david

​Name: David Massre |Hometown: Cooper City, Florida
Undergrad: University of Florida | Major: Zoology
Veterinary Goal: Small Animal Emergency Medicine
Special Skills: I spent a lot of time in my undergraduate working in design.
Fun Fact: My favorite movie is Jurassic Park. 
 
Favorite Undergrad Course: Organic Chemistry
Hardest Undergrad Course: Physics. Do not hesitate in asking for help. Utilize your TA’s office hours as well as your professor’s. Also, there are a ton of resources online that can help you with the conceptual parts of it.
​Recommended Undergrad Courses: Comparative Vertebrae Anatomy & Physiology.
Best Vet School Prep: I believe everyone should take a gap year. It is a time where you get to figure out what you really want from life and gain valuable veterinary experience in a full-time capacity. 
Undergrad Extracurricular Activities: Research assistant, small animal hospital volunteer, Surf Club, Pre-Health Society, Organic Chemistry and Anatomy TA and veterinary technician.


Letters of Rec Strategy: When selecting who to write your letters, make sure they know you on a personal level. A good letter doesn’t just say that you got an A in the class and move on. It attests to your personality and your ability to thrive in veterinary school. For professors, I went about this by being a TA for the classes that interested me the most. 
 
Interview Prep Advice: I practiced with as many people as I could find!
 
Interview Advice?: When answering questions, ensure that you backup every claim you make with an example.  For instance, if you asked what role you take in a group and respond with “leader”, follow up with an anecdote about a time you acted as one.
 
Describe Life in Veterinary School: It is an amazing experience all together, but in the beginning it can feel overwhelming. Just remember, everyone else is feeling the same way as you and you will all get through it. I try not to let the academic side of it consume me, because having a balance is necessary if you want to succeed. There are a ton of opportunities that the clubs and organizations offer that are the highlight of veterinary school.
 
What You Wish You Had Known Before Starting Vet School: There are so many opportunities available to you. Try not to go into it with your mind made up about what your future looks like. You may find yourself passionate about something you hadn’t even thought of yet.