I’m on the right path
“I enjoy RUSVM because I absolutely knew I would. I had many alumni connections that told me about what a wonderful program Ross Vet had. I also know that Ross students are some of the coolest people you will ever meet. They are resilient, resourceful, independent, encouraging, and dedicated, and it is so motivating to be in an environment where everyone shares the same goals. We are all a little bit of misfits, each of us has a unique story of how we all got here, and our diverse backgrounds make for a really interesting and stimulating learning environment.”
My journey before Ross Vet
Before I applied to Ross Vet, I was working as a territory manager for a pet food company during the week and as a licensed veterinary technician on weekends. I kept my technician job while working in corporate America to keep up my skills, but being a technician slowly became my favorite part of the week.
During my corporate work life, my manager asked what I wanted to do at the company going forward. I thought about it long and hard, and becoming a DVM had been a goal of mine since I was a little girl. But that meant quitting my job and moving!
I built up the courage to take some prerequisite classes online and submitted my application, which turned out to be the best decision I have ever made, and I do feel like I am on the right path in life.
My favorite course in the program
My favorite course so far has been Pathology I. It was a course where I started to feel like a doctor a little bit and have gotten the hang of some pretty complicated things like cancer and dermatology. It’s a course that really opened us up to the diagnostic process for the first time and I can't wait for more! Oh, and I also did an autopsy!
My involvement in clubs on campus
- I am currently a member of the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) and I cannot recommend it enough to everyone. VBMA will teach you about various aspects of the business of veterinary medicine, how to interview well, how to search for jobs, salary negotiation, malpractice insurance, and so much more! These are so important to understanding the industry and learning to be successful in it!
- I am an Orientation Leader! I love showing new students around the island and getting them set up to be the best doctors they can be.
- I was a licensed veterinary technician for the Feral Cat Project (FCP) in my second semester and helped spay and neuter feral cats on the island. My favorite spot on the island My favorite spot on the island is this little abandoned church on the backside of the island with a little abandoned cemetery and a huge palm tree. It is just beautiful.
Gillian’s tips to excel in the DVM program
- Because Ross Vet is so accelerated, do not get behind! I do take one day off where I do absolutely nothing to keep me sane. It is also great to get help early and often!
- Remember that Ross Vet picked you over someone else to be here and you should work hard to be the best vet you can be.
- Visit the Student Success Center, go to your TA sessions if you need extra help, see your professors, or get a tutor. There are so many friendly and non-judgmental people here to help you succeed.
- As a vet student, realize that the world is watching you. So many people are watching to see how you're doing and what you're doing- be a role model for little girls like you to look up to.
Gillian Sprowls is from Buffalo, New York. After graduating, she plans on becoming a small animal general practitioner and future clinic owner, hopefully, in Alaska.
