Successful Applicant Stats C/O 2014

[RunTheWorld]

I thought I'd be brave and start this. Mostly I just want to see other people's stats so start posting!

First time applicant, 21 years old, Female, Ontario resident.
Applied: Tufts, Edinburgh, Western, Glasgow, Mississippi State
Apps withdrawn: Mississippi State, Glasgow
Still waiting: Tufts, Western
Interview: Glasgow
Accepted: Edinburgh, 99% sure I’ll end up here and I'm so excited!

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.56
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.65
GRE: 1240. 750q, 490v

Honors and Awards:
-Rhodes College Deans’ List
-Rhodes University Scholarship
-High school valedictorian

Veterinary Experience:
-450 hrs at a small animal practice.
-400 hrs at a 24 hour emergency hospital, SA and exotics

Animal Experience:
-120 Shelter, cats only
-168 Conservation Field Study in Namibia, wildlife
-560 Zoo intern, LA and exotics

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-DIII Cross Country and Track and Field, 4 years
-Rhodes Activities Board, 3 years
-Chi Omega Fraternity, 4 years
-Sign Language Club, 3 years
-Iota Sigma Pi, 2 years
-Adopt-A-Friend, 1 year

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[Wolphcats]

Third time applicant , 24 years old, Male, Fl resident, but temp Iowa for Grad School.
Applied: Edinburgh, Western, Glasgow, Washington State, UPenn, UF
Apps withdrawn: None
Still waiting: Western, Washington, UPenn, UF
Interview: Glasgow, Western, UF
Accepted: Edinburgh

Cum GPA @ time of application: 4.0 (Note, only consist of graduate school because undergrad didn't offer grades-see third year thread for explanation)
Last 45 credit hrs: 4.0
GRE: 1280. 720q, 560v, 5a

Honors and Awards:
Multiple Scholarships
Two Research Grants
Best Technical Theater, Florida Theater Conference (my favorite award because it isn't science based! )

Veterinary Experience:
-1000+ hrs at a private SA clinic
-2000+ hr at a corporate SA clinic
-550 hrs at a emergency hospital, SA
-50 hrs with AZA zoo vet
-1000+ hr at marine mammal hospital


Animal Experience:
-450 hrs Shelter foster, cats
-300 hrs wildlife rehab center, post-vet care therefore not under the supervision of a vet (high school experience)
-300 hrs sea turtle nest patrol (high school experience)
-~300 hrs assistant marine mammal trainer for research

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
Technical Theater Apprentice (electrics/lighting specialty)
Many school clubs and too lazy to list them

 

[Gilrandir]

First time applicant, 21 years old, Female, Maryland resident
Applied: Tufts, UPenn, UC Davis, Cornell, Glasgow, UFlorida, Massey
Still waiting: UC Davis, Cornell, UFlorida
Interview: Glasgow
Accepted: Tufts, Massey

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.85
Last 45 credit hrs: I forgot, something close to 4.0
GRE: 760V, 800Q, writing 4.5
MCAT: (I don't know why I took this, really) 13V, 14P, 15B, writing Q

Honors and Awards:
(I graduated undergrad in 3 years, and this school year I was doing a Master's while applying)
- Deans list 5 semesters out of 6
- Biology B.S. with Honors
- Golden Key
- National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Veterinary Experience:
- 3 years with a Taiwanese vet clinic, 4 hrs/wk (SA)
- 1.5 years in MDSPCA exam room, 4 hrs/wk (SA)
- 1.5 years of research under a postdoc vet
- 1 month veterinary internship in India (LA)

Animal Experience:
- 3 years with a Taiwanese zoo, 3 hrs/wk (exotics)
- 2 months at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 12 hrs/wk (exotics)

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- Association for Computing Machinery, 3 yrs
- Hopkins Science Fiction/Fantasy Association (treasurer), 3 yrs
- Taiwanese Students Association (NOT TASA), 3 yrs
- Lion Dance, 1.5 yrs
- Zeniada (literary magazine), 1 yr

 

[CurrySpice]

I know more applicants than this were accepted... come inspire some of us undergrads! (particularly as I receive my not-so-stellar orgo grade)

 

[turnbackhelly]

I know more applicants than this were accepted... come inspire some of us undergrads! (particularly as I receive my not-so-stellar orgo grade)

Call me crazy, but I personally don't wait to jinx anything by posting here prematurely... Although I have been accepted, I'm still waiting to hear from many schools (including my two top choices). I think many others may feel the same way?

But if you have any specific questions, PM me! I don't consider myself to be terribly inspiring, but I'll give it my best shot.

 

[nyanko]

Yeah, people tend to wait until more schools start getting back to them before they post in this thread, since you give a lot of details.

