What to Expect in a Vet School Interview

If you are considering veterinary school, you will need three things: a passion for animal welfare, a strong interest in scientific research, and excellent communication skills. After all, you will be working with all kinds of animals, as well as their owners.

A veterinary science degree usually combines practical and theoretical teaching and covers many of the same topics as a medical degree.

Because these courses are so popular, veterinary schools around the world usually have very strict application processes. Top grades are essential, and students are also expected to have extensive work experience with a range of animals.

Application procedures for veterinary schools vary from country to country.

In some cases, students will be asked to complete pre-admission tests such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in the United States. Other courses simply expect students to have excellent grades, strong references, and evidence of a passion for animal health. Most veterinary schools will require applicants to attend an interview.

What Does a Vet School Interview Involve?

By the time you reach the interview stage of your application, the veterinary school already knows you are a strong candidate and is seriously considering you. The purpose of the interview is to learn more about you: your work experience, why you want to attend that particular school, and whether you are a good fit for it.

Vet school interviews vary from country to country and from school to school. Some veterinary schools use the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) format, while others use a more traditional interview process.

The MMI format consists of several short interview and scenario-based stations. MMI interviews usually last about 10 minutes each and are similar to medical school interviews. You are given a scenario and then asked questions about it.

These interviews help interviewers assess a range of soft skills and gain a fuller picture of you as a candidate. They usually last around two hours in total.

Alternatively, you may have a traditional interview. These interviews are question-based rather than task-based, unlike MMIs. Traditional interviews are usually shorter than MMIs, lasting around 20 to 40 minutes in total.

How Do You Prepare for a Vet School Interview?

Preparing for a veterinary school interview is essential. You need to show that you are interested in veterinary science, that you have done your research, and that you are a good fit for the school.

Here are a few things you can do to prepare.

Get Relevant Work Experience

To show that you understand what a career in veterinary science involves, many veterinary schools recommend that applicants complete placements across a range of work experiences. Some schools even include recent relevant experience as part of their application criteria.

This work experience can be clinical, such as shadowing a veterinarian or nurse, or non-clinical, such as other animal-related experience in a non-veterinary setting.

Non-clinical work experience might include working with farm workers, animal welfare officers, wildlife assistants, or zookeepers. Be creative. As long as you are working with animals, it will strengthen your application.

During this work experience, take an active interest. Ask questions, do your own research, and build transferable skills such as communication and interpersonal skills. You never know how these experiences may help you in an interview.

Gaining work experience became more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many in-person placements no longer possible. Veterinary schools are taking this into account, and many are reviewing their work experience requirements. Contact the admissions office of your chosen veterinary school for more information.

Prepare Answers to Interview Questions

Another way to prepare is to anticipate and practice common questions.

Make sure you use examples from your work experience in your answers to show that you can apply practical experience to theoretical situations. This is especially important in scenario-based questions, where interviewers test your practical knowledge.

Here are some common questions you may be asked:

• Why do you want to be a veterinarian?
• Which areas of veterinary science/medicine interest you most, and why?
• What veterinary work experience have you had?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses? How will these affect you in veterinary practice?
• What do you think are the biggest challenges facing veterinarians?
• What would your ideal job be after graduation?
• What are your views on free clinics?
• What is your opinion on using animals in research and surgical teaching?
• What would you do if a client repeatedly ignored your advice?
• Tell us about a teamwork experience you were involved in that made you proud. What was your role?

Although practicing questions can make you feel more prepared for the interview, do not try to memorize perfect answers. You want to avoid sounding over-rehearsed. Instead, think about how you would apply your experience to each question. That will help you sound more genuine and make you feel more confident.

Read Around the Topic

During the interview, you may be asked for your views on what is happening in the veterinary and scientific world. Make sure you stay up to date by reading the news, as well as books and articles related to the branch of veterinary science that interests you.

This shows that you are interested in and engaged with the field beyond formal education.