Question 1

Will my vet personal statement be secure?

Accepted Answer

100% - the only people that will see your veterinary medicine personal statement will be the qualified vet that checks your personal statement and your personal mentor. This is our guarantee.

Question 2

What if I am not happy with your veterinary medicine personal statement review/edit?

Accepted Answer

We are certain that you, like 300 other students, will find the review and edits useful - if you don't we offer a free second review of your personal statement, or your money back. 
 
Remember - most students purchase our unlimited veterinary medicine personal statement editing service. This helps us work together to create the best personal statement possible.

Question 3

Will there be any plagiarism?

Accepted Answer

No - all of our personal statements are crafted in a unique and plagiarism free manner.  We guarantee this.

Question 4

Who will edit my veterinary personal statement?

Accepted Answer

Your veterinary medicine personal statement will only be checked by qualified vets who have extensive experience improving personal statements.

Question 5

About Aberystwyth Vet School

Accepted Answer

Aberystwyth Vet School's jointly hosted Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) degree offers a unique opportunity to train at both the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Aberystwyth University.
 
This exciting new course combines the scientific and clinical expertise from both organisations to help students gain wide-ranging veterinary training, and it will be especially appealing to those interested in veterinary careers within Wales or in rural mixed practice due to its location.

Question 6

Aberystwyth Vet School Course Structure

Accepted Answer

Teaching is organised in strands. These strands are visited on multiple occasions, initially focusing on the healthy animal, and progressing through diseases of different systems, their investigation and management. There are also non-system strands that focus on the underpinning science and the impact of animal disease on public health.
 
In the first two years you will be based in the heart of Wales at Aberystwyth University, studying the biology underpinning veterinary sciences, acquiring basic farm animal, horse and companion animal handling and examination skills, developing your communication, problem solving and team working skills. Aberystwyth University has a long history of animal health teaching and research and is committed to educational excellence.
 
In your third, fourth and fifth years you will be based at the RVC’s Hawkshead Campus in Potters Bar (Hertfordshire) where you will acquire the advanced knowledge and practical skills in the clinical sciences necessary for you to become a registerable veterinarian. During this period your clinical training will be undertaken in a range of the RVC’s clinical facilities and affiliated veterinary practices as well as a specific rotation at Aberystwyth University focused on production animal issues relevant to Wales.
 
The RVC has three outstanding academic and clinical departments. Lecturers at Aberystwyth University and the RVC in each department are not only world-class researchers and clinicians who are passionate about their field; they are highly qualified teaching professionals. At Aberystwyth University, students will benefit from the extensive university farms, Lluest Equine Centre and other teaching facilities.
 
The strands making up the basis of teaching are as follows:
 
From first to the third year: 
• Principles of Science
• Locomotor
• Cardiovascular and respiratory
• Urogenital: renal
• Urogenital: reproduction
• Alimentary system
• Neurology and special senses
• Lymphoreticular and haematopoietic
• Skin
• Population medicine and veterinary public health (PMVPH)
• Scholarship evidence-based medicine.
 
During the fourth and fifth years: 
The majority of teaching during the fourth and fifth years of the programme is in the form of clinical rotations, where you will work in small groups in a variety of clinical environments. 
Students participate in both intramural rotations and ClinEMS placements across species and disciplines. They will also undertake a research project of their choice.

Question 7

What Makes Aberystwyth University Unique?

Accepted Answer

As Aberystwyth Vet School has been very recently established (2021), you would benefit from state of the art facilities and a newly designed course. The rural setting would make this particularly appealing to students interested in farm/mixed practice, and having this alongside the final three years of study being undertaken at the Royal Veterinary College (ranked as the world’s number one veterinary school in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2019) means that you can get the best of both worlds.

Question 8

Aberystwyth Veterinary Medicine Course Entry Requirements

Accepted Answer

A Levels: AAA (Biology at grade A, Chemistry at grade A and a third subject of your choice which should not overlap with Biology or Chemistry also at grade A).
 
GCSEs: At least five GCSEs at grade A (7) including AA in Science (Double Award) / 7-7 in Combined Science or Biology and Chemistry or Science and Additional Science with at least a grade 6 (B) in English Language or Welsh Language, Mathematics and Physics (if taken as a separate GCSE).
 
Welsh Baccalaureate: Welsh Baccalaureate Applicants who achieve the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate with grade A will be accepted with two A Levels (Biology at grade A and Chemistry at grade A).
 
Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers: Advanced Highers at grades AA in Biology & Chemistry in addition to 5 Highers at AAAAB grades including Biology & Chemistry and at least National 5 grade B in Physics, English & Mathematics. If you have bypassed Physics, English or Mathematics at National 5, you will need this subject/grade at Highers level.
 
Irish Leaving Certificate: H1,H1,H2,H2,H2,H2 including Biology and Chemistry. H1 required in one of these sciences. Minimum O3 is required in Physics, English & Mathematics.
 
International Baccalaureate: 766 at Higher Level including Biology, Chemistry and a third subject of your choice.
 
Cambridge Pre-U: Distinctions (D3 or higher) in Biology, Chemistry and a third subject of your choice.

Question 9

Aberystwyth Widening Participation

Accepted Answer

Offers of ABB at A Level (with an A in Biology or Chemistry) will be made to those meeting certain Widening Participation (WP) criteria - see the Aberysytwth Vet School website for details of these criteria and the equivalent grades in different examinations.

