Bachelor of Veterinary Science

Why Become a Veterinarian?

Well… to work with ANIMALS of course!!

Most of us want to be vets so we can fix sick animals….

Which is a really good reason for

wanting to be a vet!

Great… and do you like working with people too?

• It’s animals’ owners who bring their pets or livestock to you…!

• You need to like working with people….

• Good standard of living

• Broad range of work… there are

• a lot of jobs you can do with a vet degree

There are some other good reasons to be a vet…. • It is an awesome lifestyle

• A highly respected profession

• Makes a worthwhile contribution to society

And there are good job prospects…. • There is a high demand for veterinarians in

NZ and worldwide • Jobs are available in production and

companion animal sectors • Significant shortage of farm animal vets • Job prospects are good

• Worldwide shortage of veterinarians • Baby boomer generation retirement

• Starting salary packages are ~ $55,000

And it is a great passport for travel…

You’ll be able to work in….

• New Zealand

• Australia

• United Kingdom

• South Africa

• Papua New Guinea

Can sit registration exams in United States, Canada, Japan etc

But you also need to have realistic expectations of the job • Sometimes it’s dirty

• Sometimes there are grieving owners… or angry owners

• Sometimes you’re on call late at night

• Sometimes you find it hard to cope with situations yourself….

• Sometimes you have your own ‘bad hair’ days….

What will my career be like? Nearly everyone starts off in clinical

practice • Treating sick or injured animals

• Diagnosis of cause of disease • Surgery, Anaesthesia, Imaging • Sick cows, sick dogs, sick horses

• Disease prevention • Healthy animals • Keeping your dog well • Keeping your cows healthy and producing

well But there are lots of things that vets can and do work in outside clinical practice…

So…. what makes a good veterinarian? • Enjoy working with people

• Good at communicating with people

• Experience with handling animals • Good at communicating with animals

• Common sense

• Ability to analyse information and reach conclusion

Sooooo…. can I become a veterinarian?

Answer - Definitely! Provided - • You are relatively smart

• You have some common sense • You have lots of determination

• You like people as well as animals

• You can communicate well

You!

Veterinary Science Programme

• Massey is the only NZ University offering a veterinary degree

• Limited number of places, competitive entry to the programme

• Five-year programme

• One semester before selection

• 4½ years after selection

What is the course like? Starts off with • Normal structure, function:

• Anatomy and Physiology • Normal animal management

and farming practices

What is the course like?

Then goes on to look at causes of abnormal structure and function • Pathology • Microbiology • Parasitology • Toxicology

What is the course like? Then: ‘Return to normal’

Medicine Surgery Pharmacology

What is the course like?

Also: Preventive medicine and enhancement of performance Personal wellbeing and self-care Veterinary professional studies

Law, Business, Ethics, Management

What else? • Farm practical work

• 14 weeks of practical farm work (by mid year Year 3)

• Vet practical work • 6 weeks of practical

veterinary work (between mid Year 3 and Year 4)

• Extended clinical final year • 40 week final year in clinics,

veterinary practices and doing elective subjects

How do I get in?

NZ or Australian Citizen or PR International

School leaver / no previous

university study Other study

80 places 24 places

Not met pre-requisites in Biol,

Chem, Physics

Met pre-requisites

Grade average and STAT F test score Grade average and

GRE test score Grade average and STAT F test

score

What about my school subjects? Biology, Chemistry and

Physics!! We recommend that you should have studied NCEA Level 3 in Biology, Chemistry and Physics and passed 14-20 credits in each subject. Also one mathematics subject (either Calculus or Statistics). English… must have minimum of NCEA Level 2 to meet University Entrance requirements

How do I become eligible for selection?

• You must pass all four pre-selection papers of BVSc 1 Semester 1 or equivalent from another NZ University;

AND have a minimum GPA over a B Grade

• Sit a STAT F Test (June)

Standard Tertiary Admissions Test (type F): an ‘IQ type’ test see www.acer.edu.au/stat

• Completed at least 10 days (minimum of 80 hours) veterinary work experience – you should have done this before you came to Massey.

