When applying to Veterinary School, we often search for aspects that will make our application unique and stand out from the rest. This blog post focusses on how to make sure your application is a good reflection of who you are & all the great attributes that make you, you!
The Veterinary field remains one of the least diverse medical professions- in aspects of religion, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. So how do we work to expand and ensure diversity within the veterinary field as a pre-vet student?
For starters, if you feel you yourself may not add to a diverse workforce, have no fear. It is just as important knowing HOW to support an all inclusive workplace!
Let’s take some time first to reflect on your identity, and what characteristics define you!
Follow this activity:
1. On a blank piece of paper, write down your name at the center
2. Make two large circles around your name
3. Set a timer for 1 minute
4. Write down everything you feel relates to you identity, and put those you hold more importance closer to your name. There can be anything in relation to: Ethnicity, religion, communities you feel describe you, any hobbies or interests (try to write things outside of animal/ veterinary)
5. Next circle the three most important to you!
So, how do we apply these identities to your application?
Remember, animal and veterinary experience are just a slice of the pie that makes up you. Community service, extracurricular activities, leadership opportunities are also big aspects of the application as many colleges take holistic views of their applicants outside of their grades and experiences.
From the 3 things you circled or maybe even other aspects of what you identify with, lets see how we can apply this to our application:
First: Search for if there is a Veterinary organization that lines up with any of your communities! Below are some examples, try doing some research to see if there is a group formed that you feel aligns with your values. Often times these groups work in partnership with other groups, so you may be able to find one by going to their resources & seeing what other organizations exist.
Pride Veterinary Medical Community: https://pridevmc.org/
Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals: https://www.aavmp.org/
BlackDVM Network: https://www.blackdvmnetwork.com/
Latinx Veterinary Medical Association: https://www.latinxvma.org/?fbclid=IwAR3qCZyz0vxVq4VBFVgePhwTAa0U2I2QBPR4UpqZ3wSdqGOtaXdVVwsTtYI
Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment: https://vetvoicenational.org/voice-2021-national-meeting/
Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association: https://www.mcvma.org/
Women's Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative: https://wvldi.org/
Next: Get Connected! Though these organizations may seem to be only for veterinarians in the field, they may offer mentorship opportunities or valuable resources that could help you along your journey. Contact them, send an email showing your interest and ask how you can get involved.
What if your identities don’t relate to any organizations?
If you wrote down an interest or hobby: Is there a club or organization you can volunteer for that relates to this?
Below are some examples
Conservation: Volunteer for an abroad veterinary experience
Any clubs or organizations at UCSB
Religious organizations
Climate change: volunteer with various youth organizations
Whether you’re in your first year of college or fourth year, and you feel that you don’t have the most unique interests, don’t get discouraged! We all have attributes that make us unique, and even if you didn’t get as involved in these various activities as you wanted to, try to draw back from things you did in the past. Was there a club you were involved in high school? Did you sing in Church choir for a few years as a kid? Draw back on your history, chances are you may be a more well- rounded applicant than you thought.
If not, let’s start getting involved in the things you feel passionate about!
One final point: The University of Purdue offers a ONLINE certificate program for pre-veterinary students on Diversity and Inclusion!
It does cost $100 on your own, but there are group discounts- so in case you are interested in participating, please contact us at pvma.ucsb@gmail.com
Follow this link to find out more about the program!
Good Luck Pre-Vets!!
In case you wanted to read more about Diversity Issues in Veterinary Medicine and what measures are being introduced to combat this:
From a students Perspective:https://www.hsvma.org/diversity_issues_in_veterinary_medicine
AAVMC- Diversity Matters: http://www.aavmc.org/programs/diversity/
Comments