The Veterinary and Animal Sciences Department offers many opportunities for students to get involved in research, internships, and practica, and to make connections for career opportunities. Please use the following links to learn more.
The Veterinary and Animal Sciences Department offers many opportunities for students to make connections for career opportunities.
VASCI majors go into variety of diverse occupations that include technicians in the biotechnology field, veterinarians, veterinary assistants and technicians, equitation instructors, stable managers, teachers, extension agents, agribusiness sales and service, government agencies, and farming.
Faculty mentors in Veterinary and Animal Sciences can provide students with detailed information about the field of study, guidance around which concentrations or coursework will help students reach educational and/or professional goals, recommendations about how to get involved in research, and more.
The CNS career advising team helps students learn about field experience opportunities (internships, co-ops, research, and more) and strategies to increase their visible value to employers well before they graduate. Career advisors offer both remote and in-person career advising appointments. Students are encouraged to meet with them sooner rather than later, so they can help students figure out next steps and work with them to bring out their skills and experiences to demonstrate to employers.
- Career Advising appointments are offered virtually and in person:
- Make an appointment in Handshake to meet 1:1 with a professional career advisor
- Walk in to our weekly Career Peer Advisor drop-in hours. No appointment is necessary! Hours change every semester so check Handshake or our Career Center website for up-to-date details.
- Check our CNS Database of Internships and Research to get ideas on where to do an internship from where your fellow VASCI students have interned before.
- Big Interview – will teach you how to answer interview questions, and allow you to practice a video interview. You can also make an appointment with a career advisor to do a mock interview.
- Thinking about Veterinary or other graduate school?
- The Career Center can help you with your personal statements. Make an appointment in Handshake to talk to a Career Advisor about it.
- Faculty members are also very interested in your career success and are willing to write letters of recommendation for students they know from class or advising. In recent years 25–35% of our graduates have entered veterinary, graduate or professional schools.
- Not sure where to start? Make an appointment with a career advisor in Handshake, so the CNS Career Center can help you figure out the next steps.
Connect with an Alumni Advisor. UMass Alumni Advisors program is a quick and easy online platform that facilitates one-to-one career conversations. Senior Medical Science Liaison Niccole Larsen ’01 imparts her knowledge of biotech and pharmaceutical research as an Alumni Advisor. As an expert in her field who understands the value of mentorship, Larsen states, “One of the things I talk about when I mentor is the importance of showcasing the value you bring to a position and how other people can build a relationship with you based on that. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people who may be in a position that you might want and ask for an informational interview. Many people think that’s really forward, but you need to take ownership of your career path, and that’s the right way to do it.”
Recommended Career Search Engines
Pawsibilities Vet Med Network - It’s never too early (or too late) to expand your professional network! The Pawsibilities Vet Med Network is specifically geared towards mentoring young professionals interested in veterinary medicine. This network embraces all the different facets of the profession and anyone with an interest in veterinary medicine can join. This includes pre-vet, animal science, vet tech, and veterinary students. The network is a great way to connect with students and professionals from all over the United States and offers some great career-building webinars and mentorship programs. You just have to be 18+ years of age and complete a short orientation and training session before gaining access to the networking website. The website’s discussion forum is very engaging and has “facebook-like” features. The network is especially interested in connecting individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and supporting them with professional opportunities while providing mentorship within the field.