Anyone over 40 & applying this year?

[LivestockDoc]

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Or am I the only REALLY old fart left on the pre-vet list who has never applied before this cycle?

Anyone...anyone....Bueller?

 

[lunajett]

I'm sure there are a few mature folks out there still in the pre-vet category, although I know several of us got in and started this year. I was in your shoes last year, 42 and applying for my second try. Now I'm 43 and three weeks into the insanity that is vet school. So don't stress too much - if you're sure this is the right path for you, then go for it. There are advantages to being more experienced in professional school, you kind of have the benefit of an assumed credibility that a 22 year old just isn't going to have, even in a white coat. But it does seem pretty weird sometimes. I look around at my classmates, and seriously, they are kids, I'm old enough to be most of their fathers. But we're all in it together, so try not to get too hung up on the age.

 

[LivestockDoc]

Oh, you misunderstand. I'm not hung up at all about the age thing. I just remembered that there were a number of us last year, as you said, and I knew most of them..if not all..applied last year. I was just curious if any other oldsters were still in my shoes of applying this year. I thought it might be fun to connect with them, but I guess I may be the last one.

I actually have a number of friends in my classes now who are around 20, and I don't feel out of place around them at all. I find that a lot of the vet school bound tend to be more mature than the average undergrad. Or maybe I'm just regressing? 😉

Thanks for your thoughts, though. I appreciate it. Congrats on getting in!

 

[Lambgirl]

Hi Livestockdoc,

I'm here!!! I think of us 40 plus applicants as diversity. LOL It is nice to know that there are others taking on this challenge, I have really enjoyed my undergrad years with my younger peers. I am not treated any differently by those that are half my age, in fact I think I have more study partners than most. LOL.

Yeah for Non-trads!!!

 

[gone2dogs]

I was going to chime in and try and join the club, then I realized that I failed on both the entrance requirements! I am neither over forty nor a first time applicant. So shucks.

Well anyway, cheers to you and LambGirl from a 34 year old third time applicant! Good luck with your applications! I'm rooting for you!

 

[LivestockDoc]

Hey, best of luck to you too, Gone2dogs. I thought you got in last year. Bummer. 3rd time's gonna work for ya, you'll see!

So, Lambgirl, where are you applying besides Washington (I'm assuming you're applying to your in-state.)

 

[Marsala]

I'm in the boat with gone2dogs, except that I'm a 36 year-old third-timer. Hoping that someone shows me some love this time!

 

[LivestockDoc]

Ah, yes, I remember you from last year, Marsala. I'm rooting for you! Where are you applying?

 

[Marsala]

Louisiana, Texas, Purdue, Western, Davis, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, and Oregon. Here's to hoping that 2 books, some papers and other pubs, more experience, my Masters, and retaking the GRE (on Tuesday-hoping to get better scores, even though the first ones aren't bad) will help. Maybe if I offer one of the arms or legs that hasn't been claimed by Sallie Mae for my undergrad...

Where are you applying to?

 

[Maddiegirl]

Louisiana, Texas, Purdue, Western, Davis, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, and Oregon. Here's to hoping that 2 books, some papers and other pubs, more experience, my Masters, and retaking the GRE (on Tuesday-hoping to get better scores, even though the first ones aren't bad) will help. Maybe if I offer one of the arms or legs that hasn't been claimed by Sallie Mae for my undergrad...

Where are you applying to?

Yikes, after reading about all your education and experience I'm wondering if I should even bother! I just started my pre-reqs, but don't have nearly the educational background or publications accomplishments. 😱

 

[LivestockDoc]

Louisiana, Texas, Purdue, Western, Davis, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, and Oregon....Where are you applying to?

Wow, that looks like a really smart mix of schools...i.e. they emphasize different things when assessing applicants. And it sounds like you've been busy between app cycles, and have some great things to offer.

I remember my list by a silly acronym: OW COW
Ohio, Wisconsin, Colorado, Oregon, Washington

And one of the things that makes me smile is knowing that wherever I end up going (note, I'm being optimistic and assuming I will get in somewhere 🙄), I will likely have several classmates who I know from this forum (maybe you'll be one of them). So, even if I move out of state, I'll already know some people in my new hometown. I think that's pretty cool.

 

[Lambgirl]

I love this forum!!! You all make me laugh, which is something we all need getting through this process.

Livestock, I am applying to WSU, Colorado, Kansas and Western. I hope that one of them will want to take a chance on me. (ABBA running through my head)

We should also include the over 30 crowd here too.😍 The more the merrier. It is nice to know that there are others in our situation taking on challenges in middle of the game. Not to take away from the more traditional students. I know they work their behinds off too!

Besides school I have 4 children; two graduated, one in high school and one in middle school, a small flock of sheep and a research project. I'm also a 4-H leader, a pre-vet club officer and have a husband who is very patient and understanding.

Oh and I almost forgot, I volunteer at a clinic 8 hours a week.

We non-trads are a different breed. 🙂

 

[Marsala]

OW COW. Love it.

