At a Crossroads...Please help!

[CBRGrl]

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Hi Guys,

I currently find myself at a crossroads with my application and I was hoping that all you seasoned applicants out there can help me with my decision.

I applied to only one school this cycle (my in-state...since realistically I couldn't afford to go anywhere else...plus CSU rocks!) and was rejected (well, Im still waiting for FAVCIP since I want to do food animal, but Im not holding my breath). 🙁 So now Im faced with trying re revamp my application for the next cycle. I know everyone's first line of advice will be to call my IS school, but they aren't much help over the phone and my file review isnt until the middle of march (and I have to make a decision by the end of the week!)

Here's my issue:
My choice lies between two roads. 1.) I have applied to a one year coursework based masters here, which I think will help prove to adcoms I can handle upper division courses. 2.) I was offered a job as a tech for a huge lab in the vet school doing full-time, groundbreaking research. The job and the research I would be a part of sounds amazing...amazing IF we can get a publication in time for my vet app. I've discussed all my options with the Dr who is offering me the job and his bottom line is that he needs someone full time for at least 18 months, which means I wouldnt be able to go to graduate school in the fall. BUT, he has assured me that he would write me a killer recommendation and would give me full authorship of whatever we publish.

So, everyone, what course would you take? Groundbreaking publication at a lab, or upper division courses in a master's program. Here are my stats to help out:

GPA: 3.3
Prereq and Science GPA (last 45 hrs):3.8
S/A Experience: 2000+ as a vet assistant
L/A experience: Grew up on horse ranch, polo cross, pack trips...etc (too many hours to count) Plus 12 hrs worth of shadowing 6 different L/A vets. Also a ton of hours working with stunt horses on movie sets for different westerns (ever see Wyatt Earp?)
Shelter Experience: about 6 months volunteering for the Humane Society in New Zealand (their equivalent to the HS)
Research: 4000+ hrs (2.5 yrs) doing research on neural stem cells and genetic disease...I am also a published author on one paper with many poster presentations
GRE: 1100 (will be retaking before the next cycle)
Other unique qualifications:
-Founder and president of the pre-vet society
-Graduated high school at 15 (hence the lower GPA) and college at 20
-Lived in New Zealand, Germany, and Italy
-My mother was miss Rodeo America so I've grown up with all sorts of animals

So...any advice??

 

[krodriguez]

I'd say take the job. A good recommendation can go a long way. I also don't think it will count against you if you don't get any publications out of it. I think just having the experience under your belt and being able to put it on your application and talk about it in your interview will really help.

 

[hoodle]

Do the research! Much more impressive, and sounds really interesting. Another year's worth of coursework? blah, same old same old. A years' worth of killer research experience and a personal statement that states clearly that you want to continue with research and food animal medicine? Incredible. Your science gpa is strong - just explain the attenuating circumstances for the rest of the GPA. And get your GRE scores up! You sound like you have awesome, exciting and unusual experiences and interests - go get 'em! 😀

 

[fargeese]

Was the 4000+ hours of research you have already animal based? If so, I would go for the Master's program, even though it sounds like you would rather do the tech job, because you already have ++ research hours and a lower GPA.

And don't discount the OOS apps, even if you don't want to go OOS ultimately, because it shows the adcoms that you may have other options. You know, The everyone wants to date the girl that all the boys like already theorem. Applying multiple times also made me less nervous for my interviews knowing that I had more than one option if I completely blew the interview, unlike when I applied to one last year and screwed it up, leaving me to have to do it all over again this year.

And I got in OOS with a 3.4, so applying some other places might give you the success that applying to the #2 ranked school will not, and that is what loans are for, ha ha ha. And would you rather wait years trying to get in at CSU, or start your career in a year? That ultimately is your decision of course.

Maybe an actual adcom will chime in, it all seems like smoke and mirrors to me!

I'd maybe add some more LA shadowing hours too, adcoms loooooooove LA hours!

 

[CBRGrl]

Was the 4000+ hours of research you have already animal based? If so, I would go for the Master's program, even though it sounds like you would rather do the tech job, because you already have ++ research hours and a lower GPA.