Question 10

Aberystwyth Vet School Work Experience

Accepted Answer

They have several requirements:
 • 35 hours of work experience in one or more veterinary practices
 • 35 hours of work experience outside of a veterinary practice (excluding the home environment/family business/pet ownership) with at least half of this time to be spent working with large animals (excluding horse riding and horse ownership/family farm)

Question 11

How Does Aberyswyth Vet School Look At The Personal Statement?

Accepted Answer

As Aberystwyth use an SAQ in their application process, it is likely that this would be weighted more heavily than your personal statement in assessing your attributes and suitability for the course.

Question 12

Aberystwyth Vet School Interviews

Accepted Answer

All applicants to this course must attend an interview if invited and cannot receive an offer without attending an interview. Interviews will be held at Aberystwyth University at a time to be confirmed.
 
The Aberystwyth Vet School interview structure/style for this year is yet to be confirmed.

Question 13

RCVS / AVMA Accreditation

Accepted Answer

RCVS: No (full accreditation will be granted in 2026 when the first cohort of students graduate if the RCVS deems their standards to be fulfilled)
 
AVMA: No

Question 14

Aberystwyth Vet School Open Day

Accepted Answer

Aberystwyth University are currently hosting online open days - see link attached https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/undergrad/open-days/online-open-day/.(https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/undergrad/open-days/online-open-day/) In-person events have not yet been confirmed, so we recommend keeping an eye on their website over the coming months.

Question 15

Work Experience

Accepted Answer

Work experience can be difficult to arrange, but perseverance is key!

Please see our blog article here on ways to increase your chances of success here: Blog(javascript:void(0))

Question 16

Interviews

Accepted Answer

There are various different interview styles depending on the university that you apply to - at Become A Vet, we are familiar with the interview process for each university so can offer you the best advice and guidance specific to your application.

Question 17

Open Days

Accepted Answer

Prospective vet students in the UK should utilise university open days effectively - you will be able to find their dates and booking procedures on each university's website. Prior research on the course, faculty, and school reputation is crucial. Prepare specific questions for lecturers and students to understand course structure, teaching methods, and resources. Speak with current students for honest perspectives. This can be really helpful when trying to decide which universities you would like to apply to.

Question 18

Practice Question 1

Accepted Answer

It is fair that rich people can afford to buy better medical treatment than poor people; after all, they have worked harder to earn that money.
 • Explain the argument behind this statement.
 • What assumptions does it make?
 • Argue, if possible, to the contrary.

Question 19

Practice Question 2

Accepted Answer

If NHS treatment is free for all UK residents, it should also be free for animals in NHS veterinary care.
 • To what extent is this statement true?
 • Argue to the contrary
 • Conclude on whether NHS veterinary care should be free at the point of access or not.

Question 20

Practice Question 3

Accepted Answer

When a patient has given their consent for treatment, it means the doctor is completely relieved of any possible blame should the treatment go wrong.
 • Explain the argument underlying this statement.
 • Argue to the contrary.
 • Outline the conventional benefits of gaining a patient’s consent and highlight whether there are any situations in which not gaining consent would be deemed appropriate.

Question 21

Practice Question 4

Accepted Answer

“A good physician treats the disease; a great physician treats the patient who has the disease”.
 • Explain the reasoning behind this argument
 • Is it more important for the doctor to know who the patient is, rather than the disease they are dealing with?
 • How can each patient respond differently to treatment?
 • lso, present the contrary viewpoint.

Question 22

Practice Question 5

Accepted Answer

In this day and age, where we know so much about the harmful effects of smoking, those who choose to smoke should not receive free medical healthcare.
 • To what extent, if any, can this statement be justified?
 • Present the opposing viewpoint.
 • Can the same argument be made for any person who uses a substance of any description?

Question 23

Introduction

Accepted Answer

The BMAT is a necessary part of the application for many Medical Schools. Prior to sitting your BMAT, we highly recommend you investigate whether your Medical School choices require the BMAT or not - you can find this information in our ‘Universities’ Section of our website.
The BMAT assesses a combination of aptitude and knowledge - quite the opposite to the UCAT! It is expected that students will generally have acquired the necessary knowledge prior to the test throughout academic work, so theoretically, not much revision is necessary. However, we always recommend hard work, which starts here in our BMAT Guide.
The test is a pen-and-paper test, completed in a 2-hour sitting. You are not permitted the use of a calculator, dictionary or any other aid.

Question 24

BMAT Sections

Accepted Answer

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See above for sections of the BMAT

Question 25

BMAT Section 3 Essay Submission Portal

Accepted Answer

Those who purchase the Complete Package can now get any of their BMAT essays marked by a BMAT expert. Simply upload your essay to the portal and it will be returned by email within 3 days.

Question 26

Ultimate Package

Accepted Answer

Ultimate Package 2023/24
 
This includes:
1. Initial Consultation - 1h with your expert vet mentor to answer all of your questions.
2. Tutoring - Tutoring (5, 10 or 25 hours), including mock interviews - free to use however you wish during the entire programme.
3. Revision Plan - your own personalised development programme, containing a timeline of all key dates, work and resources to excel in the programme - developed with your Educational Consultant. 
4. Work Experience - your educational consultant will support you looking for adequate work experience in small animal practices, zoos, abattoirs & virtual work experience. This includes an online workshop where videos & documents detail how you can go about obtaining work experience
5. Personal Statement - Access to our personal statement writing guide & unlimited edits of your personal statement until it is ready to submit
6. SAQ - Access to our SAQ writing guide & unlimited edits of your personal statement until it is ready to submit
7. University Guide - Access to our unique university information guide, containing information on all Veterinary UK Universities & past interview questions, your guide will help you choose the correct universities to suit you
8. Interview Guide - Access to our online interview guide with 200+ questions with model answers, written by Vets
9. 24/7 Support - Have access to your Educational Consultant (a qualified vet), 24/7 from the moment you join our programme, to the moment you receive your final offer.

