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    How to Write a Personal Statement for Veterinary College
    How to Write a Personal Statement for Veterinary College
    How to Write a Personal Statement for Veterinary College
    Ebook77 pages1 hour

    How to Write a Personal Statement for Veterinary College

    By Kristen Nelson, D.V.M.

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    About this ebook

    Each year, thousands of students apply to veterinary school. Most candidates have excellent grades, good test scores and extensive experience. So, how does an applicant distinguish themself from all the others? The answer rests in the personal statement. "How to Write a Personal Statement for Veterinary College" is a guide to writing a winning personal statement. This guide contains:
    -General advice
    -The do's and don'ts of writing your personal statement
    -Four sample personal statements, two of which were utilized by people accepted on their first try
    -Writing tips
    -Two appendices listing general areas of veterinary medicine and common terms for animals
    -Seventeen templates that will spark your own creativity in building a compelling and unique statement. Each template addresses a different motivation for wanting to enter veterinary medicine. Applicants will find this guide a tremendous resource in writing the most important document of their career.
    This guide helps you craft a unique personal statement that showcases your abilities and attributes. It does not write the personal statement for you but guides you through the process by stimulating your own creativity and imagination.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKristen Nelson, D.V.M.
    Release dateJun 10, 2012
    ISBN9781936278039
    How to Write a Personal Statement for Veterinary College
    Author

    Kristen Nelson, D.V.M.

    Dr. Kristen Nelson grew up on a farm in Watertown, Minnesota where she developed a deep love for animals of all kinds. She received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine. Kris then completed a small-animal internship at the prestigious Animal Medical Center in New York City.In addition to writing and speaking, she cares for small and exotic animals in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Nelson is widely quoted in the media. Her credits include USA TODAY, The Los Angeles Times, Ladies Home Journal, DisneyFamily.com and numerous radio and television interviews. Kris and her husband, Steve, share their home with rescued cats, birds, and a dog.

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      Book preview

      How to Write a Personal Statement for Veterinary College - Kristen Nelson, D.V.M.

      How to Write a Personal Statement

      For Veterinary College

      By

      Kristen L. Nelson, D.V.M.

      Published by

      Veterinary Creative, L.L.C.

      Smashwords Edition

      How to Write a Personal Statement for Veterinary College, Copyright 2012 by Kristen Nelson, D.V.M. All rights reserved. No part of this e-book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

      For more information, contact:

      Dr. Kristen Nelson

      480-236-1841

      Mail to:drnelson@veterinarycreative.com

      ISBN-13: 978-1-936278-03-9

      ISBN-10: 1-936278-03-0

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Introduction

      Writing the Personal Statement

      A Strong Opening

      Connecting Key Points

      The Close

      Do’s and Don’ts

      Small Animal Medicine

      Large Animal Medicine

      Mixed Animal Medicine

      Laboratory Animal Medicine

      Equine Medicine

      Exotic Animal Medicine

      Candidates with General Experience

      Public Health

      You should be a Veterinarian 1

      You should be a Veterinarian 2

      Veterinarian in the Family

      Major Influence 1

      Major Influence 2

      Skilled in Arts and Science

      Turning Point

      Non-Traditional Student/Turning Point

      Challenge Seeker

      Sample Personal Statements - Dr. Kris Nelson’s, Immunology, Mixed Animal, Virology

      Appendix 1 General Topics of Study

      Appendix 2 Terminology

      Final Thoughts

      INTRODUCTION

      Each year, thousands of people apply to veterinary college in the hope of fulfilling a life-long dream. They seek to become a veterinarian. With the small number of schools in North America, competition is fierce for each opening. Most candidates have exemplary grades, high GRE and/or MCAT scores and experience in the field of veterinary medicine. So how do you distinguish yourself from the rest and gain admission? The answer lies in the personal statement.

      Most veterinary schools require applicants to write a brief explanation of why they want to become a veterinarian. In addition to demonstrating writing skills, the statement provides a window into the personality of the applicant. Do they truly understand what it means to be a veterinarian or are they simply in love with the thought of being an animal doctor? Will they be able to meet the moral and ethical obligations the profession demands? What will they do with their training? Do they have concrete goals that will advance the profession? In short, will they be able to uphold the veterinary oath to use their scientific knowledge to protect and better the life of both animals and people? In order to gain admission, the successful applicant must stand out from the rest in the mind of admission counselors. This is attained through a thoughtful well-crafted personal statement.

      How to Write a Personal Statement for Veterinary College will help you write a compelling document. The Do’s and Don’ts section covers common mistakes that keep well-qualified candidates from getting into veterinary school. The section called Writing the Personal Statement will teach you how to present your background and goals as if you were already a veterinarian. Before writing your personal statement, read all of the templates and sample personal statements provided even if they do not pertain to your area of interest. Each contains ideas to stimulate your own creativity and help your personal statement stand out from the rest of the crowd.

      WRITING THE PERSONAL STATEMENT

      There are three principles you must follow when writing a personal statement. First, tell the truth. With so many qualified applicants fighting for a limited number of positions, applicants might be tempted to embellish their experience or credentials. Resist the temptation to exaggerate. Always tell the truth. If a lie goes undetected in the personal statement, it will usually come to light in the interview process. Recall that ethics are critical in the veterinary profession.

      Second, try to sound like a veterinarian. In general, people are comfortable around other people with similar characteristics. Veterinarians are no different. Use the proper terminology for what you are discussing. For example, if you are interested in canine theriogenology (the study of reproduction), use the proper terms for describing a male and female in each species. A male canine is a dog. The proper term for a female is bitch. Describing your experience with a ‘pregnant dog’ would be incorrect. Another term that is often misused by lay people is the word cow. A cow is a female bovine that has had one or more calves. If describing more than one bovine, use the term cattle unless the group is comprised of females that have had a calf. Then the word ‘cows’ is correct.

      Third, most people choose veterinary medicine because they love animals. That is why I became a veterinarian. While your love for animals is critical and wonderful, it should not be cited in the personal statement. The

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