Veterinary School Mock Interview
Master 54 Veterinary School interview questions covering clinical experience, animal ethics, and your commitment to veterinary medicine.
Question 15 of 54
Why do you think a career in veterinary medicine is for you? Do you have any other career aspirations if you are not accepted into veterinary school?
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Example Answer
Community Answers
Ryan Brown created and launched MockQuestions in 2008.
When talking about why you think a career in veterinary medicine is for you, it is okay to talk about how you have a keen interest in the profession and this is a great way to get the experience you need. Simply saying that you like animals is not going to impress the interviewer because it will automatically be assumed that if you are entering this field that you like animals. Be specific and honest with your response. The interviewer also wants to challenge your commitment to the career, so when answering the second part of the question consider fully other options relevant to the profession which could offer an alternative route to Veterinary School.
Ryan Brown created and launched MockQuestions in 2008.
"I believe pursuing a career in Veterinary Medicine is right for me as I have ambitions to follow in the footsteps of my family, and continue the legacy they have created. I already have experience, which I have gained throughout my education and want to continue to learn and educate myself on the industry. Whilst I believe I will continue to apply to Veterinary School until I am successful if I had to choose an alternative career it would still be working with animals, but more than likely down a zoological route"
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Anonymous Answer
I can say confidently that I believe a career in veterinary medicine is the right path for me, and I also believe that I will continue to apply to veterinary school until I am successful in doing so. However, if I had to choose another career, I would still love to work with animals. I want to be somehow involved in conservation. In addition to working in conservation, I have a considerable interest in writing music, even though this is entirely different than working with animals.
Rachelle's Feedback
Writing music is a very interesting inclusion, so I recommend being a touch more specific if you are going to include this. If you want to focus more on conservation, it's the same recommendation. Perhaps you could speak about a specific species or region that is of interest to you? Or maybe even a particular organization that resonates well with you.
Anonymous Answer
I feel Veterinary Medicine is the ideal career for me, as it involves being sociable and communicating with a team and the public, which I regularly do through my job and enjoy. It is an active job, with each day presenting new challenges from which I can broaden my knowledge. It opens many doors, allowing me to work anywhere in the world and specialize in a wide range of aspects. I believe no animal should suffer, so I would feel privileged to be able to improve animal lives each day. If I am not accepted this year, I will reapply next year after gaining more work experience.
Rachelle's Feedback
Nice edits - this additional comment makes sure that your passion for animal life shines through.
Anonymous Answer
Animal suffering is abundant in this world, and I want to play a part in minimizing the pain inflicted on animals by our own species. I am certain that Veterinary Medicine is the career for me, so if I am not accepted this year, I will re-apply next year. If I am unsuccessful both years, then I will consider other options that are related to veterinary medicine, such as Zoology or Bioveterinary Science.
Rachelle's Feedback
It's apparent that you have a genuine desire to help animals, and this desire shines through in the fact that you would pursue other related options if veterinarian school were not in the cards for you. You show great dedication.
Anonymous Answer
I think I have the experience and mindset to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. I think it is a career I would really enjoy as it is extremely rewarding, varied and I want a career where I can work with animals and humans. If I am not accepted into vet school, my backup is to complete a degree in biochemistry then move onto veterinary medicine postgraduate. However, if I had to choose another career, I would probably go into animal conservation.
Rachelle's Feedback
Great! It sounds as though all of your goals and interests align, which the interviewer will be happy to see.
Anonymous Answer
A Vet's career is for me because of the many aspects involved, including interaction with people, problem-solving, and the scientific basis. However, if I had to do something else, I would like to do something similar and maybe work in conservation here or abroad.
Rachelle's Feedback
A career in conservation would be exciting as well. It sounds like you have many great opportunities ahead of you that align with your focus on veterinary medicine.
Anonymous Answer
This career is a lifestyle choice and requires a huge commitment. I am extremely committed snd dedicated to every task I undertake and I always complete a job to the best of my ability. I have always had a natural affinity with animals and a passion to improve their welfare after seeing first hand how poorly animals can be treated across the world. My work experience has strengthened my desire to be a vet as I have seen how unpredictable the job can be, and I find that daily challenges like this would be very stimulating as I love to solve problems. I have also been part of some fieldwork that has manifested the prospect of a career in research that I never previously considered. As a vet, you are given the chance to play many roles as you are working with multiple species of animals, working with owners that may require emotional support and running a business at the same time and for me, this is hugely exciting.
