SGU c/o 2016 Applicants

I haven't seen one of these threads yet so I thought I would start it. Everyone's probably going to get tired of my posts soon

Just curious if those wishing to start in Fall of 2012 have already submitted applications or are still working on them?

Originally Posted by drwildlife

I haven't seen one of these threads yet so I thought I would start it. Everyone's probably going to get tired of my posts soon

Just curious if those wishing to start in Fall of 2012 have already submitted applications or are still working on them?

woohoo SGU!!

Nope I havent started mine and I am planning on applying for August 2012. Have you applied yet???

I will be applying for August admission as well. Only if I don't get into any of the state schools this year!

Originally Posted by caligirl03

Nope I havent started mine and I am planning on applying for August 2012. Have you applied yet???

I have not applied yet because I was going to give my reference peoples some time to take a break haha. I don't want to drive them too crazy!

I have most out it done though. I just need to get references, send transcripts, and finish a few odds and ends.

when does everyone plan on applying??? Like what month??? I'm thinking like March or April!!! This is my number one chose though so I really want to get in.

Originally Posted by caligirl03

when does everyone plan on applying??? Like what month??? I'm thinking like March or April!!! This is my number one chose though so I really want to get in.

I would apply late jan/feb depending upon what you've heard from US schools. I applied at the end of Feb and had an answer by early May, which was good for planning for the summer and booking flights (although the earlier you know the better you can do with flights)

Originally Posted by caligirl03

when does everyone plan on applying??? Like what month??? I'm thinking like March or April!!! This is my number one chose though so I really want to get in.

I would apply as early as possible! It is soooo stressful to find out you got in and only have 20 days til term starts! I am currently an SGU SVM student lemme know if you have questions!
Good luck!

I have an Interview this Saturday 11/26! Ahh!

FINALLY submitted my application. Was having to wait on the funds for my application fee. I remember seeing it somewhere but, can't seem to find it. How long did it take you guys to get an interview invite? Two weeks?

Originally Posted by drwildlife

FINALLY submitted my application. Was having to wait on the funds for my application fee. I remember seeing it somewhere but, can't seem to find it. How long did it take you guys to get an interview invite? Two weeks?

I have submitted mine too, now to get my letters sent in. Have you sent in the whole "packet" yet?

Originally Posted by bbeventer

I have submitted mine too, now to get my letters sent in. Have you sent in the whole "packet" yet?

Nope, but I'm sending them in at the beginning of the week I've already paid for the application fee as well.

And, I don't see this as giving up on the VMCAS applications especially considering SGU is accredited now. I just won't take no for an answer when it comes to pursuing my career and this seems to just be an extensive of that. If that makes sense?

Originally Posted by hollyberry343

I have an Interview this Saturday 11/26! Ahh!

Congrats! I'm waiting for the date of mine. For jan or aug?

I'm on the fence. I'd love to apply, but feel like doing so would be to give up on my VMCAS schools too soon. Thoughts?
I know some of you are in a similar boat to me, did you apply for Jan or August?

Originally Posted by fromthebox

I'm on the fence. I'd love to apply, but feel like doing so would be to give up on my VMCAS schools too soon. Thoughts?
I know some of you are in a similar boat to me, did you apply for Jan or August?

I'm waiting until February to apply. I don't graduate until June, so it works for me

as kind of a heads up, ya'll might want to be careful putting off applying (for august) as it seems SGU has grown in popularity recently (probably has something to do with that acceditation announcement :-p). the incoming jan class has a whopping 85 people currently (record breaking #s for jan classes)

Hi all, I am looking at applying to SGU for a Fall 2012 of Winter 2013 start. Is it too late to apply for Fall 2012? Has everyone already submitted their applications? I am waiting to write my GRE, test date is April - that's why I haven't submitted my application yet. Thanks for the help.

Originally Posted by groff00

Hi all, I am looking at applying to SGU for a Fall 2012 of Winter 2013 start. Is it too late to apply for Fall 2012? Has everyone already submitted their applications? I am waiting to write my GRE, test date is April - that's why I haven't submitted my application yet. Thanks for the help.

The due date for August applications isn't until like June. You still have tons of time, but the sooner you get it submitted, the better, as spots may fill up! Good luck!

SGU is one of my top choices right now. I submitted my application late September for entrance into the 2012 August class, and finished submitting my LoR and other supplemental materials before December. I had a GREAT interview in December and now my application says its under "Final Review" online. I have been checking every single day for it to change and I literally stalk my email every 10 minutes. The wait is killing me!!!! When will I know?!?

Hate to be impatient but...I was told a little over two weeks ago that I'd hear back in one-two weeks about my interview date. I still haven't heard anything. Does this warrant a followup?

