Veterinary Technology Personal Statement Rubric
Personal Statement
Please write a statement, no more than two pages in length, which explains your motivation for applying to the veterinary technology program, and why you believe you would be both a successful student and a successful veterinary technician. In your statement, provide answers to the following questions:
- What is your understanding of the role of a veterinary technician and how has this understanding led you to pursue a career in veterinary technology?
- What experiences have you had that illustrate your ability to provide empathetic and compassionate care for animals?
- What previous educational experiences have prepared you to undertake the rigorous coursework needed to become a veterinary technician?
- What potential challenges do you anticipate encountering as a veterinary technology program student and how will your strengths help you overcome those challenges?
If you wish, you may answer each question in a separate paragraph, or you may integrate answers to all four questions within the statement. Statement should be in 12-point font, with at least 1-inch margins on each side, top and bottom.
Veterinary Technology Personal Statement Rubric
Instructions:
- Enter full name
- Select Date
- Enter Total Points
- Print for your records
| Criteria | Possible Points | Calculated Points |
|---|---|---|
| What is your understanding of the role of a veterinary technician and how has this understanding led you to pursue a career in veterinary technology? | 3 = Explanation strongly conveys passion and interest, with specific examples cited
that illustrate candidate's desire, interest in, and knowledge of the career of veterinary
technology. 2 = Explanation conveys passion and interest, with few examples given
to illustrate depth of interest in and knowledge of the career of veterinary technology. 1 = Explanation weakly conveys passion and interest with examples deficient in illustrating depth of interest in and knowledge of the career of veterinary technology. 0 = Explanation gives no examples that illustrate depth of passion, interest, and knowledge of the career of veterinary technology. |
Total possible = 3 |
| What experiences have you had that illustrate your ability to provide empathetic and compassionate care for animals? | 3 = Well-developed experience(s) cited that strongly and directly illustrate the candidate's
empathy and compassion towards animals. 2 = Experience cited illustrates the candidate's empathy and compassion towards animals. 1 = Candidate writes a cogent statement about why they would be empathetic and compassionate towards animals but does not provide any examples. 0 = Candidate provides little to no evidence showing that they can be empathetic and compassionate towards animals. |
Total possible = 3 |
| What previous educational experiences have prepared you to undertake the rigorous coursework needed to become a veterinary technician? | 3 = Experience cited provides strong evidence that the candidate can handle rigorous
academic work at the collegiate level and excel. 2 = Experience cited illustrates seriousness and dedication on the part of the candidate, suggesting that they will be able to handle rigorous academic work. 1 = Candidate communicates a seriousness and sense of dedication, suggesting that they are capable, but provides little to no evidence to support their statement. 0 = Candidate fails to explain why they are prepared to undertake academic work at the collegiate level. |
Total possible = 3 |
| What potential challenges do you anticipate encountering as a veterinary technology program student and how will your strengths help you overcome those challenges? | 2 = Candidate clearly illustrates potential challenges and provides strong examples
of how they will be handled. 1 = Candidate provides weak illustration of potential challenges and how they will be handled. 0.5 = Candidate fails to illustrate both potential challenges and how they will be handled. 0 = Candidate does not illustrate potential challenges or explain how they will be handled. |
Total possible = 2 |
| Quality of statement | 2 = Statement is written in an engaging manner with appropriate style and very minor
to no grammatical errors 1 = Statement is clear and conveys answers with few to no grammatical errors 0.5 = Statement does not clearly convey answers to all letter of interest criteria 0 = Statement is not clearly written and/or has significant grammatical errors. Statement exceeds two pages. |
Total possible = 2 |
| Total Points: |
Updated September 2026