hopefullyfuturedogtor
Full Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2023
- Messages
- 61
- Reaction score
- 33
WARNING: LONG POST
Hello, I wanted to ask for some advice in regard to how I can improve my application. Although I am still waiting to hear back from 6 schools ( I was rejected from 5 already), I wanted to see how I can prepare for the next application cycle just in case things don't go well.
I am a first generation second-time applicant from CA who had to make the difficult choice of declining my seat last year from Western U (it was the only school I was accepted from as a first-time applicant but under certain circumstances, I had to decline my seat).
My primary area of interest is small animals general practice (I might be interested in specializing but still unsure). I graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor's in Animal science in 2020 and have worked at the same animal clinic since (3.5 years). I started as a receptionist and moved my way to the back working as a veterinary assistant. At work, I fill prescriptions, do call-ins to outside pharmacies, feel comfortable with venipuncture, monitor for anesthesia for dentals and surgeries (with specialists too), do ear cytology, and overall feel confident in my skills. As a bilingual and a half worker, I also feel comfortable translating in Spanish and know basic Korean.
I think that my main barrier was my GPA in college. I started my freshmen year with an overall average GPA of 2.98 (average for the 3 quarters of my freshmen year) but slowly raised it to an overall GPA of 3.48 for my senior year. Unfortunately, my overall GPA for the 4 years was only a 3.189
Since, I have been attending community college to increase my GPA ( I got mainly Cs in my lower div science prerequisites classes like chemistry, bio and physics) by retaking classes and taking some additional science courses and have been getting all As. When I applied to UC Davis vet school this year, these were the calculated stats
my cumulative GPA was 3.35,
last 45 semester, 68 quarter units GPA 3.88
VMCAS Overall Science 3.21 (during college it was a 3.00)
Since finishing this last application, I took one semester of Organic Chemistry and Physics and got As and I am taking the second part of Ochem this spring, all which have not been included in this last application cycle. At this point, I replaced all my Cs in undergrad with As and I am left with As and Bs, but I am aware that many if not most schools average the repeated class grades which would give me Bs.
If I'm not wrong my new GPA is
- cumulative: 3.39
- last 45 semester units: 3.98
- overall science: 3.3-3.4
I took the GRE but I don't think any schools consider it anymore
My experiences with animals during high school and college are as follow:
- Exotics (primates at a research center): 418 hours
- Volunteer at 1 shelter 2016-2017: 120 hours
- Volunteer at an adoption center in high school (before going to college): 117
- Livestock (FFA)- high school: 640 hours
- Research with poultry: 450 hours
- Intern at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Davis (Internal Medicine, community practice and small animal surgery): 136 hours
- Kennel assistant in high school: 44 hours (summer before going to college)
My experiences post-college
- Volunteer doing vaccine clinics monthly: 25 hours
- Shadowing at Rehab center: 64 hours
- Working at UCD as ward tech: 280 hours
- Working at an animal hospital: +8000 hours
Non-animal experience during college and after college
- Treasurer at a social club (Liberty in North Korea): 455 hours
- Volunteer at my church (visiting nursing homes or babysitting): 172 hours
Achievements
- Dean's honor list for one quarter during college
Topics of Personal Statement
- recognizing the need for accessible care and proper client education through building trust by thoughtful communication and perseverance to make a lasting impact.
- I have been doing that by translating and exposing myself to integrative and shelter medicine.
I have been trying to look for jobs maybe in ER or specialized hospital to gain different experiences with small animals but I'm not sure if that would help since my interest in small animal GP. I have been struggling to find a job since I am taking classes during the day and they need full-time employees.
I don't know if I should pursue a higher education like RVT or a Master because I know that I would need to wait at least 2 years before applying again and I fear that my prerequisite classes may be too old to use and might need to retake them. I am also worried that it would be much more competitive (I also interviewed and was waitlisted for UCD last year but didn't make it pass the waitlist. This year even with higher GPA I got rejected before an interview invite and I think it is because twice as many students applied this year).