Originally Posted by drwildlife

Hate to be impatient but...I was told a little over two weeks ago that I'd hear back in one-two weeks about my interview date. I still haven't heard anything. Does this warrant a followup?

you can certainly try, but from my understanding, they confirm you have an interview and then get in contact with an interviewer. when this has been arranged, they will again contact you with that person's contact info and the two of you will set up a date/time. they may just be waiting to hear back from someone for interviewing

Originally Posted by drwildlife

Hate to be impatient but...I was told a little over two weeks ago that I'd hear back in one-two weeks about my interview date. I still haven't heard anything. Does this warrant a followup?

I'm waiting on my date too. I emailed Krista and she said they have to find out when interviewers will be in your area before they can commit to a date. She said she will email me as soon as she knows anything. I'm sure the same thing goes for you.

Originally Posted by groff00

Hi all, I am looking at applying to SGU for a Fall 2012 of Winter 2013 start. Is it too late to apply for Fall 2012? Has everyone already submitted their applications? I am waiting to write my GRE, test date is April - that's why I haven't submitted my application yet. Thanks for the help.

You can apply before you have your GRE and just state in your application that you haven't taken it yet. I applied 3 days before the deadline and managed to get in.. I also was waiting on my gre scores as well.

I'm with sbrdvm. I definitely want the longer breaks. Also, I've just heard generally worse things about Ross. I feel like they are more concerned with getting your money than the quality of education. Hence the reason why they push you through so fast. I read on the website that they accept about 67% of who they interview, but I have no idea if that's accurate. Good luck! I may see you there in the fall as well!

Ross is pretty awful. They accept too many students on purpose, most probably for the money. Then because of the large class, all the students are placed on a bell curve. Those at the lower end of the curve, regardless if you have pretty good grades, fail out of Ross. That explains their unusually large failing rate for veterinary school. On top of that, the accelerated program makes everything much more stressful and less satisfactory learning environment.
SGU on the otherhand is great. Unlike normal vet schools, if you fail one class for whatever reason you only have to retake that one class, instead of the whole semester. You also do your 4th year at practically any US vet school of your choice. On top of that they have a VERY high passing rate for the Navle and state exams.
My interview was by a graduate from the school who just sent SGU his notes + an essay you have to write just before the interview. It was low stress so I feel like if you got an interview, you have a good chance. I got accepted for Aug 2012 and will be attending if the US schools I applied to rejected me. So far, of the schools I interviewed with UF rejected me and I'll know from Auburn tomorrow. And I have an interview with Virginia in March and I'm waiting on an interview invite from UPenn too. Assuming those fall through, I'm stoked for going to SGU.
How do you all feel about a possible stigma about going to a carribean vet school over one from the US?

Originally Posted by Zpearl

Ross is pretty awful. They accept too many students on purpose, most probably for the money. Then because of the large class, all the students are placed on a bell curve. Those at the lower end of the curve, regardless if you have pretty good grades, fail out of Ross. That explains their unusually large failing rate for veterinary school. On top of that, the accelerated program makes everything much more stressful and less satisfactory learning environment.
SGU on the otherhand is great. Unlike normal vet schools, if you fail one class for whatever reason you only have to retake that one class, instead of the whole semester. You also do your 4th year at practically any US vet school of your choice. On top of that they have a VERY high passing rate for the Navle and state exams.
My interview was by a graduate from the school who just sent SGU his notes + an essay you have to write just before the interview. It was low stress so I feel like if you got an interview, you have a good chance. I got accepted for Aug 2012 and will be attending if the US schools I applied to rejected me. So far, of the schools I interviewed with UF rejected me and I'll know from Auburn tomorrow. And I have an interview with Virginia in March and I'm waiting on an interview invite from UPenn too. Assuming those fall through, I'm stoked for going to SGU.
How do you all feel about a possible stigma about going to a carribean vet school over one from the US?

The drop out rate at Ross has been discussed a lot in this forum. I think you have a very biased opinion about Ross. They do not make a bell curve to fail people. That is just ridiculous. From what has been said on this forum, it seems that you are more "on your own" when it comes to academic success (that's not to say the professors are terrible and don't want to help, I'm sure they are just as a great at state side professors). You also need to consider that being in a totally new world takes a lot of adjustment, and all the while you are thrown into vet school, which is hard and challenging no matter the school. Some people just can't make the two changes at once, and unfortunately decide to leave or cannot pass their exams.
SGU and Ross both have match programs for students to attend selected US veterinary schools for their 4th year of clinics. You are not guaranteed your first choice, so don't get your hopes up of eventually winding up at your IS school.
Both Ross and SGU are great schools. I really hope people take the post I am commenting on with a grain of salt..

