Applying to Multiple Vet Schools

[Gimpyrks]

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Hey everyone! I am in my second year of my pre-vet program here at the UMN. My question is, do you plan or advise to apply to multiple vet schools? I have gone through a list of all the vest schools in the US and I have listed all the ones I would apply to (all of them being no farther west then MN), so the list isn't huge but it's hefty and I have also already written down all the prerequisites for the specific schools. Is it advisable to apply for many vet schools when my time comes? Or should I just stick to 2 or 3?

 

[breenie]

Hey everyone! I am in my second year of my pre-vet program here at the UMN. My question is, do you plan or advise to apply to multiple vet schools? I have gone through a list of all the vest schools in the US and I have listed all the ones I would apply to (all of them being no farther west then MN), so the list isn't huge but it's hefty and I have also already written down all the prerequisites for the specific schools. Is it advisable to apply for many vet schools when my time comes? Or should I just stick to 2 or 3?

Depends on YOU!

You have an in state vet school, so ask yourself this: If you get into an out of state school but not Minnesota, are you willing to pay $40k a year in tuition instead of waiting and reapplying to your in state?

If you're not, don't apply to expensive out of state schools. Stick with MN, Mizzou, UW, NCSU, etc.

 

[Gimpyrks]

I am not a resident of MN, I am from Maine (which doesn't have a vet school). My master plan is to attend the UMN vet school, but I am skeptical and I always wonder what happens if I don't get in the first time I apply. I probably should have went more into detail about this 🙂

 

[breenie]

I am not a resident of MN, I am from Maine (which doesn't have a vet school). My master plan is to attend the UMN vet school, but I am skeptical and I always wonder what happens if I don't get in the first time I apply. I probably should have went more into detail about this 🙂

Oh!

Then apply broadly. But I recommend looking at schools like Mizzou, Ohio and NCSU that allow you to gain residency after your first year. This gives you a huge drop in tuition, which Minnesota does not offer. (great school, I know, but expensive for OOSers!)

Same question as earlier still applies, but I would recommend applying more broadly since you do not have an in state school.

 

[Gimpyrks]

I did not realize those schools offer residency after your first year, that is very good to know!

What do most people do if they do not get accepted their first try to any vet school? Do they just try to work at a vet's office and take some more classes? How long should you keep applying before you should consider trying something else? I know I still have two years before this will happen but I like to plan ahead 😀

 

[bunnity]

I did not realize those schools offer residency after your first year, that is very good to know!

What do most people do if they do not get accepted their first try to any vet school? Do they just try to work at a vet's office and take some more classes? How long should you keep applying before you should consider trying something else? I know I still have two years before this will happen but I like to plan ahead 😀

Do a search for "backup plan" "plan B" "what if I don't get in." There are at least two threads on the front page addressing these and I remember some really long ones in past years.

 

[squirrelsrule]

It is up to you how many times you are willing to apply, the number will be different for everyone. I know I, personally, am determined to get in and will likely reapply at least once or two more times, probably more. Some just apply to see if they get in and move on if they don't. It's up to you. You will definitely want to gain experience in the vet field BEFORE applying for the first time. You should get involved as soon as possible. Look for internships in vet med. or a summer job, shadowing, etc.

 

[Gimpyrks]

I already have my internship set up for this summer with a vet that I am very good friends with back at home. I also plan on volunteering next year at the hospitals on campus. 🙂

 

[marino0213]

I already have my internship set up for this summer with a vet that I am very good friends with back at home. I also plan on volunteering next year at the hospitals on campus. 🙂

You sound like you are on top of it then! Really how many schools you apply to, how many times you apply, and what plan B is varies from person to person.

For me, I hope that I get accepted this cylce (my first time applying), but if I do not I will for sure apply again next year. My back up plan for right now is to go home (I currently live 3 hours away from my hometown) and work at a veterinary clinic for a year. I worked there when I was at home and they offered me a posistion if I ever go back home. I will also pick up some shadowing experience in a large animal/ food animal setting.

If I fail to get accepted my second time applying, I will most likely go back to school in an MPH program and maybe apply again when I complete that, but who knows.

 

[breenie]

I did not realize those schools offer residency after your first year, that is very good to know!

Yep! It was what allowed me to choose an out of state school. 🙂 Very grateful for it.

 

[Gimpyrks]

You sound like you are on top of it then! Really how many schools you apply to, how many times you apply, and what plan B is varies from person to person.

