During the first three years of veterinary school, students acquire an enormous amount of knowledge. When the final, fourth-year rolls around, students are expected to apply this knowledge all at once, with little or no previous practice in doing simple clinical skills.  Allowing veterinary students to get more hands-on experience under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian is a great way to allow students to get more practice with critical clinical skills.  That way, when foruth year rolls around, studnets can focus on applying their medical and surgical skills without being hung up trying to elarn basic clinical skills.  More experience earlier will lead to more competent fourth-year students, and more competent graduating veterinarians.