Class of 2016 hopefuls: how are you doing?

[Minnerbelle]

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EllieG

The only thing I can think of when I see that is this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWDP_ew8HqQ

 

[flyinggoat]

I guess I kind of forget that there are those types of things... people who never see or physically care for their horse, I mean, since that was so far removed from any experience I have ever had...

In my case, I had weekly lessons for years before my family bought my horse, lessons continued as well as weekly chores for the entire barn as part of board at the stable where I rode, and schooling/training my guy for showing which occurred almost weekly from May-October... I will do my best to estimate... lol.

Gah- I don't know how my parents put up with it....

As far as my goat experience, I consider myself on duty for those animals 24/7. While they don't take hours of care every single day, there are definitely times when they do, (every 90 minutes for kidding checks? 😉 ugh) and nothing takes precedence over their health and safety- school, work, anything. While we haven't had to deal with a human-related life threatening emergency (knock wood), a priority would still be that they are all cared for. They are the foundation of our growing business that will have to be largely supporting itself, our house and my husband by the time I have to leave for vet school..... I digress... 😳

 

[Minnerbelle]

In my case, I had weekly lessons for years before my family bought my horse, lessons continued as well as weekly chores for the entire barn as part of board at the stable where I rode, and schooling/training my guy for showing which occurred almost weekly from May-October... I will do my best to estimate... lol.

[...]

As far as my goat experience, I consider myself on duty for those animals 24/7. While they don't take hours of care every single day, there are definitely times when they do, (every 90 minutes for kidding checks? 😉 ugh) and nothing takes precedence over their health and safety- school, work, anything. While we haven't had to deal with a human-related life threatening emergency (knock wood), a priority would still be that they are all cared for. They are the foundation of our growing business that will have to be largely supporting itself, our house and my husband by the time I have to leave for vet school..... I digress... 😳

I think it's totally fine to put those things on your application, but remember what you're applying for. You don't want these experiences to detract from your vet experiences. Having these experiences will definitely help, but you want to make sure that your application looks balanced. You're not applying to become a goat farmer after all, and being a goat farmer/horse owner doesn't mean you are qualified to become a vet.

Calculating hours 24/7 for several years will end up dwarfing your vet experiences for sure... And if you were doing anything else (volunteering, working, sleeping, eating, studying, school, yoga, etc...), I don't think it's fair to double dip and count the same hours for goat care. I would be very conservative with your hours for something like this, because I think what matters is that adcoms know how involved you were in your goat operation, an NOT that you did this for X number of hours at this point. You want to shine as a pre-VET.

just my 2 cents.

 

[teatime]

The only thing I can think of when I see that is this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWDP_ew8HqQ

farm = rubbish zoo. priceless!

 

[flyinggoat]

I think it's totally fine to put those things on your application, but remember what you're applying for. You don't want these experiences to detract from your vet experiences. Having these experiences will definitely help, but you want to make sure that your application looks balanced. You're not applying to become a goat farmer after all, and being a goat farmer/horse owner doesn't mean you are qualified to become a vet.

Calculating hours 24/7 for several years will end up dwarfing your vet experiences for sure... And if you were doing anything else (volunteering, working, sleeping, eating, studying, school, yoga, etc...), I don't think it's fair to double dip and count the same hours for goat care. I would be very conservative with your hours for something like this, because I think what matters is that adcoms know how involved you were in your goat operation, an NOT that you did this for X number of hours at this point. You want to shine as a pre-VET.

just my 2 cents.

My tendency is always to be conservative. But I think there is a fine line to walk for people who have made a decision to have certain types of animals in their lives in certain ways and how can you quantify that in hours? I didn't have any plans to be a vet when I was 14, so I wasn't ticking off hours on my calendar. Of course I wouldn't count 24/7 hours for my goat experience, I'll end up estimating, because obviously I wouldn't count sleeping hours and being in class as goat care hours. 🙄 My comment was simply meant to indicate that my animals are a priority for me, just as many people's (and I'm sure many who read this board) pets are to them. For sure if my dog needed to get to the emergency clinic and I had a scheduled exam, I'd be at the clinic no questions asked. And for that matter, not just my animals, any animal whose care I am involved with. That's how I roll- animals come first. lol.