For me, I hope that I get accepted this cylce (my first time applying), but if I do not I will for sure apply again next year. My back up plan for right now is to go home (I currently live 3 hours away from my hometown) and work at a veterinary clinic for a year. I worked there when I was at home and they offered me a posistion if I ever go back home. I will also pick up some shadowing experience in a large animal/ food animal setting.

If I fail to get accepted my second time applying, I will most likely go back to school in an MPH program and maybe apply again when I complete that, but who knows.

How much can you do at a vet clinc without being a vet yourself? I have thought of this and I am sure I can ask the vet I am going to internship with also, but what are your "duties"?

Some days I feel like I'm on top of this and others I feel like I am very behind in my planning. Its a rollar coaster ride that is for sure. It'll pay off though.

Do you know guys know what kind of jobs are out there if you just have an animal science degree? The reason i want to be a vet is because I don't want to be working inside all day. I love the out doors and I crave it.

 

[Bearby]

How much can you do at a vet clinc without being a vet yourself? I have thought of this and I am sure I can ask the vet I am going to internship with also, but what are your "duties"?

Some days I feel like I'm on top of this and others I feel like I am very behind in my planning. Its a rollar coaster ride that is for sure. It'll pay off though.

Do you know guys know what kind of jobs are out there if you just have an animal science degree? The reason i want to be a vet is because I don't want to be working inside all day. I love the out doors and I crave it.

It depends on so many factors: what state you live in (since some states require you to be certified to do a lot of the technical stuff), the vet you work for, the position you're hired for, what kind of experience you have.

When I first started, I did a lot of cleaning and shadowing technicians to see what the tech job was about and how to interact with clients. When I left my last job, I was head room tech, liaison between many of the companies and our clinic, took on some of the office manager duties (helping to make decisions with hiring, purchasing, etc), and worked with the board certified surgeon that came to do orthopedic surgeries each month.

This growth and advancement happened over several years through gaining experience with a few different clinics. Some people will stick to the same place to show stability, but I've learned so much about how I think a business should and should not be run by having experienced a few different business models.

Basically, just get in there and ask questions! Find the middle ground between needing someone to hold your hand and not giving a damn about what's the right and wrong. I've worked with people on both extremes and it keeps a practice from running smoothly and jeopardizes the health of the patients.

 

[kakurubird]

Some days I feel like I'm on top of this and others I feel like I am very behind in my planning. Its a rollar coaster ride that is for sure. It'll pay off though.

Do you know guys know what kind of jobs are out there if you just have an animal science degree? The reason i want to be a vet is because I don't want to be working inside all day. I love the out doors and I crave it.

Don't feel like you're behind! It seems that you already have a sense of what you want to do, what you need to take, etc. and you have two years ahead of you before graduating from college which is plenty of time to work on getting experience and finishing all your pre-reqs!

In terms of not wanting to be inside all day, would you be happy just moving around all day, even if you're inside? I know I could never have a job sitting at a desk all day, but am okay not working outside. If you really want to be outside lots, I'd recommend looking at areas of vet med that aren't traditional small animal clinics. During the winter, it's very possible to not really even see much natural light if you're working something like 7:30 to 6:30 in a clinic, which is completely reasonable. But I personally don't mind that as long as I'm not sitting down most of the day.

Otherwise, there are so many opportunities to do other things with an animal science degree depending on what you're interested in. Large animal production? Wildlife and conservation? Take your time deciding and trying new things while you're in college still and it's much easier.

 

[Gimpyrks]

I have always thought that if I didn't get into vet school I would be a game warden. They work outdoors and growing up I had a dream of becoming a cop, but too be honest I haven't really looked into other professions besides becoming a vet. I like genetics, but I think that would be mostly working in a laboratory, which I'm not too keen on that idea.

I know this summer I'm going to intern with the vet I have already talked to, and take some summer classes at the U in Maine and get the really hard classes (like physics) done and over with.

 

[PppermintTwist]

I am not a resident of MN, I am from Maine (which doesn't have a vet school). My master plan is to attend the UMN vet school, but I am skeptical and I always wonder what happens if I don't get in the first time I apply. I probably should have went more into detail about this 🙂

Im from Maine too!😀

 

[Gimpyrks]

Im from Maine too!😀

YAY a fellow Main-ah xDD