• You need to have a letter stating your name and the dates/hours you were in practice. Signed by the veterinarian or practice manager.

What grades will I have to get? • Grade point average counts for 80%

• STAT F test counts for 20%

• Together these make up your “selection score”

• Ranked on the basis of “selection score”

• Need a grade average of about A- and a better-

than-average STAT score

• You are never locked out… there is no limit on number of times you can apply for selection

• Have a Plan B… do a degree in Science… make sure it’s something that you enjoy. You must take a minimum of 60 credits per semester for grades to be included in GPA calculation for future selections.

• Older grades (eventually) expire, so you can reapply with better grades – use up to last four semesters of full-time study in calculation of GPA.

• If have a three year gap from university study in science subjects, then you will be considered a “New Start” student in regards to the GPA calculation.

• Papers from Semester 1 can credit towards almost all Massey degrees in animal, agriculture or biological sciences

What happens if…. I don’t get in….?

So, think about…. • Bachelor of AgriScience

• Equine Studies

• Agriculture

• Bachelor of Science

• Animal Science

• Zoology

• Bachelor of Veterinary Technology (must apply by 1 May – late applications may not be accepted)

• Bachelor of Food Technology (Hons) (min. B- average plus 16 credits in Calculus at NCEA Level 3)

• Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) (min. B- average plus 16 credits in Calculus at NCEA Level 3)

What does it all cost?

• University fees are approximately $10,415 for Year

2-4 and $11,495 for Year 5

(NZPR 2013 figures)

• There are other associated course costs

• Practical work must be done which limits earning

potential during holidays

• Scholarships are available – post selection and

majority at Year 4

Important Dates in 2013

20th-22nd February “Orientation Programme” first year students – introduction to university

25th February Semester 1 commences – lectures and labs start Week One

1st May Applications for 2013 Veterinary Science/Techology Selection closes online

20th June STAT F Test – 2.15pm in Wool Building (allow minimum 3hrs)

5th July Selection Committee meets. Emails sent out late in afternoon

15th July 2012 Semester 2 commences

17th-19th July 2012 “Vet Start” Programme

Bachelor of Veterinary Technology

Veterinary Technology Programme

• Massey is the only NZ University offering the Veterinary Technology degree (first offered in 2009)

• Three-year full-time programme

• Selection at end of first semester (pre-selection papers can be completed at campus in Albany or Manawatu)

• Professional Phase of course in Palmerston North (2.5 years)

• Limited number of places (36)

Career Opportunities

• Specialty practice technologists (e.g dermatology, surgery, internal medicine, critical case care, etc.)

• Herd health technologists on food animal, poultry, or equine farms

• Health technologists in zoos, animal control or humane societies

• Instructors in veterinary nursing / technology programs and veterinary school hospitals

• Food or livestock inspectors for government agencies

Career Opportunities

• Zoo veterinary hospital or wildlife rehabilitation technologists • Marketing and/or teaching roles in veterinary organizations and

practices • Biomedical research technologists and laboratory animal

managers • Pharmaceutical sales and marketing representatives • Animal behaviour advisors to clients about problem pets • Clinic staff supervisors or hospital managers

What else must I do?

• Complete at least 10 days (minimum of 80 hours) veterinary work experience – do this before you come to Massey

Veterinary Practical Work Evaluation forms are required for vet technology applications.

Work must have been completed in a maximum of two veterinary practices; and 40 hours must be completed over 5 consecutive days.

Forms are available on Study at Massey pages on website for the Vet Technology programme in Planning tab

What about my school subjects? Biology and Chemistry, Maths and English We recommend that you should have studied NCEA Level 3 in Biology and Chemistry and passed a minimum of 14credits in each subject. Also one mathematics subject (either Calculus or Statistics). English… must have minimum of NCEA Level 2 to meet University Entrance requirements

How am I selected into the Vet Tech programme?

