C/O 2017 Applicants!

[Philliab]

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Lol. Trust me, you did NOT want to see me during the cycle. I think, no wait I KNOW my friends, even my BFF's were getting so annoyed with me and my mom pretty much told me that if I called her again crying about my fears of not getting in and me not being good enough and my rants on the adcoms that she wouldn't talk to me again. I never really posted about my rants on SDN, but believe me they were plenty. I think I had more pity parties and girls nights out that year than ever in my life. I guess I'm calm now, but once I start class...who knows!

Oh and don't get me started on my summer workshop right now...

On the flip side...if one more person tells me "oh of course you'll get in...I don't know why you are so worried about it..." I'm going to scream! I know they have no clue how hard it is, and I do appreciate the support, but could you let me be realistic and not positive for just one second?!

I knew SDN would make me feel better about this...if only I hadn't waited 2 weeks to actually post. 🙄

 

[Abnerrs]

no joke.

me

at the gas station

with my phone

Seriously no joke. A few of my friends, and one of my very best friends got in this year. And every time they bring up anything vet school related they stop mid sentence and look at me all awkward like. And that makes it worse because then I have to be like "No, it's fine, I really am happy for you and I won't shrivel up and die right now"

But mostly inside I'm like

 

[Abnerrs]

On the flip side...if one more person tells me "oh of course you'll get in...I don't know why you are so worried about it..." I'm going to scream! I know they have no clue how hard it is, and I do appreciate the support, but could you let me be realistic and not positive for just one second?!

I knew SDN would make me feel better about this...if only I hadn't waited 2 weeks to actually post. 🙄

 

[zanydogz]

On the flip side...if one more person tells me "oh of course you'll get in...I don't know why you are so worried about it..." I'm going to scream! I know they have no clue how hard it is, and I do appreciate the support, but could you let me be realistic and not positive for just one second?!

I knew SDN would make me feel better about this...if only I hadn't waited 2 weeks to actually post. 🙄

In some ways, its better to get it off your chest now rather than later...it'll save you a s*** ton of stress and heartache later.

And yea, my friends all told me that I would get in to vet school and not to worry, blah blah blah. I think after a while, I just ignored that statement and droned them out. I couldn't take it anymore. Especially after seeing my best friend get into multiple grad schools, my other best friend get accepted to a masters program, and a good friend who applied and interviewed with me at KSU get in while I didn't. I'm pretty sure I wanted to curl up into a ball and cry myself into the next decade...

Anyway, whatever happens this cycle, just know that you CAN do it (yes one more positive statement 😉) and that we are here for you.

 

[Philliab]

Philli, I too am completely skeered about what I am doing. I have been in Los Angeles for the past ten years making a pretty good living, but decided to give myself the gift that keeps on giving by changing careers to go into Vet med. I originally grew up on a cattle ranch in the Texas/Oklahoma panhandle, so I'm applying to OK State this cycle in order to keep my debt as low as possible. However, this means I have to leave LA now in order to reestablish residency and there isn't even a guarantee that I'll get in. SCARY But I am doing this on blind faith that my high GPA and experience will carry me through, and in the meantime, people live without full night's sleep for 10 months, right?😴

I thought of doing something like that. Actually I wanted to move to NC to gain residency for NCSU, but it just doesn't work for the entire family. But one thing is for sure, it shows OKSU just how dedicated you are to going to school there. If I was an adcom, I would give major props to someone with the guts to do what you are doing.

Ummm and let's not mention the no sleeping part just yet. I love my bed and love to sleep. That's gonna be rough for me.

 

[Emiloo4]

I think the worst part about people saying that is
1) It undermines how difficult it really is and how hard you have worked for it, and
2) If you end up NOT getting in, not only is it awkward and they think you are stupid, but you feel extra let down from feeling like you were a shoe-in based on random people's opinions.

 

[Philliab]

I think the worst part about people saying that is
1) It undermines how difficult it really is and how hard you have worked for it, and
2) If you end up NOT getting in, not only is it awkward and they think you are stupid, but you feel extra let down from feeling like you were a shoe-in based on random people's opinions.

Exactly! It's going to make me feel extra dumb.

Anyway, whatever happens this cycle, just know that you CAN do it (yes one more positive statement 😉) and that we are here for you.

Thank you....😍

 

[Abnerrs]

I think the worst part about people saying that is
1) It undermines how difficult it really is and how hard you have worked for it, and
2) If you end up NOT getting in, not only is it awkward and they think you are stupid, but you feel extra let down from feeling like you were a shoe-in based on random people's opinions.

