Vet school
Should I Become a Vet? An Honest Look at the Career
An honest guide to the rewards and challenges of veterinary medicine, from a qualified vet, to help you decide whether it is genuinely the right career before you apply.
Wondering whether veterinary medicine is the right path for you? It is a wonderful career, but it is also long, demanding and competitive, so it is worth thinking honestly about whether it suits you before you commit. Here are the main things to weigh up.
Academics
Veterinary medicine demands strong academic performance, with high entry grades and a real aptitude for science. Most schools ask for AAA at A Level including Chemistry and Biology, and competitive GCSEs, which you can read about in our guides to the A Levels and GCSEs you need. Determination counts for a lot, and many students who do not find science effortless still succeed through sustained hard work.
Personality
The role needs more than academic ability. Vets work constantly with people as well as animals, so communication and empathy matter. Resilience is essential too, because both the course and the career bring emotional and practical pressures, as does the adaptability to make quick decisions in changing situations.
A realistic view of the profession
A love of animals is a given, but the applicants who thrive are those who understand the harder realities as well, from difficult conversations and long hours to the emotional weight of the job. Our honest account of life at vet school and time spent on work experience are the best ways to test whether this is genuinely for you.
Common questions
Is becoming a vet worth it?+
For people genuinely suited to it, veterinary medicine is a hugely rewarding career, combining science, practical skill and the chance to help animals and their owners. It is demanding and emotionally taxing, though, so it is worth being honest about the challenges as well as the rewards before you commit.
What qualities do you need to be a vet?+
Strong academic ability in science, resilience, good communication and empathy, problem solving, and the adaptability to make decisions under pressure. A genuine understanding of the profession's realities, usually built through work experience, matters as much as a love of animals.
How do I know if veterinary medicine is right for me?+
Spend time on work experience across different settings, talk to practising vets, and read honestly about the realities of the job. If the day to day still appeals once you understand the pressures involved, that is a strong sign it could be right for you.
Book a free call with a qualified vet
Talk through where you are with Dr Rebecca and leave with a strategic plan for your vet school application. Honest advice, with no pressure and no cost.