To find out more or enquire as to the suitability of this programme, please feel free to give us a call on 02034885468.

Question 27

Complete Package

Accepted Answer

Become A Vet has successfully managed to secure the following amazing package for a limited number of applicants:
​
This includes:
1. Work Experience - your educational consultant will support you looking for adequate work experience in small animal practices, zoos, abattoirs & virtual work experience. This includes an online workshop where videos & documents detail how you can go about obtaining work experience
2. Personal Statement - Access to our personal statement writing guide & unlimited edits of your personal statement until it is ready to submit
3. SAQ - Access to our SAQ writing guide & unlimited edits of your personal statement until it is ready to submit
4. University Guide - Access to our unique university information guide, containing information on all Veterinary UK Universities & past interview questions, your guide will help you choose the correct universities to suit you
5. Interview Guide - Access to our online interview guide with 200+ questions with model answers, written by Vets
 
The following services are only available through the Ultimate Package, and not through the complete package:
1. Tutoring - 5 hours of tutoring including mock interviews - free to use however you wish during the entire programme. Extra hours are also available to purchase. 
2. Revision Plan - your own personalised development programme, containing a timeline of all key dates, work and resources to excel in the programme - developed with your Educational Consultant. 
3. 24/7 Support - Have access to your Educational Consultant (a qualified vet), 24/7 from the moment you join our programme, to the moment you receive your final offer.
To find out more or enquire as to the suitability of this programme, please feel free to give us a call on 02034885468.

Question 28

Personal Statement

Accepted Answer

Package 1: £149 Service
TWO drafts of your personal statement will be thoroughly deciphered, critiqued and corrected by our expert team of assessors. They will provide you with constructive feedback, suggestions and corrections of your statement, including grammar and spelling. The assessor assigned to your personal statement will guide you in constructing a Personal Statement that will be warmly received by all universities and their Veterinary Schools.
​
Package 2: £299 Unlimited Service
UNLIMITED drafts of your personal statement will be thoroughly deciphered, critiqued and corrected by our expert team of assessors. Our assessors will be available for your assistance 7 days a week and will offer their tailored experience to assist you in writing your statement. They will provide you with constructive feedback, suggestions and corrections of your statement, including content, grammar, spelling and writing style. The assessor assigned to your personal statement will take into full consideration your entire application and the universities you wish to apply to; in this way, you will be guided to tailor your Personal Statement to meet the exact specifications and requirements of your chosen universities, thus dramatically boosting your prospects of a successful application.

Question 29

SAQ

Accepted Answer

Unlimited edits of your short answer question (SAQ) applications for all of your chosen vet schools. Do not neglect this!

Question 30

University Guide

Accepted Answer

GUIDANCE ON ALL UK Veterinary Universities: £299
​
This section provides critical information about each university that offers a place for Veterinary Medicine in the UK. Each university and its respective city has crucial factors that you should consider prior to application, and this section offers the most exclusive content regarding each Medical School, including even the specific interview techniques & QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO EACH UNIVERSITY THAT THEY ASK.
​
This section offers invaluable knowledge on the following categories for each university:
 • Important facts, information and guidance about the university and city
 • Insight into makes the university and Veterinary school unique
 • Information on The Course at each VeterinarySchool and what you will study
 • Entry requirements (including minimum requirements of GSCEs, A-levels, work experience and what to include in the personal statement)
 • Interview techniques and questions for each university

Question 31

Interview Guide

Accepted Answer

150 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AND THE THEORY BEHIND THEM: £499
This is undoubtedly the most valuable section of services that we offer; you are given exclusive and complete access to the entire library of hundreds of past, and most importantly, CURRENT interview questions.
​
Each question is thoroughly discussed, the background content and knowledge examined, and then model answers provided for applicants. It is critical that you have a firm understanding of different aspects of Veterinary Medicine in order for you to answer your questions correctly without sounding like a rehearsed answer. Medical Schools are searching for students who understand the Veterinary theory and will probe you if you only have a pre-rehearsed answer with no knowledge.
​
Research has shown that less than 15% of all applicants to Veterinary Medicine are invited to an interview, and following this, only 5% of all applicants are actually offered a place at Veterinary School. However, 98% of candidates who are able to perform at the interview process, answer all questions to an excellent standard and therefore impress the Admissions Team to successfully receive an offer, subsequently meet all following requirements to successfully secure a place at their chosen Veterinary School.
​
You will learn from the UK’s most comprehensive source at Become A Vet, where you will hone your knowledge, understand how to perfect your interview answers and also investigate model answers for all the topics that come up at Interview.

Question 32

What is the difference between the Ultimate Package & Complete Package?

Accepted Answer

The following services are only available through the Ultimate Package, and not through the Complete Package:
1. Revision Plan - your own personalised development programme, containing a timeline of all key dates, work and resources to excel in the programme - developed with your Educational Consultant. 
2. Tutoring - 5 hours tutoring including 2 full mock interviews run by our most experienced interview consultants, with verbal feedback, tailored to your specific universities. Feel free to use these hours in any way that you would like. 
3. 24/7 Support - Have access to your Educational Consultant (a qualified doctor), 24/7 from the moment you join our programme, to the moment you receive your final offer.
 
