Ashliegh

Name: Ashliegh Alfonso | Hometown: Coconut Creek, Fl
Undergrad: Broward College and Florida Atlantic University | Major: Biology
Veterinary Goal: Small Animal/Domestic Exotics
Special Skills: Drawing, Cooking, and Netflix binging
Fun Fact​: I have a black belt in Shotokan karate.

Favorite Undergrad Course: Comparative animal physiology
Hardest Undergrad Course: Biochemistry. My advice is to watch fun Youtube videos that explain the material so you understand the big picture of the processes. Memorizing small details is important, but it shouldn’t be your only method.
Recommended Undergrad Courses: Comparative Animal Physiology
Best Vet School Prep: My senior year I was balancing work as a tutor while doing undergraduate research with a 14 credit semester. It really forced me to develop better time-management skills.
Undergrad Extracurricular Activities: Research assitant, retail employee, organic chemistry and independent private tutor, wildlife center employee, receptionist/technician at a small animal practice, cymbal-line captain of a drum corps, drilling/marching team, piano player, praise team singer,church volunteer, martial arts, nature center volunteer and local stable volunteer.

Letters of Rec Strategy: Mainly through employment but being a hard worker, keeping a positive attitude, and forming intentional relationships with those I worked with played a big part. Working for the school made my academic letters very easy to acquire.  Working at a small animal clinic and local wildlife center got me my veterinary letters.

Interview Prep Advice: Student Doctor Network has an amazing resource where students post what they were asked in their interviews. I took those, along with other commonly asked interview questions, and wrote out answers to keep my thoughts organized. 

Interview Advice?: A fun piece of advice I got a few years ago was to bring a resume portfolio and write down questions you want to ask at the end of the interview ahead of time.

Describe Life in Veterinary School: Life in veterinary school is amazing, you get to be a part of a community of people who share similar passions and interest as yourself. The academics and parking can definitely be a challenge sometimes, but overall this experience has been so fulfilling. There are so many times I find myself saying, “Wow, I can’t believe I get to experience/learn this.”

What You Wish You Had Known Before Starting Vet School: Before starting vet school I struggled heavily with imposter syndrome and spent a lot of my summer being stressed out. Later on, I read this quote/mantra that said, “If you were not capable of handling it, the opportunity would not have presented itself.” I really wish I had adopted that mentality beforehand but it’s definitely been serving me well throughout my time here.