I was one of those kids who just knew they wanted to be a vet from a very young age. When it came to choosing where to do my A Levels, I knew the College’s Medicine, Veterinary and Dentistry (MVD) Programme had an excellent reputation for supporting its students, so it was a natural choice.

Chemistry and Biology are a requirement for Veterinary courses and I loved History at GCSE. Although not a typical subject to combine with sciences, I thought it was important to choose subjects that I really wanted to study. What I loved about History was the freedom to research areas that we enjoyed and the regular debates, which made lessons fun and engaging.

Having dedicated activity periods in my schedule made it possible to get involved in new activities and sports. Both netball and trampolining were an enjoyable way to break up the day and relieve any stress, and I worked out at the College gym with my friends. And being able to do beginner’s Latin was a real bonus!

Being part of the College MVD Society allowed me to share experiences with other students applying for similar courses – a big help when the process became tricky or stressful. It was amazing having such a large group of students who really know what you’re going through.

I felt incredibly supported having been involved in both the Aspire and MVD programmes. It’s one of the reasons I now want to volunteer my time to help the College – I’ve been part of the MVD panel for new applicants’ events and I’ve come in to do talks and help current students practise their interview skills for university.

Initially, I was a bit intimidated by how big the College was compared to my old school, but I’d forgotten about any worries I had by the first few days. Having a large number of students made it easier for me to find friends that I had lots in common with. The College did an amazing job of preparing me for university, supporting me to become a more independent learner and making me feel much more confident in myself.

Now in my third year at Bristol, I’m excited to start doing more clinical work such as taking blood and placing and removing catheters. Bristol has some brilliant facilities including a virtual cow to help us to learn how to do standing sutures, which reduces stress on live animals while us students learn. While it’s certainly hard work, I love it and I also really enjoy living in Bristol as it’s such a fun city.

Amy Sanders

Reigate College: 2018-2020

Higher Education: Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bristol