Originally Posted by psilovethomas

The drop out rate at Ross has been discussed a lot in this forum. I think you have a very biased opinion about Ross. They do not make a bell curve to fail people. That is just ridiculous. From what has been said on this forum, it seems that you are more "on your own" when it comes to academic success (that's not to say the professors are terrible and don't want to help, I'm sure they are just as a great at state side professors). You also need to consider that being in a totally new world takes a lot of adjustment, and all the while you are thrown into vet school, which is hard and challenging no matter the school. Some people just can't make the two changes at once, and unfortunately decide to leave or cannot pass their exams.
SGU and Ross both have match programs for students to attend selected US veterinary schools for their 4th year of clinics. You are not guaranteed your first choice, so don't get your hopes up of eventually winding up at your IS school.
Both Ross and SGU are great schools. I really hope people take the post I am commenting on with a grain of salt..

yeah i'm gonna have to agree with you-i think they're both great programs, and the adjusting to a completely new world is a big deal. it's an incredible stressor to add in with vet school.

and for quick clarification, SGU does a match program for 4th year schools (application, LORs, you choose top 3, that sort of thing) but at Ross you are placed based on GPA (they go down a list and just line people up

Originally Posted by psilovethomas

The drop out rate at Ross has been discussed a lot in this forum. I think you have a very biased opinion about Ross. They do not make a bell curve to fail people. That is just ridiculous. From what has been said on this forum, it seems that you are more "on your own" when it comes to academic success (that's not to say the professors are terrible and don't want to help, I'm sure they are just as a great at state side professors). You also need to consider that being in a totally new world takes a lot of adjustment, and all the while you are thrown into vet school, which is hard and challenging no matter the school. Some people just can't make the two changes at once, and unfortunately decide to leave or cannot pass their exams.
SGU and Ross both have match programs for students to attend selected US veterinary schools for their 4th year of clinics. You are not guaranteed your first choice, so don't get your hopes up of eventually winding up at your IS school.
Both Ross and SGU are great schools. I really hope people take the post I am commenting on with a grain of salt..

Those of us who have been researching the options in the Caribbean (well at least me) definitely took this with salt. To me the biggest reason Ross is below SGU on my list is cost. Ross is much more expensive than SGU according to the COA spreadsheets. For those looking for a blog similar to Doctor in the Sand about life at Ross try this one: http://mydvmvacation.blogspot.com/

I just hit submit for my application. I applied for January 2013. I'm so nervous... so now I'm just ranting. Has anyone ever got in that had to retake a class? Also, I have yet to take my GRE, scheduled for March. I have a 3.3 GPA so a high GRE would really help. Once again sooo nervous. Also the documentation, copy of the passport, and photograph with the conformation page, did everyone just mail that, or did anyone email that in? This is the only school I want to go to! Okay, ranting again. Good luck everyone else as well and congratulations if you already got in!

Originally Posted by fromthebox

Those of us who have been researching the options in the Caribbean (well at least me) definitely took this with salt. To me the biggest reason Ross is below SGU on my list is cost. Ross is much more expensive than SGU according to the COA spreadsheets. For those looking for a blog similar to Doctor in the Sand about life at Ross try this one: http://mydvmvacation.blogspot.com/

Cool blog!

Sent from my PC36100 using SDN Mobile

Originally Posted by drwildlife

So...my interview is tomorrow everyone. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Those that did interview - did you write out a practice essay before hand? I've always been really good at writing and expressing myself so I haven't done it yet for fear it would just stress me out more haha

I didn't write mine beforehand but I knew what I was going to write about based on the SDN interview feedback questions. My essay was just before the interview. It's a SUPER relaxed interview. It's more of them doing research seeing how you found out about the school and if you're okay with 3rd world living than them grilling you with experience questions. Rock the essay and you'll be great. Good luck!

My essay question (of 3) was about three characteristics that I possess that'll prepare me for veterinary medicine. Pretty easy.

Wow I wasn't even asked my weaknesses. My interviewer and I talked about scuba diving for like most of the time period lol

Originally Posted by Zpearl

Wow I wasn't even asked my weaknesses. My interviewer and I talked about scuba diving for like most of the time period lol

I have a few bad points on my transcript. I think that's why they asked. I only got to talk about my experiences for a little bit and was kind of sad about that. Hoping they like just looking at my resume

Originally Posted by drwildlife

I have a few bad points on my transcript. I think that's why they asked. I only got to talk about my experiences for a little bit and was kind of sad about that. Hoping they like just looking at my resume

Don't be worried. I have a few "C"s here and there that he pointed out. He also noticed I dropped a class. But he was really cool about it. He was like "oh an C in organic chemistry... no big deal.... Oh you dropped Vertebrate Physiology? I don't see why you took that class anyway haha"... So maybe you won't do as bad as you think. I really feel like the weighed portion of the interview was the essay... And you did well on that. So no worries!