I know there are discussions on here about the application process and its weaknesses, and my intention isn't to go there, but some people's animal and veterinary experiences fit more neatly into the "hours" model than others. It's kind of silly.

anyway...

 

[that redhead]

My tendency is always to be conservative. But I think there is a fine line to walk for people who have made a decision to have certain types of animals in their lives in certain ways and how can you quantify that in hours? I didn't have any plans to be a vet when I was 14, so I wasn't ticking off hours on my calendar. Of course I wouldn't count 24/7 hours for my goat experience, I'll end up estimating, because obviously I wouldn't count sleeping hours and being in class as goat care hours. 🙄 My comment was simply meant to indicate that my animals are a priority for me, just as many people's (and I'm sure many who read this board) pets are to them. For sure if my dog needed to get to the emergency clinic and I had a scheduled exam, I'd be at the clinic no questions asked. And for that matter, not just my animals, any animal whose care I am involved with. That's how I roll- animals come first. lol.

I know there are discussions on here about the application process and its weaknesses, and my intention isn't to go there, but some people's animal and veterinary experiences fit more neatly into the "hours" model than others. It's kind of silly.

anyway...

Your description of your activities with your animals would certainly count as animal care - I included similar things under my equine hours portion of the animal experience category. My original comment was directed toward someone who (at least was my impression) was part of a family that owned a farm and kind of hung around for a bit but didn't get actually involved until later in her life. That's the point where I would really think hard about saying, "Well there's a farm in my backyard so 24/7 animal experience!" Not to say that anyone has done so or would do so, just a thought. Like Minnerbelle said, it's important to be conservative in your estimates and I'm sure that you will! Maybe you can (or already have) incorporated your passion for your goat farm into your PS. That's really the place to outline just how much blood, sweat, tears and love have gone into that part of your life. 🙂

 

[flyinggoat]

Your description of your activities with your animals would certainly count as animal care - I included similar things under my equine hours portion of the animal experience category. My original comment was directed toward someone who (at least was my impression) was part of a family that owned a farm and kind of hung around for a bit but didn't get actually involved until later in her life. That's the point where I would really think hard about saying, "Well there's a farm in my backyard so 24/7 animal experience!" Not to say that anyone has done so or would do so, just a thought. Like Minnerbelle said, it's important to be conservative in your estimates and I'm sure that you will! Maybe you can (or already have) incorporated your passion for your goat farm into your PS. That's really the place to outline just how much blood, sweat, tears and love have gone into that part of your life. 🙂

I'm constantly thinking about my PS lately. Really just need to start getting some words on the computer.... 😛

 

[cowdocsoon]

I'm constantly thinking about my PS lately. Really just need to start getting some words on the computer.... 😛

That really does help to get you started flyinggoat. You can always edit or add to it later. It helped me because I could organize my thoughts, even if it was just free-writing.

 

[flyinggoat]

That really does help to get you started flyinggoat. You can always edit or add to it later. It helped me because I could organize my thoughts, even if it was just free-writing.

The key for me is remembering I don't need to get it all done in one fell swoop! 😛

 

[CurrySpice]

Am I the only pre-vet thinking this type of thread is what gives us ulcers?

We need some Bob Marley going here!

LOL, I rather enjoy reading about the craziness that some people put themselves through. I enjoy life, study hard, and only do ECs that I actually enjoy. I have a great gpa, great gre (except mediocre writing) and so I'm just having fun getting vet/experience hours. I suppose that I could go crazy and make sure to get X hours at one vet practice and Y hours at another. But... that's just not me! I even dropped a SA/exotics internship this past summer b/c I just hated the practice. Techs were unprofessional and the vets didn't actually want me tagging along (PR department organized the internship, largish clinic). It would have looked great on my application (and sounded perfect on paper), but my summer would have been miserable if I'd kept with it.

Maybe I'll regret dropping the opportunity, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE shadowing at the SA vet I am now.