• Pass Semester 1 pre-selection papers with a C Grade or higher (or equivalents from a NZ/overseas university).

• Have a Grade Average of a minimum of a C+ (3.0) average over a minimum of one

semester of full-time study

• Complete the Essay on “The Veterinary Industry”

• Have undertaken a minimum of 80 hours of veterinary practical work experience and

evaluation form to be submitted by 1 May from the veterinary practice.

• Submit a Curriculum Vitae with up to 3 written references.

How is my selection score calculated?

50% Weighted grade point average (four pre-selection papers or up to four semesters of papers)

30% Essay on “The Veterinary Industry”

20% Evaluation from Veterinary Practical Work

These are added together to give your ‘Selection Score’ You are then ranked based on their ‘Selection Score’

What is the course like?

Pre-selection (semester one) – 4 compulsory subjects

• Chemistry and living systems • Biology of cells • Biology of animals • Communication in the sciences Or • Physics for life sciences Important small print Students who are enrolled in Veterinary Science Intermediate and 124.111 Physics for Life

Sciences can also apply for selection into Veterinary Technology. You must fill out Selection Forms for BOTH programmes by due date of 1st May 2013 to be

considered for selection in each degree (late applications may not be accepted).

What is the course like? Post Selection – Year One Semester 2 Animal Behaviour, Welfare & Handling Principles & Practice of Vet Nursing Comparative Anatomy for Vet Techs Essentials of Mammalian Biology Year Two Semester 1 & Semester 2 Biochemistry of Cells, Surgery and Imaging Veterinary Medical Nursing, Fundamentals of Animal Disease Diagnostic Procedures, Pharmacology & Toxicology Principles of Animal Science & Production, Anaesthesia

What is the course like?

Year Three Advanced Clinical Studies Integrative Studies for Veterinary Technologists Veterinary Biometrics and Epidemiology for Veterinary

Technologists Plus 30 credits (2 papers) in one of the following specialised

tracks: • Business Management • Production Animal • Small Animal • Equine

Studying….

Things that are a good idea

• Work with other people • Keep up your sport, music, church,

etc

• Making new friends • Keeping up a steady work schedule

as part of a balanced work/life • Getting help when you don’t

understand something

Things that are a bad idea

• Lock yourself away and study in isolation

• Giving up your leisure activities OR doing leisure activities 24/7

• Going boozing or clubbing every night

• Cheating • Panicking if the going gets tough

Rumours, rumours, rumours

• These are often/mostly spread maliciously • Almost invariably they are untrue • Don’t believe them… or if you’re really worried ask

SOMEONE WHO KNOWs the facts (Sue Gribbin, James Waaler, Hayley Squance, Eloise Jillings or Tim Parkinson)

• Don’t ask another student who’s heard the same rumour!!!!

COMMON Rumours, rumours, rumours

• There is an increased number of applicants this year, so selection will be a lot harder

• There’s only a slight increase in number…BUT • The WGPA for BVSc selection in 2012 was a marginally

higher than in previous years (approx A- average or higher)

Rumours, rumours, rumours

• Selection will be harder for NZ students as full fee paying people from overseas will take places in the BVSc.

• UNTRUE. BVSc Students are selected

from separate selection pools.

COMMON Rumours, rumours, rumours

• There are places are reserved in BVSc for graduates.

• Untrue. All NZ Government Subsidised students compete in the same BVSc selection pool whether semester 1 pre-vet or already studied at University

In Conclusion ……

• Best wishes in your efforts to obtain selection for the BVSc or BVetTech

• If you gain entry it is an opportunity to study for a fantastic profession

• BUT • If you don’t get in, don’t be downhearted… because there

are many other great opportunities leading to worthwhile and rewarding work

• GOOD LUCK