The thought of finally starting vet school can stir up a lot of emotions for students.
Some students may be excited or eager to start, whereas others may be more apprehensive about making the transition from school to university life.
As someone who has been through this transition period many times, I want to share with you some of my tips on how you can make the move to Vet School as easy as possible!
Do I need to do any pre-reading before starting Vet School?
One of the first things that prospective vet students ask is “Do I need to do any pre-reading before starting vet school?” and the answer is … NO!
You are not required to do any pre-reading before you start your course, and everything you need to know will be taught during term time whilst at university.
Instead of worrying about getting ahead of the game, try and enjoy your summer with your friends and family and most importantly, try and relax.
Vet school is intense, so in those rare moments you can relax, and make sure you make the most of them.
If you are itching to get started, I would recommend purchasing a veterinary anatomy colouring book (The Saunders Veterinary Anatomy Colouring Book is a good option) as this is a fun way to get to grips with some of the anatomy you are going to be covering prior to starting vet school.
Do I deserve my place at Vet School?
Imposter syndrome is a common thing among high-achieving individuals, and it is something that we all struggle with.
Especially in the first few weeks, you may find yourself completely overwhelmed with everything that is going on and question if you are “good enough” to be here.
From someone who has dealt with these exact feelings, the answer is always YES!
You have worked hard for your place at vet school, and you deserve your place as much as anyone else on your course.
Take each day as it comes, be kind to yourself and before you know it you will be graduating as a fully-fledged veterinarian!
What should I do if I start to feel homesick?
It is completely normal to feel homesick for the first few weeks of university.
If you do find yourself in this situation, then try and reach out to your housemates and have a chat about how you are feeling.
You will be surprised how many people will be feeling the same way!
Remember, this isn’t forever, and you will be able to go home during the holiday periods to visit family and friends, and maybe they can even pop down and see you on the weekends to help you feel more at ease.
How much should I study when I start Vet School?
Everyone at Vet school will study in a different way, and methods that may work for one person may not work for another.
I would recommend taking a short online quiz to find out what type of learning style suits you best e.g., visual, auditory, reading/writing, or kinaesthetic and base your studying methods on this.
For example, if you are more of a visual learner, then you may be better suited to drawing diagrams or mind maps to help you retain information better.
Study groups are also a great way of making learning fun whilst at university, especially when you can quiz each other on different topics before exams.
Don’t compare how much you know or how much you study with people on your course because everyone learns and retains information at a different rate.
Also, try not to spend all your evenings with your head in your books, your personal well-being is more important than reaching those high grades so always remember to put yourself first.
Enjoy yourself!
And finally, try to have FUN!
Vet school is an amazing experience, and you will meet some of your most treasured friends and make lasting memories here.
You don’t need to get 100% in all of your exams, and you don’t need to be at the top of every class.
You will find out more about yourself if you take the time to explore everything the university has to offer and get stuck in with any extracurriculars that take your fancy.
There will be tough times, you may fail a few exams or find yourself overwhelmed at times but always remember that you are doing an incredible thing, and you’ve got this in the bag! Take time to rest, recharge and look after your mental health and everything else will fall into place.
Written by: Georgia Owen, Fourth Year Vet Student at The Royal Veterinary College (RVC)
