Gaining Practical Veterinary Experience

This is a common question for those considering applying to veterinary school -- how does one go about earning well-rounded, useful veterinary experiences that will assist not only in learning more about the field, but also aid in the veterinary school application process?

EDTMYERS asks: "I wanted some advice on getting vet experience. I applied [to veterinary school] this year and got turned down, mostly because my animal experience doesn't include any clinical experience. What are some ways for me to get vet experience? Are there some places (clinic versus hospital) that are better than others?"