 

[eventualeventer]

Gilrandir, those are some killer test scores. As a fellow Maryland resident, may I ask why you didn't apply to VMRCVM?

 

[BlacKAT33]

Gilrandir, those are some killer test scores. As a fellow Maryland resident, may I ask why you didn't apply to VMRCVM?

i guess VMRCVM wasn't good enough. but i sure am glad because im a MD resident and my butt would be kicked by Gilrandir lol

 

[ColoradoDVM]

This is for everybody that has made a few mistakes along the way... I expect all of you to post your stats when you get accepted too:
only applied to CSU after 3 semesters of current coursework-waited until I had what I thought was a competitive application
non-traditional student:
first application this century
undergrad GPA ...not good, years ago, low point of my undergrad: D in biochem
grad school GPA/ last 45 GPA- 3.8-also retook biochem-aced it-highpoint of grad school/met with Sherry Stewart before I started my MS at CSU who told me that anything less than 3.6 and my application would not be competitive/old grades from way back would be less a factor if I could maintain strong grades now.
overall GPA 3.2ish
animal/vet experience 10,000 hours plus: small animal, equine, non-profit rescue (board member and volunteer), lab animal, exotics, some food animal
GRE- took once 1130-would have retaken it had I had time
work schedule-full time or close to it most semesters
life experience- lots

 

[iheartpandas]

2nd time applicant, 35 years old, Female, Colorado resident
Applied: CSU
Accepted: CSU

Degrees: BA Geology, Rice University, 1997
MS Zoology, CSU, expected 2010

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.25ish**
Last 45 credit hrs: 4.0
GRE: 740V, 800Q, writing 5

Honors and Awards:
- Lots of weird "real-world" work-related honors

Veterinary Experience:
- 2500 hrs small animal practice
- 48 hrs CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital volunteer - necropsy

Animal Experience:
- 360 hrs small exotics at a museum
- 70 hrs cat rescue volunteer
- 200 hrs wildlife rehab center volunteer

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- Many weird and varied things, e.g. organizing a tsunami-relief fundraiser, homeowners association boards...

Other Work Experience:
- High school math & computer science teacher
- National Park Ranger/Interpreter
- network administrator for National Park Service
- web & graphic designer

Life Experience:
- Lots, but not as much as CSU.

** I would like to second what CSU (the user) said. CSU (the school) gives you a chance to make up for idiocy:

I failed, yes FAILED, freshman chemistry. (Long story.) I think I got a D in Physics & had to retake it. My entire undergraduate career sucked, as evidenced by my cumulative GPA.

But I turned out okay.

 

[ReadyBeVet]

Can we include SCIENCE GPA in your stats, please?

Thanks!

 

[absvet]

1st time applicant, 23 years old, Female, NY resident
Applied: Tufts, Penn, Cornell
Accepted: Tufts, Penn, Cornell

Degrees: BA Law, Letters and Society - University of Chicago 2008
Post-Bacc classes at Columbia University

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.84 ish
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.8 (at application - lower now)
Science: Not sure, around the same but lower now thanks to my B- in biochem
GRE: 650V, 740Q, writing 4.5

Honors and Awards:
- Phi Betta Kappa
- Student Marshall
- Dean's list

Veterinary Experience:
~ 2000 hrs Neuroscience research tech - with mice
~ 250 hrs assistant to a camelid veterinarian
~ 200 hrs assistant in a small animal hospital
International vet med trip to Peru, working with alpacas

Animal Experience:
not much - 4H and riding lessons as a kid

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- Student advisory committees as school, reunion committee, Katrina relief trip, lots of sports in high school and college

Other Work Experience:
- tutor in reading and chemistry
- worked at an office related to education

Letters of Rec:
- One biology professor, who didn't know me very well personally
- Camelid vet, worked with for a summer and went to Peru with
- PI at my lab, pretty famous scientist

Personal Statement:
- PM me if anyone applying next year wants a copy!

 

[DickVetPlease]

wow absvet, our apps were almost identical. Hope I get similar results too congrats!

 

[elliepants]

Wow, absvet, I never thought I'd never see another U of C alum on the veterinary forums . Congratulations on your acceptance!

 

[luplodw]

So do you guys know where you will be attending?

 

[elliepants]

and please excuse that extra "never"...

 

[absvet]

Wow, absvet, I never thought I'd never see another U of C alum on the veterinary forums . Congratulations on your acceptance!

Wow me neither!! When did you graduate? Are you applying or in school?

I have NO IDEA where I will be attending! I'll keep you updated though!

