title: Impact of gender and race-ethnicity on reasons for pursuing a career in veterinary medicine and career aspirations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of gender and race-ethnicity on reasons applicants to the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine and their career aspirations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Personal statements from 694 veterinary medical school applications submitted in 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Personal statements were read by investigators to identify the turning point for each applicant's decision to pursue a career in veterinary medicine and each applicant's intended career path.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Veterinary practice experience and animal ownership were the most frequently stated reasons for pursuing a veterinary career; differences were not identified between males and females. More Caucasian applicants than underrepresented minority (URM) applicants stated veterinary practice experience and more URM applicants than Caucasian applicants cited animal ownership as a reason for pursuing a veterinary career. Many applicants did not cite a specific career path within veterinary medicine; applicants who indicated a career path most often cited veterinary practice. More females than males stated an interest in equine medicine, and more Caucasian applicants than URM applicants indicated an interest in mixed animal practice. More URM applicants than Caucasian applicants indicated a desire to pursue specialty training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggested that veterinary practice experience and animal ownership were important factors influencing applicants' decision to pursue a veterinary career, but many applicants had not selected a specific career path. Opportunities exist to influence the decisions of individuals to become veterinarians and the selection of specific career paths within the veterinary profession.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Administration, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 4790, USA. amasss@purdue.edu
authors.forename: Sandra F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Amass
authors.forename: Kauline S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: S Kathleen
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Salisbury
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Weisman
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004520:Education, Veterinary; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009042:Motivation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000523:psychology*; D014730:Veterinary Medicine; D000078329:Workforce