to surface what’s most important, and summaries help users scan long or stacked notifications to show key details right on the Lock Screen, such as when a group chat is particularly active. And to help users stay present in what they’re doing, Reduce Interruptions is a new Focus that surfaces only the notifications that might need immediate attention, like a text about an early pickup from daycare.

In the Notes and Phone apps, users can now record, transcribe, and summarize audio. When a recording is initiated while on a call, participants are automatically notified, and once the call ends, Apple Intelligence generates a summary to help recall key points.

Apple Intelligence powers exciting image creation capabilities to help users communicate and express themselves in new ways. With Image Playground, users can create fun images in seconds, choosing from three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Image Playground is easy to use and built right into apps including Messages. It’s also available in a dedicated app, perfect for experimenting with different concepts and styles. All images are created on device, giving users the freedom to experiment with as many images as they want.

With Image Playground, users can choose from a range of concepts from categories like themes, costumes, accessories, and places; type a description to define an image; choose someone from their personal photo library to include in their image; and pick their favorite style.

With the Image Playground experience in Messages, users can quickly create fun images for their friends, and even see personalized suggested concepts related to their conversations. For example, if a user is messaging a group about going hiking, they’ll see suggested concepts related to their friends, their destination, and their activity, making image creation even faster and more relevant.

In Notes, users can access Image Playground through the new Image Wand in the Apple Pencil tool palette, making notes more visually engaging. Rough sketches can be turned into delightful images, and users can even select empty space to create an image using context from the surrounding area. Image Playground is also available in apps like Keynote, Freeform, and Pages, as well as in third-party apps that adopt the new Image Playground API.

Taking emoji to an entirely new level, users can create an original Genmoji to express themselves. By simply typing a description, their Genmoji appears, along with additional options. Users can even create Genmoji of friends and family based on their photos. Just like emoji, Genmoji can be added inline to messages, or shared as a sticker or reaction in a Tapback.

Searching for photos and videos becomes even more convenient with Apple Intelligence. Natural language can be used to search for specific photos, such as “Maya skateboarding in a tie-dye shirt,” or “Katie with stickers on her face.” Search in videos also becomes more powerful with the ability to find specific moments in clips so users can go right to the relevant segment. Additionally, the new Clean Up tool can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.

With Memories, users can create the story they want to see by simply typing a description. Using language and image understanding, Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc. Users will even get song suggestions to match their memory from Apple Music. As with all Apple Intelligence features, user photos and videos are kept private on device and are not shared with Apple or anyone else.

Powered by Apple Intelligence, Siri becomes more deeply integrated into the system experience. With richer language-understanding capabilities, Siri is more natural, more contextually relevant, and more personal, with the ability to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks. It can follow along if users stumble over words and maintain context from one request to the next. Additionally, users can type to Siri, and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment. Siri also has a brand-new design with an elegant glowing light that wraps around the edge of the screen when Siri is active.

Siri can now give users device support everywhere they go, and answer thousands of questions about how to do something on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Users can learn everything from how to schedule an email in the Mail app, to how to switch from Light to Dark Mode.

With onscreen awareness, Siri will be able to understand and take action with users’ content in more apps over time. For example, if a friend texts a user their new address in Messages, the receiver can say, “Add this address to his contact card.”

With Apple Intelligence, Siri will be able to take hundreds of new actions in and across Apple and third-party apps. For example, a user could say, “Bring up that article about cicadas from my Reading List,” or “Send the photos from the barbecue on Saturday to Malia,” and Siri will take care of it.

Siri will be able to deliver intelligence that’s tailored to the user and their on-device information. For example, a user can say, “Play that podcast that Jamie recommended,” and Siri will locate and play the episode, without the user having to remember whether it was mentioned in a text or an email. Or they could ask, “When is Mom’s flight landing?” and Siri will find the flight details and cross-reference them with real-time flight tracking to give an arrival time.

To be truly helpful, Apple Intelligence relies on understanding deep personal context while also protecting user privacy. A cornerstone of Apple Intelligence is on-device processing, and many of the models that power it run entirely on device. To run more complex requests that require more processing power, Private Cloud Compute extends the privacy and security of Apple devices into the cloud to unlock even more intelligence.

With Private Cloud Compute, Apple Intelligence can flex and scale its computational capacity and draw on larger, server-based models for more complex requests. These models run on servers powered by Apple silicon, providing a foundation that allows Apple to ensure that data is never retained or exposed.

Independent experts can inspect the code that runs on Apple silicon servers to verify privacy, and Private Cloud Compute cryptographically ensures that iPhone, iPad, and Mac do not talk to a server unless its software has been publicly logged for inspection. Apple Intelligence with Private Cloud Compute sets a new standard for privacy in AI, unlocking intelligence users can trust.

Apple is integrating ChatGPT access into experiences within iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, allowing users to access its expertise — as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities — without needing to jump between tools.

Siri can tap into ChatGPT’s expertise when helpful. Users are asked before any questions are sent to ChatGPT, along with any documents or photos, and Siri then presents the answer directly.

Additionally, ChatGPT will be available in Apple’s systemwide Writing Tools, which help users generate content for anything they are writing about. With Compose, users can also access ChatGPT image tools to generate images in a wide variety of styles to complement what they are writing.

Privacy protections are built in for users who access ChatGPT — their IP addresses are obscured, and OpenAI won’t store requests. ChatGPT’s data-use policies apply for users who choose to connect their account.

ChatGPT will come to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia later this year, powered by GPT-4o. Users can access it for free without creating an account, and ChatGPT subscribers can connect their accounts and access paid features right from these experiences.

Availability

Apple Intelligence is free for users, and will be available in beta as part of iOS 18 , iPadOS 18 , and macOS Sequoia  this fall in U.S. English. Some features, software platforms, and additional languages will come over the course of the next year. Apple Intelligence will be available on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to U.S. English. For more information, visit apple.com/apple-intelligence .

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