Dr. Eloise Jillings graduated with her veterinary degree from Massey University in New Zealand in 2001. Following a year in small animal practice, she completed a residency in veterinary clinical pathology focusing on the pathophysiology and diagnosis of animal diseases. She was then employed as an academic staff member in veterinary clinical pathology in February 2006. Today, she currently serves as the Associate Veterinary Programme Director for Admission and Student Affairs. Click to read more about Dr. Jillings.
Q: What factors influenced your decision to pursue veterinary medicine as a career?
A: I guess I was a bit of the stereotypical story – I loved animals and wanted to be a vet since I was 4. My family had a shed on our sundeck which I turned into my vet clinic. I’d take anything there that wasn’t healthy enough to escape me, but not surprisingly, my recovery rate was pretty low (lets face it, if they were sick enough for an 8 year old to retrieve them, their prognosis was probably pretty poor J). So I guess that reaffirmed my need to go to vet school so I could actually fix things.
Q: What did you like about attending Massey university?
A: Lots of things – but I’ll highlight a few!
Lots of hands on experience. New Zealand’s economy is largely driven by production animal species, so not surprisingly the veterinary programme is really strong in large animal teaching. I grew up in the city and had never even been on a farm until I got to vet school, so for me it was great to have received really good hands on experience with not only small animals but also large animals.
Atmosphere. New Zealand is not very hierarchal, so we were on a first name basis with lecturers, which made them seem much more approachable. As a result you got to know the academic staff quite well. Some of our lecturers would even come and support us at our vet school functions.
A great time. There are many times that vet school isn’t fun (think exam break!), but when I look back and think about my experience what I remember was the good time. I met so many great people (classmates, staff, farmers, clients etc) and I had an amazing opportunity to do and see things the general public would never experience. Yes I had to work really hard, but we also had some really memorable functions and celebrations.
Q: What would be an interview question you would ask an applicant applying to veterinary school?
A: For me it would be less about the specific question, and more about the way they answer it. In surveying all the veterinarians in New Zealand, the non-academic characteristic they rated as the most important for veterinary students was communication. If a student communicates really well in an interview, that’s a huge plus for them. After communication, the interview questions should be based on what is important to that veterinary programme. So in my opinion there isn’t one best question, but many that would work better for some institutions than others.
Q: How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
A: When I was selected into the veterinary programme, the selection process was almost entirely academic. So the most important thing for me was to have a good GPA. Grades are a significant factor for selection into most programmes, so it’s always going to be something applicants need to be very mindful of. If I was reapplying to vet school now – I’d be focussing on my communication.
Q: What are you passionate about in terms of your specialty in clinical pathology and as an Admissions Director?
A: For me that’s an easy question and it’s the same for both of my roles– I’m passionate about educating our future veterinarians. I love teaching clinical pathology because it’s really relevant to clinical practice, and I like making difficult concepts understandable. Those “light bulb moments”, when you can literally see in someone’s face that they’ve just “gotten it”, are incredibly rewarding.
Aside from admissions, I have a fairly substantial role in the veterinary programme management. My aim is to improve students learning experience to enable them to achieve greater success while studying and in their future careers. Although I have used the term students here, I prefer to think of students as “future colleagues” as I think that brings about a more positive approach to teaching and learning.
Q: What do you want the attendees to leave with after your panel presentation on Veterinary School Abroad at the conference this October?
A: I think I’d like to leave them with the idea that different means just that – it doesn’t mean better or worse, it just means different. Wherever you study, whether it’s out of state or abroad, there will be differences to what you’re used to. Constantly comparing them to “where I’m from they did it like this…” etc. will only delay your adjustment to your new environment, and focus you on what you’re missing, not what you’re gaining. Instead I’d encourage people to experience the differences in their new environment, and grow as a result.
