Reach for a career in veterinary medicine

Luke McBlain

It hasn’t been the easiest journey but it has been the best! No matter your background, veterinary medicine is open for you!

I am a fourth-year veterinary student at the University of Glasgow. I’m from a working-class town in rural Ayrshire, Scotland. At first becoming a vet felt like a distant reality, both my parents worked in the public sector and I had no relatives in the farming or veterinary industries. However, I made sure that this did not disadvantage me or hold me back.

For me, veterinary medicine is about much more than just my love and compassion for animals. It is about being involved in something bigger, safeguarding and improving animal welfare at every opportunity. I also particularly enjoy the connections you make with all the clients and owners, you’ve got to be a ‘people person’ as well as an ‘animal lover’.

As the first person in my family to go to university, and being only 16 years old when I was applying to vet school, I found the application process challenging. However, I was lucky enough to have a great support system around me. My guidance and English teachers, in particular, were just as passionate about my applying to vet school as I was. Their support and expertise helped me along the way with personal statements and UCAS.

Not many — if any — students from my secondary school went on to study degrees like veterinary medicine, medicine or dentistry. Therefore my school was part of a widening participation programme, called Reach, with the aim of helping students gain exposure to these courses, and offer them assistance with the application process etc. This opportunity through Reach gave me a real insight to not only how the degree at Glasgow works, but also the profession as a whole. I took part in different tasks through this programme including a personal statement workshop. My favourite was the campus week, where we got to go to the vet school, meet with current students and undertake practical classes, as well as learn more in-depth about how to apply.

'No matter what your background, veterinary medicine is open to you!'

After hours of studying and undertaking lots of different work experience, I was ecstatic to be offered a place at the university. I moved away to university halls in September 2018 at 17 years old and have never looked back. It hasn’t been the easiest journey but it has been the best! No matter what your background, veterinary medicine is open to you!

Advice for parents, teachers and careers advisers

Undoubtedly students applying for vocational degrees such as veterinary medicine, medicine or dentistry do need a little more help from their schools. It is important to remember that the UCAS process for veterinary medicine is completely different than that for other courses, with different deadlines and requirements. You have the power to help unleash a young person’s potential and make them a world changer. Educate, inspire and empower anyone who shows interest, everyone deserves the opportunity!

For more information on applying to vet school, and the various routes in to study veterinary medicine, read the BVA's guide to applying. It sets out the truths around the process and highlights the UK vet schools' desire to widen participation through increased accessibility onto degree courses.

Advice for students

Do it! Go for it! Don’t be afraid or let anything hold you back. If you have any questions at all that your teacher or careers advisor can’t answer, get in touch with the university you are applying for: if they can help you they will.

Further information is available on Reach and how the University of Glasgow works with the programme can be found here. 

Other testimonies from current students on how they made it to vet school are available in the 'I am at School' section. 

 

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