Tell us about your background (education, work, journey, experiences).

I received a Bachelors in Kinesiology and Health Education from The University of Texas at Austin in 2015. I started shadowing a veterinarian in 2017 at a small animal and exotics clinic and started working there in 2018. I have been working there for the past five years and have worked with ferrets, rabbits, birds, reptiles, pocket pets and opossums. I have applied to vet school multiple times, without any luck. I started a Masters in Social Work with a concentration in Veterinary Social Work from The University of Tennessee Knoxville but decided to reapply to vet school one last time and found the CVS program.

How is/was this program beneficial for you?

As far as vet school application goes, I think this is the best application I will have presented to the admissions committees thus far. I feel confident that my personal statement will stand out and got help describing my experiences in a way I would never have thought of on my own. I really feel the knowledge that I learned from the CVS program can easily be incorporated into my everyday work so that I can become more competent before vet school even starts.

What part of the program did you find most impactful (specific course, mentoring, community, skill development, etc.)? Describe that impact.

I loved the veterinary form and function and biology of pathogens courses. I felt that they were integrated well. I would say the most impactful part of the program would be the mentoring/help I received on my application to make it the best it can be and the case based learning. The help I received transformed my writing skills that I think will make my application stand out but also be useful in the future. The cases we went through were so fun to think through and enhanced my critical thinking skills. I can easily integrate the case based learning concepts and competencies that I learned into cases at work and continue to identify gaps in my knowledge to better solve and think through problems.

What is one thing you would say to someone considering this program?

I was hesitant at first about doing this program given that it was new, condensed and I was paying for the program in full. I wanted to make sure I would get my money’s worth. Within the first week, I knew the program would be worth it. I got so much out of it and am so glad I took a chance. It was well worth it! I would do it all over if I could, and I know the program will continue to improve even more as time progresses. If you are debating on pursuing this program, don’t be afraid to take a chance. You will thank yourself!

What’s next in your journey (vet school, graduate school, work, etc.)?

I am reapplying to vet school this cycle and plan to continue working while finishing up some vet school prerequisites.

Update from original student spotlight submission:

After applying to veterinary school for the fifth time, I received an acceptance from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, which was a dream come true for me! I had faced around 25 rejections in total over the course of those five years. I believe that my success was due to the Certificate in Veterinary Science program, its curriculum, and the help I received on my applications through the program. My ultimate goal is to become a small animal and exotics veterinarian. I have a keen interest in various fields, including emergency medicine, internal medicine, neurology, infectious/zoonotic diseases, preventative medicine, and exotic medicine, including fish medicine and hospice care.