And don't discount the OOS apps, even if you don't want to go OOS ultimately, because it shows the adcoms that you may have other options. You know, The everyone wants to date the girl that all the boys like already theorem. Applying multiple times also made me less nervous for my interviews knowing that I had more than one option if I completely blew the interview, unlike when I applied to one last year and screwed it up, leaving me to have to do it all over again this year.

And I got in OOS with a 3.4, so applying some other places might give you the success that applying to the #2 ranked school will not, and that is what loans are for, ha ha ha. And would you rather wait years trying to get in at CSU, or start your career in a year? That ultimately is your decision of course.

Maybe an actual adcom will chime in, it all seems like smoke and mirrors to me!

I'd maybe add some more LA shadowing hours too, adcoms loooooooove LA hours!

You bring up a really good point. In the grand scheme of things, I have 2.5 yrs of tech work under my belt, whats one more, right? The 4000+ hrs of research and the publication were animal based in that they utilized a mouse model, but the research was focused on Rett syndrome. Unfortunately I wasnt offered an interview this year, and as for applying to an out of state school...Im not sure I'd feel right about it. I get what you're saying about leverage, but I know that I definitely wont attend any OOS school. I own a house here and my fiance is here..my life is here. Im 23 and I know I have time, but CSU is really the only place I would go.

 

[cock a too]

I am shocked you didn't get in!

My advice is worth what you paid for it... but... I say...
Get your GRE up.
Apply to OOS schools even if you don't want to go.
Do whatever will make you happy. In an interview, you should be able to say that you genuinely wanted to do whatever it was that you did!

 

[CBRGrl]

I am shocked you didn't get in!

Me too! haha, thanks for the input. For all the rhetoric the schools spout about wanting a unique candidate, Im not sure they actually read my application. I'm definitely going to up my GRE...I just dont know what to do about taking this job vs going to grad school.

 

[nyanko]

Here's a question I didn't see answered

What do you want to do with your DVM degree?

 

[enchantingme2]

I think that you should definately do the research. Even if you do not get something published you can state what you are doing and that an article is in progress or in review. I also think that his rec and your hardwork at the school will really really really help you!

 

[bear90]

I can't believe you didn't get in - what is CSU thinking?

I think you should do whatever you want to do, who knows what's going to get you into CSU, none of us can really predict that. Imagine yourself doing the masters program, how do you feel about it? Gut instinct? Now, imagine yourself doing the research job. Which makes you feel better?

One thing about the research job though, I know from experience that results come in a lot slower than you expect. So if you're wanting to do the research job purely for the publication, I would plan on working really really hard. One good thing that could come out of it is the great letter of rec. But, you could get a pretty good letter of rec from your masters program too, right?

I say do what makes you happy, don't focus so much on whether CSU will admit you, maybe they'll admit you either way! You're a really competitive applicant!

 

[CBRGrl]

Thanks for the kind words! My ultimate goal is to go to vet school and set up a large animal/food animal practice. I AM interested in research and I would love to put my lab experience and bench knowledge to use in the realm of cancer or infectious disease (as it pertains to large/food animals)...but I dont think I want to take the extra three years to complete an DVM/PhD. Perhaps the MPH/DVM course is the best route but I dont know. I know those programs are really competitive to get into..and my confidence is shot since I didnt even get an interview this round.

Ultimately, the only reason I would get a masters is to help my application and prove to adcoms that I could handle upper division courses. I'm not interested in doing tech work or working for a pharmaceutical company for the rest of my life...I just want to be a vet!!

My gut instinct is to take the job and maybe take one or two upper division courses between now and next October...and of course, retake the GRE. But I dont know...its such a tough decision!

 

[wi girl]

If you think you would have a chance to take the upper level classes, that might help -- it would show you can handle the upper level classes, but without committing your entire year to a masters program it seems like you are not terribly enthusiastic about. Do the research -- it'll help with MPH applications too!! -- you'll get more experience, and actually be doing something you enjoy.

