Summer Panel Series

2025 Summer Student Panel Series

We are pleased to announce the return of our Summer Student Panel Series! These remote sessions will provide you with the opportunity to meet and interact with current veterinary students, admissions staff, and alumni of the Cummings School at Tufts University. We kindly request that you register in advance. A registration link will be provided the day before the scheduled session.

My Path to Vet School
Lifelong goal or newer interest--there are multiple paths that can lead to admission and a successful career. Hear current students' stories about their direct and winding routes to vet school.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
8:00 pm EDT
Watch Zoom recording here

Being Queer in Vet Med: Vet School at Tufts as a Member of the LGBTQ+ Community
An open dialogue with members of the LGBTQ+ student community at Cummings School. Our students describe how their identities shaped their experiences in veterinary medicine and their time at Tufts/Central Massachusetts.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
8:00 pm EDT
Watch Zoom recording here

The Art of the Essay
Led by Cummings School admissions counselor Maddy Yardumian, this session will help candidates best approach the VMCAS personal statement as well as supplemental essays.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
8:00 pm EDT

How Clinical Skills Became My Favorite Class
From animal handling and physical exams to mock client interviews, dentistry labs, and live surgeries, no wonder Clinical Skills is a cherished part of the curriculum. Students describe how their competence and confidence developed on our farm and in our simulation labs and surgery suites.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
8:00 pm EDT

Doing Well and Well-Being: A Balancing Act
Veterinary school can be challenging in many ways; join us as current veterinary students speak candidly about how they handle the demands of vet school while still making time for themselves.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
8:00 pm EDT

The New Curriculum--One Year In
Rising second-year students look back at their first year at Cummings School and hear their impressions of our revised curriculum.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
8:00 pm EDT

Open Q&A
Come armed with your questions about veterinary school and Tufts! Topics may include work opportunities, student wellness, clubs, dual degrees, curriculum, campus culture, and life in Grafton, MA. Make this session your own.
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
8:00 pm EDT

Past Summer Student Panel Series

  • Getting Involved on Campus: Student Clubs and Organizations
    From shelter medicine to the running club, come learn about the various groups on campus that help students explore veterinary interests, promote student well-being, and develop a sense of community.
    Thursday, June 15, 2023
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here

    Being Non-White in a White Profession
    An open dialog with Cummings School students of color. Hear them describe their experiences in veterinary medicine, their time at Tufts, and living in central Massachusetts.
    Thursday, June 29, 2023
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here

    Essay Writing 101
    Led by Cummings School admissions counselor Maddy Yardumian, this session will help candidates recognize how to best approach personal statements and supplemental essays.
    Thursday, July 13, 2023
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here

    From White Coat to Graduation Gown
    Fourth year can be both the most exciting and stressful time in a vet student's academic career. This panel will discuss the clinical year at Cummings School, covering topics such as transitioning to clinical rotations, preparing for the NAVLE, setting up externships, and applying for jobs and internships.
    Thursday, July 27, 2023
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here

    Introducing the Redesigned Curriculum
    Led by Dr. Alastair Cribb, Dean of Cummings School, this information session will introduce the redesigned curriculum slated for fall 2024. This curriculum aims to maximize knowledge retention, enhance clinical competency, and improve student and faculty wellbeing. An emphasis on clinical relevance and clinical reasoning will prepare students for clinics. Highlights include the significance of research to veterinary medicine, animal welfare, diversity, One Health, professional identity, spectrum of care, and international veterinary medicine.
    Thursday, August 10, 2023
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here

    Open Q&A
    Come armed with your questions about veterinary school and Tufts! Topics may include work opportunities, student wellness, clubs, dual degrees, curriculum, life in Grafton, MA, and choosing Tufts. Make this session your own.
    Thursday, August 24, 2023
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here

  • If at First You Don't Succeed...
    Hear from current Cummings School students who did not receive an offer of admission during their first application cycle. They will discuss their personal experiences with reapplying, changes in strategy, and where they focused their attention and resources to improve their candidacy. We hope this panel will strike the right balance of helpful information and positivity.
    Wednesday, June 12, 2024
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here

    What to Expect during Clinical Rotations
    What is it that students do in clinics before becoming doctors? How do clinical rotations work? In which areas of the veterinary profession do students gain exposure? How do students prepare for the transition from classroom to clinics? Current fourth-year students and recent graduates will share their thoughts on the challenges and thrills of clinics and how they honed in on their professional interests during the final 15 months of vet school.
    Wednesday, June 26, 2024
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here

    VMCAS Dos and Don'ts
    Your college coursework is completed, you have gained veterinary experience, and now you're ready to tackle the VMCAS application. You'll want to take full advantage of each opportunity that the VMCAS application presents. Join our admissions counselors as they go through the VMCAS application and learn how to stand out for all the right reasons.
    Wednesday, July 10, 2024
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here

    The Road Less Traveled: Non-traditional Careers in Veterinary Medicine
    Our alumni will showcase some of the less common but exciting career paths in the veterinary profession. They will speak on the role of veterinarian in unique settings, favorite aspects of their jobs, and the key moments during veterinary school that helped to shape the direction of their careers.
    Wednesday, July 24, 2024
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here

    Why I Chose Tufts
    We revisit a popular topic with all new participants! Current vet students will reflect on the factors that led to their choice to join the Cummings community as they share their experiences since enrollment.
    Wednesday, August 7, 2024
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here

    Open Q&A
    Come armed with your questions about veterinary school and Tufts! Topics may include work opportunities, student wellness, clubs, dual degrees, curriculum, campus culture, and life in Grafton, MA. Make this session your own.
    Wednesday, August 21, 2024
    8:00 pm EDT
    Watch Zoom recording here