My grandmother, gotta love her, is JUST like this. She keep saying that the process doesn't make sense and that I probably am missing something, I am forgetting to do something whatever. And she keeps saying I need to "write a letter to let them know how great I am" or I need to "take a little trip to the schools and just STOP IN in the admissions offices". And she keeps questioning the steps I am currently taking because "there is no reason I should have not gotten in yet".

 

[Emiloo4]

Exactly! It's going to make me feel extra dumb.

Don't let it... that's not what I meant lol, but I just HATE when people do that. I feel like it's so inconsiderate. There's a difference between offering someone confidence, and random hope that you know nothing about. 🙄
I know they don't mean to but it's a real pet-peeve of mine.

 

[Emiloo4]

And personally, when I'm doubting myself, I don't want to hear "Oh you'll be fine...blah blah blah" I want someone to run **** through with me out loud so I can actually prepare myself. 😎

 

[Emiloo4]

My grandmother, gotta love her, is JUST like this. She keep saying that the process doesn't make sense and that I probably am missing something, I am forgetting to do something whatever. And she keeps saying I need to "write a letter to let them know how great I am" or I need to "take a little trip to the schools and just STOP IN in the admissions offices". And she keeps questioning the steps I am currently taking because "there is no reason I should have not gotten in yet".

sounds like my BF's mom.... "Can't you just take it online and stay here?" "Can't you tell them you don't want to start until December?"

 

[Philliab]

My grandmother, gotta love her, is JUST like this. She keep saying that the process doesn't make sense and that I probably am missing something, I am forgetting to do something whatever. And she keeps saying I need to "write a letter to let them know how great I am" or I need to "take a little trip to the schools and just STOP IN in the admissions offices". And she keeps questioning the steps I am currently taking because "there is no reason I should have not gotten in yet".

That's awesome! I know it's not funny to you, but that sounds just like something my grandmother would say.

 

[Philliab]

Don't let it... that's not what I meant lol, but I just HATE when people do that. I feel like it's so inconsiderate. There's a difference between offering someone confidence, and random hope that you know nothing about. 🙄
I know they don't mean to but it's a real pet-peeve of mine.

Hopefully I won't have to even deal with it (see...more positive thinking). 😉 And honestly, I don't care what anyone else says or thinks. I'm doing this for me!

And on that note, I have to go meet my vet since one of my horses decided to take a chunk out of her heel last night. I think she heard me talking about my low bank account. 🙄 Gotta love them.

 

[equineconstant]

On the flip side...if one more person tells me "oh of course you'll get in...I don't know why you are so worried about it..." I'm going to scream! I know they have no clue how hard it is, and I do appreciate the support, but could you let me be realistic and not positive for just one second?!

I knew SDN would make me feel better about this...if only I hadn't waited 2 weeks to actually post. 🙄

My dad... I tell him that people don't get in the first time they apply. I even show him the statistics of how many apply vs. how many are accepted. His response? "Yeah, but you're better than their average." Dad, we're pre-vets. We're all above-average. 🙄

 

[Abnerrs]

OK. I have an actual question!!!! (I'm usually just BSing around so this is rare )

Anywho, did/is everyone using the explanation section on the VMCAS?

 

[Emiloo4]

OK. I have an actual question!!!! (I'm usually just BSing around so this is rare )

Anywho, did/is everyone using the explanation section on the VMCAS?

I would use it if you feel you have a reason to, but otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it. I explained a two semester drop in course load on mine, but that was it.

 

[Abnerrs]

I would use it if you feel you have a reason to, but otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it. I explained a two semester drop in course load on mine, but that was it.

I had a large gap in years when I didn't go to school at all. Maybe I should put that in there. I think I did 2 years ago, and I would have sworn that I did this last cycle but it wasn't on there 😕

 

[irrelephant23]

I'm planning on using it!!! I might have mentioned this in earlier in this thread or in the VMCAS questions thread. The explanation section is really handy for making your case about something you might be worried about for the application. For example, all of the organic chems (except lab of course) offered at my school are online. They are still really fricken hard, but some schools might look at it disapprovingly. I'm planning on explaining the course and how it works. Just make sure if you do use it, just barely touch on anything negative and then fill the rest of your statement with how awesome you are because of that instance.

