Faynowsh, veterinary medicine student at the Royal Veterinary College

Getting into vet school via the BTEC route

All too often, students are told not to apply to vet school. They’re told it’s ‘too difficult’ or ‘too competitive’. However, there are multiple routes into veterinary, with many vet schools now offering gateway or foundation courses, as well as contextual offers.

What BTEC did you study and why?

My journey to vet school began with completing a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management. Following this, I joined the RVC through their Gateway to Veterinary Medicine Pathway.

After completing my GCSEs, I knew that whatever course I pursued needed a practical element to help me apply theory to real life situations. I’m a practical learner and tend to retain information better when I can directly engage with it. After doing some research, I found that the BTEC pathway offers the ideal environment for my learning style. 

What were the benefits of doing a BTEC?

The benefit of doing a BTEC, as I mentioned earlier, was the emphasis on practical experience. My course had a work experience module, which required me to complete 300 hours in the animal sector. This experience allowed me to explore various careers working with animals, helping me to confirm veterinary medicine was the right path for me. It also gave me the opportunity to work with a wide range of species. Additionally, it enabled me to build a work experience portfolio, which is essential when applying to university, as many veterinary medicine programmes have work experience requirements.

The modules in the course were incredibly beneficial to my higher education. We covered key animal handling skills, anatomy and physiology, animal behaviour, animal health and nutrition, among other things. These subjects provided me with a strong foundation that greatly supported me during the preclinical years of my veterinary medicine degree, and I still use the knowledge learned from this course everyday.

What advice would you give to someone looking to apply to vet school?

Applying to vet school is an exciting time, and with so many schools to choose from, I advise you to visit as many universities in person as possible. Most universities host at least one major open day a year, where you can meet current students and hear firsthand experiences, explore the facilities on offer and speak with staff. This will help you make an informed decision and ensure that you only apply to schools where you would be 100% happy studying, as you will be studying there for several years. To get the most out of open days, before attending, be sure to make a list of questions to ask.

When writing your personal statement, don’t just mention your work experience - take time to reflect on it and explain how the skills and knowledge you gained will contribute to your future career as a vet. Also, be sure you discuss your hobbies and interests. It is important to have a life outside of veterinary, where you can switch off and decompress. It may also be useful to link the skills you use in your hobbies to show how they can benefit your veterinary career.

What advice would you give someone interested in becoming a vet?

My advice would be to start gaining work experience as soon as possible on weekends or school breaks, whether that be at a petting zoo, a livery yard or through lambing/dairy work. This will help you to build your animal husbandry skills and learn how to take care of healthy animals, so that when you are presented with a sick animal, you are able to recognise it and manage it effectively. It is also important to spend some time in practice. This will give you a clearer understanding of the veterinary industry and help you confirm whether being a vet is the right choice for you.

What skills and qualities do you think are most important for being a vet?

There are many skills required to be a vet but, in my opinion, the ones listed below are among the most important.

Perseverance is an essential skill for any vet. At vet school you will face some of your toughest challenges, and I believe that learning how to persevere through these obstacles is crucial. Developing this skill will better prepare you for your career as a vet, so that when you’re out in the field and faced with difficult situations, you will have the resilience to overcome challenges and successfully complete the task at hand.

Empathy skills are vital in veterinary medicine. As a vet, you will often face difficult conversations, whether it's delivering bad news or comforting concerned owners. Being able to empathise with your clients not only helps build a stronger rapport but also fosters trust and understanding. This connection can impact how clients respond to treatment plans and significantly improve the welfare of the animals you are treating.

Teamwork is an indispensable skill; you will rely on it every day in practice. It depends on your ability to work with a wide range of people and adapt when faced with challenging personalities. You will be working closely with nurses, patient care assistants, admin staff and other colleagues. A cohesive team is essential for providing the highest standard of veterinary care, and it will directly impact the welfare of your patients. Effective communication within a team is important to ensure everything runs smoothly.

What’s been you biggest achievement/most memorable day as a vet student?

One of my biggest achievements at vet school, which I share with all my fellow students, is making it to the end of clinical rotations. This year involves rotating through different departments every two weeks at the RVC’s teaching hospitals and partner practices. It has truly been the best year of vet school, allowing me to really take control of my learning and put it all to practice in real life cases.

Another significant achievement for me was having my final year research project selected for the Veterinary Student Scholar (Wildlife Health) funding by the Morris Animal Foundation.