Externships are an important extension of a veterinary education. They enable students to reinforce and further their education and gain proficiency through hands-on, real-world experiences. Externships allow students to have experiences, which are not available in most veterinary teaching hospitals. This allows students to broaden their horizons and may lead to a specialty career path. Externships also provide many students with networking contacts and, in many cases, lead to permanent jobs.
Locating an externship that is right for you will take some effort. To date, there is no national database for veterinary externships or mentorships. Listed below are some organizations and educational institutions, which provide, or list externships. These are only a few of the possibilities that exist. We recommend that you begin your own externship search. You may even formulate your own externship opportunity.
Externship Search tips
- Discuss externships with professors and staff members. They may be able to direct you to appropriate contacts.
- Contact your school or college's Student Affairs Office. Many of the offices maintain a list of externships. Do not overlook Student Affairs!
- Investigate associations, such as the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, to see if they have formal externships. Look in the student sections.
- Review lists from other veterinary colleges and schools. Many of these lists are on-line.
- Contact your state veterinary medical association - some maintain a list of practitioners who welcome externs.
- Network, network, network!
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