With that said, I haven't actually written mine yet. 🙄

 

[Abnerrs]

I think I'm concerned because the year I applied when I wasn't truly competitive I used it, didn't hear positively at all. Last year I didn't use it (apparently looking through my printout) I had interviews and got waitlisted. None of my file reviews said anything about it either 😕

 

[hai1983]

OK. I have an actual question!!!! (I'm usually just BSing around so this is rare )

Anywho, did/is everyone using the explanation section on the VMCAS?

I have to explain that one bad semester, year+ I couldn't do anything because I was recovering from a car accident, why I have to quit my tech job, and some clarification about my transcripts (AP credit, why my stats class has an absurd title). It might be a little crammed. :-/

 

[Abnerrs]

Whatever. They should just look at my app and be all "Oh, it's Abney. Give her a call and tell she's in, yeah?"

 

[Emiloo4]

Whatever. They should just look at my app and be all "Oh, it's Abney. Give her a call and tell she's in, yeah?"

👍

 

[equineconstant]

OK. I have an actual question!!!! (I'm usually just BSing around so this is rare )

Anywho, did/is everyone using the explanation section on the VMCAS?

I had a citizenship project requirement for my...minor, sort of (honors forum), so I'm elaborating on that in the explanation section. Also explaining psych stats = stats.

 

[Abnerrs]

 

[zanydogz]

OK. I have an actual question!!!! (I'm usually just BSing around so this is rare )

Anywho, did/is everyone using the explanation section on the VMCAS?

I only used it to report GPAs from schools other than my primary undergrad. Otherwise, I left the rest blank.

 

[NStarz]

I used the explanation statement to explain an illness I had during undergrad--necessitated a few withdrawals and a bad semester.

 

[orca2011]

I think I used it to explain that while some of my course ( like my first semester of biochem) were like 1000 level course, that were actually equivalent to the 300+ level courses at my school. I took physics, micro, biochem, and animal parasitology abroad, so it was a different type of system. I think I also mentioned how all those courses had labs associated with them but that it's all considered one course.

 

[wldlfstdnt]

Question: pet sitting as animal experience?

 

[hai1983]

Question: pet sitting as animal experience?

I'm including it, and yes, as animal experience.

 

[kakurubird]

OK. I have an actual question!!!! (I'm usually just BSing around so this is rare )

Anywho, did/is everyone using the explanation section on the VMCAS?

I've just used mine for course clarifications when the course title is listed on my transcript as just "special topics" or something equally useless.

I thought I had a note somewhere about something else I wanted to mention, but can't find it now in all my application notes, so probably isn't something I need to mention in that case!

 

[hai1983]

Does anybody have any experience with UC Berkeley's online genetics class? Or another online genetics class?

The short version of the story is I need to live somewhere else for a year, and the somewhere else I need to live has no local university/no community college that offers Genetics.

 

[RetroUnicorn]

So I technically have the experience section filled out, but the little checkbox next to "Experiences" on the main page isn't checked off yet...

Anyone know what's up with that?

 

[kakurubird]

So I technically have the experience section filled out, but the little checkbox next to "Experiences" on the main page isn't checked off yet...

Anyone know what's up with that?

Have you either put in something or checked off that you have none of that category for each category under experiences?

 

[hai1983]

So I technically have the experience section filled out, but the little checkbox next to "Experiences" on the main page isn't checked off yet...

Anyone know what's up with that?

Do you have each subsection (vet, animal, employment, etc.) filled out? even if it's just checking the box to say the subsection doesn't apply?

 

[wldlfstdnt]

So I technically have the experience section filled out, but the little checkbox next to "Experiences" on the main page isn't checked off yet...

Anyone know what's up with that?

I did all of that today! Definitely make that there is something written/checked for each section in experiences, even if it is the nothing check box.

 

[Katie8]

OK. I have an actual question!!!! (I'm usually just BSing around so this is rare )

Anywho, did/is everyone using the explanation section on the VMCAS?

Just to add to this, I used it to explain how my school graded classes. We only had increments of 0.5. So you didn't get things like a B+/C- etc, which some schools (CSU) asked me to clarify in the supplemental so I decided to put it in my main application.

I also used this section to describe what I did for an independent study course as well as to describe my Study Abroad (6 credits in 4 weeks). I also used it to actually explain what research I did. In the experience section I describe what techniques I performed/learned whereas in the explanation statement I describe the goals of the research and the overarching themes.

I also used it to explain a class that I took a 0.0 in and I used the section to describe the two online course that I took at NCSU while working full-time.

