Help Kayci Become a Veterinarian!

Hi, my name is Kayci, and I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I can remember—quite literally! There has never been a moment when I considered another career path or doubted that this was my calling.

Growing up in Jamaica, I was surrounded by animals—dogs, turtles, hamsters, birds, guinea pigs, rabbits… you name it. But when they got sick, I quickly realized how little veterinary care was available, especially for exotic animals. Despite the flourishing exotic pet trade, there was almost no medical support for these animals. Seeing this firsthand solidified my dream of becoming a veterinarian - specifically an exotics veterinarian - to help fill this critical gap.

MY JOURNEY TO VET SCHOOL

In 2019, I ventured from warm, sunny Jamaica all the way to snowy Wisconsin to study at Lawrence University. There, I obtained a dual bachelor’s degree in biology and biochemistry, prepping myself for my future career and absorbing all the knowledge I could. Currently, I am working as a veterinary assistant in Washington State to gain experience in the field. Through this position, I have learned many practical skills and gained an even deeper love and appreciation for the veterinary field, all while working alongside some amazing veterinary professionals! While I love my job as an assistant, it is just a steppingstone propelling me towards my ultimate goal. I yearn to be able to do more in helping animals and their owners thrive; I yearn to be a veterinarian!

Thus, in September of 2024, I applied to eight veterinary schools across the U.S., Europe, and the Caribbean. Unfortunately, Jamaican institutions do not currently offer any veterinary programs. So far, I have been accepted into five schools, including two of my top choices: St. George’s University (SGU) in Grenada, and Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in England! (I will continue updating my acceptances in the excel sheet below for anyone interested in tracking my progress!)

WHY I NEED YOUR HELP

While I am incredibly grateful for my acceptances, I now face the daunting challenge of funding my education. Veterinary school is expensive, with tuition costs ranging from $220,000 to over $300,000 USD for the whole program. As an international student and non-US citizen, my scholarship, grant, and loan options are extremely limited. I do not qualify for any American student aid or federal loans, and have a very small selection of private loans at my disposal (which I am unable to obtain without a cosigner). Additionally, I’m not able to work more than one job unless each job is at least 20 hours/week. My current job is 40 hours/week, and it would be quite difficult to work another for a minimum of 20hrs/wk with my current schedule. I must also only work jobs that are related to my degrees/majors from college.

Around this time last year, I had gotten into one of my dream schools, the University of Guelph in Canada, but was not able to attend due to the high costs and no way of securing funds in time. My hope for this year is to not have a repeat of that situation.

SGU’s total tuition alone is around $237,000 USD, while RVC is around $243,000 USD. This does not include fees for textbooks, housing, and other necessities. Thus, to finally make my dream a reality, I am setting my fundraising goal at $40,000 USD. While this in and of itself is a daunting number, reaching this goal will help me cover my first year, bringing me one step closer to giving back to the animals that inspired me in the first place.

I will continue exploring every possible funding option, but any contribution, no matter how small, will bring me closer to my dream. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page with others would mean the world to me!

Thank you for your time, kindness, and support—I appreciate it more than I can ever express.

With gratitude,

Kayci

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