At Chewy Health, our mission is to be the most trusted and convenient destination for pet parents and partners everywhere. We know that starts with you—the future veterinarians who will care for these pets. That’s why we’re so excited to sponsor VetPrep’s PowerPrep program, which provides ten in-depth sessions, led by subject matter experts, to prepare you for topics you’re likely to encounter on your NAVLE exam. The entire program is available on-demand so you can easily work it into that crazy busy schedule of yours. The best part? We’ve made it free for every veterinary student!
We want to give you the knowledge, and confidence, to crush your exam.
In December of 2000, I was part of the very first class ever to take the NAVLE on a computer! The test took place in a learning center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They put each of us into our own little booth with our huge computers, gave us some instructions, and wished us luck.
I don’t think we could go back to a question, so once you clicked ‘submit’, you had to move on. I distinctly remember one question showed an x-ray of an equine thorax and we had to write in our diagnosis. The picture was tiny and grainy—the size of a credit card—and I couldn’t even zoom in. So, I just had to guess. Fairly certain I diagnosed it as fungal disease, who knows if I was right or not!
Needless to say, not a single person in that Baton Rouge learning center had any idea whether they had passed or not. We all went out for pizza to celebrate and blow off some steam, just relieved it was all finally over. Thankfully, I did pass on the first try, so I didn’t have to go through that again!
Now, despite our NAVLE experiences having some key differences—like I had to take my exam on a computer the size of a woolly mammoth — some things we still have in common. But, I think, the best way I can prepare you for the journey ahead, is to tell you what not to do.
- Don’t stay up until an ungodly hour trying to cram four years’ worth of knowledge into one week. It won’t work. Your brain needs sleep!
- Don’t experiment with study styles if you’ve found methods that work for you. Studying with classmates can be great, but you should prioritize your learning style.
- Don’t study with distractions around you. I tried studying at my mom’s for a bit, but with homecooked meals, dogs, and old friends popping by for a visit, I didn’t get around to much studying. Breaks are important. But when it’s time to study, make sure your environment is set up for your success.
- Don’t get overwhelmed Break down your study topics, create a schedule for yourself, and stick to it.
- Don’t plan to answer every single question. If you get stuck, beating yourself up in the moment won’t help. Read it carefully, breathe deeply, answer to the best of your abilities, and move on. Missing one question isn’t going to make or break it. But panicking can throw you off for the rest of the exam.
- Don’t overlook useful tools at your disposal, like PowerPrep! Lots of time, expertise and effort has been put into creating this program. So, make the most of them, and make sure your classmates take advantage of them too!
Now go crush the NAVLE! – Dr. Katy Nelson, Chewy Health