 

[meadow36]

Take the job and re-take GRE's. Take a kaplan course and really up that score. The master's isn't really going to 'wow' anybody, but the extra experience and kick-*** LOR will set you apart.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Angelo84]

You've already shown in your last 45 hours that you can handle upper level course work and got a 3.8. That seems to be pretty good to me. Doing a master's won't raise your undergraduate GPA. So I would do the tech job and don't worry about getting published if you do great if not it was an interesting job!

 

[SweeTeaPie]

You know, I honestly have to wonder sometimes how much better research looks on your application. I've heard the same thing myself "Research will look great on you application, it'll set you apart", but I'm starting to think otherwise. I have a 3.7 GPA and a 1240 GRE plus 2.5 years of research (on Penn's campus too, no less; The Wistar Institute and Children's Hosp. of Philly.), but so far it hasn't gotten me too far. I've been rejected at Cornell and Tufts, and still have yet to hear from Penn. And I'm not the only one; quite a few people that I know in research are having the same problem. Anxwaiting works in a research lab at Penn, and this is her second year applying! Seems like research might not be so lucrative after all... Not that that will necessarily help you out in your decision any, but it's something to take into consideration. Especially if you already have 2.5 years under your belt, too.

 

[Electrophile]

I'm really surprised you didn't get in either! 🙁 Did you get an interview or just flat out rejected? The only thing I would add that other people haven't said is if you only had 12 total hours of large animal experience with a vet, perhaps that would help? Your small animal vet experience hours are great and so is your non-vet large animal experience, so I'd see if I could add some hours under a vet for large animal, especially food animal. They like to see a lot of breadth and you've mostly got that covered, but perhaps a little more vet experience would really round you out well. Only other variables I could think of is making sure your LORs were stellar and your personal statement essays were beyond reproach. Oh yeah...depending on your adviser/PI, getting papers out can take quite a long time. My masters thesis still isn't published and I'm going to have to ride my faculty adviser from grad school hard to get it out, even though the bulk of the work was done in 2003/2004. 🙄 He's a real squeaky wheel gets the grease kind of guy.

 

[Habibti]

I am not questioning your desire to be a food animal vet. However, if I were on admissions...

To say that you're interested in food animal with very little food animal experience seems sketchy. How do you know that's what you want to do if you haven't really been involved in it? 12 hours of vet experience isn't really enough to prove, to an admissions committee, that you're not just making it up to get into vet school (since food animal vets are in shortage). If you said you were interested in large animal due to your equine experience or small animal due to your animal shelter experience or even lab animal due to your research experience, it is believable, because you know what you're getting into. Is there some experience you haven't divulged? If you plan to apply again with food animal as your interest, I would work on getting experience in food animal.

As for the research, if that's what you're interested in, go for it. Don't expect a publication, because research doesn't live by a schedule and it doesn't always turn out like it 'should'. A good letter of rec is fine to get out of the experience.

I know others are saying to apply to schools you wouldn't attend, but seriously, if you don't plan on attending, don't apply (don't waste your time/money!). I know plenty of people who applied to one school and got in, even without perfect apps.

Good luck

 

[wi girl]

as for applying to an out of state school...Im not sure I'd feel right about it. I get what you're saying about leverage, but I know that I definitely wont attend any OOS school.

Would you sacrifice going to vet school if you never got into CSU? Not that you don't have great stats, but it is a very competitive school ... and we never know what they are looking for. I would say apply to a few OOS, too, because I wouldn't be willing to NEVER go to vet school if I didn't get into a particular one. I also understand that your life is "set" where you are ... however, I wouldn't be satisfied applying for five years to get into one school, when I would have been accepted to another and finished with my degree -- and ultimately back to my life where it was before.

 

[FlyOnTheWall]

So...any advice??

Have you scheduled a file review yet?

