This blog post analyzes the core elements of the ideal candidate profile preferred by veterinary schools and explains, through specific strategies and examples, how to effectively showcase these qualities in your statement of purpose.
Writing about academic experiences and reflections
“Mastering high school grades and the college entrance exam through strategic study methods”
During high school, I initially aimed for medical school but later shifted my goal to veterinary medicine. This change stemmed from my experience caring for my dog during its hospitalization, which sparked my fascination with the profession of being a doctor for animals. After setting this dream, I focused on building my math skills at school to prepare for the six-year veterinary program. I particularly prioritized biology among science subjects to gain extensive knowledge about animals and living organisms.
I established both long-term and short-term goals for university admission. Long-term, I aimed for veterinary medicine; short-term, I devised strategies to achieve high CSAT scores. I focused on universities offering specialized major laboratories and intensive research programs, preparing to enter a department where I could deeply study my area of interest: veterinary physiology. When selecting CSAT subjects, I chose Biology and Chemistry from the Science Inquiry category to ensure my studies aligned with my major.
Studying science while reading foundational texts like ‘History of Veterinary Medicine’ and ‘Introduction to Veterinary Medicine’ made understanding theories quicker. The many connections between subjects made studying enjoyable. Unlike when I lacked specific goals, studying with a long-term objective made the science subjects feel like my major, fostering genuine affection. What started as mere ‘exams’ transformed into enjoyable ‘practice,’ leading to consistently stable top-tier scores on mock exams.
Naturally, focusing primarily on Chemistry and Biology within the science subjects meant I sometimes neglected other school subjects like Physics or Earth Science. To address this, I set aside specific time to manage my grades in subjects I found less interesting. For example, if I studied chemistry and biology for two and a half hours a day, I allocated a fixed time ratio to study physics and earth science for about an hour and a half. I also adopted a study strategy to maintain interest: tackling other subjects first and saving my favorite subjects for later. This approach allowed me to manage both my school grades and the CSAT simultaneously.
Major School Activities and Reflections
“Changing Unreasonable School Rules Through Student Council Activities.”
During my sophomore year of high school, I applied for and served as a member of the Student Council for one year. Since the Student Council selects members not only based on academic performance but also exemplary conduct in daily school life, I carried out my duties with pride. I arrived at school earlier than other students to oversee the morning gate duty, checking whether students properly wore their name tags and uniforms. Four members of the Student Discipline Committee checked attire, and I was mainly responsible for ensuring students wore socks correctly.
However, while performing our assigned duties, discussing with fellow committee members sometimes made me question whether these rules truly held meaning. I mainly noted students who wore no socks at all, those who wore socks but only ankle socks, or those whose socks were too brightly colored or patterned to go unnoticed. Yet even doing this, it was often the same students getting caught every day, and even students who wore proper socks would frequently take them off once inside the classroom.
After finishing our student council duties and entering the classroom, we often heard complaints from other students. Many said things like: “A lot of kids wear long socks to class and then change into ankle socks,” “What exactly counts as ‘flashy’ socks?”, or “We wear ankle socks because our feet get too hot.” Hearing these opinions, I initially responded, “Just follow the school rules.” But as I kept hearing the complaints, I began to think some rules were unreasonable.
Once, I had a serious discussion about the rules with my fellow student council members. The friend in charge of uniforms pointed out that many schools allow outerwear like windbreakers. Another friend in charge of bags mentioned that students who leave all their books in lockers often end up carrying empty bags just to comply with the rules. I suggested that while overly flashy socks might be problematic, ankle socks are commonplace and should be permitted. We compiled these opinions and presented them to the responsible teacher, adding that the many ambiguous rules made our role as student council members difficult.
