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What is the best way to find veterinary shadowing opportunities?
I am a current sophmore and I attend high school in the NYC area. How should I about connecting with veterinarians in the area to ask them for shadowing?
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Daphne’s Answer
Sanaii, this is a great question and it is one that takes a lot of courage to do. I encourage you to try one of the following and know that it may take a number of calls but I trust you will find a great match.
Here are some things to consider:
- Research Local Veterinarians: Utilize online resources or directories to identify veterinarians in the NYC area.
- Reach Out Professionally: Contact veterinarians via email or phone, introducing yourself as a high school sophomore interested in veterinary medicine and politely inquire about shadowing opportunities.
- Express Genuine Interest: Highlight your passion for animals and your desire to learn from professionals in the field. Offer flexibility in scheduling and assure them of your commitment to observing their work responsibly.
- Utilize Networking: Seek recommendations from teachers, family friends, or community members who may have connections to veterinarians or veterinary clinics in the area.
- Consider Volunteering: Some veterinary clinics offer volunteer programs for high school students interested in veterinary medicine, which can provide valuable exposure to the field while also helping out in the clinic.
- Pet Shelters often offer hands on experience - this may lead to a veterinarian opportunity.
Here are some things to consider:
- Research Local Veterinarians: Utilize online resources or directories to identify veterinarians in the NYC area.
- Reach Out Professionally: Contact veterinarians via email or phone, introducing yourself as a high school sophomore interested in veterinary medicine and politely inquire about shadowing opportunities.
- Express Genuine Interest: Highlight your passion for animals and your desire to learn from professionals in the field. Offer flexibility in scheduling and assure them of your commitment to observing their work responsibly.
- Utilize Networking: Seek recommendations from teachers, family friends, or community members who may have connections to veterinarians or veterinary clinics in the area.
- Consider Volunteering: Some veterinary clinics offer volunteer programs for high school students interested in veterinary medicine, which can provide valuable exposure to the field while also helping out in the clinic.
- Pet Shelters often offer hands on experience - this may lead to a veterinarian opportunity.
Updated
Stephanie’s Answer
Finding veterinary shadowing opportunities can be a valuable way to gain insight into the field and strengthen your application for veterinary school or related programs. Here are some effective ways to find shadowing opportunities:
1. **Contact Local Veterinary Clinics and Hospitals**:
- Reach out to veterinary clinics, hospitals, and animal shelters in your area. Call or email them to inquire about shadowing opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine.
- Explain your interest in shadowing and your goals, and ask if they have any availability for students to observe their veterinarians in action.
2. **Utilize Personal Connections**:
- Ask friends, family members, or acquaintances who work in the veterinary field if they can connect you with veterinarians who offer shadowing opportunities.
- Sometimes personal connections can lead to valuable shadowing experiences or introductions to veterinarians who are willing to mentor students.
3. **Reach Out to Veterinary Schools or Colleges**:
- Contact veterinary schools or colleges in your area and inquire about any shadowing programs or opportunities they may offer for prospective students.
- Some veterinary schools have outreach programs or volunteer opportunities that allow students to shadow veterinarians or participate in veterinary-related activities.
4. **Join Veterinary Organizations or Clubs**:
- Join local or national veterinary organizations or clubs, such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or student chapters at your school.
- These organizations often provide networking opportunities, resources, and information about shadowing programs or events for students interested in veterinary medicine.
5. **Volunteer at Animal Shelters or Rescues**:
- Volunteer at animal shelters, rescues, or wildlife rehabilitation centers in your area. While not traditional shadowing experiences, volunteering can provide valuable exposure to working with animals and may lead to opportunities to shadow veterinarians associated with these organizations.
6. **Attend Career Fairs or Events**:
- Attend career fairs, workshops, or events hosted by veterinary schools, colleges, or professional organizations. These events may offer opportunities to network with veterinarians and learn about shadowing opportunities.
7. **Check Online Resources**:
- Explore online platforms and resources dedicated to connecting students with shadowing opportunities in the veterinary field. Websites like Vet Set Go and the AVMA's Veterinary Career Center may list shadowing opportunities or provide information on how to find them.
8. **Be Professional and Persistent**:
- When reaching out to veterinarians or organizations, be professional, polite, and respectful of their time.
- Follow up on any leads or inquiries you make, and be persistent in your search for shadowing opportunities.
By utilizing these strategies and being proactive in your search, you can increase your chances of finding valuable veterinary shadowing experiences to support your career goals.
1. **Contact Local Veterinary Clinics and Hospitals**:
- Reach out to veterinary clinics, hospitals, and animal shelters in your area. Call or email them to inquire about shadowing opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine.
- Explain your interest in shadowing and your goals, and ask if they have any availability for students to observe their veterinarians in action.
2. **Utilize Personal Connections**:
- Ask friends, family members, or acquaintances who work in the veterinary field if they can connect you with veterinarians who offer shadowing opportunities.
- Sometimes personal connections can lead to valuable shadowing experiences or introductions to veterinarians who are willing to mentor students.
3. **Reach Out to Veterinary Schools or Colleges**:
- Contact veterinary schools or colleges in your area and inquire about any shadowing programs or opportunities they may offer for prospective students.
- Some veterinary schools have outreach programs or volunteer opportunities that allow students to shadow veterinarians or participate in veterinary-related activities.
4. **Join Veterinary Organizations or Clubs**:
- Join local or national veterinary organizations or clubs, such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or student chapters at your school.
- These organizations often provide networking opportunities, resources, and information about shadowing programs or events for students interested in veterinary medicine.
5. **Volunteer at Animal Shelters or Rescues**:
- Volunteer at animal shelters, rescues, or wildlife rehabilitation centers in your area. While not traditional shadowing experiences, volunteering can provide valuable exposure to working with animals and may lead to opportunities to shadow veterinarians associated with these organizations.
6. **Attend Career Fairs or Events**:
- Attend career fairs, workshops, or events hosted by veterinary schools, colleges, or professional organizations. These events may offer opportunities to network with veterinarians and learn about shadowing opportunities.
7. **Check Online Resources**:
- Explore online platforms and resources dedicated to connecting students with shadowing opportunities in the veterinary field. Websites like Vet Set Go and the AVMA's Veterinary Career Center may list shadowing opportunities or provide information on how to find them.
8. **Be Professional and Persistent**:
- When reaching out to veterinarians or organizations, be professional, polite, and respectful of their time.
- Follow up on any leads or inquiries you make, and be persistent in your search for shadowing opportunities.
By utilizing these strategies and being proactive in your search, you can increase your chances of finding valuable veterinary shadowing experiences to support your career goals.
Updated
Christine’s Answer
Great question! Here are a few ideas: Consider writing up a "letter of interest". You can search for and look at examples. Also make sure to create/update your resume that reflects your summary/objective, coursework in school, extracurricular activities/clubs/honors, as well as part-time and volunteer work. It is a good idea to do some searching for resumes of people who when they were in high school had shadowed at clinics. You could attach your resume to the email with the letter of interest. Make sure you have someone review your resume to help check for places for improvement and to avoid mistakes and errors. You can send these letters to the general emails at the local vet clinics- they are usually listed on their websites. If you have pets or have friends or family with pets, ask them to connect you with people at the clinics they use. Someone in the business office or at the front desk may be a great place to start. You could also call the clinics and have a quick intro ready including your name, year in school, career goals, and that you are looking for shadowing opportunities. You could also look for vet tech jobs or entry level roles and reach out to those clinics hiring for those roles (thinking) maybe if they are in the process of hiring more entry level roles that they would be more likely to consider a shadowing opportunity, too. Good luck and be professionally persistent!