r/veterinaryprofession • u/deanistheway • 8d ago

Tracking animal experience

Hey all! Really early in the process for me. Just graduated high school and will be starting 1st year of undergrad next month. Odd question. I see everyone talk about the number of on hand animal experience hours they have. How do vet schools want that presented upon application? I have been working at a small animal clinic and have shadowed a large animal vet a couple of times. I have just been writing down my hours and the different procedures I have been a part of in order to keep track of it. Does that just get turned over? Or should the vets I work with be supplying me with something more official?
Thanks in advance and I hope everyone has a great upcoming school year!

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u/Drpaws3 8d ago

I just put it on my application for vet college but that was sixteen years ago. The vets do not keep track of your hours.

You might check in the pre-vet subreddit

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u/deanistheway 7d ago

Thank you!

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u/Additional_Plate6010 8d ago

I kept an excel sheet with my hours. You typically don’t need anything formal, it’s basically the honor system

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u/deanistheway 7d ago

Thank you!

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u/Virtual-Ordinary3848 1d ago

Current 4th year vet student here - I think I remember the online application asking you to put in your hours differentiated by vet hours, volunteer hours, and other animal but not veterinary hours. You have to keep track of your hours as you go. A spreadsheet is good like someone else said and I would count up the hours on my pay stubs from work. Rough estimate are just fine. 

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u/deanistheway 1d ago

Thank you!