After reviewing our proposal, the teacher responded positively and said they would consider it. A few weeks later, several points were accepted: while backpacks remained mandatory, dark-colored windbreakers were permitted. Sock color and patterns stayed unchanged, but ankle socks were now allowed. This change in standards allowed other students to dress more comfortably, leading them to thank the student council. It also made our council activities run more smoothly and efficiently. Through this experience, I learned the importance of proactively voicing opinions backed by solid reasoning when faced with unreasonable rules.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
“Focus Gained Through Cross-Stitch Club Activities”
I tend to be easily distracted and have an impatient personality, which sometimes made it hard for me to concentrate while studying. During evening self-study sessions, sitting still at my desk for three hours was difficult. I couldn’t endure the breaks and had to exercise to finally focus for the remaining time. The moment the bell rang, I’d rush out to the playground to play soccer with friends to feel satisfied, and even after returning, I’d remain excited for a while.
As my senior year approached, I knew I needed to develop the habit of sitting still and studying for longer periods, but it just didn’t come naturally, which worried me. When I shared my concerns, the girl who sat next to me suggested I try joining the cross-stitch club. At first, it felt awkward for a boy to join a cross-stitch club dominated by girls, but I thought it might be worth trying if it helped my study habits.
Stitching various colored threads onto white fabric made my hands sweat profusely at first, and it was hard to concentrate. My cross-stitch results were often unrecognizable and took forever. However, since I was the only male member, the other girls took an interest and helped me a lot, so my skills gradually improved. Sitting quietly in a classroom with classical music playing and no one talking, cross-stitching felt surprisingly calming and helped me focus better than I expected. On days I returned from club activities, that calm feeling carried over into self-study, making it easier to concentrate on my work.
As a result, I could prepare for exams steadily, and my hasty temperament calmed down somewhat. So, at the end of my second year, as I wrapped up my club activities, I decided to give the members cross-stitch pieces as gifts. I bought small keychain kits and made them during every break. When I gave one to each friend who had helped me practice cross-stitch, they were all touched and delighted. Through this, I learned how to change habits, how to care for and help friends, and how to share joy through small efforts.
Two Memorable Books and My Thoughts
Thank You, Daigorō / Otani Junko
This book was selected as one of the school library’s recommended reads. It tells the story, like a fairy tale, of how Daigoro, born a deformed monkey without limbs, gained a new family and how they grew fond of each other. Photographer Otani Eiji brought Daigoro home and documented the long process step by step in the book: how the initially wary Daigoro learned to crawl alone, stand by himself, and even play. Looking at these photos, as a dog owner myself, I found myself reflecting on the time I grew attached to my own puppy. It also made me more aware of animal welfare issues. Especially when reading the story at the end, about Daigoro quietly passing away at the end of his short life, I found myself unconsciously shedding tears of emotion and sadness.
Above all, this book made me reflect on the current wrongful state of affairs, where there are so many abandoned dogs and discarded pets. It pained me to realize how many heartless people carelessly buy pets without recognizing the preciousness of life, abuse animals simply because they cannot speak, and then abandon them on the streets once they grow up. Conversely, it warmed my heart to know that many people, like the photographer in the story, still love and strive to protect animals. Through this book, I resolved that even after becoming a veterinarian, I would actively participate in protecting abandoned pets and become a warm-hearted doctor who treats them.
Everything You Want to Know About Dogs / Junichiro Nomura
This book is one I found and read at the library as I developed an interest in dogs and animals while raising my own companion dog. Written by an actual veterinary doctor detailing dogs, I read it hoping to gain insights into my future profession. Dr. Nomura has many excellent books, like 100 Animal Facts and 100 Questions & Answers About Dogs, but this particular book, written with a deep understanding of a dog’s heart, taught me how I should approach animals as a future veterinarian.
Among the 100 questions in the book’s table of contents, I carefully examined questions like ‘How far should we go in treating dogs?’ and ‘What are the commonalities and differences when treating dogs and humans?’ I gained knowledge about these questions that I had always wondered about but simply overlooked. For instance, the answer to whether puppies can be born between dogs of different breeds was particularly striking: since all dogs share the same scientific name and are genetically a single species, it is possible. Furthermore, I was deeply moved by the author’s special experiences of doing his utmost to treat sick dogs and his mindset of treating animals as he would people, respecting life. I also gained a lot of knowledge about aspects I had overlooked while raising my companion dog. Learning how to handle situations like when a puppy is breeding or seriously ill, and being able to apply this knowledge, was extremely helpful.