Part of this difference that will need to be considered before heading abroad, is exploring and being open to the different models of veterinary education that exist. In North America, veterinary education is taught using a postgraduate model, whereas in many other areas of the world the veterinary degree is an undergraduate qualification. As such it can be commenced right out of high school in some places, which will be a better fit for some people than others.
So consider difference, and if you decide it seems a good fit for you – embrace it!!!
A: I guess I was a bit of the stereotypical story – I loved animals and wanted to be a vet since I was 4. My family had a shed on our sundeck which I turned into my vet clinic. I’d take anything there that wasn’t healthy enough to escape me, but not surprisingly, my recovery rate was pretty low (lets face it, if they were sick enough for an 8 year old to retrieve them, their prognosis was probably pretty poor J). So I guess that reaffirmed my need to go to vet school so I could actually fix things.
Q: What did you like about attending Massey university?
A: Lots of things – but I’ll highlight a few!
Lots of hands on experience. New Zealand’s economy is largely driven by production animal species, so not surprisingly the veterinary programme is really strong in large animal teaching. I grew up in the city and had never even been on a farm until I got to vet school, so for me it was great to have received really good hands on experience with not only small animals but also large animals.
Atmosphere. New Zealand is not very hierarchal, so we were on a first name basis with lecturers, which made them seem much more approachable. As a result you got to know the academic staff quite well. Some of our lecturers would even come and support us at our vet school functions.
A great time. There are many times that vet school isn’t fun (think exam break!), but when I look back and think about my experience what I remember was the good time. I met so many great people (classmates, staff, farmers, clients etc) and I had an amazing opportunity to do and see things the general public would never experience. Yes I had to work really hard, but we also had some really memorable functions and celebrations.
Q: What would be an interview question you would ask an applicant applying to veterinary school?
A: For me it would be less about the specific question, and more about the way they answer it. In surveying all the veterinarians in New Zealand, the non-academic characteristic they rated as the most important for veterinary students was communication. If a student communicates really well in an interview, that’s a huge plus for them. After communication, the interview questions should be based on what is important to that veterinary programme. So in my opinion there isn’t one best question, but many that would work better for some institutions than others.
Q: How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
A: When I was selected into the veterinary programme, the selection process was almost entirely academic. So the most important thing for me was to have a good GPA. Grades are a significant factor for selection into most programmes, so it’s always going to be something applicants need to be very mindful of. If I was reapplying to vet school now – I’d be focussing on my communication.
Q: What are you passionate about in terms of your specialty in clinical pathology and as an Admissions Director?
A: For me that’s an easy question and it’s the same for both of my roles– I’m passionate about educating our future veterinarians. I love teaching clinical pathology because it’s really relevant to clinical practice, and I like making difficult concepts understandable. Those “light bulb moments”, when you can literally see in someone’s face that they’ve just “gotten it”, are incredibly rewarding.
Aside from admissions, I have a fairly substantial role in the veterinary programme management. My aim is to improve students learning experience to enable them to achieve greater success while studying and in their future careers. Although I have used the term students here, I prefer to think of students as “future colleagues” as I think that brings about a more positive approach to teaching and learning.
Q: What do you want the attendees to leave with after your panel presentation on Veterinary School Abroad at the conference this October?
A: I think I’d like to leave them with the idea that different means just that – it doesn’t mean better or worse, it just means different. Wherever you study, whether it’s out of state or abroad, there will be differences to what you’re used to. Constantly comparing them to “where I’m from they did it like this…” etc. will only delay your adjustment to your new environment, and focus you on what you’re missing, not what you’re gaining. Instead I’d encourage people to experience the differences in their new environment, and grow as a result.
Part of this difference that will need to be considered before heading abroad, is exploring and being open to the different models of veterinary education that exist. In North America, veterinary education is taught using a postgraduate model, whereas in many other areas of the world the veterinary degree is an undergraduate qualification. As such it can be commenced right out of high school in some places, which will be a better fit for some people than others.
So consider difference, and if you decide it seems a good fit for you – embrace it!!!