Grenada Vet School – In Depth Interview With Brittney Kilgore!

Interview with a Grenada Vet School Student!

St. George’s is a fully accredited US college of veterinary medicine on the island of Grenada. As a graduating student, you earn your Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree just the same as you would at a stateside school. 

The St George vet school has a program called The Foundations Program. Besides being a bridge between undergrad and vet med, the classes can prepare you for this US accredited Grenada vet school’s intense course workload.

There are many schools in Grenada, including medical schools. The vet school in Grenada is just one of many; you will get to meet students from all over the world while living on the island!

If you want to read more about Caribbean Veterinary Schools, check out our comprehensive overview!

Getting Into St. George’s, The Accredited Grenada Vet School!

Name, veterinary school, and year that you started. 

Brittney Kilgore – St. George’s University. (Grenada vet school) I started the DVM program in the January 2019 class, but I also completed The Charter Foundation program in fall 2018. The Charter Foundation program; designed to help better prepare vet and med students for entry into the veterinary or medical program.

The SGU Charter Foundation program gets you ready for entry into the MD or DVM program. It will prepare you for the kind of class load you will need to be anticipating in a medical school.

Who are the animals that you currently share your life with?

I currently have a snowshoe-mix cat named Toulouse.

Did you bring any animals down to Grenada? Have you adopted any animals while living on the island?

Yes! Toulouse has come with me every term from the very beginning. I haven’t adopted any animals, but I have fostered two kittens, a puppy, and a litter of day-old-kittens.

Where did you attend undergrad before enrolling in St Georges, the Grenada vet school? What was your major?

I attended the University of Georgia. Initially, my major was poultry science, but I was one class off. Since it was my last semester and this one class was only available in the fall, I didn’t take it.  My degree says Biological Sciences, but poultry was my focal point. I finished in 3 years.

What is one textbook that you have used the most during your veterinary studies?

I’ll be honest – I haven’t used many textbooks, so I don’t want to make something up. But one course that I have referred back to the material more than any other class is physiology.

At what age did you first apply to vet school?

20.

How many schools/application cycles did you apply to before being accepted?

I only applied during one cycle. With that being said, I applied to 7 schools total and was accepted into 2 (both in the Caribbean).

Were you waitlisted at any school?

Yes, one only. (Virginia-Maryland)

How many schools invited you for an interview?

2.

How To Choose Between St. George’s and Ross

How many of those gave you an acceptance letter?

2. Both Ross and SGU gave me an acceptance letter.

What were some reasons for your choice to attend SGU, the Grenada vet school?

I knew I was going out of the country at this point. Both were in the Caribbean but very different. Ross went to school year-round with small 2-3 week breaks in between each of 3 semesters. SGU had traditional summer and winter breaks. 

St. George’s has a med school in Grenada and an undergrad/arts & science program. Having the other two colleges on Grenada’s island gave me some reassurance that I would get the large campus feel and student life. 

A downside of Ross was that the tuition was higher even though you finish earlier.

Did you consider any of the other Caribbean vet schools? Why or why not?

Ross was a school I applied to and was considering attending. Being first introduced to SGU, and later on, after doing research, I learned about Ross. What I figured is if I’d go as far as Grenada, why not consider St. Kitt’s as well. These are both AVMA accredited and had great reviews as well as an excellent alumni networking system. 

What was your reason for moving to another country to attend SGU?

I’ve ALWAYS wanted to move away from home. I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, and attended UGA. Initially, I thought I’d go all eight years at UGA, but the older I got, I realized I was ready to leave Georgia sooner than expected.

Honestly, I never expected my first significant move from home to be as far as a small island in the Caribbean, but I would do it all over again 100 times over. I also loved the idea of being immersed in a different culture and overcoming adversity in an environment I wasn’t familiar with.

Interview Questions for St. Georges Vet School

Do you remember any specifically challenging interview questions?

“If you could describe yourself as any cartoon character, who would it be and why?” I know it’s silly, but typically you’re prepared for questions about your career, what type of medicine you want to practice, why do you want to be a vet, or even where you went wrong in undergrad. 

I LOVE cartoons, and this question threw me. Immediately I  felt conscious that my answer might subtly say something about me. Now I can laugh about it, but that was one I wasn’t prepared for.

“What are your weaknesses?” People are so used to telling why they’re suitable applicants. Often many people struggle to notice or admit true weaknesses. I’d say be honest! It’s a good look when you can acknowledge something that may not be the best about yourself.

What was your GPA (in undergraduate)?

2.79 – Yes! It’s possible to get into vet school with a low GPA!

What was your GRE score?

307 cumulative.

It’s essential to get familiar with the GRE test layout before taking the exam.

Did you apply for vet school after or during your Bachelor’s education?

During (entering my final year of undergrad)

Did you attend grad school?

No

How many extracurricular activities did you list on your application?

Not many. Honestly, all of the free time I had I spent in the clinic.

Did you have exotic, large, and small animal experience before applying to veterinary school?

Yes – domestic exotic, large, and small. I had thousands of hours of small animal experience with one clinic also treating exotics. SGU recommended I obtain about 200 hours of large animal experience before starting classes, so I did this, but technically it was after applying. I now recommend getting as much of a variety of experiences as possible!

Make sure you figure out the best stethoscope for veterinarians because you will need one for vet school! Most veterinary stethoscopes can adjust for large or small animal auscultations.

Did you work as a vet tech?

Yes! Since I was 16

What types of paying jobs did you have before going to this Grenada veterinary school? Did you volunteer? If so, where?

