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CLASSNOTES



        My vet career after completing

        the BVetMed Gateway course


        Jonathan Holt (BVetMed, 2018)



          was always lucky enough to know   I was based in Camden during the
          what I wanted to do with my life – my   Gateway programme, and lived right
          favourite day out as a kid was taking   next to lecture halls in College Grove.
       I our family pets to the vet! However,   This meant I didn’t have to commute
        I was struggling to get the grades   to and from uni and could concentrate
        I would need for a direct entry into   on settling into my surroundings (and
        vet school. I was considering doing   arguably the heart and soul of the city).
        another degree to top up my personal   The Gateway programme isn’t really like
        statement but then I found out about   any other foundation course – it’s more   Both gave me friends for life and a
        the RVC Gateway programme. This     of an extension to the five-year Vet Med   strong support network for my studies
        sounded the ideal solution, as I would   degree, with many overlapping topics.   and beyond – an undeniable helpline for
        stay at the same university, and it would   This creates a great grounding for the   any questions/difficulties I had.
        provide a great transitional course into   start of the five-year course and lets you
        veterinary medicine.                hit the ground running.            In third year, I moved to Potters Bar for
                                                                               my clinical studies. This allowed me to
        I still had to continue striving to build up   Vet school provides so many
        my CV, as the Gateway programme has   opportunities to really explore your   really explore what type of vet I wanted
        a high ratio of applicants per place. I   interests and find your passions. I   to be and embrace having cases of my
        had to broaden my experience of animal   implore any student to really take   own at the Queen Mother Hospital for
        work, so I undertook a summer job on   advantage of all the opportunities they   Animals (QMHA). I waited until after my
        a dairy farm, which paid for me to have   have. My placements, again, allowed   exams until looking for a job, as I didn’t
        riding lessons. I saw practice at my   me to access areas I would never be   want any distractions. Passing my finals
        local vets every weekend and did dog   able to in ordinary life – working with   was the proudest day of my life and I still
        agility classes. This was all on top of my   the elephants at Blackpool Zoo being   get goosebumps thinking about it!
        busy sports schedule of football and   a highlight! An important aspect was   My first job was an intern at The Donkey
        athletics – but this only showed I had a   joining the social and sports clubs.   Sanctuary’s brand-new hospital in Devon.
        good chance of managing the work-life   I joined football with the RVC and   This was a great experience getting to
        balance at vet school!              athletics with the University of London.   treat my favourite animals and being in a
                                                                               supportive environment to set me off in
                                                                               my career. Having 3,500 donkeys under
                                                                               my care was a surreal experience! There
                                                                               was a big teaching aspect to this job
                                                                               as well, which I really embraced. I ran
                                                                               practical courses for farrier colleges, and
                                                                               I even came back to the RVC to give a
                                                                               lecture on donkey welfare!
                                                                               I knew I still had a strong interest in
                                                                               surgery so decided to bring my skills up
                                                                               to scratch and go to a neutering clinic
                                                                               in India for a month – your vet passport
                                                                               really gets you to some interesting
                                                                               places! I entered small animal general
                                                                               practice for a couple of years, rounding
                                                                               off my skills before completing an
                                                                               internship at Glasgow University’s animal
                                                                               hospital. I’ve now returned to my home
                                                                               county of Lancashire to locum and study
                                                                               for my certificate in surgery.
                                                                               My career has had many twists and turns
                                                                               and I expect there will be many more to
                                                                               come! I think the best part of being a vet
                                                                               is all the opportunities it gives you – it’s
                                                                               impossible to ever be bored!





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