Advice for first year undergrad

[TRDK]

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Hi! I just recently started my first year of undergrad in September at the University of Alberta. My program is Animal Health majoring in Companion and Performance Animals. I knew I always had a passion for animals however I went into the program not wanting to be a vet (scared it was too hard, etc). We had a lab at the Edmonton Humane Society (animal shelter) and since then I now am considering becoming a vet.

Just wanted to make this thread for you guys to maybe give me advice. I'm worries that if I try and go the vet route, I won't get in because right now I have virtually no experience. I want to work this summer at the Humane Society and maybe volunteer at our Dairy Research facility on campus (for LA experience).

I don't know, I guess I'm just scared and worried that I should have started sooner. I was thinking that maybe you guys could give me advice/things you wish you knew in first year to maybe help me get through these 4 undergrad years and actually have a chance of getting in.

Thanks!

 

[Foxhunter]

You have plenty of time to get animal and veterinary experience. It's even doable to throw that together in a year or two. What's probably most important now is doing REALLY well in your classes and just figuring out a plan of success for undergrad. Maybe get through your first semester and figure out what works for you. Then next semester or this summer see if you can find a vet to shadow or an animal rescue group/humane society to volunteer with. Also, try to get some variety in your hours. Try to work in large animal or farm medicine as well as the small animal stuff, just to show you know there's more to being a vet than just dogs and cats. I STRONGLY suggest you peruse this forum and look at all the advice and help that's here already. I, personally, don't know much about the Canadian system, but there are SDNer's who do and would be more than happy to help you with any questions. Mainly, calm down, relax, kick butt in your classes, and start making a plan of how you're going to find out if being a veterinarian is for you and if you decide it is how you're going to do it!

 

[Trematode]

If you haven't already, look into your school requirements. For some Canadian schools, you can apply in as little as 2 years if you fit the required courses into your schedule. The school you can apply to may be a little different though so look into it.

Start preparing for the GRE and take it well before apps are due (unless you are an Ontario resident, they require the MCAT). Give yourself enough time to retake it if you don't do we'll the first time.

Don't overlook extracurriculars, community service and work experience. I know of a few people who interviewed at AVC but didn't make the cut partially because they were lacking in activities not related to vet med.

If you find yourself falling behind, do your best to get help. Don't be afraid to drop a course if you are really struggling. I know for AVC, they dot care if you drop a course but they won't let you retake it if you do poorly. That's what got me.

 

[ky261682]

Are you an Alberta resident? If you are, you can apply to WCVM and Calgary. The most important thing is to do well in your classes, especially the prerequisites. WCVM likes a lot of vet and animal experience in a variety of settings but you have plenty of time to get it. Calgary doesn't look at experience but it will help in the interview and for your LORs. I can't stress enough doing well in the prerequisites. You don't need straight As, a couple of Bs will not kill you (especially for Calgary); just do the best you can.

 

[futurehealervet]

Since you seem to be worried about the level of difficulty (Im assuming you means grades) as well as getting experience in the next few years, I advise you try what I have been doing. Take full courseloads each semester and focus exclusively on doing well. Show them you can handle a lot of credits and do well. Get experience over summer and winter breaks. If you work 6-8 hours a day, 4-5 days a week and go for a different kind of experience each break, youll end up with good grades and a diversity of experiences that you have a substantial amount of hours in. It's worked well for me so far, and based on what you've written, this strategy may work well for you too. Good luck!

 

[cdndvm]

Hi. I'm a WCVM Alum. Just to echo some of the thoughts here - the single most important factor for your successful admission to Vet school (both WCVM and UofC) is your GPA. You can easily compensate for less volunteering experience with a high GPA. Having sit on the interview committee for both institutions, GPA plays the biggest factor for admission. Whether or not that is a valid admissions criteria is a whole different discussion... unfortunately as it stands now, this is the way it is. Good Luck.

 

[TRDK]

Hi. I'm a WCVM Alum. Just to echo some of the thoughts here - the single most important factor for your successful admission to Vet school (both WCVM and UofC) is your GPA. You can easily compensate for less volunteering experience with a high GPA. Having sit on the interview committee for both institutions, GPA plays the biggest factor for admission. Whether or not that is a valid admissions criteria is a whole different discussion... unfortunately as it stands now, this is the way it is. Good Luck.

Well... that sucks. Haha, but thank you for the advice. Good to know this early on in the game. I will just have to work extra hard for good grades. Do you know what the average has been for the program??

 

[ky261682]

http://vet.ucalgary.ca/system/files/2012AdmissionsStats.pdf

Those are last year's stats for UCVM. If you have any questions specific to Calgary I'd be happy to answer them. I applied last year, interviewed, and was accepted (decided to go to AVC instead). Good luck!