Vivian Tran, Current VMD Candidate
BU Major/Minor and Graduation Date:
Human Physiology and minor in Biology, May 2020
Current School/Program & Class Year:
UPenn School of Veterinary Medicine, VMD May 2024
Preferred Pronouns:
she/her/hers
Hometown:
Boston, MA
What school are you attending and what you are studying? Why did you choose to apply to this school? What do you think makes your school unique?
After BU, I went straight to UPenn School of Veterinary Medicine to earn my VMD. I applied to UPenn for some typical reasons: it’s in a fun city, it would grant me access to extensive resources across its 12 schools, and it shares my enthusiasm for research and public health. I’m also passionate about serving underprivileged communities, so I knew that being in Philadelphia would allow me to gear my studies and career towards health threats targeted at those of low socioeconomic status. UPenn became my top school once they announced the launch of their dual-degree VMD/MS program, which was unique to all the schools I researched.
Is there a specialization and/or specific population you are interested in? Why? How did you get into it and/or learn more about it?
I’m interested in becoming Board Certified in Shelter Medicine, which means that my goal is to work with shelters and low-cost clinics to protect vulnerable animals on an individual level, but also to inhibit the spread of infectious diseases on a community level. I became interested in this after volunteering at MSPCA in high school. Since then, I’ve learned more from discussing my options with veterinarians of all fields and referencing the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners website.
What are one or two of your favorite experiences/activities and why?
My favorite experiences in my veterinary career so far have been learning how to hospitalize animals with infectious diseases and adjusting my treatments based on affordability. For example, I saw dogs with Canine Parvovirus (a disease with a 90% mortality rate if untreated) probably 3x per week this summer. Despite each case having the same etiology, every client has a different goal in mind. Therefore, I’ve learned a lot about being strategic with my resources to cater to individual animals in a way that is life-saving while minimizing discrimination against those who cannot afford the ideal “checklist” treatment.
Did you take a gap year?
I did not take a gap year.
What was your favorite BU course and why?
SO100 with Professor Go! I think that everyone, regardless of major, should be required to take a sociology course, especially in a time where more injustice is exposed every day. It enlightens you about how you perceive the world, forces you to reflect on where your biases stem from, and inspire you to make actionable changes for the greater good.
Were you involved in any clubs/groups at BU?
I was the vice-president of BU PALS (BU Pre-Veterinary Society). It was a great space to learn about my projected career from peers and mentors, while also serving as a resource for other pre-veterinary students.
Have you always known you wanted to be a veterinarian? What/who has been your biggest inspiration?
I had a few possible career paths that I considered, such as astronaut and teacher. However, nothing was ever a consistent possibility in my head besides becoming a veterinarian. My interest in the field started when my childhood dog, Tofu, became diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. His veterinarian guided me through treatments as we monitored his blood pressure, administered daily insulin, and sustained his exercise. I like to think of Tofu as my first patient.
What resources at BU did you find most helpful or want to spotlight that others might not know about?
I genuinely think that the Pre-Professional Advising Office was the most helpful. I remember approaching my advisor with confidence in one hand and the first draft of my application essays in the other. I was so sure that I nailed it – she shot me down. She reminded me that these essays are the Committee’s first (and possibly only) impression of me, so I needed to consider where I came from, where I wanted to go, and how that related to veterinary medicine. I walked out of the office feeling disillusioned, but in hindsight, I’m very grateful for that advice because my initial essays were awful. I completely re-worked them and we found a mutual interest in my final drafts. Without that advice, I doubt I would have changed much and I doubt I would have made it this far.
What are your hobbies/What do you like to do for fun outside of the classroom?
I love cooking, binge-watching sitcoms, meeting my friends and our dogs at dog parks, and attending concerts/music festivals (when it was safer). My current hobby is working on a digital cookbook of my grandma’s authentic Vietnamese recipes, which she only has memorized.
Are there any tips/advice you would like to share with current pre-health students?
If grades are a worry, I would research your schools either online or through student admissions advisors. Unfortunately, some schools strictly look at applicants as a ranked number based only on scores. Other schools are willing to forgive if you have a great attitude and a meaningful goal. If this applies to you, maybe consider the strategy of applying to schools that have a more holistic view of applicants.
Also, I would advise minimizing comparisons where possible. I remember feeling like every school was a “reach,” and that I was just an ordinary person with no story to tell and subpar grades. I think that comparing yourself to perfect prodigies induces unnecessary stress that casts a shadow of a doubt. At the end of the day, failing to submit that application is probably worse than wondering if you could have made it. You will always be okay and adjust your plan as needed!