Having completed 4th year externships with students from other schools, it is painfully obvious that other students get far more hands-on experience than students in Virginia do.   It's ridiculous that when I was a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year veterinary student I was only allowed to do the same things that I did as a high school student working in kennels. Several of my classmates are applying for jobs out of state, and there are many out of state students applying for jobs in Virginia.  Our lack of experience puts us at a distinct disadvantage in the job market.   While we have plenty of book knowledge, our lack of technical skills is a huge problem for us when trying to enter the workforce.