Rachelle's Feedback
I like that you mention being a veterinarian as a lifestyle choice. It's very true, and you mention some crucial points. A couple of suggestions to strengthen your answer:
1) At the end, you move from 'I' to 'You' language. Try to keep this as 'I/Me/My' so that your answer remains personalized to you.
2) Your answer to the second phase of the question feels buried - I have offered a revision below.
"This career is a lifestyle choice and requires a huge commitment. I am extremely committed and dedicated to every task I undertake, and I always complete a job to the best of my ability. I have a natural affinity with animals and, after seeing firsthand how poorly animals can be treated across the world, I developed a deep passion for improving animal welfare. My work experience has strengthened my desire to be a vet as I have seen how unpredictable the job can be. I believe that the daily challenges of a vet would be very stimulating as I love to solve problems...(such as?). As a vet, I will be given a chance to play many roles as I work with multiple species of animals, owners that may require emotional support while running a business simultaneously. If I were not accepted into Veterinary school, I would consider moving into a career in research. I have participated in some fieldwork which has manifested the prospect of a career in research which I never previously considered..(discuss this potential path with a touch more detail)."
Anonymous Answer
I have the necessary motivation to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. I love the opportunity of problem solving it brings; I think that it is such an exciting time to be entering the veterinary medicine industry and the contribution they can give to one health, which is of paramount importance in today's society, as shown by COVID 19 emerging at a human-animal-environment interface. I want to dedicate the rest of my life to the human animal bond. For that reason, if I'm not accepted to Vet school, I will apply again.
Rachelle's Feedback
You have many excellent reasons to pursue a veterinary medicine career, and your determination certainly shines through. I recommend carving out some more concrete details to match the statements you make. I've provided a starter for you below. You'll see that I mentioned connecting your statements to your 'why.' This is in reference to Simon Sinek's method of 'Start With Why' which you may want to research to give you an edge :)
"I have the necessary motivation to pursue a career in veterinary medicine (how does this motivation connect to your 'why'). I love the opportunity to solve problems, and veterinary medicine brings a great deal of problem-solving. It is an exciting time to enter the veterinary medicine industry, as we have seen with the introduction of COVID-19 and the growing awareness of the human-animal-environment interface. I look forward to the contribution that I can provide as I dedicate my life to studying the human-animal bond and putting my knowledge into practice. If I am not accepted to veterinary school, I will apply again (in what measurable ways would you work to strengthen your application for the following cycle?)."
Anonymous Answer
A career in veterinary medicine is for me because it will allow me to work with animals and with a team of staff and clients. Practicing veterinary medicine will provide you with new challenges each day, keeping you always on your toes and solving problems. No animal will present the exact same way. It is this variety that I enjoy most. Working with animals to support the idea of One Health is a critical aspect of society, and I will feel privileged to have a part in that. If I am not accepted into Veterinary School, I plan to discuss it with the admissions office, determine how I can strengthen my application, and reapply next year.
Marcie's Feedback
Good answer! You mentioned previously that working with the owners in addition to the animals was the most appealing aspect of veterinary medicine for you. Here you state that variety is what you will enjoy most. Perhaps consider rephrasing your answer a bit to reflect that both working with the staff/clients and the variety of the work itself interest you. You might also state clearly that you enjoy challenging work; you bring this up as something that veterinarians encounter, but you might want to explain that you enjoy it personally.
There are several reasons why I believe that a career in veterinary medicine is right for me. As I mentioned before, I look forward to helping and working with not only the animals but also their owners, in addition to the staff and my peers. I love animals, but I also love people! I also know that practicing veterinary medicine will be full of daily challenges because every animal presents differently. This variety and kind of challenging work is exactly what I relish and want to have in my career because I'm the type of person who thrives in a fast-paced and demanding environment. I'd also feel privileged to be a part of supporting One Health because I personally believe that it is a critical aspect of society. Finally, I am not looking to be anything else outside of a veterinarian, so if I don't get accepted into veterinary school this time around, I will talk to the admissions office, strengthen my application, and reapply again next year.
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