EBS Veterinary Cohort

Kyle Frett, Tuskegee University, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (May 2026)

From the Cohort Leader ... This is My Story

I did not grow up around horses. I did not come from a family of veterinarians. I came from a small island where veterinary medicine wasn’t a prominent field. When I moved to the United States, I entered this profession as both a Black man and a foreigner. In every equine space I stepped into, I was the Black sheep, the one who didn’t fit the mold, didn’t come from the “right” background, didn’t look like anyone else in the room.

But I never let that stop me. I used it as fuel. I treated my identity, my difference, and my story not as obstacles, but as superpowers. Instead of shrinking, I leaned in. Instead of trying to blend in, I let my uniqueness push me forward.

Now, as a fourth-year veterinary medical student preparing to enter equine practice immediately after my graduation in May 2026, I stand on the other side of that journey with a very clear message: you can build your own path, no matter where you start.

Your journey matters. Your presence matters. And your story belongs here.

These are the lessons I’m passing on to you—not from textbooks, but from lived experience, vulnerability, and resilience:

You don’t need a horse background to belong here. What matters is the passion you cultivate, the opportunities you chase, and the humility you bring to learning.
Your identity is not a barrier—it’s a strength. Being different gives you perspective. Perspective gives you power.
Show up with professionalism and presence. People may underestimate you at first, but no one can ignore consistency, effort, and character.
Build connections wherever you go. The mentors who pour into you—techs, vets, residents, assistants—become your foundation.
Ask for opportunities, even when you feel unready. The bravest thing you can do is say “yes” before you feel prepared.
Never let discomfort make decisions for you. Growth lives on the other side of every intimidating moment.
Honor your origins. Where you come from shaped you. It taught you grit, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in unfamiliar spaces.
Remember: you belong in equine medicine. Not because someone gave you permission — but because you earned it, worked for it, and refused to let anything stop your momentum.

This toolkit exists so you don’t have to walk this road alone. If my story helps you see what’s possible, then it has done its job.

Pre-Veterinary Student Toolkit

This section provides guidance for students exploring veterinary medicine and preparing to apply to veterinary school. These resources help you understand the profession, build experience, strengthen your application, and enter the field of equine medicine.

1. Getting Started: Understanding the Field

Veterinary medicine is broad, diverse, and full of opportunities—not limited to small animal practice. Start exploring early. Shadow, volunteer, ask questions, and expose yourself to as many corners of the field as possible. There is no “perfect path” to vet school; there is only your journey and your growth.

2. How to GAIN Veterinary Exposure

Shadowing: Shadowing allows you to observe veterinary professionals in real time and learn how different areas of medicine operate. Start by googling clinics, farms, shelters, or hospitals in your area and sending a short email expressing interest.
Volunteering: Volunteering is a powerful way to gain hands-on exposure while showing commitment to animal care. Many rescues, shelters, and community programs welcome students who reach out with a brief introduction and willingness to help.
Animal Care Work: Through animal care roles you can build foundational skills and demonstrate reliability.
Veterinary Assistant Positions: Some clinics hire students as assistants or support staff, especially if they see motivation and professionalism. A simple inquiry can help you secure an entry-level role that offers valuable clinical experience.
Mentorship Opportunities: Finding a mentor early helps you stay grounded, focused, and connected to resources. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to veterinarians and others in the veterinary field.
Connecting: Connecting with an equine-focused organization, such as the Ed Brown Society, will provide you with access to resources, mentorship opportunities, and other relevant professional exposure.

3. How to Approach Clinics and Veterinarians

Start where you are. Use your local shelters, farms, clinics, rescues, or university labs.. Every hour counts and every opportunity teaches you something valuable about the profession.

Reaching out to clinics or veterinarians doesn’t have to be intimidating …start simple. Google search the veterinary clinics, shelters, farms, or hospitals in your area and make a list of places you’re interested in. Then send a short, professional email introducing yourself, expressing your interest in veterinary medicine, and asking if they would be open to letting you shadow or gain experience.

If you have a resume, attach it. If you don’t, use this as an opportunity to build one or seek help creating one. Most clinics appreciate motivated students who take the initiative to reach out respectfully and show genuine enthusiasm for learning. Provided are two examples of ways in which you may establish contact with a clinic or veterinarian:

EBS Email Template #1

EBS Email Template #2

5. Strengthening the Veterinary School Application

Understanding VMCAS & VMSAR

The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) is the centralized application system used by nearly all U.S. veterinary schools. The application typically opens in January each year and closes in mid-September, though students should verify the exact dates annually.

The Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements (VMSAR) directory is your most important tool during this process. It lists every AVMA-accredited school, their GPA averages, prerequisite coursework, tuition, deadlines, residency preferences, and required experience hours. Students should explore VMSAR early and often to stay informed and make strategic decisions. VMSAR Website

GPA & Coursework Requirements:

Every veterinary school sets its own minimum GPA requirements, and some are higher than others. Competitive applicants typically maintain a 3.2–3.5+ cumulative and science GPA. Schools calculate a separate science GPA (biology, chemistry, physics, and upper-level sciences), so strong performance in these courses is essential.

Use VMSAR to identify each school’s prerequisite courses. They vary significantly, so ensure your undergraduate institution offers them. If you earn a low grade in a required science course, retake it and aim for a strong improvement; this demonstrates resilience, maturity, and academic growth.

Veterinary & Animal Experience Hours:

Minimum hour requirements differ by school, ranging from 250 to 500+ hours, and can be found in VMSAR. However, competitive applicants often exceed these numbers. Aim for a diverse experience portfolio. Quality and variety are more impactful than simply logging hours in a single setting.

Personal Statement Writing:

The VMCAS personal statement prompt may change year-to-year, so always respond directly to the current prompt.

Avoid overused clichés like “I’ve loved animals since I was young” or “I knew I wanted to be a vet at age five.” Instead, highlight what specifically shaped your desire to pursue veterinary medicine …your lived experiences, meaningful moments, your identity, your challenges, and your long-term goals.

Lastly, solicit the help of people close to you, mentors, vet students, professional advisors, etc., to read your personal statement and make suggestions to enhance what you are trying to convey to the admissions team. Remember, the personal statement is like a key that unlocks the first door. Admissions committees want to understand your story, not a generic one. [hyperlink for writing tips] – Writing Tips

Letters of Recommendation (LORs):

Choose individuals who can write supportive and detailed evaluations of you,not neutral or vague ones. Ideal recommenders include veterinarians you've worked with, professors, mentors, or research faculty who know your work ethic, character, and integrity. A strong LOR provides insight into your professionalism, reliability, communication, and teachability. These are traits that admissions committees value highly.

Demonstrating Resilience:

Admission committees appreciate applicants who show upward academic trends, leadership involvement, community service, research contributions, and a willingness to push themselves outside their comfort zones.

If you have struggled academically, retaking courses and achieving better outcomes demonstrates impr persistence and determination.

Additional resources such as the VMCAS Do’s & Don’ts List and the Pre-Vet Planning Timeline are available as downloadable documents below. These tools help you stay organized, strategic, and prepared throughout your application process.

VMCAS Do's & Don'ts

Pre-Vet Planning TImeline

Veterinary Toolkit

This section is designed for current veterinary students who are interested in pursuing equine practice and want guidance navigating a field where diversity has historically been limited.

1. Entering the Equine Industry

Pursuing a career in equine medicine can feel isolating at times. This toolkit acknowledges those realities while providing strategies for navigating them confidently.

2. Finding Your Place in Equine Veterinary Medicine

Equine medicine is broad, dynamic, and full of possibilities …sports medicine, surgery, ambulatory practice, internal medicine, reproduction, racetrack medicine, rehabilitation, dentistry, emergency/critical care, and more. You don’t need an equine background to succeed. Many begin with minimal experience, curiosity, humility, and a strong work ethic.

This section helps you explore equine career paths, understand the expectations within equine hospitals, and learn how to position yourself for opportunities, even if you’re starting from scratch. No matter where you begin, there is space for you to grow, learn, and thrive within this field. Your journey is valid. Your perspective is needed. And your path into equine medicine can be just as successful and impactful as anyone else’s, regardless of how much equine experience you started with.

