Do you need maths to be a vet?

[CurlyWurlyRach]

if one wanted to be a horse vet (i dont - im just wondering) what A levels do you need?

[SJ wanabe]

maths, english and all sciences I think

[CurlyWurlyRach]

what good is physics to a vet? i can see why Bio and Chem would be useful.

[SJ wanabe]

dno I asked a vet once out of curiocity. Seems a bit pointless doesn't it!:rolleyes:

[kirstie]

The qualifications needed to become a veterinary surgeon are similar to those for becoming a doctor. Chemistry at A level (or equivalent) is required, plus one or two more A levels from biology, physics or mathematics - grades AAB are usual. Some universities will accept two AS levels in lieu of one A level, although chemistry must be a full A level. Those with SCE Highers require chemistry, together with two from biology, physics and mathematics, plus two more to give typical grades of AAABB. It is also advised to have the Advanced Higher or CSYS in chemistry and either biology or physics. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons web-site provides up to date information and links to universities offering courses.

from

http://learningphysics.iop.org/beyond_school/faqs/index.html#vet

Another site that might help you

Training to be a Veterinary Surgeon (http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:sxn4PynRaZYJ:www.rcvs.org.uk/Shared_ASP_Files/UploadedFiles/98CD6DFB-A34A-4A50-8BBD-6F44072D5B3A_careers_leaflet_feb06.pdf+a-level+physics+and+horse+vet&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=2)

[Wally]

You used to need maths.

[old_woman]

what good is physics to a vet? i can see why Bio and Chem would be useful.

Physics is relevant to every part of life, from our own metabolism to the furthest reaches of space.
Example 1 - osmosis is a very important part of physiology. Osmosis is governed by the laws of physics.
Example 2 - radiology is a very important means of diagnosis. PHYSICS again.
Example 3 - the workings of the horses tendons and joints are governed by basic laws of mechanical physics.

Physics is important in everything from the understanding of cell mechanisms such as osmosis, to the understanding of plate tectonics and the devastation caused by earth movements, to the origins of our universe and beyond.

[devon lass]

If you aren't positive you will get the grades however there is a course run by the royal veterinary collage called the veterinary gateway programme
" the system is open to students from non-selective state schools in england and wales whose parents did not go to university and are eligible for an education maintenenceallowence of £20 or more"
i'm not sure if the ema bit applies any more, but here are the entry requirements for it anyway

CCC in biology, chemistry, and any other subject (not including general studies) gcse b or above in maths, english and science. All other GCSE's must be above a grade C


the website is www.rcvs.ac.uk

hope this helps





oh also i was talking to a uni lecturer and he knew a girl who got into bristol uni to do there vet degree with a C in chemistry as she did a brilliant interveiw and had a great personal statement!

[eventerbabe]

i had to to highers (did the scottish system, highers are just below A-level standard) in physics, chemistry, biology, maths and english. I then HAD to do CSYS (equivelant to A-level) in chemistry biology and one of maths or physics. I did physics. You NEED top grades, they won't take resits and you also need an impressive work experience portfolio. References are also advised, at least when i applied. 12,000 people apply for vet med PER university offering the course, 200 are interviewed and only 70 offered a place.

Vets schools take a dim view of people wanting to specialise right from the offset. I was warned that because i was a female horse owner, my chances of getting a place were drastically reduced as the vets schools almost anticipate you wanting to do only equine practice.

I had AAAAB for my highers (B for maths) and AAB for CSYS (B for physics) AND had a 5 YEAR dossier of work experience ranging from dairy farming to abatoir work and everything and anything inbetween, not to mention 4 glowing references from 2 large animal vets, 1 small animal vet and a specialised homeopathic vet i'd worked with for 2 years. Despite all that effort i didn't get in. Sadly, certain universities (edinburgh springs to mind, and they have been warned about this quite publically....) rate which school you went to and who your parents are more highly than your qualifications.