It's FUN, and really, I'm headed to vet school because I adore clinics like this. 2 doctors, a few techs and a receptionist. They spend time in the room talking to the client, listening, and explain absolutely everything I ask. It's just lovely 🙂. I'm trying to get more equine experience because I might want to specialize... but I'm happy at the clinic right now 🙂

My ECs tend to be relatively solitary... nordic skiing & running. BUT I have both an endorphin addiction & an extreme adoration of sunlight. So, I really don't give a flying fatoodle about how they judge my ECs. I run or ski with friends if they're free and we're wanting to go the same pace. Otherwise I just go by myself, which is totally fine. I've been splurging on some running races this spring b/c they're awesomely fun & it does somewhat validate my running to be a sport rather than just a hobby.

Now... if I get rejected everywhere this cycle I may reconsider pandering to the AdCom. LOL. I really hope not though b/c my stats are competitive for some of the vet schools! (Obviously not those that want >100 hours in several specialties).

 

[squirrelsrule]

Hi CurrySpice, I totally get what you mean. This thread isn't one of those threads where everyone freaks out though, I made it so people could get prepared and know what's up when it comes to applications. I just decided to become a vet last year and was totally clueless, so I thought a thread to discuss questions about applications would be good.

I really am not a worrier. The only time I worry is when I don't know what is expected, hence the thread for questions as I have had many.

Are you applying this year CurrySpice? Where all are you applying?

 

[Niri]

Am I the only pre-vet thinking this type of thread is what gives us ulcers?

No. Not at all.

My ECs tend to be relatively solitary... nordic skiing & running. BUT I have both an endorphin addiction & an extreme adoration of sunlight. So, I really don't give a flying fatoodle about how they judge my ECs. I run or ski with friends if they're free and we're wanting to go the same pace. Otherwise I just go by myself, which is totally fine. I've been splurging on some running races this spring b/c they're awesomely fun & it does somewhat validate my running to be a sport rather than just a hobby.

I hope you mean marathons 😀, yes, yes I know that distance running insanity.

 

[NStarz]

They will absolutely accept her as a LOR, just not the DVM LOR. My MD PI was probably one of my most influential LORs! And it def counted as veterinary experience. She just couldn't speak for me as a fellow DVM to adcoms.

Definitely! My issue right now is trying to get a second LOR from a DVM (for Ohio, at least). So my thought was that maybe they would accept a letter from her since she was technically supervising a veterinary experience? I'll email sometime and ask them, but I'm guessing the answer will be no 😛

I'm a little weird right now with my PI and getting a letter from her, because she's technically going to be in my committee letter (so would that be double dipping somewhere?). The committee says that I don't need to get a letter from her because she'll be included, but she knows me so well and she's written me glowing letters before. ARGHHHH. I hate making decisions...

 

[Packen]

I hope you mean marathons 😀, yes, yes I know that distance running insanity.

Not to hi-jack the thread away from app stressing, but I ran my first 5K this weekend and I am HOOKED. I have already registered for another in about a month! Not quite a marathon, but I have not ruled that out. I am actually really getting into running, and I have a great partner (she might have a speech impediment, walk on all fours and be pretty hairy, but the look she gives me when I slow down on hills is priceless). The competition part of it has really been the spark for me...not that I'm competitive or anything😎

Ok, back to stressing now 😉

 

[emazingli]

I am confused what will I gonna do, if to enter in the University or just take a home study?

 

[Minnerbelle]

Definitely! My issue right now is trying to get a second LOR from a DVM (for Ohio, at least). So my thought was that maybe they would accept a letter from her since she was technically supervising a veterinary experience? I'll email sometime and ask them, but I'm guessing the answer will be no 😛

I'm a little weird right now with my PI and getting a letter from her, because she's technically going to be in my committee letter (so would that be double dipping somewhere?). The committee says that I don't need to get a letter from her because she'll be included, but she knows me so well and she's written me glowing letters before. ARGHHHH. I hate making decisions...

Yeah, I'm almost positive that the answer will be no. But as for the committee letter thing, I wouldn't consider it double dipping at all. In fact, that's what I was told to do. A lot of vet schools won't accept committee letters, so what I was told to do was list 3-4 LORs (regardless of whether they appeared in my committee letter or not) on the VMCAS and have them submit eLORS, then submit the committee letter as the 4th or 5th letter by mail to VMCAS. Some schools will ONLY take eLORs and will throw your committee letter down the garbage, and some l-o-v-e them.

