Hello, I’m a current high school sophomore. I am also hoping to someday be a vet. Last summer I was a camp counselor at a horse camp. Would it look better on college app if I continued to be a camp counselor there this summer, or work at a store like pet smart or other similar pet store?
My son has a similar background. He worked summers after his Freshman, Sophomore and Junior years as a horseback counselor at camp teaching classes, working with the horses and living in a cabin with the kids. Colleges really liked this because it showed his interest in horses and his ability to work with people. I don’t think PetSmart would be any better than camp. What you do need to do is shadow a vet. You can do that during the school year your Junior or Senior year. My son was able to get his Certified Veterinary Assistant Certificate through his school and working with a local vet (unpaid) for 300 hours. You need to contact, in person, local veterinarians and see what they can do to give you hours. Volunteering at a shelter is also good but you do have animal experience and need vet hours. My son worked the summer after his Sr. year with an equine sports medicine veterinarian (paid) and had to let go a good job offer at camp for it. Hope that helps a bit.
Great advice from Momocarly! I’d recommend expanding your experience rather than repeat it. Shadowing a veterinarian would be great.
Doing activities helps you get to into college…but doing animal related stuff won’t have any impact on vet school because that is after college.
You should continue to work in some setting with animals to see 1) Do you like it 2) Make connections when you need to do volunteering in college.
Either would be fine, but a camp counselor shows more leadership than the pet store. But the main thing is you do something structured over the summer.
You have 2 years before you apply to college another 4 years before you apply to vet school. At this level you just need to do things that interest you – working at the horse camp or at a pet store are both fine so choose the option that will give you the most meaningful experience.
Actually vet schools count all animal experience from as early as middle school so animal hours that she gets now will help for vet school as well as to see if it is the right career to get into.
Good to know!!
I agree with the suggestion from Bopper about doing something structured. You might look into a course or research program that demonstrates an intellectual interest in animals to complement your experience,
I agree with momocarly, shadowing a vet would be great in addition to what you’re already doing! Someone I know who’s interested in animals even started an animal rights club, maybe you could look into that too?