 

[CBRGrl]

To say that you're interested in food animal with very little food animal experience seems sketchy. How do you know that's what you want to do if you haven't really been involved in it? 12 hours of vet experience isn't really enough to prove, to an admissions committee, that you're not just making it up to get into vet school (since food animal vets are in shortage)

I didnt put down every experience I have, just the highlights. I do have quite a bit of experience. Maybe I didnt make it clear in my spiel. I grew up on a farm in a very rural area and have a massive respect for the food animal industry. Also, living in new zealand, (which has 2 million people and 7 million sheep!) you earn huge appreciation for the importance that food animal vets have in the community. They take care of the livelihood of nearly the entire country and are responsible for maintaining the welfare of, not only the animals they care for, but the people who rely on those animals. In the US, somehow, FA medicine isn't as glamorous, but it's just as important. I can even tell by your answer that you see FAVCIP as a "way past admissions" instead of a program that's designed to really put people who want to do FA medicine on the right path. I dont have a lot of volunteer experience or shadowing experience with FA vets because I grew up around it, I know the culture and business of living on a farm. So I went out and volunteered/worked for SA clinics and did research (things I had no experience in) so I could broaden my application and confirm my choices.

Anyway, sorry if this was a bit rambling.

 

[CBRGrl]

Have you scheduled a file review yet?

Yes, I actually called the office and had it bumped up since learning about this new opportunity. Hopefully the file review, plus some advice on this forum will help!

 

[Electrophile]

I dont have a lot of volunteer experience or shadowing experience with FA vets because I grew up around it, I know the culture and business of living on a farm. So I went out and volunteered/worked for SA clinics and did research (things I had no experience in) so I could broaden my application and confirm my choices.

I think this may have been the issue perhaps. You shadowed 6 LA vets but only got 12 total hours of experience? That would raise an eyebrow with me. Like I said, I think it sounds like you had great experience, but you just need more experience under a vet in that section. Did you get a letter of rec from one of the food animal vets you shadowed saying what a good FA vet you'd be? That wouldn't hurt either to help vouch for you.

 

[Habibti]

I didnt put down every experience I have, just the highlights. I do have quite a bit of experience. Maybe I didnt make it clear in my spiel. I grew up on a farm in a very rural area and have a massive respect for the food animal industry. Also, living in new zealand, (which has 2 million people and 7 million sheep!) you earn huge appreciation for the importance that food animal vets have in the community. They take care of the livelihood of nearly the entire country and are responsible for maintaining the welfare of, not only the animals they care for, but the people who rely on those animals. In the US, somehow, FA medicine isn't as glamorous, but it's just as important. I can even tell by your answer that you see FAVCIP as a "way past admissions" instead of a program that's designed to really put people who want to do FA medicine on the right path. I dont have a lot of volunteer experience or shadowing experience with FA vets because I grew up around it, I know the culture and business of living on a farm. So I went out and volunteered/worked for SA clinics and did research (things I had no experience in) so I could broaden my application and confirm my choices.

Anyway, sorry if this was a bit rambling.

One, I don't see FAVCIP as a 'way past admissions'. It's threads like this http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=483151 (and people like this) that make people wary of people who profess food animal without a whole lot of experience under their belts.

Although I understand that you have experienced the culture of food animal and have a great appreciation for food animal vets, the actual experience in the field is important to proving your dedication.

 

[CBRGrl]

Although I understand that you have experienced the culture of food animal and have a great appreciation for food animal vets, the actual experience in the field is important to proving your dedication.

There's no point arguing with you about my qualifications, since it will be up to the admissions committee to decide; Im sorry if I somehow offended you. 😳

Like I stated in my first post, I'm not holding my breath for acceptance this cycle....which is why I was asking for insight on how to improve my application for next year. All I was asking for was some advice about taking the job vs. going to grad school...

 

[lailanni]

2.) I was offered a job as a tech for a huge lab in the vet school doing full-time, groundbreaking research.

So the job is in a lab at CSU?

I would take the lab job. Take this with a grain of salt, but I was visitng one school and talking with the students there. One girl had done research for the vet school as an undergrad. Her supervisor wrote her a kick *** letter - he turned out the be one of the leading researchers there. She said she got in on her first try, even with a lower GPA, and she thinks that letter really helped.

