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Hey future vets, Sophia here! As we enter the extremely stressful exam season, we all have one thing in common: we are all looking forward to winter break! I know that as students interested in going to vet school, this break can also bring stress around doing research on the application process, finding job/volunteer opportunities in a vet clinic, reaching out to vets, and more. I can completely sympathize with you, as I experience this very same stress during both summer and winter break. Before you do any researching or emailing, I strongly advise you to allow yourself to take a break! The exam period is a very difficult time, and your mind and body deserve some rest after all the hard work you have put into this semester. Once you are all rested up, it's time to start contacting vets. Not sure where to start? No worries, I’ve got you covered with some tips and tricks that I myself have learned and used over the years when it comes to successfully reaching out to vets. It can be daunting to put yourself out there, but it is necessary when you are looking for a job or advice from current vets. By reaching out to vets, even if it is simply for answers to questions you have about the field, you are showing initiative and interest. These are qualities that those in the field of veterinary medicine are interested in when it comes to hiring, and it can make you more likely to be selected for a future job/volunteer position. Also, in my experience, vets are usually very willing to answer any questions you may have - chances are they have been in the exact same position we pre-vets are! I have been interested in small animal and zoo veterinary medicine for the last few years, so I have reached out to professionals in these fields with questions about their pathways. I have also recently gotten a job at a vet clinic but needed to email and call dozens of clinics before being successful. I know it is frustrating when you don’t receive an answer, or when you are denied, but perseverance is key. During high school, I was given the email of a Canadian vet student who was going to school in the Caribbean. Her contact information was given to me by a teacher at my school, whom I had expressed my interest in vet med to. I sent her an email explaining that I was a student interested in going to vet school and sent a list of questions I had created regarding her journey to vet school: what experiences she had; what she was hoping to specialize in; and more. She was even willing to set up a time to call me one-on-one, which was amazing. This was a very insightful and inspiring experience, which helped to confirm my desire to become a vet. If you struggle with the process of reaching out to veterinary professionals, here are some guidelines to help you out. The first step is to find a veterinarian or vet clinic that you are interested in contacting. Start with clinics in your city, since that is the most convenient. These clinics can be found through a quick google maps search. Additionally, asking family, friends, teachers/profs, etc. can be a great way to find veterinary professionals. If you still cannot find someone to contact, or if you are seeking a vet in a specific profession, I suggest using the College of Veterinarians of Ontario website to broaden your search. This is a great resource that allows you to search for vets who are licensed in Ontario and provides the option to narrow your search for vets within a specific area or specialty. Once you select the vet’s name, it provides you with information regarding their place of work and contact information. In addition to clinical experience, you can also contact vets in government and industry, laboratory vets, or consider summer research projects/internships. You do not have to limit yourself to clinical or small animal experience, as there are so many amazing opportunities out there for you to explore! Next is writing and formatting. Ensure that your writing sounds respectful and mature; you can do so by addressing the vet as “Dr.” and using proper grammar and spelling. I like to start by giving a brief introduction of myself; what school I attend, the major I am in (if you are in university), and what I am looking to gain from contacting this person (volunteering/working at their clinic, specific advice I am seeking, etc.). After this, I include extra details of relevant experience that I have on my resume, but if you don’t currently have any, that's totally fine. For example, I write “Noted in my resume, I currently volunteer at the Humane Society, so I have extensive experience working with companion animals”. The email doesn’t need to be super long, just make sure to include all the information you think is necessary for the vet to know. If you never receive a response, or if you get denied, please don’t give up. There is bound to be at least one vet or clinic who are looking to hire or help someone just like you. And if emailing doesn’t seem to be working, calling the vet or actually stopping by their clinic in-person (if possible) are good options. I know the idea of having to talk with someone directly can be frightening, but doing so demonstrates your dedication and perseverance (and provides you with an immediate answer). Also, if you don’t yet have vet or animal experience hours, please remind yourself that you have time. If you are looking to meet veterinarians across all different fields in person, the FVC is running our annual Networking Brunches in February. I attended last year and was able to meet and get the contact information of a wildlife vet. It’s definitely worth a try! Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful. As a little bonus, I have included email templates that I created to send to veterinarians (you can find them at the end of this article). Feel free to rework them with your own info if you want to email vets but are having a little trouble. I wish you luck on your journey further into veterinary medicine! Have a relaxing and fun winter break! Sincerely, Sophia Di Adamo, Junior Editor Volunteer Email: Subject Line - Volunteer Position Inquiry Hello there, My name is [name] and I am a [1st/2nd/3rd/4th] year [major] student at [university/high school name]. My goal is to apply to veterinary school once I’ve completed my undergraduate degree. I would love to gain more experience with small animals and in the veterinary medicine profession by shadowing [insert name of vet] at your clinic over the coming summer. As noted in my resume, I have already worked with companion animals; I am eager and committed to building and utilizing my skills in order to benefit [insert name of clinic here]. I have attached a copy of my resume in this email below. I welcome the opportunity to meet in person to discuss a potential volunteer position further. I am excited about a possible opportunity to work with you and I look forward to hearing from you! Thank you, [insert your name here] Advice Email:
Subject Line - Seeking advice regarding the field of veterinary medicine Hello there, My name is [name] and I am a [1st/2nd/3rd/4th] year [major] student at [university/high school name]. My goal is to apply to veterinary school once I’ve completed my undergraduate degree. I am very passionate about animals, and it is my dream to work with animals as a career. I am reaching out wondering if you would be able to answer some questions I have regarding vet school and the veterinary profession? I would love to hear about your career path and how you got to where you are today. I know you must be extremely busy, but if you feel as though you have the time, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to ask some questions. I can be flexible regarding the means of communication; please let me know whether email, phone call, or video chat would work best for you. If you are unable to, no worries. Thank you, [insert your name here] Comments are closed.
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Welcome to the FVC's official blog, the Omnis Animalis! Tune in monthly for helpful and fun posts written by students and industry professionals alike. Our vision for this blog is to best serve future vets with inspiring feature pieces, helpful tips, and updates on exciting events throughout the year!
the authorsMeet the editors of the Omnis Animalis! 
Emily Camarda, Senior Editor
2023-2025
Sophia Di Adamo, Junior Editor
2024-2025
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