One question that lingers in the minds of many aspiring and practicing veterinarians is this:
“Does it really matter where you studied vet med?”
The reality?
Some people think it does.
Especially at the beginning—when you’re applying for internships, jobs, or even trying to win the trust of clients.
You’ll hear things like, “Oh, you’re from UP?” or “Oh, just a private school?”
And just like that, you’re boxed, sized up, and silently judged.
But in the real world of veterinary practice—how much does your school name truly matter?
Advertisements & Promos
The Truth: Yes, There Is Bias
Let’s be honest. In the Philippines, some schools are more established, have a longer legacy, or produce more board topnotchers. That reputation sometimes works like a golden ticket.
So yes, bias exists.
Some people will trust a vet more just because of the school name attached to their diploma.
But here’s the truth:
Your school might open the door, but it’s your heart and hands that will keep it open.
In Practice, Everyone Starts Equal
Once you step out of the classroom and into real-life practice, the school on your diploma fades into the background. What matters more is:
How well do you care? How much do you know? How willing are you to keep learning?
No sick dog will ask if you graduated from the “best” school.
No cat fighting for its life will check your resume.
Pet owners won’t remember your board rating, but they will remember how you treated them—with empathy, skill, and integrity.
I’ve met incredible vets from lesser-known schools who outperformed expectations and gained the respect of their peers and communities.
On the other hand, I’ve seen top graduates who became burnt out, disconnected, or careless.
Your vet school does not define you. Your values do.
Advertisements & Promos
The Pain of Being Judged
Being judged because of your school can sting.
It hurts when people see you as “less” just because you didn’t come from a “prestigious” university.
But here’s what you must remember: You are not your school.
You are your grit.
Your work ethic.
Your passion.
Some of the best veterinarians I know didn’t come from the top schools—they came from struggle, from humility, from the deep desire to heal and serve.
Every Vet Has Their Own Path
Veterinary medicine is not a competition. It is a calling.
And that calling does not choose based on campus name.
What matters is how you wake up each day to help the sick.
How you dedicate time to learning and improving.
How you treat every life entrusted to your care with honor and compassion.
And To Those Who Judge Others Based on School…
Let’s ask this: Does coming from a big-name school automatically make someone a better vet?
Or have you also worked with brilliant, kind, and dedicated colleagues from “unknown” schools who continue to make a difference?
This isn’t about blaming others. It’s an invitation to reflect.
We all have something unique to offer. Our greatness as veterinarians doesn’t come from where we started—but from how we show up every single day.
Advertisements & Promos
A Message to Every Vet Student and Young Vet
If you’re being doubted because of where you came from—don’t let that break you.
Let it fuel you. Let it sharpen your focus.
Prove that your success is built not on prestige, but on purpose.
And if you’re a vet who already walked this road—be the voice of encouragement. Be the kind of colleague who lifts others up, not the kind that looks down.
Because in the end, your school may be part of your story—but it is not your whole story.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
Sharing this helps others understand what it really means to be a vet. Like and follow if you’re with us.