Speak to one of our Educational Support Consultants on 02034885468 for more information

Question 33

Overview

Accepted Answer

The personal statement is one of the most crucial aspects of your Veterinary Medicine application; it provides each candidate with the opportunity to impress and intrigue the university interview panel and stand out as a unique individual. Whilst some universities now place a greater weighting on their SAQs (supplementary assessment questionnaires) as a means of assessing the character of their applicants - see our SAQ package for help with this - many universities do still use the Personal Statement as their primary/secondary means of deciding who to call for interview. Whilst each statement must be personal, as the name suggests, we have dedicated this section to decoding what universities are impressed and unimpressed by, how to stand out amongst thousands of applicants, and how to have the best chance of securing an interview.
 
Remember, we are here to help! Our Full Comprehensive Package offers you unlimited reviews and edits of your Personal Statement.

Question 34

The Basics

Accepted Answer

• You are limited to 4000 characters and 47 lines of writing. This means your statement needs to be sharp, concise and engaging from the start.
 • Do NOT copy, steal or plagiarise any other statement in any shape or form! This will likely result in an immediate rejection from the UCAS application.
 • Try to avoid opening your personal statement with cliché quotes or funny comments – you must bear in mind that the university board reading the statement may have a different taste or humour to you and may disapprove of your opening.
 • There is no set structure to the statement. Each individual should write in a style that is comfortable and familiar to them. However, we will cover the most common topics in further detail below. There is no particular order in which you need to include the content within your statement, write your paragraphs in a flow that suits your style of writing. You may wish to base your structure loosely on the following:
    • Introduction: Why you want to study Veterinary Medicine
    • Middle bulk: Academics, extra-curricular, charity and volunteer work, work experience, wider reading and research (read on below for further elaboration on these topics)
    • Conclusion: Summary of what makes you a good candidate to study medicine - be honest here, remember that you will likely be asked to expand on parts of your personal statement at interview
 • The statement will require multiple drafts, revisions and edits. Do not be disheartened by changing your statement. The more people you show it to, the better: show your family, teachers, tutors and even us here! All the different views and opinions will only serve to strengthen your statement, whether you choose to follow them or not.
 • Try to avoid vague statements that could apply to all courses – this does not show your passion for Veterinary Medicine and would deter universities from selecting you. From years of experience, our recommendation is that you choose one course and apply specifically for that – if it ends up being Veterinary Medicine, then that’s fantastic!

Question 35

Structure

Accepted Answer

We recommend sticking to the following structure:
 • Introduction
 • Work Experience
 • Supra-curricular 
 • Extra-curricular
 • Conclusion
This keeps it simple with five paragraphs that are logical and flow in a nice order.

Question 36

What should you include?

Accepted Answer

Talk About Yourself
This is your opportunity to highlight your strengths and how you can apply them to Veterinary Medicine. You should demonstrate your academic prowess, your extra-curricular activities and involvements, as well as any further research, reading and studying you have completed in your own time. Above all, your overriding message should be what you have learnt from your experiences, the skills that you have developed and how you can apply these to the veterinary world.
 
Your Academic Strengths
Bear in mind that your academics will be covered thoroughly by your references, and the universities will receive your predicted grades. Therefore, there is no need to cover these again. However, you may wish to discuss your A-level subjects and how they have helped you along the path towards becoming a vet. If you have been involved in organising or running any lunchtime or after school clubs or activities, elaborate on these. The key thing is to highlight what you have learnt from theses subjects or clubs, rather than just stating you participated. Having said that, your subjects and A-level choices are not the most important factor in your personal statement, so do not be afraid of eliminating this section should you be over the character limit.
Extra-Curricular Activities
In the same context, you may wish to write about your extra-curricular activities, such as any sports or instruments that you play, any groups, charities or societies you participate in and part-time jobs or even interesting past-times which you may have. Try to avoid listing this and merely stating what they are. Again, reiterate how they have helped shape you as an individual, what it has taught you and how it is relevant to a career as a vet. Veterinary Medicine is a profession in which we are able to help those who need it; we are able to provide care to improve the health of many animals and you should show empathy in your personal statement reflecting this. Try to reflect your compassion and caring nature in any charity or volunteer work you have participated in, but take care not to come across as fake or insincere.
Work Experience
One essential topic that must be discussed is work experience and your research into Veterinary Medicine. Ideally, work experience should be carried out in a variety of environments - such as veterinary practices, farms, kennels and laboratories. There is no use in just stating the places you have carried out work experience; you must outline what you have learnt about the veterinary profession. Discuss the value of communication, teamwork, manual dexterity and the understanding of different principles that have interested you. You should also do further research and reading around these topics and incorporate this into your statement. In preparing yourself for the interview, you should research and find out about different veterinary treatments, upcoming technology and recent advances. You definitely do not need to understand the ins and outs of everything entirely - a broad understanding will be more than sufficient to impress. You can find more information about these suggested topics in our documents and on our website here. These topics may be explored further during the interview, so do your preparation!
Key Themes
You should try to pick one or two key themes to discuss throughout the statement. For example, you may decide that communication and manual dexterity are important factors in becoming a successful vet. Therefore, there should be constant references to examples of these key features, how they impact the vet and patient, and how you have been developing these skills prior to the UCAS application.

Question 37

How do I begin planning my statement?

