Tom Carter

Why I chose Surrey

In all honesty before applying to Surrey, I knew very little about it as a university. It was only when I came for my interview that I really fell in love with the place.  

What I found different about the Vet School at Surrey was the atmosphere and the building itself. I found the staff on the interview day incredibly friendly and they gave the impression that they wanted me to perform as well as I possibly could. I could see myself spending the next five years of my life there.  

My course

My strongest memory is of receiving my first-year first semester exam results. It is an incredibly nerve-wracking time for young vet students, as you don’t know how many of you are going to pass or fail. I was with my friends and remember the relief of finding out I’d passed and feeling confident that we were going to make it in the end.  

When I got to my final year out on placement, I realised how enormously advantageous Surrey’s emphasis on practical Day One skills is. On your first day in practice, it’s great to feel confident in your basic skills when there is so much to know and remember.  

I had a fantastic experience at Surrey and I recommend it to any aspiring vet student. 

Life after Surrey

Since graduating I have been a small animal veterinary surgeon. I’ve got a particular interest in surgery and emergency and critical care work. A couple of notable highlights would be operating on a large dog at 2am to untwist its stomach and save its life, and my first Christmas at work, receiving thank you cards and gifts from clients – it means a huge amount to any veterinary surgeon as it can be a tough profession. 

My advice

Make sure you get work experience in early, in as wide a variety of practices as possible. Being a vet is an incredibly rewarding profession, but an incredibly difficult one at times. I think it’s important that young aspiring vets get the best idea of what the profession is really like on a day-to-day level.  

Also, in vet school, a pass is a pass. All you need at the end is the letters MRCVS behind your name. 99% or 51%, either way you are a vet. So, don’t overwork yourself at university and enjoy your time off. Look after your mental wellbeing.  

Find out more about our Veterinary Medicine and Science BVMSci.