Changing Vet Schools

[hna028]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I was wondering if anyone has ever gone to a vet school before deciding they don't like it and reapplying again. I know its a lot of money and time but I was wondering if vet schools look down upon it. I'm currently enrolled in a vet school in Australia and I'm not really getting accustomed to the teaching and environment here. I was wondering if I reapply this June with my vet school first semester grades, will the vet schools in the US look down upon it?

Thank you in advanced!

 

[allieh8607]

Have you considered transferring as an option rather than completely reapplying again? Idk if US schools accept transfers from Australian schools but that may be a better route than withdrawing from the school and reapplying. Most schools require more than just one semester's worth of grades before transferring though, I think.

 

[hna028]

I did but my biggest worry is that some schools are really strict about what courses the student need to have taken at the previous vet school before they can be eligible to transfer. Also some schools only accept transfer if there's an opening spot in a class. I know they will look at my college grades as well.

 

[michellegibby]

Well the best thing to do is find out which schools you would be interested then contact them to find the details. Some take transfers, others do not. I definitely wouldn't withdraw and completely start over because that is a lot of money and time lost. Make sure you talk to the other schools first you would be interested in...I am not sure you would be able to start at a new school this fall so it would probably be over a year from now...might be worth it to just be patient with the teaching styles. It probably takes the full year to adjust to them. Good luck!

 

[Staffie]

I looked at some of your old posts and it looks like you just started school this month, right? It also looks like you went to school in Australia all the while hoping you'd get accepted in America so you can ditch that school and move back to the States. Honestly, it probably wasn't the best idea to spend all of the money and effort to move across the world for vet school if you weren't sure that you want to give it a real go out there. But, you're there now, so you should make a decision.

One option is to give up on the program, move back and see if you can get a refund on this term's tuition. If you decide that you'll only be happy if you attend an American school, move back now and spend a year or two getting experience and/or grades to make you a competitive applicant so you can do it.

Another option is to put all your reservations about the program and your environment aside and really try to get into your studies and make some friends. It's pointless to try to stick it out if you're just longing to be back in the states and studying at an American vet school. It's a waste of time and money. You have some soul searching to do, and I would suggest you do it fast so you can try to get some money back if you decide to abandon your Australian school.

 

[BirdsinMyHouse]

If you have a legitimate reason for wanting to transfer, they may not look down on it. I had a medical issue that forced me to withdraw at one school and reapply as a first-year student... but I had to retake some undergrad courses, etc, first. I did try to transfer initially and it was difficult; there may not be transfer spots in a given year, since the spots are dependent on people failing out or having to retake things next year. Additionally it's really competitive. There's students from all over competing for those few spots.

You need to contact the schools you're interested in and ask them. Realize that while it's not impossible, your coursework may not line up enough for a transfer to happen, and if your only reason for leaving the vet school you're at is not liking it, I'd work on an explanation. If you do reapply or apply to transfer, they're going to want to know why.