Undergrad considering Vet School instead of Master's...help?

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Okay, so here's the story. I'm an undergrad student at GVSU (school in MI) about to graduate in December with a BS in biology, and a minor in anthropology. I transferred from Eckerd, a small liberal arts college in FL at the end of my sophomore year to GVSU, and my transfer status, along with some health issues, have delayed my anticipated graduation date by a semester, so it will have taken me 4 1/2 years total to graduate.

My first two years at Eckerd were hell GPA-wise. It's not my intention to have myself a downright pity-party be relaying my sob-story, but I (at the time) had a case of chronic Lyme disease that went undiagnosed for 3 years. I clearly remember getting the tick bite 2-3 weeks before freshman year started up (perfect timing! ), and really struggled with debilitating pain, weakness, and extreme fatigue for the following 3 years. I was in and out of the ER regularly due to paralysis that would arise from the Lyme, and it continued to grow worse until the disease was identified and treated (just recently). In retrospect, I should've probably withdrew from college and focused on my health, but I was so dead-set on graduating within 4 years with a double major (was bio and anthro at the time), I bit the bullet and took a full course-load every semester.

My grades reflected that, and believe me, they suffered. Cs ad Bs galore for the first two years (had a cumulative GPA of 2.5!). My condition got so bad I had to move back home (GVSU). At GVSU, I did a little better; As and Bs. Then we were able to find a Lyme specialist, and within months, my health was back to almost 100%. Now it's my senior year, and I've been getting nothing but As/A-s in all science classes. By the time I graduate, my cumulative GPAat GVSU will be 3.55, science GPA will be around a 3.5, and last 45 credits will be around a 3.75.

Haven't taken the GRE yet, have very little vet experience, and still would need to complete 3-4 pre-reqs for vet school.

My question is...should I get my Master's, and then apply to vet school after that (will really help the GPA out)...OR, should I graduate, then take a year off exclusively to gain experience (I already have an internship set up at the Australia Zoo for 4 months) and take the necessary classes I have left? My GPA from GVSU is okay, but I'm concerned that once I combine it with my Eckerd GPA (school I transferred from) from the first two years, all hope will be lost.

Sorry for that novel. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Don't get a Masters unless you really want one...there's no point. If need be, just retake the pre-req classes alone to get your grades up. And get lots of experience!! (Very cool about the zoo...one of my fav place in aussieland!)

I agree, I would not do the master's program. I think if you just do the pre-req classes and apply smart, you will do fine. Be sure to explain your grades somewhere on your application as well.

Originally Posted by Rainheart

I agree, I would not do the master's program. I think if you just do the pre-req classes and apply smart, you will do fine. Be sure to explain your grades somewhere on your application as well.

Thanks for the input, you two! When both of you say "do" the pre-req classes, do you mean I should just complete the pre-reqs necessary for vet school after I graduate with my BS, or should I take those AND also retake the classes I did poorly in my first two years?

That's what I'm mainly concerned about...the 2.5 GPA at my other institution my first two years...I'm just afraid I won't be able to compensate for that. I hope they look more into my cumulative GPA at my current school, which will be a 3.55.

Originally Posted by SeSmith

Thanks for the input, you two! When both of you say "do" the pre-req classes, do you mean I should just complete the pre-reqs necessary for vet school after I graduate with my BS, or should I take those AND also retake the classes I did poorly in my first two years?

That's what I'm mainly concerned about...the 2.5 GPA at my other institution my first two years...I'm just afraid I won't be able to compensate for that. I hope they look more into my cumulative GPA at my current school, which will be a 3.55.

They are really going to look at your last 45 hours and the pre reqs/science GPA (mostly). If you did poorly in some classes that don't matter, I wouldn't retake those. Just make sure all your upper level sciences are high. There will be a place on your app where you can explain to them about your Lyme dz, and what happened those first two years. It may pop up in an interview too, but you have a pretty good reason, and have made quite a comeback.

I would not retake classes, I would just do the pre-req classes. Some schools look heavily at your cumulative GPA and others look heavily at your Last 45, so that is why you need to apply smart and find the schools that look more at your latest GPA.

Where are you applying to vet school? MSU puts most of their emphasis on the last 45 credits, science GPA and GRE scores. Other schools do this too, but if MSU is your in state it might be easier to get in.

Originally Posted by shortnsweet

Don't get a Masters unless you really want one...there's no point. If need be, just retake the pre-req classes alone to get your grades up. And get lots of experience!! (Very cool about the zoo...one of my fav place in aussieland!)

