Description
The publication of Alf Wight’s James Herriot books led to an upsurge in interest in the veterinary profession amongst the public and inspired many to study veterinary medicine. However the profession has changed markedly since those days with many more opportunities for people entering the veterinary field – such as job prospects in bioscience research, government work, specialisation in exotic animal medicine, animal welfare advisory work, international development work and a whole host of other career options. The landscape of the veterinary curriculum has also broadened considerably with topics like animal behaviour, ethics, business management, client communication, veterinary public health and clinical skills sitting alongside clinical veterinary medicine.
Authored by a Royal Veterinary College tutor with extensive experience within the veterinary profession and with teaching new students, this book provides a thorough explanation of what prospective students can expect to study at veterinary school, and discusses career options available to new graduates, as well as a useful overview of current issues in the wider veterinary profession, and an honest and thought-provoking discussion of what veterinary life is actually like.
So You Want to Be a Vet will be a useful resource and advisory guide to those considering entering veterinary school and following veterinary medicine as a career path. It will also be beneficial to qualified vets and agricultural students.
Pete the Vet – www.petethevet.com –
The cover blurb for this book states that it provides “an honest and thought-provoking discussion of what veterinary life is actually like”. For me, that’s the best way to sum up this refreshing piece of writing.
Horse & Countryside Magazine –
If, like me, you’ve thought about encouraged your children to go into the veterinary profession to save on the bills – and I’m only being slightly tongue-in-cheek – this is a great book to invest in. As everyone knows, veterinary medicine is a difficult area to break into with demand for places at UK vet schools vastly outstripping supply, and future James Herriots have to be dedicated and hardworking. So Do You Want To Be A Vet? is written by a Royal Veterinary College tutor, and outlines not only the reality of a life in animal medicine but also the ethics and financial rewards of the profession and the many different careers available to the modern veterinary student. If your child comes home and announces they’ve chosen their future career, buy them a copy of this book at once!
Veterinary Practice –
This gives very comprehensive coverage from how to go about getting into veterinary school to what to expect once qualified in both salary and career options. The lengthy summary (chapter 14) begins with: “Working as a veterinary surgeon is an incredibly rewarding position to find yourself in” and this is a book that veterinary surgeons can recommend to the next generation of those wanting to pursue this career path.