 

[Mereafterthough]

*I hope my statistics will give hope to those students who don't have 4.0's and 1500's on the GRE. Getting into vet school is not impossible as long as you work hard and show them that you're dedicated. I practically FAILED orgo (got a C- both semesters) and Gen Chem slayed me. Vet schools choose the underdogs too *

1st time applicant, 22 years old, Female, NY resident
Applied: Cornell, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas
Rejected: Missouri, Colorado
Accepted: Cornell, Colorado's Vet Prep Program
Withdrew: Kansas
Declined: Colorado's Vet Prep Program
Attending: Cornell

Degrees: BS in Animal Science, Cornell University

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.26
Last 45 credit hrs: around 3.5
Science: Really low, around a 2.9
GRE: 1st time: 510V, 560Q
2nd time: 500V, 630Q, Writing: 5 (both times)

Honors and Awards:
-Dean's List (two times)
-Latin Honors (Cum Laude)
-Animal Science Scholarship
-Leadership cords at graduation

Veterinary Experience:
~366 hrs of parasitology research-went abroad to France to present my findings
~ 800 hrs as a veterinary assistant at small animal practice (at time of application)
~ 30 hrs working with geckos in Melbourne, Australia
~ 80 hrs volunteering at another small animal hospital

Animal Experience:
~30 hrs volunteering at the ASPCA in HS
~10 hrs volunteering with cows at Cornell

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-Petloss support hotline
-Ambassador for my college
-Pre-vet society
-Commissioner for a org at Cornell responsible for student activities
-Teaching assistant for a animal nutrition course
-A cappella group

Letters of Rec:
-Academic advisor
-Two vet recs from my current job
-Animal Sci professor
-Cow volunteer supervisior
-Research professor
-Gecko volunteer professor

Life Experience:
-Studied abroad in Melbourne, Australia for one semester (approx 5 months)

 

[sirbuckie]

wow! thanks for posting! I thought a 3.2 GPA was the end of the world.. hahaha..

 

[jpeterman13]

mereafterthough...our stats are FREAKISHLY similar. Same cumulative GPA, Same GRE (both times), similar # of hours. crazy!

 

[Mereafterthough]

mereafterthough...our stats are FREAKISHLY similar. Same cumulative GPA, Same GRE (both times), similar # of hours. crazy!

That is freaky...maybe we're the same person..lmao

 

[Bearby]

That definitely makes me feel a little bit better about myself because I have a similar cum GPA and last 45. I'm still not planning on getting in anywhere this year but you're making my attempt next year not seem like it's as much of a stretch as I thought it was going to be. I'm hoping to pull up my last 45 since I'm still completing school right now and my cum might increase a tiny bit but that's it. Anyway, congrats on your acceptance and I hope that I can follow in your footsteps someday

 

[deleted266066]

wow! thanks for posting! I thought a 3.2 GPA was the end of the world.. hahaha..

I think it also makes a difference that it's a 3.2 from Cornell; from what I've heard, Cornell's classes (especially science) are pretty killer in terms of GPA slaughtering. So... a 3.2 from there might be better than a 3.5 at an easier and less competitive (in terms of grading) school. At least that's what I've been told by my school's pre-health advising. I like to hope that holds at least kind of true because my school, though probably not as hard as Cornell, is still into grade deflating! I'm sure there's more than just a couple of us that this applies to :-\

 

[luvgoldens482]

I think it also makes a difference that it's a 3.2 from Cornell; from what I've heard, Cornell's classes (especially science) are pretty killer in terms of GPA slaughtering. So... a 3.2 from there might be better than a 3.5 at an easier and less competitive (in terms of grading) school. At least that's what I've been told by my school's pre-health advising. I like to hope that holds at least kind of true because my school, though probably not as hard as Cornell, is still into grade deflating! I'm sure there's more than just a couple of us that this applies to :-\

Agreed!!! Took the words right out of my mouth!

 

[Mereafterthough]

I think it also makes a difference that it's a 3.2 from Cornell; from what I've heard, Cornell's classes (especially science) are pretty killer in terms of GPA slaughtering. So... a 3.2 from there might be better than a 3.5 at an easier and less competitive (in terms of grading) school. At least that's what I've been told by my school's pre-health advising. I like to hope that holds at least kind of true because my school, though probably not as hard as Cornell, is still into grade deflating! I'm sure there's more than just a couple of us that this applies to :-\

Yeah, you're right. Cornell sciences are miserable. I guess a 3.2 at CU is similar to a 3.5 somewhere else that's less competitive.

