As a first year student, I can already say that my hands-on experience from working under the supervision of veterinarians in Maryland has been invaluable to my educational experience. From my hands-on experience I make lasting connections between the information that I learn in the classroom and the actual clinical applications of that knowledge. It is difficult to get considerable one-on-one instruction from our professors and there is limited time to perfect clinical skills under the beneficial supervision of a knowledgeable DVM. Proficiency comes with practice and I think that many students do not feel that they have the opportunity within the curriculum to hone the technical skills that are essential to the profession. Allowing veterinary students to participate in experiential learning under the supervision of a veterinarian outside of the school before they get to 4th year will greatly improve the clinical confidence and practical knowledge of those students, making them more confident and effective veterinarians upon graduation.