Vet School Interview Prep

Tell us about yourself.

Hi, I’m Linsey, a senior Animal Sciences major at the University of Maryland. I’ve lived in rural Southern Maryland for most of my life. I’m passionate about veterinary medicine because I love the combination of science, health communication, problem-solving, and supporting both animals and the people who care for them.

Over the past few years, I’ve worked as a veterinary assistant at Tidewater Veterinary Hospital, led student advocacy work through the SGA, RHA, and Preventing Sexual Assault, helped my community through service work with College Park Scholars and Sigma Alpha, and gained hands-on experience with animal health, communication, and teamwork. I’ve also learned a lot about resilience and adaptability from balancing academics, leadership, and personal health challenges. I’m excited for the opportunity to grow in a professional environment where collaboration, compassion, and evidence-based care are valued, and I believe that this school is the perfect fit.

Describe a time you failed at something and what did you learn.

During my freshman year at UMD, I was struggling with the transition from high school to college and I was also dealing with undiagnosed chronic illness that impacted my academic performance. I failed a test which was discouraging and made me question my abilities. Following a death in the family, I withdrew from the course out of fear of future failure. However, I learned the importance of seeking help and utilizing resources available to me, such as counseling and academic support, which ultimately improved my resilience and coping strategies for future challenges. I learned that failure is a part of growing as a human being, that adaptability is a necessary trait, and it can provide valuable lessons if we approach it with a positive mindset.

Discuss when you had a conflict with someone and how you handled it.

When I was the Director of Academic Affairs within SGA, I had a disagreement with a committee member about resource allocation for events. I referred to our bylaws about mitigating internal conflict, and took the discussion to heart. When reflecting on it afterwards, I realized we had the same end goal in mind, we just had different steps on how to get there. I approached the situation by initiating a calm discussion to understand their perspective, which led us to collaborate on a more effective solution for future events. This taught me the importance of open communication and compromise, and that disagreement can be very constructive if approached with respect and understanding.

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