Today

Upon graduating from MSU, Kent Vince participated in a year-long ambulatory internship at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. He then entered the U.S. Army to complete his service obligation as an ROTC undergraduate. He is currently a captain providing veterinary care for military animals and working in food safety in the Middle East.

What he said then (2000)

Age: 27

Hometown:
Rochester Hills, Mich.

Undergrad & Degree:
Bachelor of science in animal science from Michigan State University, Dec. 1996

Do you have a spouse or significant other?
Single, but I do have an awesome girlfriend.

How did you become interested in veterinary medicine?
My uncle Jack gave me two baby chickens when I was 8 years old. That exposed my passion for animals and piqued my interest in helping them when they were ill. I eventually began to raise sheep and had a few other random animals like rabbits, quail, ducks and a goat (in addition to dogs and cats).

When did you know you wanted to be a vet?
Shortly after I had my first two chickens. I was still about 8 years old. I was very active in 4-H while growing up and that exposed me to all kinds of animals and veterinary medicine.

What did it take for you to get into vet school? How did you prepare?
It took me a lot of hard work, lots of studying, patience and determination. I didn't get into vet school on the first try so I tried again. However I wasn't accepted on the second try either. Luckily the third time was a charm, and I was accepted to vet school. My 4-H and hobby-farming background helped me understand animals in a way that no book could ever explain. That was probably the most important factor in prepping myself to become a veterinarian. I also think that my degree in animal science helped me out a lot, plus I worked for a couple of years at the MSU Sheep Teaching and Research Center. I worked for a couple of summers with a veterinarian in my hometown and I also rode around with a few large animal vets while I was in high school. Gaining those experiences showed me that veterinarians work hard and that veterinary medicine was something I definitely wanted to pursue.

Tell us about yourself. What do you do when you're not studying or involved in cases? What do you love to do?
We're here for a good time, not a long time! When I'm not studying or involved with a case, I love to relax! This can be in the form of working out — like hockey!), skiing, rollerblading, swimming and other fun sports. Basically I love to be outdoors. I also find it very fun to watch Michigan State sporting events. I will always bleed green and be a true Spartan. I like to hang out with my friends and family. Some of the friendships I have made in vet school will last a lifetime. I also love to travel. I hope someday to travel to all the continents of the world and visit many fascinating countries and discover many cultures. I would love to be able to travel to many countries in the name of veterinary medicine.

Who are your heroes?
My parents and Colin Powell. What I admire about Colin Powell is how he came from a humble background and rose to become extremely successful in the military and now in the U.S. government. Like Gen. Powell, I was in Army ROTC in college, and I like knowing that he rose to the top of his field through hard work, dedication and perseverance. I admire my folks for being married for more than 40 years and raising a great family. I have one brother and one sister, and we're all successful at what we do. My parents encouraged each of us to pursue our passions. They supported my early interest in animals by moving out of the city so that my animal collection could expand.

Describe your pets.
Oskar is a 2 1/2-year-old male Weimaraner. He's kind of neurotic — has a lot of little habits that I find very interesting. He's really athletic and full of energy! Wally is a 2-year-old male golden retriever. He's more my style ... very laid-back, loves to go for a car ride and have his lips flap in the breeze as he hangs his head out the window. Wally is definitely a great buddy and always wants to be petted.

What's it like working with cameras all the time?
Fun! I had a lot of fun with the camera crews. I just wonder what the blooper show is going to look like!

What advice do you have for those who want to go to vet school?
Be ready for a lot of hard work! There will be many sleepless nights studying and cramming for examinations. Not to mention the many late nights at the clinic caring for patients and taking care of emergencies. Be persistent and never give up on your dreams and goals. The body will achieve what the mind believes. You should be a people-person to be a veterinarian. Yes, I will work with animals during my career, however, it's the owners who can talk, and not their pets. Don't ever try to become a vet because of fame and fortune. Being pooped on isn't all that glamorous, and vets don't make a whole heck of a lot of money.

Sacrifices:
TIME. The past nine years of school, four in vet school, have all been geared toward achieving the goal of becoming a vet. I've also invested a lot of money into my education, and I'll probably be paying off student loans until I'm 83. But I think the time and money I've invested in my education will pay off in the long run.

What's your favorite way to spend a rainy Saturday?
I love to watch any Michigan State sporting event, especially hockey, basketball and football. Like I said before, I am a true Spartan fan.

What's your favorite TV show?
Seinfeld. Unfortunately it's only on in reruns now. But I really don't watch very much TV because vet school consumes a lot of my time.

What's your favorite vacation ever?
My buddy Luke Miller and I packed his truck and drove out west through 19 states. We covered 10,000 miles in 42 days. We camped in some of the most beautiful places this country has to offer, and also stayed with many friends and family members along the way. Some highlights from the trip include the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Arizona's Grand Canyon, the California coast and majestic redwoods, Mount St. Helens, Old Faithful and Mount Rushmore. Luke and I had talked about going to Europe, but we decided to discover America first. And I'm so glad we did. It was great to see how beautiful and vast our country is.

If you weren't a veterinarian, what would you be?
Hmm ... I don't know. I'd probably still be trying to get into vet school. However, I really like making things, so I think I might be a carpenter. It's pretty amazing how someone can transform a living tree into a beautiful piece of art, yet that piece of art can also be very functional, such as serving as a chest of drawers.