Kevin Cooley

Bio

Hello!

My name is Kevin Cooley, and I am from Silver Spring, Maryland. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland, where I earned a BS in Animal Science. Following graduation, I took a two year gap before applying to gain more research and clinical experience, retake classes, and spend time with family before applying to veterinary school. During this time, my experiences largely centered around small animal general practice and shelter medicine, allowing me to develop a clear sense of what I would like to pursue in my career.

I am currently pursuing the small animal track at VMCVM with the goal of entering general practice after graduation. I applied to five veterinary schools and ultimately chose to attend VMCVM due to its on-site teaching hospital and unique spiraling curriculum. Unlike traditional veterinary schools where classes are compartmentalized, at VMCVM, topics are interconnected and explained by multiple professors with expertise in their respective areas. The decision to attend VMCVM was easy for me because of the numerous factors that ensure mental well-being, such as the pass/fail system, robust support systems, and student diversity within the cohort.

I thoroughly enjoy being a student at VMCVM, primarily due to the staggered exam schedules. This structure allows students to have an "off" weekend before every exam, providing time to pursue hobbies or engage in self-care without the stress of impending exams. Additionally, I appreciate the abundance of clubs available for students to join, which allow us to delve deeper into various topics outside of class. Some of these topics include radiology, food animal care, and wildlife medicine.

Looking ahead, I am grateful for the tracking system offered by the school, which allows me to focus on my preferred species of interest. Moreover, the flexibility of elective courses, such as ferret and bird medicine, provides the opportunity to explore interests in exotic animal care should I choose to pursue that path in the future.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me regarding the application process, details about the curriculum, or what I have to think about the program in general!

Kevinnes85@vt.edu