23 yr-old female, WI resident (after living/working in WI for 1.5 years after college…originally a MI resident), 1st time, non-traditional applicant.
And another example of someone who doesn’t have much vet/shadowing experience per se, but other factors that helped me get to this point.
Applied: UW-Madison, Michigan State (app withdrawn--I decided that even if I got in, realistically I wouldn't go since my long-term boyfriend is here in Madison)
Rejected: none
Accepted: UW-Madison
Attending: UW-Madison
Undergrad: B.A. from Kalamazoo College
Major: Biology
Minor: Math
Concentration: Biophysics
Cumulative GPA: 3.87
Science GPA: 3.97
Last 30 GPA: 3.71
GRE: V – 160, Q - 154, A – 4.0 (GRE is not my favorite)
Vet experience:
SA clinic shadowing: 65
LA clinic shadowing: 24
Technically, I should have also classified some of my research animal experience here because I was performing surgeries (craniotomies, perfusions) and dissections under an MD/PhD and with approval/supervision of a vet, but I didn’t in my app. I think the admin committee reclassifies experiences as they see fit. It probably would have been around 800-1000 hours at the time.
Animal Experience:
146 hours volunteering at Humane Society and affiliated wildlife center
30 hours volunteering with Kalamazoo SPCA
1140 hours taking care of lab animals (weaning, ear-punching for genotyping, dissecting embryos, culturing, IHC, etc)
Research:
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Summer 2010 REU: 450 hours
· Title of project:
Application of a Color and Size Selective Algorithm in Quantitative Neuropathological Assessment
· Presented Poster
Princeton University Summer 2011 REU: 450 hours
· Title of project:
Characterization of learning in rats performing an auditory discrimination task: do rats have insight?
· Presented Poster
UCLA (Amgen Scholars Program Summer 2012, senior thesis work): 550 hours
· Title of project:
Investigating network hyperexcitability in visual cortex of Fmr1 KO mice with in vivo two-photon calcium imaging (This is where I did lots of surgery--craniotomies to be specific--on our research subjects)
· Presented Poster, attended Amgen Scholar Conference
University of Wisconsin-Madison (current employment since July 2013) : thousands of hours
· Currently investigating the molecular timing involved in the process of chorioallantoic fusion. In this job I have had the opportunity to build lots of important skills that I think will be useful for vet school including dissections on mouse embryos for culturing, histology techniques, data analysis, etc.
· Also doing cloning projects for a transcription factor, Brachyury, involved in posterior axial development—hoping to publish soon!
Study Abroad:
Budapest Semester In Cognitive Science (6 months studying at Eotvos Lorand University)
Research Project:
The Prefrontal Cortex and Speculation on its Modular Organization
Honors/Awards/Scholarships:
Honors in Biology Department
Departmental Student Advisor
Amgen Scholar
Clare Booth Luce Scholar
Kalamazoo College Winifred Peake Jones Prize in Biology
Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society
Dean’s Honor list (throughout college)
Kalamazoo College Trustee Scholarship
AT&T Foundation Scholarship
Leadership:
Leader of organization at college called Sisters in Science. As a leader and participant of this organization, I would mentor 5th and 6th grade female students in science, plan experiments for other mentors, budget, hold meetings, etc.
Employment:
Kalamazoo College Teaching Assistant for Cell & Molecular Biology course
Kalamazoo College Supplemental Instructor for Evolution and Genetics course
Extracurriculars:
Member of Ultimate Frisbee team in college (all four years)
Madison Ultimate Frisbee Association member (Spring/Summer 2014)
Belly Dancing for 8 weeks
Kalamazoo College Health Guild Participant
Kalamazoo College Sisters in Science Member and Leader (See above)
LOR:
PI (PhD) from University of Wisconsin-Madison
Professor and advisor (PhD) from college
Veterinarian from SA clinic at which I shadowed
Personal Statement: I talked about my deviation from vet med when I entered college and how I fell in love with research, but how my love for research ultimately led me back to vet med, specifically wanting to go into Lab animal medicine. I felt good about it when I wrote it, but looking back I think I could have made it a little better. After looking at others’ posts here on SDN I realize my “story” isn’t as unique as it seemed to me at the time. I think the most important thing is to clearly and concisely convey your goals and how your experiences/skills will help you achieve them.
I also didn’t put anything from High School on my app (even though I had tons of awards, extracurriculars and some shadowing/volunteer experience from that time) because I didn’t realize I could (until after I submitted…silly me). Nor did I put pet-ownership (which I’ve had my whole life, including 3 rats currently).