At 20:37:28 on 25.01.12, OffTheTrack wrote:
More of a question of vets than a question of patients! I'm currently studying my 1st year GCSEs, achieving the necessary grades and loads of agricultural, equine and small animal practice exerience. I plan to become a large animal/farm/equine vet. I've heard that there is a current shortage in large animal (equine + farm) vets and that the government are worried that this will leave the UK vulnerable to zoonotic diseases. But they're saying that vets don't like farm work because it demands unreasonable hours, whereas small animal practice offers regular hours. Is this the real offput for vets or is there something else? And I've heard that veterinary schools aren't interested in people who just want to become equine vets, but are they more open-minded about those who plan to specialise in large animals? Thanks

At 21:49:31 on 25.01.12, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
There may be a shortage but it seems that doesn't mean they are keen to be more open minded about grades. I have always wanted to be a large animal vet or exotic animal vet and tried so hard to achieve all my GCSE's, i was told a minimal of C or above in all subjects with B or above in maths, biology, chemistry and physics. I got 1 A* 2 A's 7 B's and 3 C's and all the desired marks for maths and my sciences but i was pushed away before they even let me try my A levels saying i wasn't smart enough. I had been so happy thinking i would be able to do my A levels and continue on to vet school but it was not meant to be. Instead i went to animal college to study animal management and i hope one day to move to africa to work on conservation and honestly i enjoy this more than any A levels, i am in my second year of 3 and plan on doing my foundation and honors degree too so although there may be a shortage of vets be aware it is still a highly competitive line of work and i was told a minimum of 7 A*-A grades are needed so work your arse off if you want to get in vet school, i would have tried harder if i had known the information i know now...

At 22:16:23 on 25.01.12, OffTheTrack wrote:
I'm totally aware of the grades requirements- and my targets are A and A* across the board but what I heard was that they immediately dissmiss horse-mad girls because they want good all-rounders, I wondered what the attitude was to large animal wanna-bees :) and what the real offput was for vets not wanting to work large animal x

At 00:06:29 on 27.01.12, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
couldn't help you with that i didn't get that far lol i wish someone had told me the grade requirements before my GCSE's :( but never mind i guess it was never meant to be...