How important is well roundedness in an application for Vet school?
Very important. Applicants should be well rounded and if at all possible, have animal experience of some sort. If they are not able to get a job working with animals, they should at least shadow veterinarians as much as possible. Admission committees want to ensure that applicants have a realistic impression of the veterinary field which means that they need to know that we can’t save all animals, euthanasia is not an uncommon occurrence, and not all clients provide appropriate care for their animals. So it is always helpful if pre-vet students shadow with more than one type of veterinarian or at least in more than one clinical practice (if clinical practice is their interest) so they can observe a wide range of experiences. And since most vet schools require a recommendation letter from a veterinarian, extensive shadowing also provides that opportunity for students that don’t otherwise have that option.
