Part-Time and Online Student
Tell us about your background (education and current work experience).
I have always had a love for school and furthering my education. I received a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science: Medical & Veterinary Sciences from the University of New Hampshire in 2023, completing the degree in 3.5 years instead of the normal 4 years. I have been involved in FFA (Future Farmers of America) in New Hampshire since 2018, and was our state’s National FFA Officer Candidate in 2022, previously serving as a NH FFA State Officer from 2020-2022. I’ve worked a variety of jobs since the age of 14. I went from working as a cashier, babysitting, pet sitting, a farm hand at a local rabbitry, and then started a job at a dog daycare, boarding, and training facility. I worked there for 3 years and finally moved into the veterinary field in January 2022. At my first clinic, I worked as a Veterinary Technician Assistant and helped all creatures great and small; running blood work, urine and fecal samples, assisting with radiographs, packing surgical packs, and so much more! I then accepted a position as a Client Service Representative at a small animal integrative hospital in June 2024 and have been there ever since! In veterinary medicine, you are constantly learning new things every day, which I am incredibly grateful for! I love listening to the stories from our clients and their stories about their pets!
How did you become interested in the Master of Veterinary Science degree program?
I first applied to veterinary school in 2023, which was between my Junior and Senior years of college. I did not receive any acceptances at that time and knew that I needed to do something different to improve my GPA and the knowledge gaps that I knew I had. I needed a program that would help me grow and understand what it means to be in the veterinary field, but I also needed it to be financially feasible since I had just graduated from undergrad. After much research, I found the MVS degree program at UIUC, as I could still work while being in school, and it was an affordable online program. I also took the initiative to interview current students, after looking through and listening to real student experiences through Facebook groups. I also got in contact with faculty and staff about the program before applying. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and friendly, and I knew this program was for me!
What sets the MVS degree/program apart from other programs you’ve either participated in or considered?
This program ensures that you grasp knowledge gaps and understand how to analyze good and bad data. Not all of the program is data-based, but the faculty and staff here truly want you to learn and grow. This program is relatively new, so they are constantly seeking feedback about courses and online materials. I had no trouble at all navigating Canvas — the system UIUC uses — which was the same system my undergraduate college used as well. I have loved being able to build off my knowledge gaps and truly learn, whether that be about course material or my classmates.
Tell us about a course in the program that impacted you. How was the content useful?
I really enjoyed VCM 507/509 and VCM 513/514. These courses are meant to challenge your knowledge gaps, but you work through them with your classmates through each case. And, on top of that, each case is different, and you or your classmates may have more understanding of the presentation of the cases. You all learn and grow from the experience and truly get to use critical thinking skills while solving problems and creating a plan as a group. No one enjoys group work — believe me, I’ve been through it — but these courses highlight the importance of working as a team through tough, long cases that you may or may not experience in this field or even in other fields. These courses were incredibly useful and challenged everything I knew and didn’t know.
The MVS degree helps students “discover what’s next” in their career. What’s next for you?
I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian before high school, but the main reason was different than most. At first, I wanted to be an author because I loved telling and creating stories. I had written a book and was too scared to self-publish it as a 16-year-old, so I stopped there, but kept writing when I had free time. As I’ve grown older and reflected on stories by James Herriott, I realized that there are so many unique stories in the veterinary field. Whether that be our clients, patients, or co-workers, it’s truly a small but wonderful world of growth and learning. As a CSR, I listen to each one of them, not just because it’s part of my job, but since they are all different and unique. I love my job, and I know I will continue to love it once I become a mixed animal veterinarian in the near future. I can’t wait to not only serve animals, but the people who love them, too!
What is one thing about the program you would say to someone considering this degree?
The MVS degree at UIUC is filled with an incredible level of community. The faculty, staff, advisors, and classmates want you to succeed. Everyone is welcoming, friendly, and willing to learn and grow the program with YOU, as the student. As a part-time, online student, I have been so grateful for this program as it fits my needs and my classmates’ needs, as well. Everyone is understanding of work schedules and is flexible with you as long as you communicate what you need. I HIGHLY recommend this program, whether you are looking to elevate your veterinary knowledge, trying to get into veterinary school, or simply trying to learn about various fields. This program is for you.