The vets schools seem to rate chemistry quite highly, i think they ask for A's in chemistry. Ironically i was told my chemistry was "weak". Hmm, i've now 2 degrees in the subject so think they were just a little bit off the mark there!! Getting back on topic to physics, it's a very useful subject. I studied it right through school and for 2 years at university. It's very relevant to the other sciences and i've found that the students i teach who DON'T do physics have a poorer grasp of certain concepts we come across in chemistry. i used to love physics. Spent my CSYS (a-level) year making rainbows for my project. Great fun!

[danielle:>]

Gosh eventerbabe, I was hoping to study vet medicine at uni, although it sounds completely impossible to get it! I can't believe you weren't accepted which the grades and work experience you had. Where did you apply to? Was it just Edinburgh? Did you get an interview?

Danielle
xxx

[Cochise]

That's interesting from the UK point of view. Massey (the only university offering a Bachelor degree in vet science in New Zealand) says this:

"NCEA Level 3 Physics, Chemistry, Biology and at least one Mathematics subject (either Statistics or Calculus; if only one of these is available, Statistics would be the preferred option) provide the best preparation for the course. Veterinarians need to be effective communicators both in writing and speaking, so English is also an important subject."

More detailed info is here:
http://study.massey.ac.nz/massey/students/studymassey/programme.cfm?prog_id=92611&tab=plan

[eventerbabe]

Gosh eventerbabe, I was hoping to study vet medicine at uni, although it sounds completely impossible to get it! I can't believe you weren't accepted which the grades and work experience you had. Where did you apply to? Was it just Edinburgh? Did you even get an interview?


You can only apply to 4 vet med places on your UCAS form, with 2 fallback options. I applied to edinburgh, glasgow, liverpool and london. Liverpool and london both came back saying re-apply when you've your CSYS (advanced higher these days!) results (they don't take highers as an entry qualification). I had interviews at both edinburgh and glasgow but got no further. I guess i could have taken a gap year but couldn't be bothered with all that after i'd had my dreams shattered so accepted one of my fallback positions to study chemistry closer to home. It is hard to get in, people should be under no illusions about the application process. There were 5 of us in my year at school who applied to vet med and i was the only one to get even an interview. At one of the open days, i met one poor girl who was on her 4th gap year as she'd re-applied to vet med 4 times just trying to get an interview.

[Floob]

ouch.
Damn Im hoping to become a vet. Im taking a gap year first though and will only apply in october if I get the grades. My friend got in last year and she only had AAABB at higher level. I am at a local state school, so surely if you getthe grades there it says more about your abilities than if you get them at say Robert Gordon's or any other private school.
I will be the only one from my school to apply though.

I must have a chance with 5 highers, an advanced higher and an AS already (still in 6th year)
I have done Chemistry, Biology, Maths, French and Art at Higher. AAAAB
French at Advanced Higher (A) and Dutch at AS so far (A)
This year Im taking Chemistry and Biology advanced highers and physics and english highers.
I know I need more work experience, but will be doing some more in February and have a whole program lined up for the summer before I apply
AND I don't want to specialise in equine treatment (have 5 cats and a dog as well you see, and they seem to be costing us more in vet's bills)

[chasingracers]

Check out the Vet schools website, they are the only people that can answer your questions...
Liverpool http://www.liv.ac.uk/vets/
Cambridge www.vet.cam.ac.uk/
Bristol www.vetschool.bris.ac.uk
Edingburgh www.vet.ed.ac.uk
Glasgow www.gla.ac.uk
Nottingham www.nottingham.ac.uk
London http://www.rvc.ac.uk/
Dublin http://www.ucd.ie/vetmed/

Good Luck...and you may need to apply more than once.....they receive about 10,000 applications from all over the world and only have 2,000 places...And if you want to pursue Equine hang on in there, you need to do small animals and cows etc first....one of my best friends is a Equine Vet, and I got the info from her....but the entry has changed since she went there many years ago