Best Advice Essay Contest (Again)

Here's the submission from the runner-up in the SAVMA Education, Licensure and Professional Development Committee's Best Advice Essay Contest. This is some good advice to remember as February 14th is coming up soon.

“Don’t date any professors-or clinicians-or residents-or interns-or classmates”

By: Jacqueline Devoto

University of Tennessee, Class of 2013

Prior to beginning veterinary school, I worked at an eight doctor small animal practice in west Tennessee. Like most southern veterinarians—and I can say this because I’m an aspiring-veterinarian from the south—each one thought their way was the right way and wanted to everyone to hear about it. Don’t misunderstand me—they are an amazing team who compliment each other superbly, each with their own, unique style and methodology. However, one piece of advice I received was unanimous across the board, which truly was a miracle in itself; and this is why I find it necessary to share it with you all today.

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Best Advice Essay Contest Winner

Earlier this year SAVMA's Education, Licensure and Professional Development Committee held a contest where you sent in the best advice you have received on how to get through vet school. Below we have the entry by the winner of the contest. Just remember the advice she received as the first round of spring midterms comes around the corner.

"Your Career is Not Your Life"

By: Heather Burrowes

Cornell University, Class of 2012

I clearly remember that summer before my senior year of college—peak vet school application season. I was working in overdrive, trying desperately to impress admissions committees in the final stretch before applications were due. By day I spent hours writing essays and collecting transcripts; by night I immersed myself in veterinary life, moonlighting as an assistant at a nearby emergency clinic. I was convinced that there was some magic formula to get into vet school and I was going to ensure that every variable reached its maximum potential before plugging it in to the great VMCAS application machine.

Weeks went by and I finally got around to requesting the all-important Letters of Recommendation from assorted doctors and professors. Signed, sealed and shipped off to the appropriate address, most of the letters were fairly straightforward, except for one.

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Economic Issues Essay Contest

Here's yet another shot at some free money! 

Economics are a part of our daily lives, involving everything from taking out loans to deciding whether we want to buy a $2 soda or a $3 piece of pizza.  Economics will also play a part in our professional lives when determining treatment plans, business plans, and more! 

Your friendly SAVMA Economics and Professional Development Committee wants to hear from you!

What:  An essay, 1000 words or less, describing an economic issue affecting veterinary students and/or the veterinary profession as a whole.  Be sure to include at least one idea regarding how the issue may be confronted. 

For:  A chance to win one of the $250 prizes!!  The top two essays will receive $250.  While writing your essay, you can also think of the many economic opportunities you could apply that to!

Who to send to: SAVMA Economics and Personal Development Committee savma.epdc@gmail.com

Deadline:  December 1^st, 2010

Education and Professional Development Fall Grant

Interested in an aspect of veterinary medicine not addressed in your school’s veterinary curriculum? Looking for funding for a unique wet lab or lecture topic?

The Education and Professional Development Committee is offering a grant to veterinary student organizations to provide funding for wet labs or lectures supplementing their college’s curriculum.  Our vision for this grant is for student organizations or clubs to design either a lecture and/or wet lab for a topic to which students would not otherwise be exposed.  Three $250 dollar grants will be offered, and winners will be chosen by the committee in mid November.

All submissions can be for an upcoming event or for reimbursement of the event, depending on the date of the proposed event. Applications must be submitted by a student who is a member in good standing with SAVMA.

Please stay within the word limits that are imposed and provide all required information.  Events must not provide alcohol at the events and funding must not be used for gifts to speakers.  Applications that fail to stay within these limits or to provide all required information will NOT be considered for funding at this time. Grant Application due by: Monday, November 1^st, 2010.

The application should include: Student Group Name, Veterinary School, Student Contact Name, Contact E-mail Address, Name of Event, Date of Event, Estimated Number of Students Attending, Description of Event (Limit 150 words), Reason for Request (Please specifically state how this topic is not addressed in your current curriculum, Limit 100 words), Itemized Budget for Event (Please disclose funding already received) 

Winners of this grant must acknowledge SAVMA and the Education and Licensure Grant at the event, in addition to submitting a quick statement for The Vet Gazette about the event and how the grant assisted your event.

Best Advice Essay Contest

Here's a shot at some free money and a chance to put your thoughts into words. SAVMA's Education and Professional Development Committee presents the Best Advice Essay Contest 2010.

The question is: "What is the best piece of advice you have gathered from a mentor/teacher for getting through veterinary school, the profession, or clinics and why?"

These essays should be no longer than 500 words and we are looking for:
- a brief synopsis of when and how the advice was given
- who gave you the advice
- how it has affected you in your veterinary career

In addition, please provide us with a title that either summarizes the advice or is the advice itself.

The winner will receive $100 and the runner-up will receive $50. Your submission will also be published here on The Vet Gazette. 

Best Advice Essays should be submitted electronically to joannemh@vt.edu by Monday, October 25^th, 2010.  Submissions will be reviewed by the EPDC and announced before the end of the fall semester.

Please be sure to include you name, email address, and school on your submission, and have “EPDC Best Advice” in the subject heading.

Any questions can be directed to joannemh@vt.edu.

Thanks for participating!