Accepted Answer

We highly recommend that you start thinking about your statement well in advance of writing it. The easiest and most valuable thing to do is to create a list of all your achievements, involvements and points of discussion that you may wish to include in your Personal Statement. 
You may wish to think about the following topics as guidelines:
 • Sports
 • Music
 • Art
 • Hobbies
 • Academics
 • Volunteering
 • Family History in Veterinary Medicine (or similar)
 • School Achievements (non-academic successes such as headboy/girl, prefect, etc.)
 • University Degrees
 • Employment (Part-Time and/or Full-Time)
 • Travel
 • Charitable Work
 • Work Experience
 • Your own past personal experiences at the vet (e.g. pets that have been unwell and how they were treated)
You should then couple this list with key attributes that vets should possess:
 • Compassion / empathy / emotional Intelligence
 • Good communication skills
 • Professionalism
 • Self-confidence
 • Self-critical
 • Team player
 • Leader
 • Good manual dexterity
 • Honesty / approachability
 • Interpersonal skills
 • Problem solver
 • Desire to learn
 • Good business sense
 • Ethical
As you will see, the true success behind an excellent Personal Statement is the ability to combine your skills and achievements with the key characteristics and traits you believe a vet should possess. For example:
 • By playing a sport, you can demonstrate that you are a team player, are dedicated and committed to something. If you are the captain of your team you are also demonstrating leadership qualities.
 • If you have a part time job, you are demonstrating good time-management and organisation skills as well as business sense, professionalism and maturity.
 • If you are a volunteer at any sort of charity, you are showing empathy and a good sense of community spirit (social responsibility is important as a vet).
 • If you paint, play guitar, sew/knit or play Warhammer for example you are demonstrating fine motor skills. Manual dexterity is hugely important for a vet.

Question 38

The personal statement dissected

Accepted Answer

The Introduction
 • Start with an engaging first sentence and catch the eye of your Admissions tutor. Make it unique; the most overused phrases range from “From a young age I have always been interested in” to “I’ve always wanted to study…” so please avoid these. You should find your unique reason as to how you became involved with medicine and what made you consider it as a subject to study at university. Why do you want to do the course? Talk about what made you want to apply for the course. Show that you have researched what the course involves. What motivates you to study a subject in-depth for the next 5 years?
 • Be Reflective: Personal statements are often very descriptive or simply list candidates’ experience. The selectors aren’t just interested in what you’ve seen. They want to know what you learned.
 • What did you learn about good patient care? How did your experiences challenge your views of the profession? What does this mean for you as a prospective professional?
 • Convey passion without being cliched: Be specific. Talking clearly and simply about your experiences should convey your enthusiasm. If you don’t know how to express why you want to be a vet, sometimes it can help to ask ‘Why not?’ Why a vet and not a nurse practitioner? What is the difference between the roles? What does the first role provide that the second doesn’t?
Commitment to Veterinary Medicine
When considering a career in veterinary medicine, you should:
 • Research to confirm your ideas
 • Discuss your options with career advisors
 • Get a feel for life as a vet
​
A good personal statement will demonstrate:
 • Attempts to experience the work of a vet (the day to day involvement)
 • Attempts to research the training involved for a career in veterinary medicine (both at university and after qualifying)
 • Understanding of the level of commitment required (the 'highs' and 'lows' of being a doctor)
​
This can be achieved by:
 • Job shadowing (observing vets and/or vets at work)
 • Talking with vets (and vet students) about their lives, careers, future plans etc.
 • Reading literature regarding recent veterinary breakthroughs, newspaper articles etc.
 • Choose your schools for positive reasons, having found out as much about different schools' curricula, facilities, clinical attachments, location etc. as possible. You may be asked to justify your choice at interview. Your research should include use of university websites, prospectuses and leaflets; discussions with vet students and vets
 • Contact Veterinary Admissions departments, as criteria for admission may vary between schools, as might individual admissions processes
 • Visit the veterinary school to ensure you are making a suitable choice. The appeal of chosen institutions may well be confirmed or dismissed by the student who has spent some time exploring the veterinary school site and facilities, and questioning staff and undergraduate students
 • Attend Veterinary School Open Days, which may tell you a lot about the ethos of that particular school
Skills, Achievements, Your Experiences
 • When you start each paragraph, highlight a new skill, achievement or experience that either relates to your course or shows how you are able to meet the demands of it. Try not to start each paragraph with ‘I’. Keep the relevant points first. Think about how your experience relates to the course you want to apply for, what is most interesting? Point, Evidence, Explain. Make your point, provide the evidence behind it and explain. An example, if you wanted to study Journalism and wrote for a local newsletter, explain how this experience is relevant to the course you are applying for.
​
Core Qualities of Vets
Some examples of core qualities that a good vet might have include:
 • Good communication skills
 • Evidence of concern for the welfare of others
 • Demonstration of being trustworthy and honest
​
A good Personal Statement will demonstrate:
What you think a vets core qualities are and how you display these?
​
This can be achieved by:
 • Gain an appreciation of the concerns of pets and their owners.
 • Undertaking (paid/unpaid) work of a caring nature
 • Undertaking work which benefits school colleagues
 • Be involved in caring/charity groups at school
 • Personal experience of using "people skills" in social/work situations
 • Develop your sense of social awareness and demonstrate you can shoulder responsibilities:
 • Continue to be involved with school life: clubs, mentoring, buddy and anti-bullying campaigns etc.
 • Undertake paid part-time work with the public
Teamwork
 • Work hard at school
 • Enjoy your free time to the full
 • Show you are an all-rounder: vets lives are busy and challenging and time management is very important:
Demonstrate you are able to work in teams, and are able to assume different roles within the team:
 • Undertake leisure, sporting, creative activities
 • Activities at school
 • Activities outside school
 • Attitude to colleagues
 • Ability to participate fully in school life and help others to do so
 • School honours and prizes.
Conclusion
 • Ensure that you conclude by summarising everything that you have mentioned. Finish on a high note reiterating your commitment to study the course you’re applying for.

