I have been looking at summer programmes to advance my animal experiences and found Tuft’s Adventures in Veterinary Medicine programme. I think their Cummings School of Vet Med is generally well-regarded and I’m also interested in the environment there, so I decided to just give it a try.
The programme components include lectures on specialities on Vet Med, field trips and clinical skills, medical case studies, and career awareness.
Pre-College Programs of Tufts University: Adventures in Veterinary Medicine
A 1000-character maximum short essay on my academic and volunteering history, as well as my interest in the programme is required:
I have always loved science, particularly biology and took IB higher level Biology and Chemistry. I love animals and volunteered in 2021 with Taiwan’s Taipei City Protection Office, where I organised paperwork and gave the animals food, water, and medicine. In 2022, I walked aged and/or disabled dogs, brushed their teeth, and bathed them at a local animal shelter and externed at Cardiospecial Veterinary Hospital, where I observed vets treating animals.
I am interested in the Adventures in Veterinary Medicine programme as it is engaging and provides an insight into the veterinary profession. I particularly like “Medical Case Studies” where I can apply abstract knowledge to real-life cases,“Career Awareness” to understand the career path for vets and “Clinical Skills” in handling large animals and learning about diagnostic tools.
In attending the summer programme, I hope to delve into my long-held passion in biology and explore my interest in veterinary medicine and its career paths.
Then I decided also to include some of my volunteering experiences in a seperate short essay:
Volunteering starting in 2022 at a Taiwan local animal shelter has greatly supported my personal growth, particularly in the areas of empathy and compassion.
The shelter I worked for exclusively takes in older and/or disabled dogs and cats found on the streets. Most of them have contracted diseases or are wounded, and need to take medication regularly. A miniature Pinscher named Lucy is partially blind in both eyes and had undergone devocalisation surgery when she was younger. I heard from other volunteers that she was rescued from a puppy mill, where she was subjected to physical abuse and kept under cruel conditions to be bred over and over. This resulted in her nervous and anxious temperament–-it is very difficult to get within close distance of her as she backs away quickly when she senses any moving shadow. I also walked a pug with one bulging and blood-shot eye resulting from his past owner’s severe beating, but still cheerful and friendly to all humans and animals.
Humans and dogs are alike–both ask for cuddles and love; but humans are often the main cause for dogs’ suffering. Thus I have grown my empathy and compassion for animals and am eager to support and find them a loving home.
I applied in the early round and was admitted a week ago. I am so looking forward to attending this course and will try to share everything I’ve learnt on here in future!
