Helen H
"Clinical rotations in the final year of vet school are a brilliant step in preparing you for the working world as a veterinary surgeon."
What do you like about your course and why?
I enjoy the challenge of learning new concepts about animal health and the anatomical and physiological differences across species. Surrey Vet School layers the teaching, moving from normal body systems to pathology to clinical skills and treatment, which has worked well for me. Being able to apply this learning in practicals and on EMS placements is highly rewarding.
The study requirements and assessed work for each year of the course can feel overwhelming, but there is a sense of achievement each time I complete them which boosts my confidence in my ability to deal with new things. I have gained fulfilment from my EMS placements where I have met genuinely lovely people who have been willing to give you their time and share their knowledge with you simply because you are a vet student. And, of course, I have relished meeting the animals, big and small, during my vet school journey.
What do you enjoy most about Surrey?
Surrey has lots of clubs and societies to get involved with. There is also a well-equipped sports centre, with swimming pool, on site at Manor Park campus which offers a discount to Surrey students. There are some nice cafes and restaurants on campus which are great for meeting up with friends when you need a break from studying. The lecturers are also very approachable and I feel they genuinely want their students to succeed. From Stag Hill campus, Guildford centre is about a 20-minute walk and offers lots of good options for eating and drinking.
What were the highlights of your clinical placements?
Clinical rotations in the final year of vet school are a brilliant step in preparing you for the working world as a veterinary surgeon. This is where I have managed to fully apply my learning from the first four years of vet school and receive feedback which enables me to develop and improve.
"I have relished meeting the animals, big and small, during my vet school journey."
What do you want to do when you graduate?
I want to work as a small animal vet in a first opinion hospital. I would like to complete a certificate in the future to further develop my learning and bring this back into GP practice for the benefit of the clients and their animals.
What advice would you give to students thinking of studying your course?
The course is hard work, but also highly rewarding. I remember thinking how totally inadequate I was in my very first semester of Year 1. No one told me then that it is normal to feel this way and that you will forget everything you have just been taught in the lectures that day. But you will grow and adapt to the course and its requirements. The degree offers so much scope for different career pathways even if you decide you no longer want to be a vet in practice. In addition to veterinary practice, the degree opens your eyes to many different aspects of the animal industry, enabling you to make informed decisions for the future and be an advocate for animal welfare.
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