Please I would appreciate any feedback or advice. Thank you so much if you read this and made it to the very end!
Hello, I wanted to ask for some advice in regard to how I can improve my application. Although I am still waiting to hear back from 6 schools ( I was rejected from 5 already), I wanted to see how I can prepare for the next application cycle just in case things don't go well.
I am a first generation second-time applicant from CA who had to make the difficult choice of declining my seat last year from Western U (it was the only school I was accepted from as a first-time applicant but under certain circumstances, I had to decline my seat).
My primary area of interest is small animals general practice (I might be interested in specializing but still unsure). I graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor's in Animal science in 2020 and have worked at the same animal clinic since (3.5 years). I started as a receptionist and moved my way to the back working as a veterinary assistant. At work, I fill prescriptions, do call-ins to outside pharmacies, feel comfortable with venipuncture, monitor for anesthesia for dentals and surgeries (with specialists too), do ear cytology, and overall feel confident in my skills. As a bilingual and a half worker, I also feel comfortable translating in Spanish and know basic Korean.
I think that my main barrier was my GPA in college. I started my freshmen year with an overall average GPA of 2.98 (average for the 3 quarters of my freshmen year) but slowly raised it to an overall GPA of 3.48 for my senior year. Unfortunately, my overall GPA for the 4 years was only a 3.189
Since, I have been attending community college to increase my GPA ( I got mainly Cs in my lower div science prerequisites classes like chemistry, bio and physics) by retaking classes and taking some additional science courses and have been getting all As. When I applied to UC Davis vet school this year, these were the calculated stats
my cumulative GPA was 3.35,
last 45 semester, 68 quarter units GPA 3.88
VMCAS Overall Science 3.21 (during college it was a 3.00)
Since finishing this last application, I took one semester of Organic Chemistry and Physics and got As and I am taking the second part of Ochem this spring, all which have not been included in this last application cycle. At this point, I replaced all my Cs in undergrad with As and I am left with As and Bs, but I am aware that many if not most schools average the repeated class grades which would give me Bs.
If I'm not wrong my new GPA is
- cumulative: 3.39
- last 45 semester units: 3.98
- overall science: 3.3-3.4
I took the GRE but I don't think any schools consider it anymore
My experiences with animals during high school and college are as follow:
- Exotics (primates at a research center): 418 hours
- Volunteer at 1 shelter 2016-2017: 120 hours
- Volunteer at an adoption center in high school (before going to college): 117
- Livestock (FFA)- high school: 640 hours
- Research with poultry: 450 hours
- Intern at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Davis (Internal Medicine, community practice and small animal surgery): 136 hours
- Kennel assistant in high school: 44 hours (summer before going to college)
My experiences post-college
- Volunteer doing vaccine clinics monthly: 25 hours
- Shadowing at Rehab center: 64 hours
- Working at UCD as ward tech: 280 hours
- Working at an animal hospital: +8000 hours
Non-animal experience during college and after college
- Treasurer at a social club (Liberty in North Korea): 455 hours
- Volunteer at my church (visiting nursing homes or babysitting): 172 hours
Achievements
- Dean's honor list for one quarter during college
Topics of Personal Statement
- recognizing the need for accessible care and proper client education through building trust by thoughtful communication and perseverance to make a lasting impact.
- I have been doing that by translating and exposing myself to integrative and shelter medicine.
I have been trying to look for jobs maybe in ER or specialized hospital to gain different experiences with small animals but I'm not sure if that would help since my interest in small animal GP. I have been struggling to find a job since I am taking classes during the day and they need full-time employees.
I don't know if I should pursue a higher education like RVT or a Master because I know that I would need to wait at least 2 years before applying again and I fear that my prerequisite classes may be too old to use and might need to retake them. I am also worried that it would be much more competitive (I also interviewed and was waitlisted for UCD last year but didn't make it pass the waitlist. This year even with higher GPA I got rejected before an interview invite and I think it is because twice as many students applied this year).
Please I would appreciate any feedback or advice. Thank you so much if you read this and made it to the very end!
Last edited:
