Australian Universities - In regards Melbourne especially

[Bullettime]

So i have a seriously big problem.
So i spoke to the canadian represntative here about getting into Melbourne for Vet Sci
I sent in my transcript and a proposed list of courses that i were to do again (since my grades in those would not be competitive. And they (Melbourne) responded by..."The academic record is not competitive regardless of eligibilty". So basically i'm no where close to getting in....has anyone ever been in a similar situation????
I'm presuming this response would be used by the other 3 uni's in Australia as well. What should i do?!!
I was going to do courses at another institution and get my course average for those up, but would they look at that then?
I'm in serious dismay now, just when i thought i had something figured out, this came in. So i can't even enroll in courses cause i don't know whether it would make a difference.

Help and advice appreciated GREATLY!

Thanks

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[justified]

I have no idea - have you looked into Glasgow?
Another option that you might have is to do a masters degree and apply with the graduate cohort. This would obviously be quite a bit more time and effort before you would get in.... and of course you still may not be able to get in. You also need to get accepted into a masters program in the first place and it sounds as though you might have problems with this.
I guess keep looking for programs overseas. There were some discussed in previous threads, not sure where.

 

[justified]

just glanced at Glasgow's entry requirements on their website:
"We consider applicants from North America who have completed at least two years of a pre-veterinary degree, or a science based degree from a North American University. We would expect a cumulative average of around 70%, (3.2 GPA) and the subjects studied must include Chemistry, Biology and either Physics or Mathematics."
they also talk about experience.
- would you be competitive here. Glasgow is a great city and I'm sure their program is good too.

 

[theunraveler]

hi...which year u planning to start ur degree?

most uni in australia allow students to do 1 year of science and then upgrade into a more prestigious degree...

 

[Bullettime]

At this point i don't really care, although i would want to start actually in their vet sci program. Obtaining credit is an issue i'm willing to overlook in this case, as long as i can officially get into their vet sci program.

 

[Bullettime]

So when asked how i could improve my application, this is what Melbourne writes:
'I have no suggestions. The same happens for local students. If they do not demonstrate their true academic capability in their first degree there is little room to move. If they go back to repeat subjects, that is looked at very carefully - do they gain an academic advantage of having repeated or are they now truly demonstrating their capability? If there is some reason for the under performance then that would be considered too. But it would need to be very convincing.'

What am i going to do??? That is such a vague response!
Should i do courses elswhere? If so , which ones?!?
I wouldn't mind taking more rejections from Aussie Uni's as long as they provide me with better reasoning and ways to remedy my situation.
Do you think i'll have better luck with the other Uni's in Aussie or in NZ??
I'm sure their tough, but would they be more clearer in what they would expect me to do now?

Thanks

 

[lazyjayn]

You might try massey, but if you're not competative in oz you probably won't be able to go direct entry. What that means is that you have to do a semester of undergrad credits (what you've got from home decides what you can take here), get an average of a B in them, and pass this stupid fake SAT thing. All you need to get into preselection is english speaking, a minumum SAT of about 1000 and a high school diploma or equivalent. They base your fitness for the program solely by what you do when you get here.

I don't know about the Australian schools, tho. Sorry.

j.

 

[laurafinn]

Do you think i'll have better luck with the other Uni's in Aussie or in NZ?? I'm sure their tough, but would they be more clearer in what they would expect me to do now?

Some tough love: you will get rejected from almost every veterinary school at this point if all you can offer is promises to do better, and you can't provide a compelling reason your grades sucked in the first place. Maybe, maybe one of the Caribbean scools will accept you.

You'll need to show some sustained, drastic improvement in the grades department before most schools will consider you. This is not impossible, but it does mean you need to get working! Good luck!

The Massey route mentioned above might be possible, but it is not admission to the Massey vet school, and it is a very rigourous course in which more than 2/3 of applicants get rejected at the end.

 

[Bullettime]

I'll try for admission directly into Massey's vet school. They check your last 2 years of science and the GRE right? And their weighted the same too if i remember right. The admissions lady there was really nice when i spoke to her. Telling me that if i do well in my last 2 years prior to admission with a competitive GRE i stand a good chance. So i'll try there.