Basically, I used my explanation statement to maximize what I could tell the schools about myself that didn't fit into the other sections and emphasize how "committed" and "hard-working" I am.

 

[RetroUnicorn]

I did all of that today! Definitely make that there is something written/checked for each section in experiences, even if it is the nothing check box.

I have everything checked/written!

 

[SpunkyMaddie]

OK. I have an actual question!!!! (I'm usually just BSing around so this is rare )

Anywho, did/is everyone using the explanation section on the VMCAS?

I didn't use it because at the time I thought it is was more to explain negative things and I didn't want to make it seem like I was making excuses for a few less than great grades (because my grades were pretty good overall I didn't think it was necessary to explain the one C I got and a quarter of all B's) But I could see it being useful if something was going on that affected more than one quarter or semester of grades. Or to even explain something positive in more detail.

 

[hai1983]

I just submitted the Tennessee supplemental. I'm now having a minor panic attack. It makes it seem so real!

 

[Emiloo4]

I just submitted the Tennessee supplemental. I'm now having a minor panic attack. It makes it seem so real!

Yay congrats!!!

Except now that means you just have to wait longer

 

[zanydogz]

I just submitted the Tennessee supplemental. I'm now having a minor panic attack. It makes it seem so real!

That's one down. Hang in there! 🙂

 

[hai1983]

Yay congrats!!!

Except now that means you just have to wait longer

Especially for Tennessee! I'll be waiting until, what, February? March? anyway.

I only did it because there were no essays and it was relatively cheap. I'm now working on the mini-essays for Missouri and they are so not getting written easily. edited to add Can you tell how much I don't feel like studying right now?

 

[hai1983]

That's one down. Hang in there! 🙂

Yep, one down, five to go by October 2nd. (Plus that pesky personal statement... otherwise VMCAS is done! 😀) I can do this... I think. 😉

 

[zanydogz]

Yep, one down, five to go by October 2nd. (Plus that pesky personal statement... otherwise VMCAS is done! 😀) I can do this... I think. 😉

Oh you can definitely do this! 👍😀

And get back to studying 😛 If it helps, I'm supposed to be studying for my anatomy workshop, but kinda felt like taking a nap instead...and then going on SDN...

 

[Emiloo4]

Oh you can definitely do this! 👍😀

And get back to studying 😛 If it helps, I'm supposed to be studying for my anatomy workshop, but kinda felt like taking a nap instead...and then going on SDN...

Ugh I feel your pain. I have literally been studying from 8am-11pm every day for the past week. I am SO FECKING EXCITED to be done in 13 hours!!!!!!!

 

[zanydogz]

Ugh I feel your pain. I have literally been studying from 8am-11pm every day for the past week. I am SO FECKING EXCITED to be done in 13 hours!!!!!!!

AHHH EM, you're almost there!!! Kick that exam's a**!!! Your hard work is gonna pay off soon...

I, on the other hand, get to wait til August to be done...

 

[hai1983]

Oh you can definitely do this! 👍😀

And get back to studying 😛 If it helps, I'm supposed to be studying for my anatomy workshop, but kinda felt like taking a nap instead...and then going on SDN...

Thank you for the encouragement! 🙂

I'm taking biochem in a summer session, so I already have class for two hours every day... I like the material, but after working eight hours today after class I really just don't feel like studying. At least working on supplementals is a better use of my time than just watching TV. I'm sure you're okay not studying anatomy right now. 😎

 

[Emiloo4]

Thank you for the encouragement! 🙂

I'm taking biochem in a summer session, so I already have class for two hours every day... I like the material, but after working eight hours today after class I really just don't feel like studying. At least working on supplementals is a better use of my time than just watching TV. I'm sure you're okay not studying anatomy right now. 😎

Yay! You have an avatar now 😀

 

[hai1983]

Yay! You have an avatar now 😀

Yeah, I figured since I'm sticking around, I might as well have a face. 🙂

 

[zanydogz]

Thank you for the encouragement! 🙂

I'm taking biochem in a summer session, so I already have class for two hours every day... I like the material, but after working eight hours today after class I really just don't feel like studying. At least working on supplementals is a better use of my time than just watching TV. I'm sure you're okay not studying anatomy right now. 😎

Haha yep! We just started looking at the inside of the thoracic cavity today and in one page of the lab manual I learned about 30 new terms/structures and their avid descriptions. I think my partners and I got through about 3 or 4 pages today of that manual. My brain is seriously fried...