When drafting your resume for veterinary school, it’s always a good idea to look at some vet school resume examples. They will help you understand the approach you need to take, along with the content you should use. There is a lot of competition and veterinary school acceptance rates are notoriously low. Therefore, having a strong resume will be a great addition to your veterinary school application and show the admissions committee your potential.
So, once you have studied vet school rankings and chosen which school you want to apply to, read on to find out what a good vet school resume is and what format to follow, based on some great examples.
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What Is a Vet School Resume?
Once you have completed your research on the best vet schools, it’s time to get started on your application, including your resume. A veterinary school resume is a document that leads on from your high school resume and outlines your education, work experience, skills, and achievements as they relate to the field of veterinary medicine. A resume need not be more than two pages long.
A veterinary school resume should be organized in a clear and logical manner, with the most important information presented first. Note that all the information you provide in your resume should be to the point and concise.
The main sections of a resume include your personal contact information, your career objective, education, work experience, skills, and additional information. This would be experience in the veterinary field that you may have acquired after high school or while pursuing an undergraduate course. Besides these, you can add information as per your individual journey in veterinary medicine, such as volunteering work, certifications, or any other relevant information.
It is important to tailor your resume to the specific requirements and expectations of the veterinary school you are applying to. Use clear and concise language and highlight any unique qualifications or experiences that make you stand out.
Be sure to proofread your resume carefully to ensure that it is free of errors and as with any documents of this importance, consider services such as medical school and residency CV editing that can be catered to vet school to help you perfect them.
Is a Vet School Resume Necessary?
The Veterinary Medical College Application Service, also known as VMCAS, is used by nearly all veterinary schools in the US and major veterinary universities in Canada. This system enables students to submit all their necessary application materials in one location, which are subsequently vetted and sent to the student’s preferred veterinary school. In most cases, vet schools ask for or recommend showing any experience you have gathered over the years.
As part of the VMCAS process, not all schools ask for resumes. Some request them for their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DMV) program as supplemental information to add to your application. Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine requires the resume as part of the program-related materials section in the VMCAS application process. Lincoln Memorial University offers a DVM/MBA program for which an updated CV or resume is required. Long Island University and Mississippi State University veterinary schools ask for resumes from transfer students.
Schools that do not follow the VMCAS application process in the US are Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University, which use the TMDSAS application system. In Canada, the University of Calgary and the University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine do not follow the VMCAS process. Nevertheless, in all cases, it is best to keep your vet school resume up to date, so that you can send a polished copy to the school directly or use it as a reference when entering information in application forms.
Why Do You Need a Good Vet School Resume?
A good veterinary school resume is an important tool that can help you stand out in a competitive field where acceptance rates are quite low. It provides a clear and concise overview of your education, work experience, skills, and achievements, and helps to demonstrate your qualifications and suitability for the program.
There are several reasons why you need a good veterinary school resume:
- To make a good first impression: a well-written and visually appealing resume is likely the first point of contact that you have with the admissions committee. It is an opportunity to make a good impression and to showcase your strengths and qualifications.
- To highlight your relevant experience and skills: a good resume focuses on the experiences and skills that are most relevant to the program to which you are applying. This allows you to demonstrate your expertise and suitability at a glance, which can be helpful to admissions committees who review a large number of applications and can’t spend a lot of time examining each resume. When combined with a compelling vet school letter of intent and vet school personal statement, a great resume will help your application shine.
- To stand out from the competition: a strong, well-written resume can help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of being selected to answer vet school interview interview questions and get accepted into your preferred program.
A good veterinary school resume is also an essential record of your experiences, which you can develop over the years and use to help you achieve your career goals in the field of veterinary medicine.
What Format Should I Follow in My Vet School Resume?
As mentioned, the obligation to use a common application service may prevent you from having much control over the format; you will follow the application instructions and enter information from your vet school resume in the appropriate fields.
However, if you do have the opportunity to submit a separate resume, ensuring that it is well written and aesthetically pleasing will go a long way to impressing your favored veterinary schools. It will leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee.
- Make sure you use an easy-to-read and professional looking font.
- Make it neat and well-organized with clear headings in bold. Subheadings can be in a different style, for example, italicized.
- Keep individual details to bullet points because they are easier to follow. Use them to detail responsibilities at your workplaces. Try to fit the information into no more than five points for each section.
- Include your personal contact information, career objective, education, work experience, skills, and additional information, in that order. You can even start with your professional experience after your career objective and then later mention your education. If you start with your professional experience, make sure to add all relevant volunteering experience here, if you have any. Note that your education and work experience should be in reverse chronological order.
Vet School Resume Example 1
Annabelle Cole Smith
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Objective
Highly motivated aspiring veterinary professional with two years of work experience in animal clinics, seeking acceptance to ABC University’s veterinary program. Proven track record of using problem-solving skills to deliver the best care to animals.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, DEF University (20XX)
Work Experience
Internship, Smartpets Animal Clinic, Summer 20XX
- Assisted a licensed veterinarian with diagnosis and treatment of patients
- Performed hematology and radiology diagnostic tests on patients
- Communicated with pet owners to educate and inform them on the necessary care
- Managed and updated patient records
Volunteer, Henry’s Animal Shelter, 20XX–20XX
- Worked under supervision of Dr. Henry to provide care to stray animals
- Maintained and cleaned the shelter
- Organized animal records for better accessibility
Skills
- Attention to detail
- Patient monitoring
- Treating and diagnosing animals
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex medical concepts to clients
- Fluent in Spanish
Extracurricular Activities
- Runner-up at the ABC Veterinary School Clinical Skills Competition, 20XX
- Published an article, “Effective Pain Management in Small Animals,” in the Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 20XX
Vet School Resume Example 2
Jeremiah Levenstein
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Objective
Highly motivated veterinary student seeking acceptance to XYZ program at ABC University with a career goal of starting an independent practice. I want to utilize my skills, knowledge, and experience to provide exceptional care to pets.
