Talking to school pupils about becoming a vet?

We still have plenty of veterinary careers materials available for any veterinary surgeons who find themselves heading back to school to give careers talks.

“We know that, although veterinary surgeons are busy people, they often say yes when schools ask them to give careers talks,” says Freda Andrews, Head of Education.

“Since September last year we’ve responded to around 500 requests for our ‘Veterinary Science…for all Walks of Life’ careers information. If you are giving a talk, these are well worth a look.”

Comprising a printed booklet and a series of short videos available online, we produced the materials in collaboration with the vet schools and with government funding.

They aim to show the variety both in veterinary work, and in vets themselves, to encourage teenagers from all backgrounds to consider aiming for a career in veterinary medicine.

The videos can also be watched on the VetCareers channel on YouTube.

Each video features a vet working in a different field within veterinary medicine, and the brochure contains information about different types of veterinary careers, routes into the vet schools, and the entry requirements.

Anyone who is in a position to advise aspiring vet students on the university entry requirements needs to be aware that there are now a variety of different routes into vet school, including options for students with vocational qualifications such as BTEC Diplomas, and pre-entry or foundation years aimed at increasing the diversity of the student population.

A new careers leaflet will also shortly be available to encourage would-be veterinary nurses, and will include the new RCVS Level 3 VN Diploma and the newly introduced mixed-practice route to qualification.

“Veterinary surgeons can come from all walks of life – as our careers materials show,” says Freda.

“It’s important that the profession reflects the population it serves and for teenagers to receive good advice about veterinary careers and how to get into the profession.

So, if you’re going back to school to encourage the next generation, then get in touch!”

Free hard-copies of the brochure are available by contacting the RCVS Education Department ([email protected] or 020 7202 0791).

An interactive version of the booklet can be found at www.walksoflife.org.uk, and individual videos viewed at www.youtube.com/vetcareers.