 

[Mereafterthough]

That definitely makes me feel a little bit better about myself because I have a similar cum GPA and last 45. I'm still not planning on getting in anywhere this year but you're making my attempt next year not seem like it's as much of a stretch as I thought it was going to be. I'm hoping to pull up my last 45 since I'm still completing school right now and my cum might increase a tiny bit but that's it. Anyway, congrats on your acceptance and I hope that I can follow in your footsteps someday

Thanks! You'll be fine, just keep on truckin'!

 

[sirbuckie]

.

 

[sydneycider]

1st time applicant, 20 years old, Female, NY resident

Applied: Tufts, Penn, Cornell, Minnesota, Washington, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Colorado
Accepted: Cornell, Ohio
Rejected: Colorado
Interview: Ohio, Washington
Withdrew: All but Cornell!!!

Degrees: BS Biology, Minor Russian Studies

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.9ish
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.8ish
Science: 3.8ish
GRE: 530V, 640Q, writing 4.0

Honors and Awards:
- Phi Betta Kappa
- Dean's list
- Summa Cum Laude
- Biology Research and Academic Achievement Award
- Horse Show Ribbons

Veterinary Experience:
- 600 hours SA Veterinary
- 150 hours Spay and Neuter Shelter
- 100 hours LA Veterinary

Animal Experience:
- 400 hours Zoo Internship
- 600 hours PetSmart
- 100 hours Western Equestrian

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- 1 year Biology Research
- 2 years Student Peer Advising
- Pre-vet club member

Letters of Rec:
- Organic Chemistry Professor
- 2 SA Veterinarians
- Cornell: +PetSmart Manager, +Zoo Manager

 

[CorporateFatCat]

Thanks for posting, Sydneycider. After looking through batches of successful applicant stats, I was losing hope in finding anyone with similar scores and experience as me. Your success gives me hope! Congratulations.

 

[sydneycider]

Thanks for posting, Sydneycider. After looking through batches of successful applicant stats, I was losing hope in finding anyone with similar scores and experience as me. Your success gives me hope! Congratulations.

Glad I could help!!

 

[causticus]

4th time applicant (Yep - that's a 4. Never give up; never surrender!), 26 years old, Female, OH resident
Applied: Ohio
Accepted: Ohio

Degrees: BS in Biology/Microbiology, A&M 2006

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.55
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.65
Science: 3.35
GRE: 590V, 630Q, writing 5.0
Academic Rigor: High (hence my lower GPA)

Honors and Awards:
- National Merit Semi-finalist
- Dean's Honor Roll
- Academic Scholarship
- PSEO Program (enrollment in college classes while still in HS)
- Distinguished Student Award
- Graduated Cum Laude

Veterinary Experience:
~ 1000 hrs tech in a small/exotic clinic
~ 1500+ hrs tech in a Veterinary Diagnostic lab (Microbiology)
~ 1500+ hrs tech in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital clinical lab (Microbiology)

Animal Experience:
- 40 hrs volunteering w/ a non-profit rescue org
- 400 hrs at Petsmart, working with small/exotics/fish

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- Founding member/Treasurer of CMBA at A&M
- Habitat for Humanity
- Tutoring
- Consultant for a water testing lab

Other Work Experience:
- Accounting/cash office
- Tech in several research labs

Letters of Rec:
- DVM from a small/exotic clinic (former boss)
- Department head of Microbiology, vet diagnostic lab (former boss)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, vet teaching hospital (current boss)

 

[luplodw]

4th time applicant (Yep - that's a 4. Never give up; never surrender!), 26 years old, Female, OH resident
Applied: Ohio
Accepted: Ohio

Degrees: BS in Biology/Microbiology, A&M 2006

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.55
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.65
Science: 3.35
GRE: 590V, 630Q, writing 5.0
Academic Rigor: High (hence my lower GPA)

Honors and Awards:
- National Merit Semi-finalist
- Dean's Honor Roll
- Academic Scholarship
- PSEO Program (enrollment in college classes while still in HS)
- Distinguished Student Award
- Graduated Cum Laude

Veterinary Experience:
~ 1000 hrs tech in a small/exotic clinic
~ 1500+ hrs tech in a Veterinary Diagnostic lab (Microbiology)
~ 1500+ hrs tech in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital clinical lab (Microbiology)

Animal Experience:
- 40 hrs volunteering w/ a non-profit rescue org
- 400 hrs at Petsmart, working with small/exotics/fish

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- Founding member/Treasurer of CMBA at A&M
- Habitat for Humanity
- Tutoring
- Consultant for a water testing lab

Other Work Experience:
- Accounting/cash office
- Tech in several research labs

Letters of Rec:
- DVM from a small/exotic clinic (former boss)
- Department head of Microbiology, vet diagnostic lab (former boss)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, vet teaching hospital (current boss)

Not sure why it took you so many tries with those stats, but who cares.... you're in yay!! Congrats!

