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Student Profiles

Anant Andy Banerjee

BSc /BVetMed Combined Programme - Year 1

Andy BanerjeeWhen applying for vet schools last year, the RVC stuck out because of the courses they offered and the fact that the College was in London.  Having lived in London for seven years previously, the chance to stay, live and learn in London was something I couldn’t pass up.  The college offered me the opportunity to study both veterinary science and veterinary medicine (the D101 course), as research is one of my interests.

I had taken 4 A2-levels in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Further Mathematics, and Spanish at AS.  Luckily I managed to get A’s in all of them and my offer from the RVC for the D101 course was ABB.

In terms of work experience, I worked for a week at a diagnostic laboratory, observing post mortems and routine laboratory work. I went to Devon to help on a sheep and cow farm during lambing and calving season.  I saw practice at two different small animal practices, and spent one week at a mixed practice in Devon.  I was given the opportunity to go on the EVS February 2006 course. I worked for six months as a volunteer at the disabled riding trust, and was 'Zookeeper for the Day' at Colchester Zoo.  I have also worked at the London Guide Dogs Trust centre as a volunteer.

I got all my work experience through a series of different contacts and chance really. I got my mixed animal practice work placement through a pine furniture delivery!

My interview at the RVC was probably the best interview I had of the four.  They challenged me but at the same time were incredibly friendly and helpful.  On the interview day I was looked after well and felt welcomed.  What really separated the RVC interview experience for me was the fact that they didn’t make pre-conceptions from my UCAS form for the interview; the interviewers took real time getting to know more about me in general than what was on my personal statement, but still made some reference to it.  At other universities I didn’t feel as welcomed and in the case of one I was really put off going to the university after the interview, even though I held the university in high regard.  A lot of people back home thought it was strange for an Asian person to be interested in Veterinary Medicine and want to pursue a career in it.  Most thought going into Medicine or doing Dentistry was the way to go, but I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to be a vet. There’s an incredible thrill and sense of real achievement when you see an animal that is clearly ill and through your knowledge and perseverance, the animal makes a recovery; in my mind that’s what the profession really speaks out about.

The best thing about studying at the RVC is the heritage of the University.  The fact that it is the oldest vet school in the country means that the level of advancement in the field has increased the most through the work at the University, and the research being conducted here has diverse clinical applications. 

The staff here at the RVC are incredibly helpful, full of knowledge and are friendly. You get a sense that the staff are willing to put themselves out for you to further your personal understanding of the knowledge given – even over coffee at Costa!  The lecturers are fantastic, and really teach and drive understanding of their subject rather than reiterating their own research of findings.   

So far in the course we’ve gone over generalised animal form and function, going through the different body systems in the healthy animal.  Much of it serves to bridge the gap in some A2 courses to ensure everyone is at the same level to progress though the course.  We’ve also just started a module on Cell Biology.  The modules progress through dissections and practical work in the state-of-the-art laboratories the RVC has to offer.

The RVC has a plethora of different clubs and societies on offer, and are all publicised during the infamous Freshers' Week.  The library is a huge area for socialisation (in between lectures), and there’s also the SU common room.  Also, since the RVC is a member of the University of London, there’s the scope to venture out of the RVC and join other ULU clubs and societies.  I’m a member of the ULU Men’s Lacrosse team, and am also part of the Zoological Society (always a popular society), as well as the Farm Animal Clinical Club.  I’m also the Treasurer of the new RVC Veterinary Business Management Association which I’ve had a hand in setting up this year.  Also, I’m the D101 Year 1 representative for the RVC Student Union, which meets up to discuss issues in College.  And there are added benefits being at a university where there is an 85% population of girls!

The atmosphere here is great.  Everyone is really willing to socialise and there isn’t a division between people in different years or on different courses – I know quite a lot of people in various years and various courses. London is a fantastic city, full of diversity and culture.  Nightlife in London is unparalleled to anywhere else in the country – but don’t think that’s all London has to offer.  The range of different museums and exhibition halls here is huge, and you’ll come across something new in London every day that you never knew was there before (often it was just there and you weren’t looking properly).

In the 3rd year of the BSc Veterinary Sciences course you get the chance to do a chosen module either at the RVC or at King’s College London.  I hope to do the Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Disease module, because I have a real interest in Cardiology, and may even pursue that after qualifying with the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree.  Surgery is also a real interest of mine, but I think immediately after qualifying I’d like to work in a mixed practice for a few years just to get settled into the profession.

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