Question 39

Overall advice

Accepted Answer

Most Veterinary School admissions teams are extremely keen on interviewing only the strongest candidates, and one of their criteria lies in the personal statement. The admission team are looking for well-rounded individuals, with an ability to reflect, self-critique and improve on a regular basis. Therefore, it is crucial that you are able to portray an objective self-analysis of your skills, strengths and weaknesses in your statement. The university want to see that, although you may not be perfect, you are willing to constantly improve, give your all and do everything you can to help other individuals. We encourage you not only to outline what you have accomplished and experienced, but critically, what you have learnt from the event, how it has helped you develop as an individual, and how you can use this to benefit the lives of others (i.e. as a vet). In summary, universities want to see the following in the Personal Statement:
 
 • Why you want to study Veterinary Medicine; what significant event or experience made you decide to pursue a career as a vet? Interest, motivation and commitment to the profession must be shown.
 • What social, extra-curricular or community involvement do you have? How can you show you are an all-rounded individual that will commit to the university experience and impact the veterinary school in some way? Extracurricular interests should include sporting, musical and other personal achievements.
 • Evidence of teamwork and leadership.
 • Demonstration of voluntary, charitable and/or mentoring activities.
 • Paid or unpaid work.
 • Work experience: discuss the amount and variety of veterinary work experience you have undertaken; what did you see and learn from your work experience? How did this shape your decision to study Veterinary Medicine? Did you see any skills or attributes on work experience that you believe are crucial for vets to have? Do you have any of these skills? Have you tried to develop any of these skills in your free time or at school?
 • What unique insights and understandings do you have into veterinary medicine? Are there any topics that you have researched into and learnt more about?
 • Emphasise your passion, commitment and motivation for studying Veterinary Medicine. You must ensure that the veterinary school understands you appreciate the difficulties, stresses and problems that studying Veterinary Medicine at university and then pursuing a career in the subject can possess, but how you think you can tackle these and succeed (e.g. stress management, communication, teamwork etc.)
 • Consider at least one UNIQUE point or topic of discussion that very few other candidates will have to offer; you will have to think deeply and carefully as to what aspect of your life, experiences, extracurricular or community involvement will stand out amongst thousands of applicants. Many universities now wish to discuss this at the interview stage: commonly, candidates are being asked “Tell me about one unique point that you’ve mentioned in your Personal Statement that no one else would have mentioned” – if you are prepared for this question by inserting it into your Personal Statement with purpose, you will be well set to succeed.

Question 40

Common personal statement mistakes

Accepted Answer

Below, we have outlined a few mistakes we see time and time again - if you're aware of these and therefore avoid them, your personal statement will be much stronger as a result:
 • Too descriptive - don’t just focus on what you saw, or enjoyed, also say what you learned.
 • Too general - don’t just say that the vet's empathy skills calmed the client down. What did they do specifically? How did they deliver bad news? Was it their tone of voice or body language?
 • Too romantic - the selector will want to know that you understand the realities of Veterinary Medicine. Words like ‘enlightened’, ‘privileged’ and ‘longed’ are all a bit too romantic for a Personal Statement.
 • Lack of structure - your statement should follow a logical structure. It should explain why you want to pursue this career, how you have prepared with work experience and end by explaining your other skills/hobbies/interests.
 • Name-dropping - you don’t need to give the names of specific practitioners, vets, practices or procedures. The selector will be more interested in knowing what you learned about the profession and quality patient care.