 

[causticus]

Not sure why it took you so many tries with those stats, but who cares.... you're in yay!! Congrats!

Thanks Luplodw

I guess I should clarify that - my problems were 100% non-academic. Just so no one with similar stats gets discouraged, here were my issues:

1. Residency crap - this is the first year I've had an IS school because I've moved around a lot.
2. I am interview-challenged.
3. I've only applied to one school per year, because I'm married (hubby is a grad student) and we've made it a priority to stay in the same locale - we picked schools beforehand that we knew had programs for both of us.

So anyone who is having similar issues, don't be discouraged, and don't give up on your dreams!!

Congrats to all the successful applicants!!!

 

[HandD42]

Not sure why it took you so many tries with those stats, but who cares.... you're in yay!! Congrats!

Hrrmmm I was thinking the same thing, this process makes NO sense some times.

 

[Pomona2006]

Call me crazy, but I personally don't wait to jinx anything by posting here prematurely... Although I have been accepted, I'm still waiting to hear from many schools (including my two top choices). I think many others may feel the same way?

But if you have any specific questions, PM me! I don't consider myself to be terribly inspiring, but I'll give it my best shot.

C'mon Helly, I know you've got stuff to post now without jinxing anything

 

[Buckeye1206]

1st time applicant 22 years old, Female, OH resident
Applied: Ohio, CSU, Missouri, OSU's Vet Public Health program
Waitlisted: CSU
Withdrew: Missouri (had interview)
Accepted: Ohio, OSU's Vet PH

Degrees: BA Anthropology, June 2010 (Minor Life Sciences)

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.75
Last 45 credit hrs: 4.00
Science: 3.7 (ish)
GRE: 500V, 670Q, writing 5.0
Academic Rigor: High

Honors and Awards:
- Dean's List every quarter
- Academic Scholarships
-OSU's Honors program
-Honors Research Distinction (for my anthropology research)
-Various local, state, national honors societies


Veterinary Experience:
~ 350 hrs small animal (private, community practice, osu's hospital)
~ 180 hrs large animal (ride alongs at our University's clinic)
~ 160 hrs large animal (public health internship, Ohio Dept Ag)
~ 100 hrs exotic (Ohio wildlife center)


Animal Experience:
- 40 hrs volunteering w/ humane society
- 400 hrs at vet clinic doing kennel work (paid)
- Presently work in OSU's anatomy lab (lots of embalming) (paid)

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- Site leader for various community service activities
- Emergency Medical Technician-Basic certified (was pre-med for 2 years)
- 1000's of hrs working in hospitals (orthopedic, family, peds, ER)
- Tutoring
- Student athlete for 1 year (softball)
-Study Abroad

Other Work Experience:
- Server every summer

Letters of Rec:
- 2, DVM from a small animal clinics
- From my Honors research advisor (anthropology)


As you can see, I don't have that many hours in vet med (compared to others) but I had a lot in the human medical field. I worked really hard this past summer doing multiple internships, taking summer classes, and the gre in order to apply this round. I really think the schools liked to see I had different experiences, which made up for my lack of vet hrs!!

Good luck to everyone!!
-

 

[jmcgintee]

2nd time applying, 22 (almost 23) years old, Female, Maine resident
Applied: Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Cornell, Kansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Michigan, Mississippi
Accepted: Ohio
Rejected: Kansas, Cornell
Waiting: Wisconsin
Withdrew: Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Michigan, Mississippi, Minnesota, Iowa


Degree: BS in Animal & Veterinary Science. University of Maine May ‘09

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.57
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.9ish
Science: 3.2ish
GRE: 1st time: 480V, 530Q, 4.0W 2nd time: 400V, 540Q, 3.5W 3rd time: 600V, 600Q, 4.0W

Honors and Awards:
-Dean's List all years except 1st semester
-Dairy Challenge Platinum and Gold awards
-Graduated Magna Cum Laude

Veterinary Experience:
-1000 hrs tech in a small animal clinic
-55 hrs Large animal vet experience
-120 hrs at Equine Clinic

Animal Experience:
-2000+ hrs working at Boarding Kennel
-630 hrs volunteering/working with Dairy Farm at UMaine
-100 hrs equine experience in UMaine Equine Co-op

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-Softball Club VP 1yr
-Pre Vet club President 2 yrs
-Student Herd advisor for UMaine Dairy Co-op (UMADCOWS)

Letters of Rec:
-DVM/PhD: Academic Advisor, UMaine
-DVM/PhD: Senior Research Advisor, UMaine
-PhD: Professor and UMADCOWS supervisor
-DVM: Small Animal Veterinarian (former boss)

Things I did to Improve my application:
-Gained some large animal vet experience
-Took Princeton Review GRE course to Improve GREs
-Signed up for 2 upper level Bio courses (pathophysiology, Immunology)
(I think the GRE scores made all the difference)


Soo Happy!!!! No interviews last year and this year accepted to OSU!!! Good luck to everyone!!!

