Welcome to The Vet Grad

Veterinary school teaches you how to diagnose, treat, and care for animals.The Vet Grad exists to teach you everything else.

Created by Dr. Dave Nicol — veterinary surgeon, mentor, and author of So You’re a Vet… Now What? — this site is here to support veterinary students and early-career vets as they build careers that are not just clinically competent, but sustainable, confident, and genuinely fulfilling.

After more than two decades mentoring graduates, one thing has become clear: the vets who thrive long-term are not the ones who learn clinical skills fastest — they’re the ones who master the non-clinical foundations early. Skills like negotiation, communication, conflict management, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, boundary-setting, and the confidence to stretch beyond their comfort zone in healthy, intentional ways.

The Vet Grad brings all of that together in one place — practical, honest guidance to help you build the mindset, skills, and resilience needed for an amazing career in veterinary medicine.

You can get started here in three ways:
 

1. Read the book — So You’re a Vet… Now What?

2. Take the course — a 12-module, structured, course that will teach you everything you need.

3. Listen to the podcast — real conversations about the realities of life as a vetNo fluff.Lis

No clichés. Just the stuff you actually need — taught early, and taught properly.