Can i get some help with getting on track?

[FutureVet90]

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i'm currently a sophomore with 46 hours completed. i was a nursing major but switched it to biology (pre-vet) last year in march. and i'm thinking about taking one required course this summer and the rest of them in my future semesters. i also thought about volunteering at an animal shelter this summer to start my experience with working with animals. my gpa was horrible but now im in the process of increasing it. it's a 1.8 ( i know, horrible right?) but i plan on getting it to at least 2.2 by the end of this semester. i wanted to take summer courses to increase it even more.


can you give me some advice on getting prepared for vet school? do you HAVE to apply for vet school by the time its time for graduation in undergrad, if you dont even have all the requirements to even apply for vet school completed? because i dont think i want to apply immediately because of my situation.

i appreciate the help

 

[PetPony]

You don't have to apply that soon. You can wait to increase your experience or even take more classes after graduation to boost your GPA. What are the classes you did so bad in? Are there grades in prerequisite classes that are below a C? Those would not work for vet school application and you'd have to retake them.

Also, try to figure out why you had such a hard time with your classes. You're going to have to work really hard to get a competitive GPA for vet school.

 

[GreyMatter 17]

Here's what I would do in your situation.

1. Give your studies your #1 priority during school from now on. Work towards earning A's/B+'s as much as possible.

2. Starting now, make contacts with vets in your area that you can shadow over the summer. Animal experience is good (in a shelter for example), but experience working directly under a vet is much more important. Prepare a resume and start making cold calls!

3. Realize that there is no age or time limit by which you must apply. You do not have to apply by the time you graduate. Many applicants finish their degree/pre-reqs and then find it beneficial to work full-time in a veterinary setting to gain more experience. You can also retake classes that may be negatively effecting your GPA.

4. Prepare for the GRE. You'll have to take it before you apply and it takes time to learn some of the wonky vocabulary it tests you on.

5. Also, work on using capital letters at the beginning of your sentences 😉

You have just as good a chance as anyone to go to vet school if you work hard to apply yourself. Good luck!

 

[FutureVet90]

You don't have to apply that soon. You can wait to increase your experience or even take more classes after graduation to boost your GPA. What are the classes you did so bad in? Are there grades in prerequisite classes that are below a C? Those would not work for vet school application and you'd have to retake them.

Also, try to figure out why you had such a hard time with your classes. You're going to have to work really hard to get a competitive GPA for vet school.

i havent taken any required courses for my major yet, due to me switching my major last year and some were filled. but i plan on taking my required courses this summer or start in the fall.

thank you for your advice 🙂

Here's what I would do in your situation.

1. Give your studies your #1 priority during school from now on. Work towards earning A's/B+'s as much as possible.

2. Starting now, make contacts with vets in your area that you can shadow over the summer. Animal experience is good (in a shelter for example), but experience working directly under a vet is much more important. Prepare a resume and start making cold calls!

3. Realize that there is no age or time limit by which you must apply. You do not have to apply by the time you graduate. Many applicants finish their degree/pre-reqs and then find it beneficial to work full-time in a veterinary setting to gain more experience. You can also retake classes that may be negatively effecting your GPA.

4. Prepare for the GRE. You'll have to take it before you apply and it takes time to learn some of the wonky vocabulary it tests you on.

5. Also, work on using capital letters at the beginning of your sentences 😉

You have just as good a chance as anyone to go to vet school if you work hard to apply yourself. Good luck!

thank you so much

 

[PetPony]

i havent taken any required courses for my major yet, due to me switching my major last year and some were filled. but i plan on taking my required courses this summer or start in the fall.

thank you for your advice 🙂


thank you so much

It's not just your major classes. Some schools require other classes also. Have you taken anything science related yet?

 

[GreyMatter 17]

i havent taken any required courses for my major yet, due to me switching my major last year and some were filled. but i plan on taking my required courses this summer or start in the fall.

The courses required for a biology major (or any major) are actually rather irrelevant. Different vet school require different science pre-reqs (and various non-science classes). In theory, you could get a B.S. in biology and still not have all the pre-reqs for the vet school(s) you want to apply to.

Here's a quick list of some of the more common pre-reqs:

Science Prerequisites
 Almost every school requires these for 1-2 semesters
Physics

Biochemistry

Biology/Zoology

Inorganic/General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

Other Sciences Many schools require one or more of these

Cellular Biology

Systems Physiology

Genetics

Microbiology

Nutrition
Animal Science

Other Prerequisites

Math/Statistics

English Composition

Humanities/Social sciences

Speech

 

[FutureVet90]

It's not just your major classes. Some schools require other classes also. Have you taken anything science related yet?

right now i'm taking biology (its not required)

geology (not required)

i'm taking intro to trig in order for me to take calculus (which is required)

world religions

film history



i dropped speech and took geology. eventually i'll have to take speech but im not ready yet.

 

[PetPony]

right now i'm taking biology (its not required)

geology (not required)

i'm taking intro to trig in order for me to take calculus (which is required)

world religions

film history



i dropped speech and took geology. eventually i'll have to take speech but im not ready yet.

Biology IS required. Unless it's one of those intro courses..

 

[kakurubird]

right now i'm taking biology (its not required)

Biology is not required for what?

It must surely be required for your biology major and is definitely 100% a required prerequisite for vet school (and even if it isn't explicitly at some school I don't know of, it would still be a prerequisite for prerequisites).

 

[FutureVet90]

Biology IS required. Unless it's one of those intro courses..

yeah its intro. thats why i said its not required

 

[FutureVet90]

Biology is not required for what?

It must surely be required for your biology major and is definitely 100% a required prerequisite for vet school (and even if it isn't explicitly at some school I don't know of, it would still be a prerequisite for prerequisites).

this biology class isnt the required biology classes im supposed to take. its intro.