 

[stinyexoticvet]

If you are determined as you sound, and you dont get direct entry, then I would go for the Massey pre selection semester and just work your tail off. Be advised it is very difficult and different concentrating so hard in a completely new country. And what if you dont get in the first time around? Are you willing to stay and able to stay as long as you can? Of course, as was stated before you can always go for the caribbean schools.

-Christina
Murdoch 2009

 

[cyrille104]

I know you've probably heard this before, but there are plenty of great things you can do with animals with a PhD instead of a DVM. If you want to go into conservation, for example, you can do it with another degree.

You will have to seriously consider why you want a DVM specifically, and why you can't do what you want to do with another degree - because it's not worth the wasted years of work trying to get into vet school if you'll end up in the same place anyway. If, after that, you still want to go for the DVM, I would go with the suggestions that people have posted already - a masters in animal science or biology or something, and then apply to a school that has a holistic admissions process.

 

[wtjvet99]

Hello. I am a student at Melbourne Uni. I didn't find it hard at all to get accepted here, but I did a full undergraduate degree at a US university before I applied and did pretty well at it. To give you an idea of what I had when I applied: Biological sciences degree, 3.4 GPA overall, 3.54 in my final 3 semesters. Not perfect but good enough to get me in the first time I tried here. Did you make sure you met all the requirements? The representative you spoke with in Canada may not have had up to date information re: application requirements. I'm not positive, but I am pretty sure the requirements for all the Australian unis and probably Massey in NZ are similar, as they are all now AVMA accredited (except Queensland). Murdoc may require more since they are a 5 year program, not 4.
A few links to the requirements at Melbourne
http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/DL2007.pdf

http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/Future_Student/application_information%202007.html

Like the others have said, you may want to do a science year before applying to vet school again, many of the foreign applicants do that and all Australian students do at least one year of science. If they are from North America, since we have generally already done a science degree before we even applied, we don't usually have to do a science year, but if your marks/grades were not that high, it could be worth retaking some classes. Hope that helps.

 

[Bullettime]

Hi
Thanks for your reply. Your grades are WAY higher than mine are. Melbourne pretty much told me that it'll be very hard for me to stand any chance in the future, since my grades were shot. Both my pre-req course average and my gpa are too low to be considered. I didn't get a positive opinion from them, so doubt i will apply to them in the near future.

 

[Hollycozza]

I think Sydney's entry methods are pretty different to melbourne. I have no idea what the standard is for international students as I am a local student though. For more information see

www.vetsci.usyd.edu.au

I am from Melbourne but I couldn't get into vet school there, I think it is the toughest in Australia to get into.

Good luck!!!

 

[Bullettime]

How big is the entering class each year at Sydney? Do you have any idea how many int'l's are there too?

Thanks

 

[Hollycozza]

When I started there were 120 per year but they have increased the intake to 130.

About 1/4 of the class are internationals, 1/4 are locals with previous uni experience and 1/2 the class school leavers. (Roughly...) 🙂

According to the website there are still international places available for 2007.

 

[AM6845]

Is there anyone on the board who is going to QLD all og my GPAs are 3.79 and I am allready a RVT in California. I am going to be getting a prem Visa though and staying there. I have gotten a very nice letter back from them when I inquired about them. Right now I do not care if they are AVMA or not because I do not plan on leaving. I was just wondering if anyone is going there now. I am wanting to live around Brisbane and Beerwah areas or the Glass House Mountains areas and work with the wildlife hosp there. That is my ultimate goal. from what I have read and from what I was told I far exceed the min requirements to go to school there. And I am working on a job as a Vet tech and if that falls through I am also a NP here in the states. If anyone is going there could you please send me a pm. I also think I am far older them most on here but then again I might be wrong. I am also married with 2 kids.

Angi

 

[mochavet]

Angi,

Just out of curiosity, how long have you been working on your perm. visa? I know a vet that has been working on his perm. Au visa for three years and he still hasn't gotten an okay yet. When do you plan on moving?

Good luck with everything and I'm sorry I can't offer you any information.

Em

 

[AM6845]

I have only been at it 6 months but I also have a sponser. And a job offer. It also helps if you either have family there or someone there who is willing to sponser you. He might want to try to get in under a temp visa and then once he gets there and gets a job then apply for perm status. Or they say if you allready have a job offer then it is easier for you to get in as well.

Angi