Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:45:43 GMT

Apart from chemistry, which is usually compulsory, the student should probably take whichever subjects they enjoy the most, as you are likely to do best in those and it is the grades that matters most. I would agree with Evelyn though, that if they don't enjoy biology then I would question their choice of career!

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Liz w — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:14:47 GMT

I didn't do biology, as I thought my backup career choices if I didn't get the grades would be more open. I suffered for it in the preclinical years though.

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:04:02 GMT

I've no idea about vet. school requirements, but I'm baffled as to why anybody interested in becoming a veterinary surgeon would not be studying biology or zoology or both.

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Mark Rowland — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:18:37 GMT

At my Cert oral exams at London zoo, I was asked when I arrived why I hadnt picked up a pass at the main gate. I replied that as I had qualified from Liverpool, it was only natural that I would gain access to the zoo by the side window which lightened the mood somwhat.

btw the subject I used most during my training was physics.

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Clive Ansell — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 07:14:49 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]It won't matter given that practically every post office in the country is starting its own vet school you will only have to be able to count to twenty without taking your socks off.

[/quote]

No, you will need to be able to count as far as 45,000, which by coincidence equals 5 years tuition fees of £45000. Higher education is becoming a business, it will begin and end with money - end of. The number and quality of the graduate product will be a secondary consideration, but the RCVS will of course be regulating it so no worries there then (can't find a sarcasm smiley)

And, given the high probability that post offices will be privatised and given they are already involved in the process we could well see vet schools being run by the likes of Tesco ?

Seriously though, maybe the OP should be 3 questions?.

1) which A levels are needed to jump through the necessary hoops to get into vet school?

2) which A levels will help in making you a good or a better all round vet?

3) Which A levels would allow you to diversify and change careers later on should the veterinary profession fail to meet expectations or fail to provide employment.

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:24:05 GMT

[quote user="Tim Browning"]

Well at Cambridge you are in a collegiate structure and not on a campus with only vets for social intercourse. You tend to gain a wider circle of friends and learn to punt!

[/quote]

Maybe so, but everywhere else we get to actually touch real animals.

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Tim Browning — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:55:13 GMT

Well at Cambridge you are in a collegiate structure and not on a campus with only vets for social intercourse. You tend to gain a wider circle of friends and learn to punt!

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Cat Henstridge — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:05:27 GMT

If Bristol needs physics, then he'd better do that then.

Why would you want to go anywhere else?!

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:47:52 GMT

I got the impression that the only 'compulsory' subject is chemistry. Logically biology should be important but they seem to teach all you need to know about that in the non-clinical years. Maths would then be useful instead of physics the third one seems up for grabs.

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:23:12 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"][quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

[/quote]

Oh dear, that's me out then! ;)

[/quote] Mark, being a foreigner you probably have a non standard number of toes anyway and socks or no socks 20 might be confusing.

[/quote]

I'll blame 3 Mile Island for the toe count, although I'll be the first to admit that only the Brits could build an air-cooled nuclear reactor! (Windscale!)

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Mark Holmes — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:18:33 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

[/quote]

Oh dear, that's me out then! ;)

[/quote] Mark, being a foreigner you probably have a non standard number of toes anyway and socks or no socks 20 might be confusing.

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:03:07 GMT

[/quote]

Oh dear, that's me out then! ;)

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Mark Holmes — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 06:23:53 GMT

It won't matter given that practically every post office in the country is starting its own vet school you will only have to be able to count to twenty without taking your socks off.

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

David Mills — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:17:03 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"] but when I applied everywhere wanted biology, chemistry and one other.[/quote]

Same experience as this (08 grad), and from what our EMS students say, still is. Cambridge had a list of 'recognised' A-levels which excluded many softer subjects/ologies, but including e.g. Latin, history, geography, English etc. Apart from that, I think it's a fool's game trying to second-guess what might 'look better'. Some admissions tutors that I've met actually look kindly on a different third subject because they believe it displays a flexibility and more rounded academic experience - certainly useful for essay writing and structure etc.

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Emily Rainbow — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 22:35:12 GMT

I'm at Bristol, Did A levels in Chem, Bio, Maths and Geog. I didn't quite get the Chem grade they wanted and managed to get in second time around. I got the feeling that geography, although not as 'sciencey' as maths or physics wasn't completely a waste of time if everything else eg work exp was very good, but that may have changed in the last 4yrs. I know Bristol have changed their interview format, and criteria for interview allocations.

Maybe advise them to ring the admissions people and speak to them? Gets your name heard before you apply and shows you're keen.

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

karen jones — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:03:31 GMT

One of our vets has one daughter at Bristol with biology, chemistry and maths seems like they want biology chemistry and another but want all the other hoops , work experience and personnel statement and good references important.

Re: Which A-levels for vet school entry?

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:59:38 GMT

I started Uni in 2001. I got in with Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. I also took physics, but since RVC would take physics or psychology I stopped working in physics and got a C. I hated physics.

Check the Uni websites, but when I applied everywhere wanted biology, chemistry and one other.