Now keep in mind schools will say it doesn't help if some famous researcher writes your letter or not. But this particular student I talked to seemed to believe that it helped her a great deal. And of course this is only one instance, but I thought it'd share it anyways.

 

[QTkitty]

While I think the research will boost your app and possibly help you get in next cycle, the masters program is awesome. I didn't take it but I know several people in my class who did and they are aceing our classes now because they took most of them in the masters program. It also seems to have given them the chance to get to know a large portion of the faculty so you might get a great LOR out of it too. I have to admit that I'm actually a little bitter about it though because we're on a ranking, rather than grading, system... It's frustrating to me that this is their second time taking these classes so they generally score higher on the exams than others and F the rankings... Oh well, sorry for that quick rant because, in all honesty, if I had known about it, I probably would have gone through it prior to even applying to vet school. Good luck with your decision!!!

 

[WannaFixFounder]

I talked with someone who was denied at CSU again. Last year and this year she had interviews. She's in state, got 2 B's in her entire life, 760 quant on GRE.... and got denied. Twice.

Two very qualified applicants that completed the one year's master's program were also denied this year.

Another person I know with a lower GPA, small animal experience only, and no master's was accepted this year.

Next year, they are increasing tuition for the 1 yr masters program. And letting more people in, which means more people with stunning applications will be applying to vet school (what else can you do with a non-research based masters?). CSU loves money (has anyone heard about the $30K+ out of state surcharge they tag onto out of state vet school folk's tuition???) All that money and they don't even have digital x ray in the vet hospital.

Take the job. Make lots of money waiting for CSU to decide when to let you in. We joke around that they throw the applications down the stairs and which ever ones land on top they pick. Sometimes, that appears more than accurate!!!!

 

[chris03333]

ITwo very qualified applicants that completed the one year's master's program were also denied this year.

Three very qualified (now awesome vets) I know did the CSU masters, got a GPA 4.0 (in the CSU masters program) applied to CSU...........

All were denied to the vet school..............😱

then again they were OOS students, maybe the masters program will help you more than it did them.

 

[CBRGrl]

While I think the research will boost your app and possibly help you get in next cycle, the masters program is awesome. I didn't take it but I know several people in my class who did and they are aceing our classes now because they took most of them in the masters program. It also seems to have given them the chance to get to know a large portion of the faculty so you might get a great LOR out of it too. I have to admit that I'm actually a little bitter about it though because we're on a ranking, rather than grading, system... It's frustrating to me that this is their second time taking these classes so they generally score higher on the exams than others and F the rankings... Oh well, sorry for that quick rant because, in all honesty, if I had known about it, I probably would have gone through it prior to even applying to vet school. Good luck with your decision!!!

I really appreciate your input.😀 I've heard that a lot of the classes are the same, so in that respect it would be really great to get a leg up in terms of the material. Since hearing everyone's opinion I have sort of been leaning towards taking the job and perhaps enrolling in one or two upper division courses between now and October...but we'll see, It's still a huge decision to make!

 

[FlyOnTheWall]

I talked with someone who was denied at CSU again. Last year and this year she had interviews. She's in state, got 2 B's in her entire life, 760 quant on GRE.... and got denied. Twice.

Two very qualified applicants that completed the one year's master's program were also denied this year.

Another person I know with a lower GPA, small animal experience only, and no master's was accepted this year.

Next year, they are increasing tuition for the 1 yr masters program. And letting more people in, which means more people with stunning applications will be applying to vet school (what else can you do with a non-research based masters?). CSU loves money (has anyone heard about the $30K+ out of state surcharge they tag onto out of state vet school folk's tuition???) All that money and they don't even have digital x ray in the vet hospital.

Take the job. Make lots of money waiting for CSU to decide when to let you in. We joke around that they throw the applications down the stairs and which ever ones land on top they pick. Sometimes, that appears more than accurate!!!!

All in all this is a pretty insulting post. Where to begin?

I guess #1 is that with over 1600 strong applicants for 134 spots someone (maybe 1400+) will not get in this year.

#2 people that say stuff like "only got 2 B's in their life and a 760 on quants and didn't get in" usually are leaving something out of the story.

