If you didn’t already know, getting accepted into a veterinary medicine program in Canada is tough. It all starts at the application process. Students interested in pursuing a post-grad in vet med can only apply to one Canadian school, and it must also be located within their region.

With slim pickings back home, Canadian students are looking at their options abroad. Like medical school, the Caribbean offers many veterinary opportunities where students can receive in-class learning in the tropics, and perform their clinical studies closer to home in one of the affiliated North American institutions.

Studying in sunny St. Kitts

At the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, students take on 10-semester program.

“All of the pre-clinical curriculum is done in the first seven semesters on the island, and then they move into their actual clinical year,” says Tom Harkness, director of admissions for Canada and international. “The first seven semesters prepares them for their final clinical year. It’s a very hands-on approach to learning.”

The same as any Canadian post-secondary institution, prerequisites are required to apply to schools in the Caribbean. What differs, however, is Ross University’s more holistic approach. “Because it’s so competitive, the Canadian vet schools can just take the top one per cent off the application pool because that’s just the easiest way to go through the applications,” explains Harkness.

But at Ross, every application is looked at. “We’re not looking for a cookie-cutter class because we want to have diversity and people from all backgrounds and experiences.”

To appeal to Canadian students, Ross University is very active in promoting to the market here at home. Whether it’s through grad fairs, transit ads, or radio ads, Harkness says they’re always looking to inform wider audiences and answer any questions about Ross. “I work with all of the pre-vet clubs across Canada. A lot of universities have very active pre-vet clubs, and I do campus presentations every year with the vet clubs to talk about Ross University.”

Learning on the Cayman Islands

With the competition to get admitted into a school here at home, it comes as no surprise that Canadians represent roughly 20 per cent of students at St. Matthew’s University. Much like Ross University, the School of Veterinary Medicine at St. Matthew’s University offers both in-class and clinical components in its program.

To ease students into the clinical portion of the program, Karen Rosenthal, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, ensures that all are well equipped with the basic skills needed to transition confidently. “For some students, the transition is very easy because they may have been doing it all their life, but for some students it might be difficult in terms of what they’re supposed to do.”

And as a graduate of St. Matthew’s University, there’s a plethora of career paths to follow. “I think when most people think of veterinarians they think of the poodle doctors,” says Rosenthal, adding that students have gone on to open up their own practices or take on residencies. “There are so many other tracks people go on and students have gone in all different directions.”

Photo: Jevtic/Thinkstock