Posts tagged Interviews

Excitement Galore!

March 2, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , ,

Lamb 120 - the little orphan with the big personality!

Ah, so many things to write about.   I have yet to update on my week spent lambing, but I will write about that soon.  I had the best week, and really got thrown in at the deep end, with lots of practical experience.  I also saw some mixed practice while I was there, which was awesome, and has got me thinking about different possible paths for my veterinary career!

There is also the good news that interviews are OVER.  February has been a long and stressful month in that respect, but I have been pleased that I managed to give them what I feel was my best.  It’s back to the chemistry now, which I am feeling more positive about now that I’ve got the time to really sit down and concentrate on it all.  I thought March was also going to be a long month, in that I wasn’t expecting to hear back from the rest of the vet schools until around the end of the month… which brings me onto my last (but by no means least) piece of news…

I have been offered a place at the University of Nottingham Vet School!!  I am so crazily happy and excited about this!  I received an (unexpected – wasn’t expecting to hear back until the end of March) phone call today from the chap who did the practical assessment at my interview, who told me the good news.  He must have thought I was a jabbering idiot by the end of the phone conversation, because I didn’t quite know what to say, but he was so nice and has told me that my offer is conditional upon me getting a B in my chemistry in the summer (which although will not be easy by any means, pleases me in that it takes the pressure off having to achieve an A – although I’ll still aim for that anyway!).  I am *so* happy.  The course at Nottingham is very different to the other universities, in that it is clinically-integrated from day one… meaning I’ll be getting my hands dirty very early on – just how I like it!  There is also the fact that Nottingham charge normal undergraduate fees, even for graduate students… meaning that I’ve potentially just saved £85,000… wow.

So all in all, I’m one very happy lady right now! :D

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Thought the stress was over? Think again!

February 13, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged ,

Anybody else have the same problem after their interviews…?  They can’t stop re-running the whole thing over and over in their head?!  Only another six weeks of this until I hear back from them!

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Two down…

February 12, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged ,

Yep, second interview yesterday.  I was there all day for various different assessments and came out in the afternoon absolutely exhausted!  I felt like I’d had a really good grilling, but I’m taking that as a good sign!  It had been a good day, and once more I did my best but it is so difficult to tell how it went.  I was quite nervous (I want this one so much!) so I hope that didn’t affect my performance too much.  There were also the best part of 100 other students there, so you got to know each other a bit – not nice being pitched against the others so openly!  But I managed to get stuck in and I hope they liked me.  One more interview left to go!

May not be posting much in the next few days – next week is half term so I am off to Wales to do some lambing!! :D   It has the double bonus that I’ll be staying with one of my old uni housemates, so I have no doubt that a lot of fun will be had outside of working hours too!  If I manage to find my camera in time (it is mysteriously absent since I went to Edinburgh) I will take lots of pictures of the lambs and post them up here soon!

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Raining Cats and Dogs

February 10, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged ,

Next interview tomorrow.  I reeeeally want this one.  Although once again, the weather and travel news are keeping me on edge - from my window I can currently see ducks swimming around.  Not all that unusual I hear you cry – apart from the fact that where they are swimming is supposed to be field, not lake.  Still, I battled through the snow and ice, and I’ll battle through the floods too!  Am looking forward to this one in a way – it’s not just a straightforward interview, but also a practical assessment and team-working exercise.  I’ve heard that they really try to get the best out of you, and I intend to give it absolutely everything - they won’t be able to refuse me by the end of the day!

Wish me luck!  :D

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One down…

February 6, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , ,

Well I made it there and back in one piece! While the rest of the country ground (or perhaps skidded) to a halt, I drove for nearly 11 hours in total, to get to my interview on the other side of the country. To be fair, I was pretty lucky with the weather – although it was snowy, the motorways were probably clearer than they would have been, because people had already taken the day off work. Although the main motorway I was on is today impassable due to the conditions. So I was fairly lucky in that respect. I stayed overnight with the parents of a friend, who were completely lovely and hospitable, and fed me a lot. This always pleases me.

As for the interview itself, it was difficult to tell how it went but I was happy that I’d given it my best shot. I’m not going to talk in detail on the individual parts of the interview – apart from the fact that it is generally frowned upon, it’s not fair on people in the same position as me. But suffice it to say, I tried my best and it is a good experience for the next one as well (which is now only a few days away). There were a couple of moments where I confused myself, or was at a loss at what to say, but I feel that in the end I gave a decent attempt at everything. And there were some ethical issues that came up that I was really happy to be asked about, as I’d been discussing the pro’s and con’s of them with a vet and a vet student last week! So all in all, difficult to tell, but I can go away content that I tried my best.

On a completely unrelated note (if you’ll excuse the pun), we started Verdi’s Requiem at the choir I go to last night – fun times! :)

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So why do you want to be a vet?

January 27, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged

I’m in full-swing with interview preparation at the moment, with all of my interviews coming up in the next few weeks.  It is difficult to prepare for as there are just so many things they could potentially ask.  I’m probably going into a bit too much detail at the moment, especially as I think it’s less about what you know and more about how you come across to the interviewers, and attempt to answer questions.  I suppose it is better to realise that now than in a couple of weeks’ time though!

Although I’m surprisingly not as stressed as I thought I would be, and am in fact looking forward to them in a strange kind of way.  I know that some interviews will involve practical assessments and group exercises, but I like the idea of being able to get my hands dirty and being able to prove myself!  I certainly find it more appealing than just the talking to people from behind a desk.  I just hope I don’t get too nervous on the day – it is so much easier to impress and think clearly when you’ve got a calm head.  

The title question is one of the hardest to answer without sounding cliche though!

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Meanwhile, back in the real world…

December 17, 2008 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , ,

I think I’m nearly back down to earth now!

Still, very VERY happy.  The realisation of the fees is hitting home now though – if I’m not successful in finding funding to supplement my existing savings/income/loan then I won’t be able to take up the place.  I don’t believe any experience is ever wasted, but the last months and years have been leading up to this, and if I can’t enough find funding now… well, I’d have to look down a different route.  Which might break my soul.  It would probably something along the lines of animal physiotherapy – although the training for this would actually be longer than to be a vet (you’d have to train as a human physiotherapist first, then specialise), although the fees would be largely subsidised by the NHS (as they are for medics, physios, radiologists etc etc… no such funding for vets though sadly!).  But although there is no harm in having a back-up plan, I sincerely hope it won’t come to that.   

I’ve been busy preparing interview notes this week.  It has been quite an enjoyable task really, and I’m learning a lot.  But one thing that has really stood out for me is the fact that I just know that this is what I want to do.  It is just endlessy fascinating, and challenging, and has just made it even more clear for me that this is the only career that I want… in saying that, I am also realising that a ‘vet’ is such a broad term, and encompasses thousands of different careers within it (I’ve been reading about apiculture this week, and the veterinary medicine of beekeeping!).  But it makes me so happy that I made the decision to take this route, and I am SO EXCITED about the fact that this time next year I will be studying to become a vet. 

Providing I can find enough funding.

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