#3 The comment about someone with a lower GPA and no Masters getting in means that there is more to a successful applicant than those two things.

#4 "CSU loves money (has anyone heard about the $30K+ out of state surcharge they tag onto out of state vet school folk's tuition???) All that money and they don't even have digital x ray in the vet hospital. "

It costs more than CSU charges for instate tuition to educate a vet student. The state picks up the balance. CSU contracts with other Western States that don't have vet schools to educated their students.. Those states pick up the balance between the tuition and cost of training. If you don't have state sponsorship.. you gotta pick up the cost yourself. Who else is going to do it?
On the topic of money.. The state of Colorado has one of the poorest stats on per capita spending on higher education. With that minimal support CSU still manages to get ranked near the top in a variety of important categories. I think they do a pretty nice job given the lack of government resources. PS digital radiography will be in the hospital before the incoming freshmen get to clinics.

#4 "We joke around that they throw the applications down the stairs and which ever ones land on top they pick. Sometimes, that appears more than accurate!!!!"

I wish you could get a feel for what a CSU adcom's November, December, January and February are like. 😡

 

[CBRGrl]

(has anyone heard about the $30K+ out of state surcharge they tag onto out of state vet school folk's tuition???)

Actually, I think CSU is on par with what other schools charge their out of state students, even with the "support fee". Pen charges like 38K, Tufts it's like 36K, OSU is really high at like 53K (17K/quarter *3 quarters). CSU is right around $40K for OOS students...

The cool thing about CSU is that they actually reward their IS students. IS tuition is only around $14K at CSU whereas, at Penn for example, it's ~32K for IS students.

Just thought I'd ad my $.02 worth! 🙂

References:
Penn: http://www.vet.upenn.edu/admissions/faq.html
CSU: http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/cvmbs/resreq.htm
Tufts:http://www.tufts.edu/vet/admissions/tuition.html
OSU:http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/2538.htm

 

[aggiedonk]

CBRgrl

I think the best of both worlds is to do a research based Masters. There are sometimes many non-thesis masters out there and a research based one sets you apart. In addition, you will be able to publish as a first author because with it being your project it's your research and you will know more about the subject than just about anyone else. As a tech in a lab you will probably not get more than third or more author because you are really just following orders from the PI or post-doc. With a research based Masters you'll learn more, be responsible for more, and will have the regimented graduate couse work to boot. Also if you dont get into vet school or change your course you have the graduate degree to fall back on. The downside is that it takes longer and is more involved but if you've got the time ...
Just an option....

 

[cock a too]

This might be silly, but what if "something else" is the answer? I mean, leadership, community, blah blah blah...
Maybe you should pick whichever will allow you time to volunteer anything community related?
Again, my advice is worth what you paid for it.
But you seem to have everything going for you, maybe more of the same won't help as much as "helping" special needs kids, habitat for humanity, hell, even a community garden!?
I dunno... just a thought?

 

[CBRGrl]

This might be silly, but what if "something else" is the answer? I mean, leadership, community, blah blah blah...
Maybe you should pick whichever will allow you time to volunteer anything community related?
Again, my advice is worth what you paid for it.
But you seem to have everything going for you, maybe more of the same won't help as much as "helping" special needs kids, habitat for humanity, hell, even a community garden!?
I dunno... just a thought?

That's an interesting point (prolly worth more than i paid for it 😉). I was involved in quite a lot of extra curricular activities (honor societies, dream power animal rescue, founder/president of the pre-vet society at my school, and such...) but volunteer community projects (not necessarily vet related) are always good to be involved in...thanks for the thought!

 

[CBRGrl]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input on this thread! I had my file review today and the adcom member I sat down with (who was VERY nice) gave me some great advice. I'm definitely going to be getting my master's starting in the fall, but I wanted to pass on some other information she gave me during my file review.

Applying to more than one school, in her opinion, was a waste unless you are actually open to attending other schools. She said, that at CSU at least, they can't even tell what other schools you have applied to or weather or not you were accepted..etc when they review your application. She laughed when I told her I'd heard a rumor that it makes an applicant seem more committed if they apply to more than one school, and said that they have no way of telling where you've applied. Anyway, just thought I'd help expunge the rumor!

