Yes, we do a 3 year Bachelor of Science (veterinary bioscience), and then a 3 year DVM. BUT, it’s essentially automatic entry from the undergrad part into the postgrad part as long as you’ve passed everything and completed your placement requirements etc. So basically once you’re into the BSc, you’re in vet school for the long haul!

Yes, plenty!

In fact, I’ve just started my equine rotation at uni, and we have a new equine medicine specialist who is so tiny! She’d probably be only around 150cm, maybe smaller, and I was surprised she was in equine of all things being so small. But boy oh boy can she handle herself and the horses so well. She’s so confident and can somehow easily handle and control all the horses we’ve come across so far (including the crazy thoroughbred stallion with pneumonia we have in hospital at the moment!). I’ve also worked with a tiny cattle vet before, and again, she had to do some procedures etc. differently to what a taller, possibly stronger, person would, but she managed perfectly fine!

Being short is definitely not something that should put you off from being a vet. There’s ways to get around being smaller, and there’s definitely no shame in having to use a stool on a regular basis. I’m around 160cm myself and find most people are taller than me, and I’ve realised (the hard way) that it’s way better to admit to needing a stool when you’re scrubbed into surgery with a taller vet, than end up with the world’s sorest calves from standing on your tippy toes!

The main thing is embrace your height, and work out little tips and tricks that you can do to make life easier for yourself. If you meet any smaller veterinarians, you could ask them about how they find it and if they have any hints for you. And make sure your practice has a good, sturdy stool! 

Good luck :)

The hardest part for me is accepting that you physically can’t learn absolutely everything that is thrown at you at vet school, and there’ll always be stuff you don’t know. Especially as you get further into the veterinary degree (for us, it was around 4th and 5th year), the content load increases dramatically, and there’s literally not enough room in anyone’s brain (unless you’re a super genius) to magically learn it all. So this makes life very difficult when trying to study for exams because there’s just so much content! But I found by reading through everything at least once, then prioritising the common, important things, life was mildly easier. And don’t be afraid of getting questions wrong whether on an exam or in front of your classmates, it’s not the end of the world, and I’ve learnt SO much from all the questions and whatever else I’ve messed up along the way. It’s all part of the journey!

Also, I wouldn’t say vet school is “hell,” but it’s bloody hard! And if you’re anything like me, there’ll be plenty of tears, breakdowns, saying you’re going to quit, etc. but if you know this is what you want to do, then you kind of just keep swimming (see one of my previously answered questions on managing stress!). 

So don’t let anyone scare you off by saying its ‘hell’ or it ‘sucks’ etc. because it’s also super fun! 

Good luck, and let me know if you have any more questions :)

(Also to whoever sent this, sorry it literally took me months to answer, I’ve been super busy!)

I’m not going to lie, vet school is by far the most stressful thing I’ve ever done.

BUT, it’s also the funnest, most interesting, and best thing I’ve ever done too.

I’m a stressy person. I stress about everything! And so being in vet school, I’ve had to learn how to stress less, how to use stress to motivate me to study, and how to not get too caught up in things.

One of the things I think is most important is to have a good support base around you. Talk to your vet school friends, because they’re all in the same boat and can relate to what you’re going through. It’s sometimes comforting to know that you’re not the only one stressing out about a test or exam. My family are always super supportive and also contribute to my accommodation fees which helps to relieve some of my money-related stress (thanks mum and dad!). And then there’s my amazing boyfriend, who god knows how, has put up with my stressing, crying, hysterics, etc. for the last 6 years, 5 of which I have been in vet school for. Having someone, whether a boyfriend, family member, friend, anyone; who you can go to when you’re feeling like you’re sinking can make all the world of difference. Talking through why I’m stressed and what’s the worst thing that could actually happen (eg. failing a test) and putting it into perspective, with the help of my boyfriend, is one of the things I find most useful and helps to ground me when I’m freaking out too much.

The other thing I think is super important is to make sure you do something other than vet school. Play a sport, listen to some music, watch a movie, sit around and drink wine with your friends, go for a walk, colour a page of an adult colouring book, do whatever you want that makes you forget about all the study and whatever else you have to do. Even if it’s something short like watching a few cat fail videos on youtube (I’m guilty!), I find it can have a dramatic effect on making me feel fresh and ready to get back into whatever I’m doing. It’s okay to have breaks, which is something that has taken me a long time to realise, but I just ignore the feelings of guilt and focus on the benefits from having even a short breather.

And lastly, be organised. I have a weekly diary and a monthly calendar, both of which I religiously use, and I almost daily write to-do lists to make sure I’m on top of things. I also have a post-it note addiction which is a little out of control, but again, it helps me to be organised. I get stressed when I don’t know what is going on or when assignments are due etc. so making sure I know exactly when everything is due or coming up helps me to prioritise and get ahead as much as possible and (hopefully) reduce future stress.

Anyway, after all this, the point I want to make is that vet school is bloody hard (unless you’re some kind of super genius!), and this itself will cause a large proportion of your stress. But it’s all about being aware of when you’re becoming too stressed out, and being able to take a step back, relax, and just breathe.

If being a vet is something you really want to do, then don’t let your worries about it being ‘too hard’ stop you from giving it a go. And if you try it and find out vet school isn’t for you, then that’s okay too. There’s a multitude of other animal-related, and completely different, career paths out there and there’ll definitely be something for you, it’s just a matter of finding your ‘thing.’

So I hope I’ve been helpful (and haven’t put you off more!). Let me know if you have any more questions, and good luck!

Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game - Babe Ruth

It definitely is!

Back when I was in early high school, we did a couple of dissections (eyeballs, kidneys etc.) in science class, and I felt like vomiting and thought it was so disgusting that I sat outside the room and refused to participate (yeah, I was one of those girls haha) . Fast forward a few years, and suddenly I didn’t mind all the blood and guts anymore. And now here I am, with surgery as my favourite aspect of the veterinary world!

I’m not sure what changed over those few in between years, but I remember my parents watching human medical shows every now and then, and I was originally super grossed out by everything, but gradually got used to it. So I’d say if being a vet is something you really want to do, try to expose yourself slowly to veterinary or human medical shows to get yourself used to the idea of surgery etc. and see if it’s something you can overcome.

I hope I’ve been helpful and good luck! :)