Sarah, a third-year veterinary student and VMBS ambassador, earned her Aggie gold!
Since Sarah didn’t attend Texas A&M for her undergraduate degree, one of the traditions she was most looking forward to was earning her Aggie ring.
After completing two years of veterinary school, she met the 65 hours required for professional students and was able to celebrate ring day with fellow DVM students!
Claire, a third-year veterinary student and VMBS ambassador, gained experience in zoological veterinary medicine and animal outreach during her time as an animal ambassador at the Dallas Zoo!
Claire assisted veterinarians with procedures including radiographic imaging, acupuncture, laser therapy, and more.
She also worked with zoologists to travel across the Dallas-Fort Worth area to present interactive presentations on animals, conservation initiatives, and environmental awareness.
Katie, a third-year veterinary student and VMBS ambassador, reflects on the unique opportunities that externships provide for traveling and experiencing differences in medicine across the states!
Katie participated in two externships in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Denver, Colorado. Traveling between the two locations allowed Katie to visit 5 National Parks and 3 State Parks in a short 7 days!
In addition to the scenic views, Katie was able to network with veterinarians and learn about regional differences that impact animal health. She also got to further develop her clinical skills and practice effective communication with clients.
Transitioning from second to third year of veterinary school is a huge milestone because it means you are halfway to getting your DVM! It’s also the point when students choose a track that best matches their career goals.
“I chose to follow the small animal track, which means I take electives that will help prepare me for life as a small animal general practitioner,” said third-year veterinary student Hannah J. “These electives are designed to strengthen our abilities to write medical records, assess a patient based on their history and physical exam, and workup a plan for diagnostics and treatments. They also explore the different specialties available to pursue as a residency, such as ophthalmology, diagnostic imaging, and surgery.
“Going into third year also means I just had my ‘last’ summer of vet school,” she said. “In between third and fourth year, veterinary students go straight into clinical rotations at the small and large animal hospitals. During my last summer, I made sure to gain lots of hands-on experience at externships while still taking a well-earned break by going on vacation to the North Carolina coast.”
“My group of friends and I taking group and celebratory photos in front of the vet school after finishing our second year. We were all so excited to have reached the halfway mark! My group of friends is a mixed bag as far as our planned career paths in veterinary medicine go. Some of my friends are tracking small animal like me, while others are tracking mixed animal, or equine-only focus.”
“Photo of an abdominal ultrasound of a cat, evaluating the small intestines. This was a case I saw over the summer while on an externship. We just learned about GI tract evaluation using ultrasound in our diagnostic imaging class in third year.”
“Photo of a thoracic radiograph of a dog, evaluating the lungs. This was a case I saw over the summer while on an externship. We started off the semester learning about lung patterns in our diagnostic imaging class in third year. It was fun to get to pull up examples of radiographs I had seen over the summer to incorporate into my educational experience in class.”
Abbie M. and fellow third-year veterinary students learned about repairing turtle shells and practiced techniques on donated empty shells in a recent class activity (see the before and after photos!).
“Wildlife veterinarians often receive turtles in need of shell repairs. After a turtle suffers trauma, such as being hit by a car, a veterinarian can use a variety of repair styles to assist in healing,” Abbie said. “During the Zoo, Exotics, and Wildlife Techniques elective in third year, veterinary students have the opportunity to practice these repairs on turtle shells.
“Pictured here you can see screws and cerclage wire, hook and eye closures, zip ties, and even gel nails,” she said. “Each repair type has its own advantages and uses, so its important to know how to use what you have!”
Before and After
Meet Alyssa, a third-year veterinary student who loves birds and has an interest in avian and exotic animal medicine.
One of the ways that Alyssa is exploring this interest is by serving as a member of the Schubot Aviary Veterinary Student team that helps care for birds at the Schubot Center for Avian Health.
On any given day, Alyssa helps perform physical exams, collect diagnostic samples, medicate birds, and perform other routine care practices like preparing diets and maintaining proper husbandry. Learn more about the Schubot Center and its opportunities for students at https://vetmed.tamu.edu/schubot/
If you find yourself taking an alternative route before applying to or starting veterinary school, know that you are not alone! Soon after completing my undergraduate degree in 2019, I got engaged and therefore decided to take a couple of years off from school to work, live life, and get married.
At the time, I had no idea how much having a spouse during vet school was going to shape my life. If you are lucky enough to be in a committed relationship with someone who is willing to move anywhere with you and help you follow your dreams, then I have some tips for being married in vet school for you!
Always make time to go on dates and spend quality time together that does not revolve around vet school. You will spend more time than you think sharing your experiences with your partner/spouse, and while I’m sure they want to be supportive, it’s considerate to give them a night off and just make time for them.
It was a little difficult at first for my husband to make friends with everyone since we talked about school a lot and he couldn’t relate. You will form a family-like bond with your classmates over the years with people that genuinely love you and will be supportive of everything about you. Over time, my classmates and I realized how much we have in common aside from school, and not only did my friendships grow with them but my husband has become much closer with them as well.