Also...for those of you who haven't yet, SCHEDULE YOUR FILE REVIEW, it's amazing how helpful it was and how much insight you gain from those measly 30 minutes!

 

[ri23]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input on this thread! I had my file review today and the adcom member I sat down with (who was VERY nice) gave me some great advice. I'm definitely going to be getting my master's starting in the fall, but I wanted to pass on some other information she gave me during my file review.

Applying to more than one school, in her opinion, was a waste unless you are actually open to attending other schools. She said, that at CSU at least, they can't even tell what other schools you have applied to or weather or not you were accepted..etc when they review your application. She laughed when I told her I'd heard a rumor that it makes an applicant seem more committed if they apply to more than one school, and said that they have no way of telling where you've applied. Anyway, just thought I'd help expunge the rumor!

Also...for those of you who haven't yet, SCHEDULE YOUR FILE REVIEW, it's amazing how helpful it was and how much insight you gain from those measly 30 minutes!

They can definitely tell where you've applied. It states right on your VMCAS where you've applied (as long as they use VMCAS - and most American/European schools do). Maybe you misunderstood or interviewers don't have access to your application - which I would find hard to believe being that that is what has your PS in it.

 

[david594]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input on this thread! I had my file review today and the adcom member I sat down with (who was VERY nice) gave me some great advice. I'm definitely going to be getting my master's starting in the fall, but I wanted to pass on some other information she gave me during my file review.

So your first post has all your good stats... So what did CSU say was wrong with your application?

 

[wi girl]

They can definitely tell where you've applied. It states right on your VMCAS where you've applied (as long as they use VMCAS - and most American/European schools do). Maybe you misunderstood or interviewers don't have access to your application - which I would find hard to believe being that that is what has your PS in it.

She said that they don't know when they review your file -- which makes me think that they don't put that in for the adcom and interviewers so that their decision is not swayed, and they are more objective. Just because its in VMCAS doesn't mean they look at it. Great, in my opinion.

I also think it was good advise, and happened to have followed it myself. Thus, only three applications. 🙂

Good Luck with whatever you choose to do! I'm glad you got constructive advise at your file review!

 

[ri23]

She said that they don't know when they review your file -- which makes me think that they don't put that in for the adcom and interviewers so that their decision is not swayed, and they are more objective. Just because its in VMCAS doesn't mean they look at it. Great, in my opinion.

I also think it was good advise, and happened to have followed it myself. Thus, only three applications. 🙂

Good Luck with whatever you choose to do! I'm glad you got constructive advise at your file review!

Sorry, I reread my post and it might have been poorly worded. What I was saying is that the VMCAS print outs that the schools have (which is your actual application) do have the other schools that you applied to listed. Therefore, ones file would have those schools. Maybe CSU gets their applications differently (or does something to alter the applications) but I assume that VMCAS doesn't print applications in multiple formats. I think it is a good idea to only apply to schools that you are interested in, but schools do have access to where you applied.

 

[CBRGrl]

Sorry, I reread my post and it might have been poorly worded. What I was saying is that the VMCAS print outs that the schools have (which is your actual application) do have the other schools that you applied to listed. Therefore, ones file would have those schools. Maybe CSU gets their applications differently (or does something to alter the applications) but I assume that VMCAS doesn't print applications in multiple formats. I think it is a good idea to only apply to schools that you are interested in, but schools do have access to where you applied.

I asked the same thing of the reviewer and was told by her that the information on where you apply isnt sent to every school, when you type it into VMCAS it's only used by the system to send out applications. VMCAS doesnt actually report that info to the schools (at least not to CSU...maybe it's different at other schools?). She also said that every year the adcoms decide how they want the final format of an applicant's file to print out (which combines VMCAS with the supplemental information). So, for instance, special circumstances is comes before your class ranking...and so on. So I guess (again, at least at CSU), the individual schools are able to pick and choose what info is sent to them via VMCAS. (for example, CSU adcoms are not given an overall numerical GPA for the applicants, only a list of GPA's/semester coupled with #hrs worked, and a list of all classes taken and their subsequent grades....even though VMCAS makes you calculate an overall GPA)<---people who filled out a CSU supplemental app should remember having to fill these sections out.

