This week, I returned to my old school to talk to some A-level students about university life.
During the question and answer session, fellow ex-students and I were asked the reasons why we chose our respective universities. We discussed the criteria we considered before coming to our individual conclusions, such as:
- accommodation
- city versus rural location
- nightlife
- extra-curricular activities and sports
- course differences
Select few
A much limited choice of universities exists for prospective vet students than for those wishing to study other, less vocational subjects.
When I applied, I had eight to choose from (seven if you discounted Dublin – which I did, as the student finance situation would have become complicated), which, in some ways, helped a lot. For some subjects, more than 100 universities could have offered almost the same course – how other people narrow that down is incredible.
Based on the feel I got from open days and the distance from home (I couldn’t have justified moving out if I had have gone to Nottingham), I found it relatively straightforward to narrow the schools down to the four you are allowed to apply to.
As for picking one university over the others, I wasn’t even planning on visiting Glasgow. But, as luck would have it, the open day was the day before Edinburgh’s – and since I was going all the way to Scotland, I tied both into the same trip.
Now, having had the best five years in Glasgow, I’m so glad I did.
People make Glasgow
On the open day, the University of Glasgow just had something about it the others didn’t – although the fact its main building is basically Hogwarts may have influenced that.
In all honesty though, for fear of sounding cliché and stealing the city’s slogan, I think it genuinely was the people who made Glasgow. Unlike the other universities I visited, the students showing us around seemed to really love their university and the city, and had a true passion about them.
After living there myself, I wholeheartedly understand why and now share the same enthusiasm. Should anyone ask which vet school to go to, or indeed which university for any other course, I would urge them to strongly consider Glasgow.
Unfortunately, my school in the heart of the midlands only seems to send a couple of students a year north of the border and I doubt that will change, despite my insistence the five-and-a-half hour drive really isn’t that bad.
Starting point
Being back at my old school seemed a little weird, as it’s been so long since I was making these decisions myself, mid A-levels.
At times it seemed impossible, with some people claiming I’d never do it. Even a certain four-legged creature tried its damned hardest to thwart my route to vet school.
However, from accepting my place at Glasgow from a hospital bed and having to defer it for a year to getting back on a horse again, I proved them all wrong and made it in the end.
Journey’s end…
Graduation was such an incredible day and meant, for many of us, we had achieved something we had dreamed of since childhood. Every person in my year has had a different yet similar journey, against the odds, and overcame all the challenges a veterinary degree presents.
Actual blood, sweat and tears – among various other splatterings of bodily fluids – have gone into the past five years and we managed to come out the other side somewhat sleep deprived, but alive.
I felt so proud of everyone after we had said our oath and the RCVS president congratulated us with the words we had waited so long to hear: “Well done, you’re now vets!”
On one of my open days, all those years ago, I remember a veterinary student saying “you’ll get into the vet school that suits you” – and I couldn’t agree more.
We will always love you, Glasgow!
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