I wouldn't sat that there is no point to getting a masters. I firmly believe my business masters is what allowed me to get in this year both instate and out of state. If you find the right masters you can do both your masters and pre-reqs.

Originally Posted by WelshCob

I wouldn't sat that there is no point to getting a masters. I firmly believe my business masters is what allowed me to get in this year both instate and out of state. If you find the right masters you can do both your masters and pre-reqs.

If you are purely getting a masters just to get your GPA up though? If you are interested in something else sure, but saving money and time also play big factors IMO with the cost of vet school always rising. Plus the OP already said they need more experience...getting prereqs and grades up, plus a masters, plus working lots/getting vet experience...that's the main reason I responded the way I did in this particular situation.

Originally Posted by musher

Where are you applying to vet school? MSU puts most of their emphasis on the last 45 credits, science GPA and GRE scores. Other schools do this too, but if MSU is your in state it might be easier to get in.

MSU will absolutely be one of the schools. I almost transferred there for undergrad, but preferred GVSU due to smaller class sizes. Thanks for the heads up!

Originally Posted by shortnsweet

If you are purely getting a masters just to get your GPA up though? If you are interested in something else sure, but saving money and time also play big factors IMO with the cost of vet school always rising. Plus the OP already said they need more experience...getting prereqs and grades up, plus a masters, plus working lots/getting vet experience...that's the main reason I responded the way I did in this particular situation.

Initially, my GPA was so dismal I didn't even think I had a shot at vet school, so I was going to get a Masters and focus on herpetology...but if my GPA is salvageable with plenty of experience and taking those pre-req credits, I'd prefer to just go straight into vet school then specialize in reptiles/exotics (what my Masters would have covered). What I'm genuinely concerned about is that I'm going to spend a year or two raising my GPA and gaining experience, and I still won't be accepted...and I'm not sure I want to spend 6 years trying to gain the credentials to get in, when I could have gotten my Masters in that time.

You guys give me hope though...that if I truly desire it and put for that effort, that I have a chance!

Originally Posted by SeSmith

MSU will absolutely be one of the schools. I almost transferred there for undergrad, but preferred GVSU due to smaller class sizes. Thanks for the heads up!



Initially, my GPA was so dismal I didn't even think I had a shot at vet school, so I was going to get a Masters and focus on herpetology...but if my GPA is salvageable with plenty of experience and taking those pre-req credits, I'd prefer to just go straight into vet school then specialize in reptiles/exotics (what my Masters would have covered). What I'm genuinely concerned about is that I'm going to spend a year or two raising my GPA and gaining experience, and I still won't be accepted...and I'm not sure I want to spend 6 years trying to gain the credentials to get in, when I could have gotten my Masters in that time.

You guys give me hope though...that if I truly desire it and put for that effort, that I have a chance!

"By the time I graduate, my cumulative GPAat GVSU will be 3.55, science GPA will be around a 3.5, and last 45 credits will be around a 3.75."

Many people (including myself) on this forum have gotten in with much lower stats than this Check out the "what are my chances" thread and "Successful Applicants" Thread...they may give you a really good idea of what you are up against.

If you want to do a Masters though...go for it, especially if it is in a field you think you could make a career out of if something were to happen (worst case scenario here). I'm not saying there is no point to masters degrees in general, just giving my opinion based on what you told us!

Originally Posted by shortnsweet

"By the time I graduate, my cumulative GPAat GVSU will be 3.55, science GPA will be around a 3.5, and last 45 credits will be around a 3.75."

Many people (including myself) on this forum have gotten in with much lower stats than this Check out the "what are my chances" thread and "Successful Applicants" Thread...they may give you a really good idea of what you are up against.

If you want to do a Masters though...go for it, especially if it is in a field you think you could make a career out of if something were to happen (worst case scenario here). I'm not saying there is no point to masters degrees in general, just giving my opinion based on what you told us!

Thank you for being endlessly helpful. I don't think I'm explaining myself correctly, however. So, the cumulative 3.55 and science 3.5 will be from GVSU, my graduating university...it displays my transfer grades, but does not include them in my cumulative GPA at GVSU. If the vet schools look at that, then I'm alright...but if/when they factor in my transfer credits (from Eckerd, the first school), that will bring me down immensely...probably to a 3.0 cumulative/science for ALL my credits ever completed in college. That's where my concern lies.

Last 45 credits will be a 3.75+ regardless.