personal statement and interview topic?

[rjh58]

Hello all. I'm a Canadian applicant to SGU and had some questions for you all, for those who are willing to help out. I am just applying now to SGU and am having a frustrating time with the personal statement. Would it be better to make it a lifeline story-type essay or is it better to not go through my life history and stick to a "why I want to be a vet" guideline? Who knew it would be so hard to write about myself. Also, I had a question about interviews. Admittedly, I am low in animal welfare issues and was wondering if that would be a detriment to the interview? This is going to sound ridiculous, but what if it's hard to vocally state why I want to be a vet? I just can't pinpoint why, but I just know that's what I am suppossed to do??....any advise?
rjh58

[sisyphus]

Hello all. I'm a Canadian applicant to SGU and had some questions for you all, for those who are willing to help out. I am just applying now to SGU and am having a frustrating time with the personal statement. Would it be better to make it a lifeline story-type essay or is it better to not go through my life history and stick to a "why I want to be a vet" guideline? Who knew it would be so hard to write about myself. Also, I had a question about interviews. Admittedly, I am low in animal welfare issues and was wondering if that would be a detriment to the interview? This is going to sound ridiculous, but what if it's hard to vocally state why I want to be a vet? I just can't pinpoint why, but I just know that's what I am suppossed to do??....any advise?
rjh58

Unfortunately, I am almost the only person who posts in this forum...but i'll give it a go:

Reading your post made me wonder what the hell I put in my statement. When I read it again for the "Please discuss the most significant factors which lead to your decision to pursue a career in veterinary medicine" (it is possible the essay format/request has changed since I applied) it was pretty plain-jane about how I never thought about vet med initially but, while working with animals in a vet med aspect, I soon realized that I should seek out a higher professional education in order to further my interests and career goals. Remember, the vet med field is huge...bigger than most imagine from clinicians for large and small animals to public health, policy decisions, research in a huge number of fields, and many others.

Whether you're sure or not, you should try to focus your interests into a single goal or range of interest for post DVM (for the essay that is). You can always change your mind after you're already in. Of course, you should have a decent (or broad) grasp of what you write just in case it comes up in the interview. The school and interviewer (again, in my opinion) want to see that this is definitely what you want and can verbalize your goals and interests. You say it is hard for you to verbalize why you want to be a vet...you need to think about that a little more...there IS a reason even if it is a general love of science or medicine or research or disease or public health or whatever. If you're crazy about camels, you may not know a whole lot about them now, but you're going to be the best camel veterinarian on the planet if just given a chance (just an example of course) It is not (for the interview or app), even if just joking, because you don't like people so you thought you'd treat animals (believe me...I hear it does come up). Even if it is true.

Does the app ask for an essay on welfare issues? If you don't know much about that, and you don't have to, don't bring it up.

For the "Personal Statement: Please provide personal information that is otherwise not included in the application." Mine was kind of a mini-autobiography such as born in _______ had an interest in **** wildlife, camels, science *** as a child. Why you chose the experiences you've had as they pertain to vet med or animals in general. Again, I think its a very good idea to have a general plan for the future...post DVM and state how that plan has gotten you this far. Again-again, even if you change your mind later...who cares...you'll be in vet school by then and you can do whatever you want.

Does this help at all...sorry kinda long post

[sisyphus]

I almost forgot...apparently there is a much higher traffic forum on Yahoo somewhere for SGU vet med. I tried to google it for a link but couldn't find it.

Good luck

[mongo18]

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