Question 41

Example personal statement - with examiner feedback

Accepted Answer

Choosing to study Veterinary Medicine is not a decision I have taken lightly. It isn't a career I have wanted to do since a particularly young age, nor did a life changing event prompt my choice. I have thought very long and hard before deciding to apply.
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Admissions tutors may be sceptical of exaggerated descriptions of a revelatory moment or lifelong desire to become a doctor. At first glance, this might seem like a down-beat opening paragraph. Although you may think that an arresting opening statement will impress, admissions tutors may be sceptical of exaggerated descriptions of a revelatory moment or lifelong desire to become a vet. This introduction shows honesty and a degree of introspection. Throughout the statement, the applicant works hard to show that they have a realistic view of Veterinary Medicine. You won't prove that you have the motivation for Veterinary Medicine by simply saying that you do: it is what you have done to inform yourself about the career - and the views that you have formed - that will convince us that you really know what being a vet is like and that this is what you want to do.
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Various periods of work experience have taught me much about the career. A local small animal veterinary practice gave me the opportunity to spend time observing consultations, ward rounds, in-house laboratory diagnostics, imaging and surgery.
You won't prove that you have the motivation for Veterinary Medicine by simply saying that you do. Spending time at this veterinary practice has highlighted the variety and diversity of life as a vet in general practice.
Spending time on this placement shadowing the vets during consultations in particular was hugely informative regarding daily life as a vet. During the day I sat in on consultations ranging from routine vaccination check-ups to serious conditions such as pyometra  and blocked bladders. This made me realise how varied life as a vet can be - you never know what's going to come through the door, and vets in general practice have to be always prepared to deal with emergency situations as well as 'routine' visits.
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You won't be judged on what you've done: we want to know what you learned from doing it. This student describes their experiences of consultations in general practice that have helped them decide that they want to study and practise Veterinary Medicine. We understand that opportunities to obtain experience vary, so will be judged more on what you learned from you have learned from your placements than how many you have done. The description of the placement here isn't over-exaggerated, and the applicant takes care to explain what they have seen and done and the insight each opportunity afforded them.
Throughout my time there, the vet's genuine interest in his cases and unfaltering motivation highlighted to me the privilege of having such a stimulating profession. This, together with the ever-advancing nature of a career in Veterinary Medicine, was brought to the fore by a young dog that presented for lethargy. The vet noticed the dog had pale gums and petechia, so immediately became concerned about the dog's blood clotting ability. He ran bloods in-house and did a blood smear with a manual platelet count to confirm, which confirmed that the dog had dangerously low platelet numbers. His in-depth knowledge and experience was evident here, but I also really admired his communication skills in this situation.The ease with which the vet broached and dealt with the sensitive subject matter also emphasised the importance of a warm, approachable manner and an ability to communicate to a client on their level of understanding. I believe I have honed these skills and gained invaluable experience of the eccentricities of the general public myself in my job as a salesperson.
The relatively detailed account conveys the impression of engagement during the placement and suggests an intellectual curiosity to understand the animal's condition and its treatment. The applicant also takes care to point out an example of the importance of good communication skills and argues how their sales position has helped them develop such skills. It is important to convey an impression of engagement and intellectual curiosity when talking about any work experience/placement/voluntary work.
Since February of this year, I have volunteered in an animal shelter for a couple of hours each week. I assist with feeding the dogs and cats, cleaning the kennels/catteries and walking the dogs. As many of the animals at the shelter were abandoned/abused, my time there has brought to my attention the importance of raising awareness of animal welfare. Education of the general pubic is key to reducing the number of animals that are abandoned, and neutering programmes can make a huge difference in reducing the stray population. Some of the animals at the shelter are very nervous around humans, so I have also learned a lot about behaviour and handling animals in a gentle and safe way - it has been an incredibly rewarding experience to gradually gain their trust through positive interactions.
The applicant presents evidence that they have become well-informed about animal health and welfare on their placement the realities of healthcare. This paragraph reaffirms the applicant's motivation for Veterinary Medicine. They discuss the difficulties of working with abused/abandoned animals, but also how rewarding it has been and how it contributed to their learning experience. There is evidence of analytical skills here and there is no doubt that the applicant has become well-informed about the realities of animal healthcare. Empathy comes across as well, with the applicant recognising that handling nervous animals with care and respect can have such a positive effect.
Outside of my lessons, I enjoy orienteering with a local club. As part of an expedition I took part in, we walked 80km over 4 days in torrential rain. The challenging conditions demanded teamwork and trust to maintain morale and perform effectively as a group; as well as calm rational thought in stressful situations. Also, through this activity and the people I met, I have become a member of the SJA which has enabled me to gain first aid qualifications and go out on duties. Other activities I enjoy include drama (I was a member of a local group for 6 years), cycling and playing the guitar and piano which allows me to relax. 
Although the bulk of a personal statement should be academic-related, it is important to show a life outside of studying. The involvement in a club or association demonstrates wider spare time interests, and the description of the challenging walking expedition provides evidence that the student can work with others and can cope in an arduous situation, obliquely suggesting that they might have the capacity for sustained and intense work. The student also shows that they understand that taking time out to relax and manage any stress is important and conveys the impression of good time management. The passing reference to the drama group reinforces the impression that this applicant is a team-player. It is useful to describe sporting or musical interests although, as, this applicant shows, these non-academic interests don't need to be particularly high-powered ones.
I know that Veterinary Medicine is not a "9 to 5" job and is by no means the glamorous source of easy money it is often perceived to be. I understand the hours are long and potentially antisocial and that the career can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining. It is apparent that becoming a vet will involve inherent sacrifice. However, Veterinary Medicine is also a deeply gratifying and fascinating career path. I want to be a vet because my passion and aptitude is foremost scientific and to me 5 or 6 years more of formal education followed by a lifetime of further learning sounds like a stimulating career option and, thankfully, a far cry from the monotony some jobs pose. Nevertheless, as an intrinsically social person, I would relish a career requiring the development of strong empathic relationships with clients and their animals too. Crucially, I know I have the enthusiasm, capacity for hard work and the open and enquiring mind needed to succeed in such a fulfilling vocation.
In the concluding paragraphs, the statement is emphasising that, although aware of the negatives associated with the practice of Veterinary Medicine, fact-finding placements have given the applicant the insight and motivation to be certain that it is the right career for them. The applicant ends by summarising the key personal attributes that they believe make them well-suited to Veterinary Medicine.

Question 42

Initial Consultation

Accepted Answer

You and your parents will meet your allocated Veterinary Educational Consultant who will act as your vet school tutor, they will explain our process and answer any questions that you have. You will leave with a better understanding of what the programme entails, with a clear plan for how we are going to maximise your chances of receiving an offer to join a Veterinary Medicine Degree Course. They will provide all of the vet school application help that you need.

