Pre-Vet Counseling Services

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I am about half-way through my prereqs and could really use an advisor or counselor to help with selecting my remaining classes and the application process. I am a non-traditional student (31 with a BA) and do not have a school that offers this service so I am looking to pay independently for someone local. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

The members of this forum are rather knowledgeable. You could ask your questions here.

(Best of all... it's free!)

Originally Posted by Spinach Dip

The members of this forum are rather knowledgeable. You could ask your questions here.

(Best of all... it's free!)

Yup!

Never heard of anyone hiring a local counselor. I'm sure you're smart enough to figure out the process with some SDN help.

Oh, but when you're 90% of the way done with your pre-reqs, I recommend setting up an interview with the Tufts admissions lady if you're interested in applying there. She is lovely and extraordinarily helpful. I loved Tufts! Just not the price tag...

Everyone here is pretty great, when I had questions about planning out my remaining semesters I received amazing input.

also, dont be afraid to ask the schools you're interested in for advice! most of the admissions people are more than willing to answer questions and give advice about what makes a competitive applicant.

Originally Posted by Brinnan

I am about half-way through my prereqs and could really use an advisor or counselor to help with selecting my remaining classes and the application process. I am a non-traditional student (31 with a BA) and do not have a school that offers this service so I am looking to pay independently for someone local. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

I'll take money.

I had a pre-health counselor at my undergrad univ, and I think the responses from SDN are WAY more helpful and real. My pre-health adviser know very very little about vet med so I think she sugar-coated a lot. I learned the most from SDN and from the individual school's websites. The AVMA website is also helpful.

Originally Posted by OH Bunny Girl

I had a pre-health counselor at my undergrad univ, and I think the responses from SDN are WAY more helpful and real. My pre-health adviser know very very little about vet med so I think she sugar-coated a lot. I learned the most from SDN and from the individual school's websites. The AVMA website is also helpful.

Oh yeah, SDN is WAY more helpful than the pre health counselor at my undergrad school. Mine had no idea about vet school admissions. I knew more about the closest school's requirements than she did. Also, once I went to her to ask her about my back up plan-going to school to be a Naturopathic Doctor. She really didn't know what that was and spent the whole time trying convince me to take the MCAT and apply to DO school.

Thanks for all the advice and I guess I will start asking here. I still need to take organic chemistry and anatomy/physiology and am wondering if someone has any suggestions for good options in the Boston area.

Yeah, unless you're at an undergrad that has a vet school attached to it, it's pretty rare to find pre-health advisors who know much about vet med admissions beyond "few schools, few spots, get good grades." I was basically told that I had no chance unless I got straight A's for my last 2 years of undergrad because I had a pretty bad GPA already from my first degree, and that I shouldn't waste time trying to get experiences and should just worry about grades. I didn't get straight A's, and I got an interview the first time I applied anyway (I didn't get in, but they wouldn't have interviewed me if my grades were the biggest problem). Got in the second time with having done very little to improve my GPA (did a thesis-based Masters and even got an A- in one of the classes ).

.

Originally Posted by Brinnan

Thanks for all the advice and I guess I will start asking here. I still need to take organic chemistry and anatomy/physiology and am wondering if someone has any suggestions for good options in the Boston area.

You can post-Bach at any of the schools in the area, but I've heard that Harvard extension is a great option (money and schedule wise) for working nontrads.

Originally Posted by OH Bunny Girl

I had a pre-health counselor at my undergrad univ, and I think the responses from SDN are WAY more helpful and real. My pre-health adviser know very very little about vet med so I think she sugar-coated a lot. I learned the most from SDN and from the individual school's websites. The AVMA website is also helpful.

Yeah, the pre-health advisor at my college isn't really helpful either. It's kind of annoying. But, I kind of like researching the criteria on my own. Plus, going on here.
Also, if you can visit the vet schools you want to apply to and ask questions there, it can be really helpful!

Originally Posted by nyanko

Yeah, unless you're at an undergrad that has a vet school attached to it, it's pretty rare to find pre-health advisors who know much about vet med admissions beyond "few schools, few spots, get good grades." I was basically told that I had no chance unless I got straight A's for my last 2 years of undergrad because I had a pretty bad GPA already from my first degree, and that I shouldn't waste time trying to get experiences and should just worry about grades. I didn't get straight A's, and I got an interview the first time I applied anyway (I didn't get in, but they wouldn't have interviewed me if my grades were the biggest problem). Got in the second time with having done very little to improve my GPA (did a thesis-based Masters and even got an A- in one of the classes ).

Had to laugh at this.

But she's right. My pre health advisors were pretty useless, even when I was premed. I was able to figure out everything myself. It was quite funny when my mom kept nagging me "do you know what the heck you're doing?" and have her change to "see? You did that all on your own!"

But this place was like a gold mine for me!

xx

Originally Posted by TigerWillow

Had to laugh at this.

But she's right. My pre health advisors were pretty useless, even when I was premed. I was able to figure out everything myself. It was quite funny when my mom kept nagging me "do you know what the heck you're doing?" and have her change to "see? You did that all on your own!"

But this place was like a gold mine for me!

Wow, thank for the advice. I am new to this but feel right at home; my parents both frequently wonder what I doing...

Congrats on Davis!!

Originally Posted by HelloNello

Yeah, my pre-health advisor was pretty useless...He told me I wasn't smart enough to handle more than one science course per semester He also told me that vet school was impossible to get into and I should switch to human med. I'm really glad I didn't listen to him. After that fun experience, I found SDN and the information here has been invaluable. I learned so much about applying from this forum.

Mine was the exact same way

I went into his office after first semester bursting with pride with my 4.0 gpa and double science classes (he strongly recommended only one at a time).... and he told me that I was too stupid for Penn and should just focus on getting into the Caribbean.

So I ditched him for my favorite Chem prof! Useless with helping me figure out vet school stuff, but really really nice to talk to about getting my life on track.

Wow. You guys had some pretty brutal pre-health professors. Although, mine did ask me what my back up plan was, but at least he didn't outright say I was too stupid for vet school. He just told me I should have applied right away in June because he thought it was rolling admission like med school. I only really used my pre-health advisor to read over my PS because he's really good at cutting out any BS/unnecessary bits. Even some of the professors have him read over their LOR.

Originally Posted by orca2011

Wow. You guys had some pretty brutal pre-health professors. Although, mine did ask me what my back up plan was, but at least he didn't outright say I was too stupid for vet school. He just told me I should have applied right away in June because he thought it was rolling admission like med school.

Mine too!