Any sugestions for next cycle?

[bubbles525]

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So, chances are I will not get off the Western wait list and be reapplying next cycle. I welcome any suggestions to improve my application, here are my stats:

GPA: 3.195 (my major application flaw 🙁 )

GRE: 610 math, 630 verbal, 5.0 writing

Experience: 3000+ hours vet assistant (In MA that means I can do just about everything a tech can do) in a small animal clinic where I am now working full time. 10 years riding horses.

Graduated May 2005 with a BS in Biology and a BA in English Lit.

Semester abroad in Ireland

I plan on retaking the GRE to up the math score, and am setting up volunteer time with a large animal and exotic vet. Improving my application is a little tricky because I'm living at home because my mother is terminally ill. So I need flexibility in scheduling because of my familial responsibilities. Any suggestions? thanks!

 

[zufuss]

Well don't stress about the waitlist to much, but theres always that chance 🙂

The large animal experience will be key to next years application round.

Any wildlife rehab places nearby? Even if you are not interested get as diverse an amount of experience as possible. Bird/Exotic clinics?

Maybe volunteer some at local aspca/humane society.

It would be good if you could somehow get invovled with some research. Even if you are out of school. Maybe go back and contact some of your professors and what not.

 

[Miranda]

Hi,

I managed to get into vet school with a slightly lower GPA, but it did take me three times applying! It sounds like you are doing all the right things, and already have a lot of experience. Certainly retake the GRE, less nervousness should definitely mean higher score! I also took several con ed courses, Harvard has some great ones (comparative anatomy was excellent!) and UMass (definitely Boston and Lowell compuses) have good microbiology (with lab) courses, if you haven't taken that already.

Being wait listed is very encouragin in my opinion! It means, at least in my interpretation, that you will get into vet school, you just might have to try a little harder. I'd definitely recommend calling Western and discussing recommendations they have, they'll tell you largely what the admissions committe though of your application, and what they feel needs improving. How many schools did you apply to this year? It's definitely a great idea to apply to as many programs as possible, get the VMSAR book if you don't have it yet, and apply everywhere that seems reasonable. I imagine you want to stay close to home for your mother... If you live in Mass did you apply to Tufts? Again, they let me in with a 3.12, so it can be done, call them as well and ask for advice. They can be slightly vague, but if you have specific ideas in mind they'll give you frank opinions of whether it is worthwhile or not.

Good luck!
Miranda

So, chances are I will not get off the Western wait list and be reapplying next cycle. I welcome any suggestions to improve my application, here are my stats:

GPA: 3.195 (my major application flaw 🙁 )

GRE: 610 math, 630 verbal, 5.0 writing

Experience: 3000+ hours vet assistant (In MA that means I can do just about everything a tech can do) in a small animal clinic where I am now working full time. 10 years riding horses.

Graduated May 2005 with a BS in Biology and a BA in English Lit.

Semester abroad in Ireland

I plan on retaking the GRE to up the math score, and am setting up volunteer time with a large animal and exotic vet. Improving my application is a little tricky because I'm living at home because my mother is terminally ill. So I need flexibility in scheduling because of my familial responsibilities. Any suggestions? thanks!

 

[HorseyVet]

The large animal experience will be key to next years application round.

Everyone says this but I really have my doubts....I had the most hours in large animal and not one interviewer even asked about it.....well one asked a little about industry food animal which wasn't at all what I had done....no one asked at all about equine. They all really wanted to know about my research (which was all pre-undergrad) and my lab animal shadowing....I guess b/c I had seen both sides...

Anyway I think they just want you to have some idea about the horse and food animal world....enough so you can handle a behaved horse on the ground w/o getting killed.

 

[hippo11]

i think you have the right idea on how to improve your application *bubbles525* by getting more experience and taking the GRE again. my science GPA is about where you say yours is (i hated o-chem) and i was lucky enough to get a couple of acceptances this cycle as well as a waitlist at Cornell! are you showing an upward GPA trend? i know some people say that doesn't really matter, but i think it does because that's the only way a can see the admissions overlooking my low GPA.

with regards to large animal experience, i had none, but i think it could only help you. if you're interested in large animal medicine i think admissions would want to see some experience in that area. like *Horseyvet* i was asked a lot about my research...in my opinion, i think it's because there's a high demand now-a-days for vets who want to go into research. if you like the lab, hey it pays well!

 

[Apollo84]

i think you have the right idea on how to improve your application *bubbles525* by getting more experience and taking the GRE again. my science GPA is about where you say yours is (i hated o-chem) and i was lucky enough to get a couple of acceptances this cycle as well as a waitlist at Cornell!

The posts by hippo11 and bubbles525 are very encouraging for me. I applied this year to 4 schools and didn't get into any, so I'm trying next year. I have the same GPA issues. I spoke with the dean at CO and she was very helpful in pointing out weaknesses in my application and she was adamant that I need to prove that I can do well in upper division science courses, so I am going to summer school to retake a few of those courses. She said my animal experience is good (I have worked in small animal clinics, research, online continuing education and I volunteer and rescue rabbits), she said my GRE is good (560 verbal, 640 math, 5.5 writing) but I can probably up my verbal so maybe I'll try to retake that this summer too. I took the CA tech licensing exam and missed by only 6 points, so I want to retake that this summer- just my theory, but I think it would prove dedication to this profession and show a level of veterinary knowledge. Any other suggestions are welcome. Great idea for a thread!

 

[bubbles525]

I am a Massachusetts resident, and applied to six schools: Tufts, Cornell, Upenn, NC state, Colorado State, and Western. I have really fallen in love with Western’s program and of course really hope that I get off the wait list. I have shown and upward trend in my GPA (really horrid sophomore year) above a 3.5 since beginning for junior year and up each semester. I did retake o-chem. II ugh that sucked. My father thinks a master’s degree would do wonders but I really have very little interest in classes other than vet school though. I think getting different experience is a must for me. Virtually all of my experience is in one clinic, primarily with one vet. I also plan on expanding/rethinking my school list to include international schools and some of the US schools that take more out of state applicants. I don’t know it just seems the next application is coming on so fast, and all I did in the last year was take care of my family and work full time.
~Marie

 

[Boxsterluv]

I tend to go with your dad on the masters thing.. I know you only like vet classes, have you looked into any animal science masters programs in your area? If you continue your upward trend, it may really look good.. Also, from what I understand from others' feedback, it might be helpful to rewrite your personal statement.. Maybe mention what you've learned from having to reapply, or emphasize your dedication to the vet profession, and maybe even somehow mention your mom and how her illness has made you a stonger person, or something along those lines. You've got a lot going for you, with your experience and the upward trend in your grades and your life in general. Keep up the good work and you'll get to where you want to be.. Good luck!

 

[wishes]

I think getting different experience is a must for me. Virtually all of my experience is in one clinic, primarily with one vet. I also plan on expanding/rethinking my school list to include international schools and some of the US schools that take more out of state applicants.

I just want to say hang in there and be optimistic. You have so much going for you and you will get into vet school.
Definitely try to broaden your horizon as far as getting more/varied veterinary experience.
Retake the GRE if you can. Your scores are not bad, but it is such an easy fix to bring them up and, depending on the school, it can really help your chances of getting in.
Take a good look at the schools that take alot of non-residents and try to apply to these schools. Minnesota is one in particular that takes alot of out of state people and I really loved their program so you might consider applying there. Of course, Western, Tufts, U. Penn, & Cornell do take quite a few out of state people since they are "private," although the latter three have alot of spots for state/contract people.
You mentioned considering applying abroad. There are some very good European schools. Edinburgh, especially, is very eager to get American students and I was very impressed by their program. I have also heard great things about Glasgow, London, and Murdoch. I'm sure there are other programs that are good too.
A masters program would be a good way to "fix" your GPA. I do think, however, that with your upward GPA trend you can overcome an overall low GPA with an otherwise strong and varied application.
Good luck!!

 

[traxomatic]

I agree with the rewriting the personal statement. If you have a strong one, it really grabs their attention. I was even complimented on mine at an interview.

 

[eaglemeag]

I agree with the rewriting the personal statement. If you have a strong one, it really grabs their attention. I was even complimented on mine at an interview.

Ditto, except with a non-personal-statement essay. I didn't think they actually read those things (or put a lot of stock in them)... but in my interview one of the professors whipped out my essay and it had pen marks all over it! He proceeded to compliment me on my writing, quoted a particular passage, and asked me to elaborate on it. My 'elaboration' was a little bit more detailed, and both interviewers seemed very pleased with my response.

(That said, don't forget to read over your essays before your interviews! I wrote mine in September/October and ended up interviewing February/March, so a lot of time passed between writing and interviewing. If you're anything like me you forget exactly what you wrote... so it can't hurt to re-read them to refresh your memory!)

 

[mokadet]

Everyone has brought up good points: retake GRE, rewrite personal statement, etc. And these are definitely easy things to do that can make a difference.

However, be warned that you may continue to be haunted by a poor GPA. My stats:
GPA - 3.21 (got C's in second semester orgo lecture and lab - the rest is A's and B's)
GRE - Q 770, V 600
XP - 2500 hours research, 600 hours paid work for vets (equine and small animal) +150 hours volunteer, and a ton of general animal xp - dairy farm, sheep farm, horseback riding, dogs, cats, fish...

This is my second year applying. Last year my comments from schools after the app cycle consisted of, "well, you are a good candidate but that sophmore year gpa really sticks out, and C's in orgo, eek" (parapharsed, of course) The primary thing they could tell me to do was take more classes and try and increase my GPA. Some also suggested making the rest of my aplication stellar (because gpa is so difficult to remedy). This year the comments were more of the same, but perhaps more so (I've spent the year working full time in research and part-time at a small animal clinic, so those numbers went up). I also took courses in the fall semester, unfortunately, the school had major issue getting my transcripts out and only half of the schools I applied to ever saw those grades (the ones that did are the ones I faxed copies to) - another story.

I am now considering a masters program. Here's my train of thought: The only way to make a big dent in my GPA issue is to go back to school full-time and if I'm going to be taking that many classes, I might as well get something for my time, right? The DVM I work for now suggested a MPH program. He said that the majority of his classmates that persued degrees after their DVM went back for a MPH, so it can be helpful. Also, they are generally one-year programs (I am doing this to get in to vet school - not to spend the rest of my life working on it). Another option is to look into degrees more animal related; animal nutrition, equine reproduction, etc. but these are generally longer than one year (I think).

Anyway, any advice on my situation would be appriciated. And my advice to anyone in my situation is to be prepared for the long haul - if you weren't convinced this is what you really want to do either the mood will pass and you will do something else, or you will be more and more certain every day and eventually this determination has to get you somewhere, right?

 

[bubbles525]

So maybe I can get a masters in something that will apply to Vet med, right? What about the USC MPH program that can be completed in 1 year? focus on health communications? seeing as how I think client education is ome of the most important aspects of vet med that can sometimes be over looked (in my experiance)... well what do you think??? http://www.usc.edu/schools/medicine.../behavior/education/mph/student_services.html
~Marie