 

[turnbackhelly]

C'mon Helly, I know you've got stuff to post now without jinxing anything

Lol S... it will come in time... Mostly I'm too lazy to type it all out just yet - best to save that for when I need something to procrastinate with once my semester starts next week.

 

[bardsle1]

1st time applicant, 21 years old, Female, Michigan resident
Applied: Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois
Interviewed: Ohio, Missouri, Illinois
Accepted: Ohio
Rejected:
Waiting: Michigan
Withdrew Interview: Minnesota, Iowa

Degree: BS in Zoology, minor in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology from Michigan State University
Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.60
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.6ish
Science: 3.43
GRE: took 3 times, best score: 410 V (yep, i suck), 720 Q, 5.0

Honors and Awards:
-Dean's List all years except 1st semester
-Honors College member
-Lyman Briggs College member
-Varsity athlete scholarship
-Member of Mortar Board honors society
-Lyman Briggs best in class award for research on the effects of Oxytocin

Veterinary Experience:
- 20 hrs at a MRI and emergency unit
-1000 hrs at a rehabilitation wildlife hospital
-500 hrs at local small animal hospital
- 30 hrs watching canine amputation surgeries
- 20 hrs shadowing equine vet

Animal Experience:
-200 hrs doing sea turtle monitoring in FL
-10 hrs doing snowy pleaver monitoring in FL
-100 hrs equine experience
-50 hrs raising chickens for an animal nutrition class

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-PVMA member
-Mortar board honors society member
-Alternative spring break at Hiwassee River Watershed coalition
-relay for life captain 2 years
-river clean up at Michigan State University
-12 years of piano lessons
-MSU fencing team
-worked 20 hrs a week as a lifeguard and swim instructor

Letters of Rec:
-DVM from the small animal hospital i worked at
-DVM from the wildlife rehabilitation clinic
-Professor from Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University

 

[Pomona2006]

Lol S... it will come in time... Mostly I'm too lazy to type it all out just yet - best to save that for when I need something to procrastinate with once my semester starts next week.

Oh c'mon, you don't secretly have a doc already prepared on your computer that you've been waiting eagerly to copy and paste into this thread?!

Here's to procrastination...I should be studying, but I'm working on my blog...

 

[purplepup21]

.

 

[twelvetigers]

More posts here please. If you're in, you're in - don't be scared. Let's have it!

 

[turnbackhelly]

More posts here please. If you're in, you're in - don't be scared. Let's have it!

Well, since I've now heard something from all of my schools... here ya go!

Disclaimer: I don't know if I can truly call myself non-traditional because of my age, but I did do a complete 180 less than 2 years ago. I had no veterinary experience prior to October 2007 and had not taken a single science class (since HS) prior to June 2008. I REALLY didn't think I was going to get in on my first shot at applying... and this is what happened...

1st time applicant, 24 years old, Female, NY resident

Applied: Colorado, Cornell, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn, Tufts, OVC Guelph
Interview: Ohio, Penn, Minnesota (declined), Tufts
Rejected: Colorado
Withdrew: OVC Guelph, Minnesota
Accepted: Ohio, Cornell, Penn, Michigan, Tufts
Attending: Cornell

Degrees:
BA in Psychology, Vassar College
completed 1 year of an MSW, University of Pennsylvania (didn't finish the degree)
all pre-requisites completed post-bac at West Chester University of PA in ~12 months

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.85
Last 45: 3.95
Science: 3.91
GRE: 510V (69%), 780Q (89%), writing 5.5 (92%)

Honors and Awards:
- General Honors and Psychology Departmental Honors (Vassar)
- Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology
- Dean's List x3 (West Chester)
- numerous merit-based scholarships (Vassar & Penn)

Veterinary Experience:
~1800 hours SA referral & 24-hr emergency practice (ongoing past application)
~100 hours SA general practice
~25 hours as a foal sitter at Penn's New Bolton Center

Animal Experience:
~85 hours IHSA equestrian team
~75 hours as a Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy intern at a special education farm school utilizing nature- and animal-assisted therapies
~15 hours shadowing a farrier
~4000+ hours as a stable hand at a commercial hunter/jumper barn (over 8 years... the actual number of hours is MUCH higher, but this is the number that I quoted on my application for fear that adcoms would think I was inflating)