 

[Weazlebub]

They can definitely tell where you've applied. It states right on your VMCAS where you've applied (as long as they use VMCAS - and most American/European schools do). Maybe you misunderstood or interviewers don't have access to your application - which I would find hard to believe being that that is what has your PS in it.

VMCAS has the information. Doesn't mean Adcoms get to see it (I didn't).

 

[ri23]

VMCAS has the information. Doesn't mean Adcoms get to see it (I didn't).

That's interesting. VMCAS must print applications out differently for different schools.

 

[FractiousCat]

Yeah I'm pretty sure the information comes out different for different schools.

The adcoms at Missouri definitely knew which schools I had applied to. They asked me about each of them and which I would choose first.

The CSU interviewers never said anything about the schools I applied to but they definitely had access to other portions of my VMCAS.

 

[Weazlebub]

Yeah I'm pretty sure the information comes out different for different schools.

The adcoms at Missouri definitely knew which schools I had applied to. They asked me about each of them and which I would choose first.

The CSU interviewers never said anything about the schools I applied to but they definitely had access to other portions of my VMCAS.

Very interesting. Even adcoms can learn stuff on this board!

 

[ElvisMarie6]

WARNING... DIDN'T REALIZE YOU ALREADY HAD YOUR FILE REVIEW.. THE INFO BELOW MAY NOT BE RELEVANT! OPPS!
CBR Grl- Keep your head up! I was rejected without an interview last year and I met with Dr. Stewart and I felt a whole lot better. While I had a higher GPA than you, my GRE was lower at 1060. Dr. Stewart went over the comments the adcom made on my application and the major problem was that they didn't see as many "hard core uppper division science course" (direct quote) as they would like. So I took 16 credits of upper division science to show them I meant business and gained 1500 more hours of experience and was accepted this year. It is hard to say what they didn't like about your app but since you already have so many research hours, I'm not sure more would really make a difference. Also about the GRE, I was told that CSU only really looks at it if you have had poor performance in courses pertaining to the GRE, so I didn't bother re-taking it. Sorry to be so long winded, but I have totally been in your shoes and it SUCKS 😡! Good luck with your decision and let me know if I can help at all!

 

[CBRGrl]

WARNING... DIDN'T REALIZE YOU ALREADY HAD YOUR FILE REVIEW.. THE INFO BELOW MAY NOT BE RELEVANT! OPPS!
CBR Grl- Keep your head up! I was rejected without an interview last year and I met with Dr. Stewart and I felt a whole lot better. While I had a higher GPA than you, my GRE was lower at 1060. Dr. Stewart went over the comments the adcom made on my application and the major problem was that they didn't see as many "hard core uppper division science course" (direct quote) as they would like. So I took 16 credits of upper division science to show them I meant business and gained 1500 more hours of experience and was accepted this year. It is hard to say what they didn't like about your app but since you already have so many research hours, I'm not sure more would really make a difference. Also about the GRE, I was told that CSU only really looks at it if you have had poor performance in courses pertaining to the GRE, so I didn't bother re-taking it. Sorry to be so long winded, but I have totally been in your shoes and it SUCKS 😡! Good luck with your decision and let me know if I can help at all!

I really appreciate your input and support! Actually, Dr. Stewart told me the EXACT same thing at the file review, so I've decided to pursue the plan B master's program and reapply for next year. On the bright side, I sat down with the PI in the lab I was interested in working at and told him what Dr. Stewart said and he agreed to let me work for him full time between now and August and then cut back my hours when grad school starts. (whoo hoo! best of both worlds!) So I guess everything works out for the best. It's encouraging to me that you were successful this year since you were basically in my shoes last year! Thanks again for your support, and congrats! Hopefully we'll be colleagues in the future!