Daughter wants to be a vet

ELLA

This is hugely premature as she's only 14 in December BUT she's intent on wanting to become a vet, I want to steer her in that direction and help her as much as I can now to repair for this and the hard work she will have to put in. I just don't know how to help apart from we've got her extra tuition for maths and science as she is lacking in that department .
I probably sound a bit bonkers but I had no help from my parents at that age and like any parent just want to help.
Many thanks for reading

Hermia

14 is not too young! Earlier the better for any career where there is a lot of competition for degree places. A friend of mine spent her whole teens doing voluntary work at animal rescue centres to help with her degree application.

http://www.rcvs.org.uk/education/i-want-to-be-a-vet/

https://www.bva.co.uk/Professional-development/Careers/Becoming-a-vet/

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/vet

davidwood123

She will probably change her mind but you obviously care and are wanting to help her.

It's a shame more parents don't show your enthusiasm

pinkshoes

She will certainly need top grades in maths and science.

Is she about to go into Y10? Is she doing triple science?

Maths and science tutors will certainly help!

Red-Squirrel_2

Its never too early to do a bit of volunteering!

Do you have any pets? If you have a dog could she do something like the good citizen dog training scheme perhaps as well?

I think as long as you make sure she knows its ok to change her mind, there's no harm trying to help her reach her goals. When you say she struggles with science and maths, is it that she doesn't like it or finds it very difficult?

onomatopoeia99

Maths and sciences basically need to be her best subjects and she'll need to be near the top of her year at school in those subjects if it's anything like as competitive as when I was 14 and knew people my age that wanted to be vets, so she's really going to need to focus on them continuously until her A levels if she wants to get into university, especially if she's "lacking" in them at the moment.

That's 30 years ago, but it's hard to believe that it's changed much (certainly happy to be corrected on that though). I imagine the school can offer some careers advice - I know mine did (state school) at least in as far as what you needed to excel in for particular degree choices.

worried_jim

Discuss the negatives with your daughter as well such as the higher than average suicide rate amongs vets and potentially what is causing this, but on the whole what great career opertunities lie ahead that could offer world wide work such as caring for horses and dogs with the armed services. Good to start planning early no matter what the future brings. Aim high!

Out,_Vile_Jelly

It's supposed to be harder to get onto a Veterinary course than Medicine. All applicants will be predicted top grades in the core entry requirements of Maths, Chemistry and Biology and there will be many applicants per place. Many universities will look at GCSE grades too. Sorry to sound negative, but you may need to manage expectations.

She'll also need work experience for her UCAS form and any interviews. I suggest she looks at animal-related volunteering (any volunteering is good for UCAS generally) ie at a local animal sancturay or RDA stables, and ask if she can attend on a day when the vet visits and use this as an opportunity for observing and asking questions. You can't assume you can get work experience in an actual vets practice so you may need to think outside the box a bit here; Saturday job in the nearest pet shop?

Timpu

Are there local vets that offer work experience placements? It may be worth your daughter phoning round to ask.

If none do, would any of the staff be willing to give 30mins for your daughter to ask about their day to day work?

Good luck :beer:

Spendless

I know someone who is a Vet, as long to train as to be a doctor and not as well paid. As said her sciences are going to be needed. Here the vets don't take work experience until age 16, but she could try other animal related projects and ask there.

ELLA

We are in Bournemouth Dorset, she can't get into a vets until her work experience comes up via her school. I contacted a few local animal shelters and even the rspca before the summer holidays for her to volunteer but half didn't bother even Repliying and the other didn't want to l ow for legal reason as she's still young ��
She's fully aware of how hard this will be, her auntie is a GP and has given lots of insight of her job, even said it's harder to be a vet as She would need to know the anatomy of more than just a human lol