Question 43

Your Development Plan

Accepted Answer

With your vet school tutor, you will develop a personalised vet revision timetable for the entire process. Using our formula, we will take you through each and every stage of your process. It will cover all of the aspects below including your Animal Work Experience,(javascript:void(0)) Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement (javascript:void(0))development and Vet School Interview Questions.(javascript:void(0)) After developing your plan, you will have an outline and better understanding of how to tackle the admissions process. Your Vet School Tutor (javascript:void(0))will guide you throughout this process until you begin studying for your vet degree.

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Question 44

Vet Work Experience

Accepted Answer

Your Mentor will show you how to get vet work experience (javascript:void(0))in veterinary practices, farms, stables, kennels, zoos, virtual settings and more. Sometimes farm work experience is hard to come by for those who live in cities, but your vet school tutor will provide plenty of animal work experience (javascript:void(0))ideas whatever your circumstance. Many students do struggle to get veterinary experience, but your tutor will provide you with vet work experience ideas (javascript:void(0))and the best email template that you can use to arrange the experience. 
Arranging work exprience for Veterinary Medicine can be difficult, but you will have the best support here at Become A Vet where we can take you through our tried and tested methods for success. This will help ensure you have enough work experience for Veterinary Medicine, confirming your desire to pursue a veterinary career to the veterinary admissions teams.

Question 45

Vet School Personal Statement

Accepted Answer

By working through our Veterinary Medicine Personal Statement Guide (javascript:void(0))you will develop an initial draft of your veterinary personal statement. Your mentor will then review & edit your vet school personal statement an unlimited number of times to help develop the perfect veterinary personal statement. We have a number of veterinary personal statement (javascript:void(0))examples that we use to help frame and guide your own vet personal statement.(javascript:void(0))

Do not underestimate the importance and benefits of unlimited edits of your Veterinary Personal Statement from a qualified vet who is best placed to give veterinary personal statement advice.

Question 46

Vet School SAQs (Short Answer Questions)

Accepted Answer

By working through our Veterinary SAQ Guide (javascript:void(0))you will develop better answers to your vet short answer questions - these are now forming a key part of many veterinary school applications.
 
Full Unlimited Vet SAQ Writing Service
Your mentor will then review & edit your Vet School SAQ an unlimited number of times to help develop the perfect Vet SAQ that is ready to submit. They have previously helped review SAQs for universities and so know exactly what is required to help stand out and excel.

Question 47

Vet School University Guide

Accepted Answer

Struggling to decide which are the best veterinary universities in the UK to apply for? We have a veterinary university guide that covers every UK Vet School and Vet Hospital, with access to vet school grade requirements, vet student information, and most importantly, vet school interview style. Your mentor will help with your decision making process to help you gain a place to study Veterinary Medicine in the UK.

Question 48

Vet School Interview Questions & Answer Guide (Panel & MMI)

Accepted Answer

You will have full access to our 150 question vet interview questions and answers,(javascript:void(0)) updated for 2024 entry. You will then have the opportunity to have veterinary interview practice & vet mock interviews with our expert vet interviewers.

Remember that we help with both MMI interview questions for vet school a(javascript:void(0))s well as panel interviews. We will help guide how to prepare for the vet school interview questions (javascript:void(0))and provide mock vet school interview questions.

Question 49

1-1 Support With A Qualified Vet

Accepted Answer

Your Vet School Tutor is always a qualified vet who has been supporting applications for over 10 years. They will act as your veterinary school university tutor & veterinary support coach. They will be on hand 24/7 via Whatsapp to provide veterinary guidance, support & answer any of your (or your parents') questions.

Question 50

Introduction

Accepted Answer

This guide has been created specifically for veterinary applicants by a group of experienced veterinary admissions consultants. Please read it carefully, and remember to ask us for help should you need anything!
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SAQs have become an increasingly popular way for Veterinary Schools to assess students’ personal attributes, motivation and professional awareness in recent years - they act as an adjunct and sometimes even a replacement for the Personal Statement. 
When you apply to universities that include an SAQ as part of their application process, it is absolutely vital that you perform well in this to secure an interview - or, in Bristol’s case, a direct offer (they no longer interview, now using a detailed SAQ in its place). 
Each university has a slightly different style of SAQ - this is detailed in our Universities Guide - so preparation and approach will vary slightly between universities, but the key point that you must remember is that they are assessing your personality, integrity and suitability for Veterinary Medicine so your answers must always be written with this in mind. 
Many students find SAQs challenging to answer, which is why we are now providing an SAQ portal where your answers can be reviewed and edited by one of our professional tutors who are qualified veterinary professionals.

Question 51

Which Vet Schools Use SAQs?

Question 52

What Is Assessed In The SAQ?

Question 53

SAQs Asked In 2022 - All Universities

Question 54

A Framework to Tackle The Questions - SPARR

Question 55

SAQ Model Question & Answer Example 1: Provide An Example To Show That You Have Good Teamworking Skills

Question 56

SAQ Model Question & Answer Example 2: What Do You Consider To Be Your Greatest Weakness & What Have You Done To Overcome This?

Question 57

SAQ Model Question & Answer Example 3: What Do You Understand To Be The Role Of The Vet Within Society?

Question 58

Ethical Reasoning Test (Glasgow University)

Question 59

The Four Pillars of Ethics

Question 60

SEARCH Technique - For SAQ Questions

Question 61

Situational Judgement Test - Nottingham & Surrey

Question 62

Situational Judgement Test - Answer Options

Question 63

Situational Judgement Question Example & Answer 1

Question 64

Situational Judgement Question Example & Answer Example 2

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