Originally Posted by Zpearl

Don't be worried. I have a few "C"s here and there that he pointed out. He also noticed I dropped a class. But he was really cool about it. He was like "oh an C in organic chemistry... no big deal.... Oh you dropped Vertebrate Physiology? I don't see why you took that class anyway haha"... So maybe you won't do as bad as you think. I really feel like the weighed portion of the interview was the essay... And you did well on that. So no worries!

Is the essay mainly judged on whether or not you can write under pressure/in a short period of time?

They didn't tell me specifically. I chose the 3 characteristics essay because it not only could show that I'm a decent writer but also gives them a little bit more about me before making their decision. But im sure any of the topics would do that. Don't worry =P

Originally Posted by drwildlife

Is the essay mainly judged on whether or not you can write under pressure/in a short period of time?

Not sure but as Zpearl is saying, don't worry about it. After I left I realized I didn't even indent my paragraphs... yea! And I got my acceptance e-mail about a week later.

Originally Posted by BadgerBookworm

I applied for August 2012 and had my interview on Feb 11th! Waiting to hear back and was wondering what other people's time frame after the interview was.

I'm anxious and ready to stop waiting! Haha

I think you should hear back soon. I applied super early for August, having my interview in December. I didn't find out until February because they still had to figure out the January acceptances and they were on holiday too. Hopefully more people get accepted soon! They invite you to a facebook group containing your incoming Aug. class members and I'm looking forward to meeting more people in my class!

Just got my second email from Krista letting me know who/where my interview is. Its near Manhattan, KS with a DVM graduate, about a 9 hour drive for me. How long do you think I have before the interview should be done? I am super busy with grad school and spring break might be my next option, mid March.

Originally Posted by Snow Dogz

Just got my second email from Krista letting me know who/where my interview is. Its near Manhattan, KS with a DVM graduate, about a 9 hour drive for me. How long do you think I have before the interview should be done? I am super busy with grad school and spring break might be my next option, mid March.

In my opinion, I would do it ASAP but I'm not sure what the limit was. I was so excited about it that I booked in two weeks from when I found out haha. Spring Break shouldn't be that far away.

I had to drive 5 hours to mine. Oh, the joys of living in the South/Midwest where there is nothing.

Originally Posted by Snow Dogz

Just got my second email from Krista letting me know who/where my interview is. Its near Manhattan, KS with a DVM graduate, about a 9 hour drive for me. How long do you think I have before the interview should be done? I am super busy with grad school and spring break might be my next option, mid March.

who ever you interview with will likely be more than happy to set something up convenient for your schedule and theirs. mine was like 5 weeks after we made contact just because of overlapping availability

Yikes, yeah I only had to drive an hour or so! I still haven't heard yet, because I interviewed, then figured I didn't have to do anything else. Well, krista emailed me about 3.5 weeks later asking when I was planning to have my interview... I was like, ummm, I kinda did it already! Soooo, now I have to wait another 4-5 weeks!!! Ergh, didn't realize I had to tell her I finished my interview!

I feel kinda silly for asking when I would hear last night now...

Got my acceptance email this afternoon!!!



I'm wait listed for Oregon State (as an out of state student) but am pretty positive I'll be going to SGU!!! Yay!!!

Originally Posted by BadgerBookworm

I feel kinda silly for asking when I would hear last night now...

Got my acceptance email this afternoon!!!



I'm wait listed for Oregon State (as an out of state student) but am pretty positive I'll be going to SGU!!! Yay!!!

Wooohoooo! Congrats! I'm getting more and more excited for SGU as time goes on. I've always said it was my number one school choice, even over the US schools. Maybe I'm crazy but, I love everything it has to offer. Just hope they liked me as much as I like them and that I get accepted!

Congrats on those getting acceptances!

-If you guys or any of the ones still waiting or thinking about applying have questions feel free to ask them here or to shoot me a private message. I'm only a first semester student but.. ya learn a lot quick lol.

I love that telling my family and friends usually went like this: Yay! Congrats!...I'm coming to visit!

Gotta love being an excuse for a vacation

Originally Posted by Jadzia

So what are the 3 questions that you can pick for your essay?

You can look those up in the "interview questions" part of SDN... I don't think the vet school is listed but just click on the medical school one and apply the questions to vet medicine.
The essay options were like:
1) Name 3 characteristics about yourself that you feel will prepare you for a career in veterinary medicine.
2) Who is your role model and why?
... There was a 3rd but I don't remember what it was. I thought #1 was easiest.

There is a facebook group for accepted students. Krista will send you a link once you're accepted. The group is SO helpful. It's nice to talk to your fellow classmates and even better to hear all about the island from upperclassmen. There's a lot to consider when moving to the Carribean. I can't wait to go!

Yup, I'm being considered for the last semester foundation too. Although, I'm taking a bunch of science courses this semester in hopes of being considered for a DVM start in August. :crossedfingers: