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Veterinary Science Graduate Programs from U. of I.
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I had a similar situation and I got waitlisted last year. My old grades in a different major brought my cumulative GPA down to a 3.0 but my Pre-vet GPA was a 3.4 and they pay attention to that more. Just get good grades now and lots of experience and the adcoms will see that you have turned around. They won't really pay attention to your old grades in a different major, especially when they see how good you have done once you switched. Good Luck!!
 
Pomegranate said:
They won't really pay attention to your old grades in a different major, especially when they see how good you have done once you switched. Good Luck!!
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I wouldn't say they "won't really pay attention" to the old grades, they are calculated into your cumulative GPA after all.

OP, I went into Computer Science out of high school, got a degree and ended up with a 3.0 GPA give or take. There are a few others of us here who did similar, though 2.0 will be a tough hole to climb out of. Be honest about your reasons for not doing well previously, and it is very important that you do very well in your vet school prerequisites, take a lot of upper division sciences and do very well in them to show that you can handle the courseload, ace the GRE and get a lot of good, solid experience and letters of recommendation. Like many of us, you are starting out with a major disadvantage. The good news for you is that you only have 2 years of it. Even still, the best you will probably be able to pull up your grades to with that GPA is a 3.0 cumulative or so, if you can pull off straight A's in your prereqs.

It isn't impossible and you aren't crazy for wanting to try, but you will definitely have to put in a lot of work and you might have to apply multiple times. If you're willing to make that commitment, then I say you should go for it for sure!

PS: I applied to UC Davis 2 cycles ago and was interviewed and rejected, and am getting a MS and applying again this cycle, in case you were curious.
 
You cant change the past.... so worry about the future.

To finish up the pre-reqs and a bachelors degree you are talking about at least a good 2 more years which should be enough to bring your GPA back up into the range to actually get your application read. I'd also probably try and apply as soon as you have everything completed. Interviews are given based largely on grades/gpa which you may not get your first year, but OSU will lower the bar regarding interviews for in-state re-applicants. So it might help if you end up in a situation if you have to decide between applying earlier or waiting until you feel your application is more competitive.

Here is a website with more info on the admission process for the OSU: http://vet.osu.edu/2003.htm

This info brought to you by the guy with the Computer science degree and a 3.0 undergrad GPA currently studying veterinary medicine at OSU... And loving every moment of it. Best decision I've made with my life.
 
Yeah, I've got to agree with all of the points others made here already. Thankfully being an undergrad here at CSU I get to see a lot of presentations made by people on the admissions board from the vet school here. They had a topic one time specifically about people who are in the same situation as you're in. The main thing is that it will affect your cumulative GPA, but the admissions reps also said that they definitely understand not doing so well in the past and suddenly realizing years later that vet school is where you want to be. Make good, real good on those pre reqs, and just explain during your interview and stuff what the deal is. They will definitely have respect for someone who decided to pick it up academically years after, especially when you've got those solid grades to show for it. There is hope! You can make it.
 
I have a similar situation, so I hope you don't mind me tagging along for a question. I finished my first bachelors in Psychology with a 3.14, not what you would call horrible but certainly not something I would have gotten if I had EVER planned to continue on with a higher degree. Now I am back at school taking a 2nd bachelors in Biology - 4.0 so far and I plan to keep it up. Does my original degree's GPA factor into my overall, or just my new bachelors in Bio? My fear is that even with a 4.0 (being optimistic) pre-req GPA that my overall will still be in the mid 3.0's and I may be rejected solely because of that.
 
Some schools will allow you to "petition" to have them ignore grades older than 6 or 8 years. I'm not familiar with the process, or what kind of reasons you have to have though.
 
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Hey,

You're not crazy, and you're not the only person in that boat. My GPA for the first 3 years of college is a 1.9. Ya. Ouch.
Not to make excuses, but two months after I left that college permanently (they were not helping me try to improve, or see a doctor, or be tested, or anything), I was diagnosed with a significant learning disorder that had not only affected my academic abilities, but had made it so I had no idea how to study.
Since then, I have been taking a few classes, teaching myself to study, and in the past 3 terms, I started to pull all A/Bs. I'm working very hard to pull all As this term, because if I do, I will automatically be accepted to a rigorous academic school with a fantastic support system, and I can finish my degree and prereqs.
I did a lot of researching, poking around this forum, and work - If I can pull a 4.0 for the rest of my college career, a 4.0 for my science and last 45 credits, do exceptionally well on the GREs (I've already started to study), and get a lot of varied veterinary experience, I think I might stand a chance, and I will probably have to apply at least twice.

🙂 So I say go for it if you are really committed! You definitely won't be the only one.
 
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r00 said:
My fear is that even with a 4.0 (being optimistic) pre-req GPA that my overall will still be in the mid 3.0's and I may be rejected solely because of that.
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This strikes me as an irrational fear.
 
If you haven't already, I strongly advise you to start getting experience working with or shadowing a veterinarian. You are going to be putting a lot of your time and money into this planned career change, so get some hands-on experience and make sure it is what you want. A lot of people have an idealized version in their minds of what happens in a vet's office, so start getting experience for your own good as well as for your application.

(This is coming from the possible vet school dropout who likes working in a shelter a lot more than vet school and has realized there are a lot of things you can do to help animals that aren't being a vet).
 
bunnity said:
If you haven't already, I strongly advise you to start getting experience working with or shadowing a veterinarian. You are going to be putting a lot of your time and money into this planned career change, so get some hands-on experience and make sure it is what you want. A lot of people have an idealized version in their minds of what happens in a vet's office, so start getting experience for your own good as well as for your application.

(This is coming from the possible vet school dropout who likes working in a shelter a lot more than vet school and has realized there are a lot of things you can do to help animals that aren't being a vet).
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I think that is an excellent suggestion, and encourage the OP to look at the variety of jobs open to DVM's, since we often tend to focus on the 'first contact' of vet med...the local clinic. Bunnity, I hope you continue, but if you don't, I agree fully that there are other options just as fullfilling and worthwhile. I really loved my other career and was hoping to avoid the time/expense/hassle of a vet education, but I finally gave in to the lifetime of being drawn to this field, and I am certain that I did far more in that career to affect the future of animal husbandry and conservation through education than I personally (not saying others will have the same perspective or experience) will as a vet (because that was the focus and measure of my sucess vs the health of an animal/group of animals/system.)
 
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