If I remember correctly, you have to inform VMCAS that you'll be sending them the committee letter as a paper letter. Because of the word limit, and no room for attachments, there's no way to send the committee letter as an eLOR. The committee letter thing is a PITA.

 

[flyinggoat]

Not to hi-jack the thread away from app stressing, but I ran my first 5K this weekend and I am HOOKED. I have already registered for another in about a month! Not quite a marathon, but I have not ruled that out. I am actually really getting into running, and I have a great partner (she might have a speech impediment, walk on all fours and be pretty hairy, but the look she gives me when I slow down on hills is priceless). The competition part of it has really been the spark for me...not that I'm competitive or anything😎

Ok, back to stressing now 😉

I love running with my dogs, too. 🙂 Though I do sometimes get some funny looks with the vizsla and the pug both jogging along with me. I'm sure the vizlsa would be happy to run a marathon at a moment's notice, but we aren't really training for anything, though we have done some 5K and 10K runs in the past. It's so hard to find time for the longer runs!

ETA: The pug doesn't usually do more than 4.5 miles with me, and we do maybe a 9-10 minute mile. Plus he's the most athletic pug I've ever met. And we only do walks when it's hot. Don't worry! I'm not abusing my crazy pug! 😉

 

[nuevaburra]

I love running with my dogs, too. 🙂 Though I do sometimes get some funny looks with the vizsla and the pug both jogging along with me. I'm sure the vizlsa would be happy to run a marathon at a moment's notice, but we aren't really training for anything, though we have done some 5K and 10K runs in the past. It's so hard to find time for the longer runs!

ETA: The pug doesn't usually do more than 4.5 miles with me, and we do maybe a 9-10 minute mile. Plus he's the most athletic pug I've ever met. And we only do walks when it's hot. Don't worry! I'm not abusing my crazy pug! 😉

I LOLed when I imagined a vizla and a crazy pug running together. Magic. And what you are doing sounds fantastic, the real abuse is people who overfeed their pugs and never exercise them. I have seen some porky, porky pugs, and it sounds like every breath is an epic effort for them.

Now how do I convince my cats to go running with me?

 

[AngSchmange]

I LOLed when I imagined a vizla and a crazy pug running together. Magic. And what you are doing sounds fantastic, the real abuse is people who overfeed their pugs and never exercise them. I have seen some porky, porky pugs, and it sounds like every breath is an epic effort for them.

Now how do I convince my cats to go running with me?

If you ever find out PLEASE let me know! I can't find a way to get my cat to lose some weight. He's a 19 pound siamese, and he's having a good time with the SlimCat, but I'm hoping he starts going outside and doing a bit of hunting when it gets a little warmer lol. Maybe then he'll start to slim down 🙁

 

[flyinggoat]

I LOLed when I imagined a vizla and a crazy pug running together. Magic. And what you are doing sounds fantastic, the real abuse is people who overfeed their pugs and never exercise them. I have seen some porky, porky pugs, and it sounds like every breath is an epic effort for them.

Now how do I convince my cats to go running with me?

I, too, have seen some pugs that look like overstuffed sausages with little legs sticking out. 🙁

Our cats sometimes try to follow us when we go for a walk with the dogs. I've had a couple start off down the driveway with me and the dogs like they're going to come with us on a run, but I usually try to chase them off. 'Course, we live out in the woods, so the cats pretty much go wherever they please...

 

[bee83]

Now how do I convince my cats to go running with me?

Tie a little mousy toy, or any kind of toy really, onto a string, and attach it to the back of your running shorts. Works every time.

 

[thaowey]

soooo after final grades for Spring semester came out, i'm seriously asking myself if there's even any hope of getting accepted...

my cumulative GPA as of right now is 2.97 [i know, ****ty]. i ended up getting ALOT of Bs and B-'s...
i'm taking 16 credits for summer, and if i get all A's, i will end up having a 3.12ish.

i'm thinking the only thing that can save me from this blemish is a sky-high GRE score and a rocking PS. my experiences are decent-ish. at least 300 hrs of SA and ZooMed combined so far.

ahhhhhhhh fccuk my lifeeee.

but on a side note: [interesting read]
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/health/28leprosy.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

 

[PreVetBeaver]

Ahhhhh I am getting so nervous to apply. I can't believe that applications are going to open up in only one month !

