Op-Ed: Reality Check for Veterinary Students

Submitted by Ann Ramsey, Oregon State University

It is easy to lose yourself in veterinary school. The onslaught of information in close quarters is  claustrophobic and deeply fatiguing. When the classroom feels more dooming than inspiring, here are five tips to refresh your attitude: 

1. Practice gratitude. Few people in this world have access to higher education. When I  hear my classmates complain at nauseum, I often think of my great-grandmother: never  educated beyond middle school and mother to nine children. She led a noble life, but it  was not one rich in choice. Education is a privilege—in the scope of human history, you  are among the scholarly minority. What will your legacy be?  

2. Tune out the crowd. Even in professional school, I sometimes encounter students with a  “too cool for school” attitude. Veterinary school is financially and emotionally  expensive—you cannot afford to let others distract you from being your authentic self. To  quote Taylor Swift: “Never be ashamed of trying. Effortlessness is a myth” (NYU  Commencement Speech, 2022).  

3. The knowledge you retain is more important than that quiz grade. The veterinary  curriculum is cumulative. Last-minute rote memorization may help you ace a quiz, but if  you never retain what you learn, then you need to re-evaluate your methods. Studying for  true understanding requires that you engage with the material in meaningful ways every  day. This process is difficult and imperfect, but it starts with grounding yourself in the  magic of learning rather than the tedium of point-chasing (with which I still struggle).  

4. You cannot predict the future. Many veterinarians pivot between fields throughout their  career. Cost of living, family commitments, job availability and personal preferences  change over time. Be open to practicing (and learning) outside of your comfort zone. You  never know when those skills and connections may come in handy.  

5. Your career starts now. At times, the classroom feels like a case study on how different  people handle stress. Always conduct yourself with patience, kindness, and self awareness. Remember that your professors and classmates are your colleagues. The  impressions you make matter. Veterinary school is not just another hoop to jump  through— it is part of the work/life synthesis that defines us.