Work Experience
Research Assistant, Memphis State University, May 20XX – September 20XX
- Assisted my supervisor with research on new ways to treat overweight animals
- Maintained a record of patients
- Conducted primary research
Veterinary Assistant, St. Jude’s Animal Hospital, May 20XX – April 20XX
- Managed data for more than 100 patients
- Assisted during medical procedures and examinations
- Cleaned and maintained clinical areas to promote health and safety
- Conducted primary research on patient symptoms
Veterinary Externship, Nashville Regional Animal Care Center, January 20XX – January 20XX
- Assisted during medical procedures and examinations
- Cleaned and maintained clinical areas to promote health and safety
- Coordinated and organized patient appointments
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, DEF University (20XX–20XX)
- Diploma in Veterinary Medicine, Alison Academy, (20XX–20XX )
Skills
- Attention to detail
- Data management and organization
- Patient monitoring
- Animal treatment
- Strong communication skills
Extracurricular Activities
- Winner of the ABC Veterinary School Clinical Skills Competition, 20XX
- Published an article in a local newspaper regarding the state of veterinary practice.
Tips for Crafting a Great Vet School Resume
- You may have a strong grasp of how to present your content in your vet school resume, but there could be things that you miss. So, it is always a good idea to have someone other than yourself, preferably a professional, look over your resume. With no preconceptions, they will be able to give an objective opinion on helpful changes. This way, you will also be able to avoid any spelling mistakes, grammatical issues, or structural issues.
- Keep your resume up to date! We recommend adding your veterinary achievements and animal-related experiences to your resume right after you accomplish them. This will help you stay ahead of the pack, know where you stand, and present an updated resume in case anyone asks for it.
- Your vet school application will represent you for your academic achievements as well as your passion, commitment, and potential. You’ll get the chance to address questions like “Tell me about yourself” in your vet school interview. Your letter of intent, personal statement, cover letter, or veterinary school letter of recommendation will inform the admissions committee of your skills and attributes beyond academics. However, your resume should focus on your academic and professional achievements. Only things that are relevant to becoming a veterinarian should be prioritized.
- Quality is better than quantity! Remember that workplace experience gathered at one place for an extended tenure shows commitment and capability, so don’t worry if you have only worked at one clinic or hospital or shelter. It is better to have long-term experiences in a limited number of places than to have short periods of employment in multiple places.
- Finally, and most importantly, be honest! You should represent yourself factually in your vet school resume. Everything you have achieved up until that point has made you the person you are, and the admissions committee should get to know that person as well. You can present what you have learned or the skills that you have in a way that boosts your profile in the eyes of the reader; however, presenting inaccurate information can bring severe consequences, so always be honest in your vet school resume.
Looking at vet school resume examples before crafting your own can definitely point you in the right direction. Your resume should be tailored to the program you are applying to and should carry the most important information related to your journey as a veterinary student.
Even if you use a common application with a prescribed format, you should still be working on developing a proper vet school resume. While content is the most important, also consider the presentation. While a basic, minimal, and to-the-point vet school resume will let the admissions committee know of your candidacy, an aesthetically pleasing resume can leave a lasting impression.
FAQs
1. How long should a vet school resume be?
Typically, a vet school resume should not be more than two pages. It should contain all the relevant and most important information about your professional experience, education, skills, and extracurriculars.
2. Do all vet schools ask for resumes?
No, not all vet schools ask for resumes. Kansas State University, Lincoln Memorial University, Michigan State University, Long Island University, and Mississippi State University, are among the schools that ask for resumes for specific programs.
3. What if I don’t have any volunteering experience to add to my resume?
While volunteering experience in a relevant field adds to your portfolio, it is not a necessity. You can focus on your other achievements, be they academic or personal, to make your resume stand out.
4. What are some extracurriculars that I can have on my vet school resume?
Some of the best vet school extracurriculars that you can experience and add to your resume include working with service animals, animal advocacy groups, or animal shelters; conducting research; helping out at a veterinarian’s office; and working in a pet store.
5. What are the acceptance rates for veterinary schools in the US?
The acceptance rates for vet schools are quite low, even when compared to medical school acceptance rates. Average vet school acceptance rates hover around 10–15% in the US. This is due to the small number of vet schools in the country (32) and strong competition.
6. What extra information can I add to my vet school resume, now that all the necessary information is in place?
If you have added the important information in your vet school resume and have space for more, you can add relevant extracurricular activities, honors and awards, leadership and professional affiliations, or references.
7. Should I put my photo in my vet school resume?
A vet school resume does not need a candidate’s photo, as it is a formal document of your experience, skills, and achievements.
8. I have seen resumes that include hobbies and interests; should I add these to my vet school resume as well?
While there is no rule against hobbies and interests, vet school resumes typically do not include them. Hobbies and interests are part of additional information that should be given when all major relevant information has been presented at the top and there is sufficient empty space on the second page.
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