Other Work Experience:
- music library attendant
- office assistant at a disability law firm
- freelance musician hired to play in competitive marching bands (yes, this is as ridiculous as it sounds... Christopher Guest needs to make a movie about it)
- classroom aide for an Applied Behavioral Analysis summer school program for children with severe Autism
- classroom aide for a high school Gifted Special Education program
- Mental Health Consultant for Head Start of Philadelphia (MSW internship)

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- NYS Area All-State Band & Orchestra several years
- Vassar Wind Ensemble (clarinet & saxophone)
- Vassar Women's Chorus (including concert tours of Boston, Chicago, Spain, and Turkey)
- head of Women's Chorus Administrative Council

Letters of Recommendation:
- Organic Chemistry laboratory professor
- Psychology undergrad advisor
- Veterinarian from the SA general practice
- Veterinarian from the SA emergency/referral practice
- supervisor from Head Start of Philadelphia
- Extras for Cornell: +VMD head of NICU at New Bolton Center, +riding instructor/supervisor of stable hand work experience (note: I wasn't able to get letters for many of my animal experiences... apparently no big deal!)

Writing it all out, I think I sound pretty freaking random - just goes to show you, you never know what adcoms are going to like!

 

[Pomona2006]

Yay! Glad you finally posted!

It seems that your stats and story are rather strikingly similar to mine...

Congrats again, helly! You deserve the best!

 

[The Mad Penguin]

1st time applicant, 21 years old, Female, NY resident

Applied: Cornell, Michigan, Minnesota, Michigan, Penn, Tufts, Florida, UC Davis, Washington, Illinois, UPEI
Interview: UPenn, Tufts, Washington (declined), Illinois (declined), Minnesota (declined)
Rejected: Virginia-Maryland
Withdrew: UPEI
Waiting: Florida, UC Davis
Accepted: Tufts, Cornell, Penn, Michigan

Degrees:
BA in Biology with a specialization in Marine Science, Boston University

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.97
Last 45: 4.0
Science: 3.98
GRE: 630V (90%), 750Q (83%), writing 5.0 (81%)

Honors and Awards:
- Undergraduate research award in the field of marine biology
- Honors awards x2: Distinguished Sophomore honors and College Scholars honors
- Dean's List all but first semester


Veterinary Experience:
~400 hours SA general practice
~450 hours SA emergency/specialty practice
~300 hours intern at the Cornell Sheep farm (at the teaching and resource center)
~250 hours intern at the Cornell dairy barn (at the teaching and resource center
~100 hours: Intern at Harvard Medical School center for animal resources and comparative medicine

~800 hours of aquatic animal research
-Project 1: Multi-variable correlational study looking at how various biotic and abiotic factors affect the seabird populations of the Stellwagen bank national marine sanctuary
-Project 2: Studied pair-bond stability in the false-clownfish (A. ocellaris) (looked at how males/females recognize each other both visually and chemically)
-Project 3: Field work in Belize. Studied the pervasiveness of disease in wild fish populations on the island of wee wee caye (off the coast of Belize). Also studied how disease affects the behavior of wild Damselfish (part of a larger damselfish neurofibromatosis study that my prof was working on)
Senior Thesis: I fight lobsters! That's the short explanation . The longer one involves how different lobster "moves" aid in memory consolidation. So I look at how banding different claws affects their ability to recognize one another after 1 day (or one week) of fighting.

Animal Experience:
~200 hours: Animal Technician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Other Work Experience:
- Receptionist: All Island OB/GYN....(beware the hormonal women!..its cool, I can say that being female )

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- Italian poetry contest (recitation): competed three times and won once (thank you Dante!)
- Animation: went to art school for two summers and studied cartooning and CGI animation. Also did Claymation in high school. Fun, yet draining.
- TA: Physiological psychology (aka neuropsych), Marine Biology
-Marine Science Association
-Pre-Vet Society

Letters of Recommendation:
- Veterinarian: General Practice
-Veterinarian: General Practice
-Head Vet Tech: emergency hospital
-Two Marine Biology Profs
-My mentor (who's also a marine biology prof)
-Animal Sci prof from Cornell
-Lead Herd Health Worker from Cornell

Congrats everyone, and good luck in the coming year!!

 

[crittergal]

just a subtle bump

Congrats to everyone who's in!

 

[GellaBella]

Alright I guess I'll bite. I'll just say its embarrassing to post my undergraduate GPA on here. I got off to a rough start during undergrad, preferring to party and sleep in more than I went to class. My sophomore year I decided to become a bio major and I began to slowly turn things around but still had way too much fun with friends I love way too much. And to be honest, I wouldn't change that for the world.

