Advice for the next 12 months...

[ckd816]

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I know, I know... another advice thread. I just value your guys' opinions as much as everyone else! 😉

So I'm in my last year of undergrad but I'm not applying to vet school until next cycle, which leaves me with about a year and four months in between undergrad and vet school (if I get in the first try ) with about five months being in between graduation and application time. I'm having issues trying to decide what to do with this time, but I do have some thoughts on it. First off, I should mention that I feel like there is nothing special about my application at this point in time-- GPA is low at 3.31, experience isn't stellar (921 SA vet, 56 zoo, 64 avian/wildlife and 100 and counting in research), and I haven't taken the GRE yet. I am OOS everywhere but will be a WICHE applicant.

My original plan was to gain hours and work on diversifying my experience possibly in the spring or after graduation by trying to get in with an exotics vet since I'm interested in this area. I also wanted to ride along with an equine vet and maybe work at another wildlife center with bears, mountain lions, javelina, etc. I have also considered doing a volunteer trip via World Vets, RAVS, or any of those type of programs. There are a couple of zoo veterinary internships I was looking at applying for as well.

Obviously it would be my first choice to get the experience, but I realized I would no longer be covered under my parents' health insurance since I won't be a student and I probably won't have a full time job... I thought it might be a good idea to keep taking upper division biology classes at my university or applying for a master's program (CSU Plan B, specifically) instead of traveling just so I could be covered still. This could help my GPA situation too. However, I like to think I'm pretty healthy so I could always risk not having health insurance for a while. 🙄 I also have a hard time throwing myself into school again when the GPA reported on VMCAS won't include any of this coursework (even though I know fall transcripts will be seen).

I don't know what to do! I'm feeling as lost as most of my friends, which is weird because I've always been the one with a plan... so which route would you take if you were me? Other ideas than the ones here are welcome, of course. If I go the master's route I'll have to take the GRE a lot sooner than expected because I originally planned on taking it in the summer so I feel like I need to make up my mind soon.

Sorry this is so long. I really appreciate everyone's thoughts! 🙂

 

[Sophie10]

I think your best option would be the grad school route. I'm a bio grad student and third time applicant, so take this with a grain of salt, but it seems like the biggest place where you will need to improve is the GPA. Your grad school grades won't be on VMCAS, but schools will see fall semester by the time you get to interviews. And, if you don't get in your first time, you will already be on the road to improving you GPA.

I wouldn't worry too much about the GRE. Take a practice exam and see how much you need to study.. I don't really think it's that hard, but I seem to be in the minority on here.

Also, your application doesn't seem bad! You have a lot of really diverse experience and you're doing research! 🙂

 

[david594]

Why didnt you apply this cycle? A low GPA is far from an end because one number doesn't necessarily tell the whole story of ones academic career. And a 3.31 while maybe a little low is far from horrid.

How you did in your sciences/pre-reqs would probably play a big part in what your best options would be over the next year or two.

 

[ckd816]

Why didnt you apply this cycle? A low GPA is far from an end because one number doesn't necessarily tell the whole story of ones academic career. And a 3.31 while maybe a little low is far from horrid.

How you did in your sciences/pre-reqs would probably play a big part in what your best options would be over the next year or two.

I intended on applying this round but I changed my mind just before VMCAS opened. I just didn't feel competitive enough to go for it... I have had rough patches in my academic history including a complete withdrawal one semester. My grades in pre-reqs are lower than they should be and I still have to take Physics II and Biochem next semester. I was hoping my last 45 hour GPA would help if I really buckle down this semester and next. I made up for the credits from when I withdrew by taking a full load over the summer and I got a 3.6 for 12 credits at my own university and then I got an A in an online course from another institution. LORs were a problem for me too-- I feel like I need to get different experiences so I can get vet recommendations from those because the SA clinic I worked at was so big that I never really had enough experience with a single vet to be comfortable asking for a letter. Also, I'm still pretty young (21) so I didn't care to rush it.

 

[DVMDream]

I intended on applying this round but I changed my mind just before VMCAS opened. I just didn't feel competitive enough to go for it... I have had rough patches in my academic history including a complete withdrawal one semester. My grades in pre-reqs are lower than they should be and I still have to take Physics II and Biochem next semester. I was hoping my last 45 hour GPA would help if I really buckle down this semester and next. I made up for the credits from when I withdrew by taking a full load over the summer and I got a 3.6 for 12 credits at my own university and then I got an A in an online course from another institution. LORs were a problem for me too-- I feel like I need to get different experiences so I can get vet recommendations from those because the SA clinic I worked at was so big that I never really had enough experience with a single vet to be comfortable asking for a letter. Also, I'm still pretty young (21) so I didn't care to rush it.

I realize that you are in AZ. Try checking out the arrow group hospitals...there are 18 of them. If you put an application in with arrow animal hospital it goes to all of the hospitals that are hiring. Most of the clinics only have 2 or 3 vets and you will be able to get close enough to them to ask for a LoR. I also agree grad school would be a good idea which is probably what I am going to do if I don't get in this cycle. Good Luck to you!!

 

[ckd816]

I realize that you are in AZ. Try checking out the arrow group hospitals...there are 18 of them. If you put an application in with arrow animal hospital it goes to all of the hospitals that are hiring. Most of the clinics only have 2 or 3 vets and you will be able to get close enough to them to ask for a LoR. I also agree grad school would be a good idea which is probably what I am going to do if I don't get in this cycle. Good Luck to you!!

Cool, their Mesa location is pretty much in my backyard so maybe I'll try that out. I'm fairly certain I don't want to go into SA though but it could be worth it. Thanks for the info and good luck from a fellow Arizonan! 😀

 

[DVMDream]

Cool, their Mesa location is pretty much in my backyard so maybe I'll try that out. I'm fairly certain I don't want to go into SA though but it could be worth it. Thanks for the info and good luck from a fellow Arizonan! 😀

Thanks good luck to you too!!