 

[flyinggoat]

I'm getting a little rush every now and then when I realize I really have to start this application business very soon, too!

I did just manage to pull off another A- in Calc B, though- meaning I don't have to take the cumulative final! woohoo! My brain is just starting to adjust to the idea that I won't have to remember most of that stuff.. 🙄

Bad news is that I decided my life is going to explode if I take o-chem lab this summer along with the lecture.... 🙁 Too much going on with the goats and farm stuff (adding another farmers' market to our repertoire this summer as well as raising some pigs...) I know this will hurt my chances at least a little...

 

[NStarz]

I have a job offer (overnights at a huge hospital!) for full-time after graduation!!!!! SOOOOO EXCITED!

 

[psilovethomas]

soooo after final grades for Spring semester came out, i'm seriously asking myself if there's even any hope of getting accepted...

my cumulative GPA as of right now is 2.97 [i know, ****ty]. i ended up getting ALOT of Bs and B-'s...
i'm taking 16 credits for summer, and if i get all A's, i will end up having a 3.12ish.

i'm thinking the only thing that can save me from this blemish is a sky-high GRE score and a rocking PS. my experiences are decent-ish. at least 300 hrs of SA and ZooMed combined so far.

ahhhhhhhh fccuk my lifeeee.

but on a side note: [interesting read]
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/health/28leprosy.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Are you considering Caribbean schools- i.e. Ross, SGU? Ross is accredited now, so that's a huge bonus, and they claim that they will continue to use the "holistic" approach to admissions. All hope is not lost. Good luck!

 

[nuevaburra]

Huge rave here:

Things that are awesome:
1. It's my birthday today!!
2. I got offered a part time job at the small animal vet clinic where I have been shadowing!!!
3. I got offered a part time job at the pathology lab where I have been shadowing!!!!
4. We're buying a house and closing in two weeks!!!!!!!
5. My research experiments are working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things are going way. too. well. 😳

 

[squirrelsrule]

Time is flying by for me! Can't believe it's May already! I have been crazy busy with baby creatures (currently have 6 twenty grammer opossums, 6 baby squirrels including one pinkie that weighs 23 grams, and 5 baby bunnies!) plus have been getting Biochem and O. Chem finished up and working 20 hours a week at the emergency clinic.

Yesterday was my final for Biochem and our professor already emailed our grades on the final and final grade for the class. I got one of only 2 As in the class 👍. There were 19 people in the class and only 2 got As that is crazy. There was only 1 B+ and 2 Bs, 3 B-s and everyone else got a C or lower 😱. Just super glad to be done with that class and sooooooooooooooooo happy I got an A 🙂.

O. Chem is over next Wednesday and I am gonna miss that class soooooooooooooooooo much. I'd be shocked it I didn't get an A in that class, my current grade is somewhere around a 97%. Right now we have to identify an unknown liquid that could be one of thousands of chemicals, it is an awesome way to end the semester because it puts everything we've learned together and gets us all problem solving. That class has been fun and I've learned so much, I hate that it is almost over. I might be the lab assistant for O. Chem next year though, which would be cool.

Can't believe VMCAS is gonna be open in less than a month! I am doing good on getting everything together and I think I am gonna have a solid application. I am now up to 275 vet experience hours 👍 and will be hopefully going to full time within the next month, which will boost my hours even more. So far, my experience is all in small animals though, I need to find a large animal vet to shadow and possibly an exotics vet. Of course my animal experience hours are climbing like crazy too with wildlife rehab season now in full swing. I spend at least 4 hours a day caring for my little tykes, and that's probably a super low estimate because it usually takes me 3 hours to get everyone taken care of for the morning!

Just one more prerec left to take too. Microbiology in the fall and I have heard from some people in O. chem that have already taken it that it is an awesome class and the professor is awesome.

Hard to believe that this time next year I might be getting ready to start vet school! Super excited and can't wait to apply!