So with that being said, here are my horrible stats! I never thought I'd actually really get into a graduate program nor did I think I'd make it into vet school on the first try.


1st time applicant, 27 years old, Female, MA resident

Applied: Cornell, UPenn, Tufts, UC-Davis, UFl, NCSU, CSU
Interview: UPenn, Tufts
Rejected: Cornell, UC-Davis, CSU
Withdrew:
Waiting: Florida, Tufts
Accepted: Penn
Waitlisted: NCSU

Degrees:
BA in Biology (2004) Drew University
PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (2010) NJ Medical School

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.2
Undergraduate GPA: 2.99
Last 45: 3.6 (graduate school)
Science: 3.4 (combining graduate school and undergrad)

GRE: 630V (90%), 690Q (70%), writing 4.5


Veterinary Experience:

~400 hours: Shadowing an exotics veterinarian (my only clinical exposure to vetmed)

~500 hours: Research Fellowship at Drew University studying Bordetella avium pathogenecity (affects poultry farms, worked with turkey embryos)

~500 hours: Research Fellowship at University of Cambridge School of Veterinary Medicine, UK studying Bordetella pathogenecity (worked with chickens and pigs) and assisted with Strangles research (horses)

~100 hours: Neurobiology research at Drew University (mice and rats, performed terminal and non-terminal brain surgeries)

~10,000 hours: PhD research on antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. My work involves the characterization of a gene of unknown function that, when inactivated, causes the bacteria to be killed much more easily by antibiotics. no animal work involved.

Animal Experience:
none listed.


Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-Orientation Committee, Drew University
-Student Senate, NJ Medical School
-Co-chair, Community Service Committee, NJ Medical School
-GSA Vice-President, NJ Medical School

Letters of Recommendation:
- Veterinarian: Exotics veterinarian I've shadowed (DVM)
- My advisor for my PhD research (he has a PhD)
- A member of my thesis committee (PhD)
- My undergraduate research advisor (PhD)

 

[ColoGirl]

I am so completely flattered to be able to have a choice on a vet school to attend. I have had no clinical experience in the past 10 years, and I thought that would really hurt my application, but apparently it is doable! Congrats to everyone else, and good luck



1st time applicant, 27 years old, Female, Colorado resident
Applied: Colorado, UCDavis, Cornell, Penn
Accepted: Colorado, Cornell
Interview: Davis
Waiting: Penn (I am assuming rejected)

Degree: B.S. Animal Science, Science Conc with double major in Microbiology,
PhD Microbiology concentration in Virology, Immunology, and Vector Biology

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.92
Last 45 credit hrs: 4.0
Science: 3.9 ish
GRE: took this a couple of times, totally sucked it up on the verbal a few times, here were the best scores v510, q700, w4.5

Honors and Awards:
-Dean's List
-Magna cum laude
-2 publications in peer reviewed journals
-several conference talks
-Centers for Disease Control Fellowship Training Program
-I also put down some 4-H honors and awards from back in the day such as County Ambassador, 12 year member award, and some state fair honors.

Veterinary Experience:
-1500 hrs at a mixed small and large animal clinic
-3700 hrs in a research lab as an undergrad then as a research associate after undergrad.
-10000 hrs (YIKES..no wonder grad school drives people crazy!) working on PhD in vaccine development and testing. I was very weary about putting down this many hours, but after talking with Dr. Sherry Stewart at CSU and a few other people they said even though I was not actively with animals for the whole 10000 hrs I was doing background research or building the vaccines to be used in animals and I was under the supervision of PhD or DVMs at all times.

Animal Experience:
-Guide Dogs for the blind puppy raiser
-12 years of 4-H, horse, beef cattle, dog, and a few random other things
-NARHA Certified Therapeutic Horseback riding instructor, Riding program secretary, board member, horse trainer, volunteer
-Stable hand, horse exerciser
-A couple of rodeo associations, high school equestrian team

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- One Health Club
-Bike racing
-German exchange student

Letters of Rec:
-Veterinarian from the clinic I worked at (DVM)
-Graduate Committee Advisor (PhD)
-Professor I worked for as an undergrad and my fellowship mentor (PhD)
-Graduate Committee Co-Advisor (PhD)
-Occupational therapist mentor for therapeutic riding instructor certification process
-County 4-H youth extension agent

 

[nyanko]

GellaBella, we have a lot in common stats-wise (only I had to settle for MS admissions rather than a PhD because I aimed waaaaaaaaay too high for PhD applications originally). I'm so glad that you got into Penn.

However, I am realllllllly sad that UCDavis rejected you. I was really hoping you'd get an interview here for sure!!

 

[BlacKAT33]

you're an inspiration gellabella