3. Securing an Equine Externship

Equine externships provide experience for students during veterinary school., They are a great way to strengthen your skills, expand your comfort level around horses, and understand what daily life in equine practice really looks like. The goal is to gain meaningful, hands-on experience wherever you are welcomed, supported, and able to learn. There are many excellent equine practices across the country, and every externship, regardless of size or reputation, contributes to your growth.

Start by identifying equine hospitals in the discipline that interests you … sports medicine, surgery, ambulatory, reproduction, racetrack, rehabilitation, dentistry, or general practice. Once you find a hospital, navigate to the “Student Opportunities” or “Externships” section of their website. Private equine hospitals are usually the most accessible for externships, as academic teaching hospitals tend to be more restrictive due to patient caseload, liability, and curriculum structure. Most private practices list clear instructions for how to connect with their respective externship coordinators..

Externships typically last anywhere from one to six weeks. Your responsibility is to make the most of your time: show up prepared, stay engaged, ask questions, offer help where appropriate, and remain open to every learning opportunity. Equine veterinarians truly appreciate students who are eager, respectful, and ready to learn.

The AAEP and AVMA Student Externship Locator is another powerful tool. Access to it requires an active student membership through your school’s SCAAEP chapter and active student membership through your school’s Student AVMA Chapter. Once logged in, you can explore externships across multiple disciplines and browse internship listings for after graduation. Learning how to navigate this resource early will help you tremendously when planning your third- and fourth-year experiences.

Remember, externships are about building experience, confidence, clinical readiness, and adding value to your training, which helps you become the equine professional you are meant to be.

AVMA Externship Locator

AAEP Externship Locator

4. Building a Support Network in Equine Medicine

Success in equine medicine grows from the relationships you build along the way. Your mentors, peers, clinicians, technicians, interns, and residents become the team that supports you, guides you and opens doors that you didn’t know existed. Cultivating this network is especially important because it helps counter isolation, strengthens confidence, and creates a sense of support and belonging.

Here are several practical ways to build and maintain a strong support network:

Start by connecting with people during externships. Ask questions, show gratitude, and express genuine interest in learning. Most veterinarians love teaching students who show initiative, humility, and curiosity.
Stay in touch after each experience. Send a brief thank-you email, share updates about your progress, and let mentors know how their guidance helped you. You don’t need constant communication, just intentional, respectful check-ins that keep the relationship warm.
Attend professional events. AAEP, ACVS, and BEVA conferences, and SCAAEP meetings offer direct access to the equine community. Introduce yourself, ask practitioners about their work, and let people see your passion.
Give people a reason to advocate for you. Show professionalism, be teachable, work hard, and demonstrate your commitment to the field. Opportunities often come from the people who see your character up close and are willing to advocate for you.

5. Navigating Challenges in the Industry

The equine industry is rewarding, fast-paced, and deeply fulfilling—but it also comes with real challenges. This section provides honest guidance for the moments when the environment feels unfamiliar, intimidating, or overwhelming, and offers tools to help you move through those experiences with confidence and clarity.

Entering this new space can feel isolating. Find allies ,interns, residents, technicians, clinicians, and peers who support your growth and treat you with respect. Those relationships will help you feel more connected.

Imposter syndrome is common in equine practice. You may feel behind if you didn’t grow up with horses. The truth is that many equine vets did not. Passion, preparation, and willingness to learn matter far more than your background.

Financial barriers can impact externships and travel opportunities. Plan early, seek stipends/scholarships (AAEP, EBS, SCAAEP, school-specific funds), and don’t be afraid to ask about housing options or support.

Microaggressions or subtle bias may occur. Protect your peace, maintain professionalism, and confide in mentors who can help you navigate situations constructively.

High-intensity environments (emergency, surgery, sports medicine, racetrack) can be physically and emotionally demanding. Build routines that support your mental health, set boundaries, and give yourself grace as you grow into the field.