Lastly, you will feel like you’re having some of the hardest moments of your life during vet school due to the academic rigor, isolation from friends and family who predate your veterinary school admission, and constant pressure. At the end of the day your spouse is who keeps you smiling through it all. But understand that they are going through hardships too and constantly supporting you, so always give your support back.
It may seem difficult to prioritize and set aside the time for a partner/spouse during vet school at first, but you quickly realize that this person is going to be there with you every step of the way and be there for you when you need support most. From when you get your acceptance letter, Aggie ring, and white coat, to when you’re feeling burnt out and defeated, your better half will always be there cheering you on.
In less than two months, the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Doctor of Veterinary Medicine class of 2025 will begin their clinical rotations at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital! This is a very exciting time for third-year veterinary students as we get closer and closer to finishing the classroom portion of the curriculum and start applying our knowledge to real-world situations.
Last fall, in November of the third year of our DVM studies, we selected which clinical track we wanted to participate in for fourth year, which decides the types of two-week rotations we take during our final year. We were able to choose between small animal, mixed animal, equine, production animal, as well as alternative. I chose the small animal track.
Throughout our fourth year we are also allowed time off-campus for externships. Externships are a great way to visit prospective clinics where we may want to apply after graduation or gain unique clinical experiences. For example, I have an interest in small exotics and have decided to visit small animal and exotic animal veterinary clinics for my upcoming externships.
At the beginning of the spring semester, we received our fourth-year clinical schedules. It’s an exciting time to find out which rotation will be your first, as well as comparing with friends to see whom you will be working with throughout fourth year. As a part of the spring semester leading up to clinics, we are also enrolled in a course called Clinical Experience. This class allows us to get familiar with the many moving parts of our clinical year so that we’re better prepared when we hit the clinic floor!
Most recently, on Saturday March 23, the class of 2025 received their white coats, signifying our transition into our clinical year. The ceremony was such a wonderful and happy time as everyone’s loved ones came to cheer us on.
I’m excited to see what the future holds!
By Marco R. ’25, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student
With over 25 organizations specifically available for veterinary students, there is a place for you thanks to the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) at Texas A&M University.
SAVMA is an umbrella organization that supports smaller student organizations related to all aspects of the veterinary profession, ranging from radiology to equine medicine to business and more, making it easy to get involved with all kinds of veterinary specialties. SAVMA also offers financial resources to students through awards and scholarships.
Growing up, I showed pigs through FFA. This activity ignited a passion for caring for pigs and other animals.
During my undergrad program here at Texas A&M, I continued to develop that passion through my Animal Science major and time spent working at veterinary clinics. So, when I was accepted to the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, I knew I wanted to work with pigs and other food animal species as a mixed animal veterinarian.
During my first year of vet school, I joined Swine Vets, a student chapter of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, and have held a member position and two officer positions, including secretary and vice president.
During my time in Swine Vets, I have helped organize lunch meetings on topics ranging from “Pet Pig Medicine” to “Being a Swine Veterinarian in Industry.” Additionally, Swine Vets is part of the Food Animal Wetlab in the Spring, providing students with hands-on opportunities to work with pigs.
Getting involved in student veterinary organizations provides opportunities for leadership and learning more about aspects of veterinary medicine that specifically interest you!
One thing that I truly enjoy is traveling. I have had the opportunity to travel to many countries and it is something that I am very passionate about. Traveling to different places allows you to understand different cultures, different people, and different ways of doing things compared to your everyday life. There is so much to learn from people of different backgrounds, which is why when I learned that there are study abroad opportunities for veterinary students, I knew I had to go on one.
During the summer after my first year of vet school, I had the opportunity to go on a study abroad trip to Italy. Every year, Dr. Christine Budke, one of the public health and epidemiology veterinary professors, coordinates a study abroad trip with the veterinary school in Padova, Italy, during the summer — typically in June.
During this trip, I had the opportunity to stay with Italian veterinary students for a week and attend lectures at their school. The first week was online through Zoom and the second week was in-person learning in Italy.
While we were in Italy, we attended lectures in both the morning and afternoon with the Italian veterinary students and also did various labs with them. For example, we had one lab where we tested mozzarella cheese to see if it is, in fact, made from 100% buffalo milk, as some companies mix in other milks because it is cheaper. We also got to do a chicken necropsy in their anatomy lab. In addition, we went on field trips, touring a chicken farm and a seafood packaging plant in Venice; on the last day, we were even able to tour a zoo in Italy.
This trip allowed me to learn not only about veterinary topics such as public health and food safety, but it also allowed me to learn how other veterinary schools work and it helped me learn about an entirely new culture. I was able to make lifelong friendships with people halfway around the world whom I still talk to today.
The VMBS also offers other study abroad trips for veterinary students. For example, every summer there are two different trips to South Africa that veterinary students are invited to attend, and I have heard great things about those from other vet students. Studying abroad is truly a life-changing experience. If the cost is a deterrent for you, there are scholarships available to help offset the expense of travel. For example, everyone who went on the Italy study abroad trip received a scholarship specifically to go on the trip. If you ever have the opportunity to go on a study abroad trip while in veterinary school, I highly encourage you to do it.