My first job at 16 was in a vet clinic. Even now, as a vet student, the only job I’ve ever had was as a vet tech. I did also have a summer job with animals, working part-time at a doggy daycare for extra spending money, but all of my paying jobs have been in the veterinary field. I volunteered at animal clinics as well.

How many people read your personal statement before submitting it?

2 – my mom and best friend

Did you interview any vets before starting the application process? 

No

Were you a member of any clubs at your undergraduate school? If so, which ones?

No

Have you joined any student clubs in your DVM program? If so, which ones? Are they helpful?

I’ve joined a few clubs, including the Student Government, Exotics Club, and Integrative Medicine Club. The clubs are beneficial since they have wet lab opportunities as well as lunch lectures.  They also have additional resources that may confirm your interest in a particular area.

Who gave you your letters of recommendation? Did you know them well? Did you find the application process stressful? Why or why not?

My letters of recommendation came from people I knew personally. One was a vet I’d worked with for three years. Another vet was my godmother, who’s mentored me too over the years.

I personally didn’t find the process stressful.

Becoming a veterinary Doctor was always my dream, so it was more so surreal, if anything. I was happy to be in the application process finally. I knew my grades weren’t excellent. Hence, the worst that could happen would be I don’t get in. If I didn’t get in, I would take some classes over and perhaps get a Master’s.

Regardless if I had to apply one time or seven times, I knew I wanted to be a vet. Hence, the application process was just a part of the journey only as all the hard chemistries, biochemistries, physics, and other hurdles along the way had been. I was confident in the experience I had and my GRE score as well.

Are you happy that you chose this career? What makes you most pleased about this career choice?

The medical field has always interested me, but being an MD was never my dream. I had a deep love for animals, and I felt that becoming a vet crossed animals and medicine in the best way imaginable. In all reality, I don’t care if I’m rich or poor – as long as I’m making a difference in an animal’s life. If I can manage this, then I feel that my life goals have been accomplished.

Advice for Future St George Vet School Students!

Do you have any advice for students thinking about attending SGU? What do you like most about SGU?

Go for it! Do it! It’s going to be hot. It’s going to be a different experience. This Grenada vet school may not operate how you are used to in the states, but it’s an experience you can’t get anywhere else. I love it because it was personally the first place where I could be myself.  It was a fresh start and where I was ultimately fulfilling my life dreams.

Everyone is from everywhere!  There are so many vet and med students trying to reach a similar goal on a tropical island! You have to be open to change and willing to adapt, and then it will become a life-changing experience. You experience so many opportunities, from volunteering with the leatherback sea turtle research program to hiking and jumping off waterfalls on study breaks. You get hands-on experience starting in your first semester. 

The endless beautiful sunsets and beach almost daily cannot be matched at any stateside school.

Is there anything about Grenada that you absolutely love?

The sunsets and beaches are definitely a favorite. I also like just how slow and easy life is. You can get lost in the hustle and bustle of American life, but everything is very chill and relaxed in Grenada. I personally appreciate that.

Do you find it difficult living and studying on a tropical island?

No, although most of my family doesn’t understand how I could study with the beach, always just a 5-minute drive away. Honestly, I feel that being on an island makes it easier to focus. Grenada is only 134 square miles large. While there are things to do, at the same time, it’s not. Often you have nothing to do except study. 

There are not many distractions, and most of the student population is in vet/med school, so most people are studying.

Any study tips?

Don’t wait until the week before an exam to start studying. Review along the way. Draw and save diagrams. Use/make notecards (ANKI is a great application). Study with a group and explain things. If you can’t explain it, you don’t know it. Also, don’t stop reviewing when the semester ends. Everything comes back around and builds on the previous semester.

What has been your favorite class and why?

Physiology and clinical pathology. I love knowing the ‘why’ of everything in life. Both of these classes explain why your body works and responds the way it does. It allows me to understand why certain diseases cause specific symptoms or signs and why the body just is the way it is. I feel like these classes can help almost every other class make sense.

What is the most challenging class in your DVM program so far?

So far, pharmacology has been the hardest. At SGU, it’s a 2-semester course (each semester, it’s a three-credit class). It’s not only knowing the drug but how it works in the body. It’s hard because there are so many drugs to memorize, and some things work differently in some animals, and some are species-specific. 

What made it so hard was how content dense it was. I like the idea of pharmacology, but remembering it all was tough.

As a student, did you have to take out loans for your education? If so, are you concerned about the amount of debt that you have accrued?

Yes, I did. In-state, of course, is always cheaper. SGU’s tuition is roughly around the average of most vet schools’ out-of-state tuition. My family helps me with personal things such as rent, food, travel, etc., so all of my loans go towards tuition only. Still, I’ve accumulated quite some loans, and I’m only about halfway finished with my veterinary school education. 

I catch myself thinking about how exactly I will pay it all off, and it does concern me at times.  Equally important is that I know that I’ll find a way to pay off my loans.

As a student, have you gotten to research or work on any interesting cases? Do you have a specialty, or are you working towards one?

I haven’t gotten to work with any interesting cases so far, but I’d like to do a feline medicine specialty. Sometime shortly, I will decide if I’d pursue being board certified for feline medicine. I do have a strong desire to specialize.

Do you have any last words of wisdom? How can people find you? 

If becoming a veterinarian is your dream, go for it! On the other hand, if attending school isn’t your thing or you don’t want the financial burden, being a vet tech is not a bad thing or a downplay on the vet field! Vet techs are who keep the clinics running! Get your local vet tech a gift; they could use the appreciation! There are so many opportunities out there in so many different areas of vet med.

Check out my youtube for more about general vet school things and LOTS on SGU at www.youtube.com/brittneykilgore

And follow me on Instagram: @thatvetbk