LivestockDoc: I'm hoping that the mix produces some results. It took a while to pick, because some schools don't really advertise "important" information like the exclusion of graduate work on their websites (Iowa and Kansas, for example. Good luck to you and everyone else here! Hopefully I'll see you in class in the fall...

 

[LMMS]

Non-trads unite!!

It's so great to know that there are others that are able to relate. As for me - 36 and in my third application round. Well, really the second as the first time was a while ago. Applying to Cornell, Colorado, Illinois, Ohio and VMRCVM this time out and hoping for the best.

And, while I'm here I want to let you know that those of you with spouses and families AMAZE me with your ability to juggle it all!! You're my heros!

 

[Maddiegirl]

I agree, non-trads unite!

As for me, I'm a 34 y.o. paralegal that can't wait to be a DVM! I just started my pre-reqs and work full time during the week, attend classes 4 nights a week and study my butt off every weekend.

Plus, I have a brood of animals at home that without my amazing and patient husband would not be a happy bunch.

It's so tough to juggle everything, but I am SO much happier since I made the decision to go after my dream of becoming a vet. I pushed it off a decade longer than I should've. Not sure what I was thinking...😕

So, kudos to all you other non-trads out there!
I'm so happy to have found this board and all of you to commiserate with on this journey!

 

[tigerkitten]

Hi all! Just joined the forum today, and yes, I'm 42 and doing my first application this year. (My personal statement is SHEER TORTURE.) Three cheers to all of us with the courage and fortitude to ditch an existing career for this long academic road to veterinary medicine!

 

[Maddiegirl]

Hi all! Just joined the forum today, and yes, I'm 42 and doing my first application this year. (My personal statement is SHEER TORTURE.) Three cheers to all of us with the courage and fortitude to ditch an existing career for this long academic road to veterinary medicine!

Welcome! Good luck on your app!

 

[tigerkitten]

Thanks, Maddiegirl! Good luck with your work on all those prerequisites. You'll be done with them and making your applications before you know it!

 

[Hotfillyky]

Hi guys! Of course, non-trads are great! LOL

I am 37 and applying for the first time this year. I am only applying to Auburn and LSU this year. Auburn is in-state for KY and LSU is probably just a wish but I gotta try.

It wasn't til 2008 that I had the confidence to try this. I am finishing a 2nd Bachelor's with an Ag minor in the Spring. I sincerely hope that I do not have to fill out the VMCAS every again! Seriously! Way too many credit hours to enter there.

Good luck to everyone! This will happen for all of us this year. 🙂

 

[critterfixer]

I just wanted to give you all some encouragement. I am 5 months into my fourth and final year of vet school--at the age of 44. You can do it, too! I LOVE clinics and it makes all the torture and struggle of the last 3 years totally worth it!

My current favorite quote is: "It's never too late to be what you might have been." ~George Eliot

 

[Maddiegirl]

I just wanted to give you all some encouragement. I am 5 months into my fourth and final year of vet school--at the age of 44. You can do it, too! I LOVE clinics and it makes all the torture and struggle of the last 3 years totally worth it!

My current favorite quote is: "It's never too late to be what you might have been." ~George Eliot

Thank you for the inspiration! Love this quote! 😍

 

[flyhi]

Or am I the only REALLY old fart left on the pre-vet list who has never applied before this cycle?

Anyone...anyone....Bueller?

Hmmm, well, I'm just starting vet school, but in a 5 year program, so i'll be turning 40 next year when you are starting....does that count? 😀

You'll do great and i'm looking forward to seeing you get accepted!

 

[LivestockDoc]

Thanks, Flyhi! I'm rootin' for all the non-trads, but with an extra root for the 3 of us in the over-40 club!

 

[AuRevoirFinance]

I'm 44 myself and applying for the first time next year. So I'll be looking forward to seeing all the acceptances you guys get this year! and learning how you went about things so I can have the same success. Good thing I feel like I'm 24.

Seriously, good luck. I hope with all your fantastic life experience you won't need luck, however.

 

[Packen]

So I have been feeling a little overwhelmed and sorta down on myself and application, and then I read this thread and it has totally remotivated me. I don't know how I missed it earlier, probably b/c I am only in the 30+ crowd. 😉

This is technically my 6th application process (with all of them only going to ONE school - stupid, stupid, stupid)...although 3 of them were a long time ago, so I am only counting the last 3 as the "real" applications.

Thanks again for the inspiration - I really needed it. It is great to see others that are taking on the same challenges I am and with much better attitudes!! Ok, with that said, I am off to battle supplementals with my head held high!! Good Luck All!

 

[animals2x2]

Or am I the only REALLY old fart left on the pre-vet list who has never applied before this cycle?

Anyone...anyone....Bueller?

I am 44yo and applying for the first time this cycle. So far I am applying to VMRCVM (my instate school), Auburn, Iowa, Penn, Mississippi, Missouri, and Purdue. I don't know whether to apply to one or two more schools or not.

Good luck to everyone.