My Take Tuesday: The Interview

The day was February 14, 2005. I sat nervously in the reception area of Bustad Hall. In front of me was a paper with an essay question, the question dealt with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and its implications on the current cattle market. My understanding of the disease at the time was very limited. I began my essay talking about the devastating effect that mad cow disease had on beef exports across the globe.

Upon completion of my essay, I walked down the hall to a conference room. I sat at a table and a panel of 4 people then interviewed me for a spot in the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine class of 2009.

The odds were stacked against me. I was applying as a non-resident. Statistically, my chances of being accepted were only around 7%. My palms were sweating as the questions came. First, we talked about my mediocre grades in Chemistry. After struggling with the first semester of Organic Chemistry, I repeated the class with much better results. I discussed the difficulty of Ty Redd’s O-Chem class and the hundreds of hours I spent studying and reviewing the material. A grade of a B in this class was a huge relief for me. Although it fell short of an elusive A, I was confident that this arduous class had prepared me for the rigorous academic curriculum encountered during veterinary school. I was confident that Southern Utah University had prepared me well for professional school.

Questions followed about current events, ethical situations, animal welfare and why I wanted to be a veterinarian.

I remember leaving the interview relieved it was over, but very much unsure of my performance.

Two weeks later, I received a call from the associate dean of the veterinary school at WSU. He extended to me an offer of admission to veterinary school. I remember the excitement I felt after hanging up the phone. I cried when I called home to tell my family the good news. So much hard work and time had gone into this.

Little did I know that veterinary school would prove to be more challenging than I had ever anticipated. The next 4 years were filled with successes and failures, triumphs and defeat. But such is life. Nothing of significance comes without hard work and the presentation of incommodious circumstances. In the end, I successfully completed the program and received my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

I remember the day of my interview so well. In fact, the feelings of anxiety crept back to me during the three years I spent serving on the admissions committee for the School of Veterinary Medicine at Utah State University. During my time on this committee, I was privileged to conduct the interviews of prospective veterinary students. Over two long days, we met with each candidate and asked questions very similar to the ones I was asked during my interview. I know the feeling they felt must have paralleled my own as I sat in their seat many years ago.

This profession contains some of the finest people I have ever met. We are a group of very diverse backgrounds and interests, united with the commonality of a love for medicine, surgery, animals and communication with their owners.

Looking back, I cannot imagine being anything other than a veterinarian. I love what I do.

And That is My Take.

N. Isaac Bott, DVM