 

[kaydubs]

First and foremost, best wishes 2016 - you're gonna be FABULOUS

Congrats, NStarz! I admit I'm a bit green with envy 😉

I have a job offer (overnights at a huge hospital!) for full-time after graduation!!!!! SOOOOO EXCITED!

Happy birthday, NB!!! And also, the envy keeps growing. Congrats on such awesome opportunities!!!

Huge rave here:

Things that are awesome:
1. It's my birthday today!!
2. I got offered a part time job at the small animal vet clinic where I have been shadowing!!!
3. I got offered a part time job at the pathology lab where I have been shadowing!!!!
4. We're buying a house and closing in two weeks!!!!!!!
5. My research experiments are working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things are going way. too. well. 😳

Nice grades, SR. I wish I had that much science stupendousness!

O. Chem is over next Wednesday and I am gonna miss that class soooooooooooooooooo much. I'd be shocked it I didn't get an A in that class, my current grade is somewhere around a 97%. Right now we have to identify an unknown liquid that could be one of thousands of chemicals, it is an awesome way to end the semester because it puts everything we've learned together and gets us all problem solving. That class has been fun and I've learned so much, I hate that it is almost over. I might be the lab assistant for O. Chem next year though, which would be cool.

 

[squirrelsrule]

Was a little off on my grade calculation for O. Chem, actually had a 101% 😀. Had the final last night, it was pretty tough, especially considering it was cumulative over like the entire year 😱, but I only needed a D on it and I am sure I got an A or B with the curve. It was kinda cool to see how much of the stuff I actually remembered from that class! And after class we all met up at a sports bar and our professor came! He doesn't drink (I don't either), but came to hang out and say good bye. He said we were one of his favorite classes ever and he's been teaching 39 years and you could tell he really meant it. I am gonna miss that class so much. He's invited me back to help him with a video series he's making to give to students as a study tool. It's gonna have lab techniques and lecture in it I am pretty sure. I think it will be fun!

Kinda nice that it's summer now. I can try and focus on my application. Still working on what schools to apply to 😳. I know Ohio State, but can't decide on the others. Maybe Michigan and Wisconsin, or Michigan and Tufts, or Tufts and Wisconsin, or Tennessee, I just can't decide, for one reason or another I like them all.

I am up to 291 experience hours, still need to find a large animal vet to shadow, though!

I have a question about the application. For some schools you need 1 elor from anyone not related (going with an academic letter there) and 2 elors from vets and at other schools you need just 1 from a vet and 2 from nonfamily member. Is it possible to have more than 3 in VMCAS and then choose which to send to which schools or do they all go to each school?

I can't decide if sending 2 letters from a vet will be in my best interest if it isn't required or if I should send 2 from professors if possible? I have 2 very strong academic letters I could get- one from the school I graduated from in 2005 and taught many of my classes and has been encouraging me to go to grad school for years and then my O. Chem professor is also very eager to write me a letter and seemed kinda sad when I said I had one already and would probably need another but would let him know. So, I could have two awesome academic letters. I am not sure that would strengthen my application or not because I have a 3.99 so obviously I have excelled academically. It would be a no brainer if I had two equally awesome vet elors to use, but I have one that is gonna be good and the other is kinda iffy. the iffy one is from the clinic I am at now. I just started in Feb. and work part time and it isn't always the same vet working, so I have only actually worked with the vet that I'd like to get a letter from for about 80 hours total. Plus I am new so not that good of a tech. yet, but we have talked extensively about vet school and she is always eager to show me stuff, like an a arrhythmia, bleeding into the chest, stuff she is doing during surgery, all kinds of things like that. She is super nice and that has been great, so I think she'll write me a letter, but I am not sure how much she actually has to say about me. Plus, she might be leaving at the end of May, so it isn't like I can hold off until I know her better and she knows me better.

Not that school is out for the summer, I am gonna start seriously working on my personal statement. I have such a hard time writing about myself. I think I am too focused on the wildlife rehab, but it is hard to talk about anything else because rehabbing is what has driven me to become a vet. I know I can be an awesome vet because of the way I handle wildlife rehab. Plus the whole why do you want to be a vet question still has me nervous. I have a long winded reason, but can't really summarize it in a few short sentences, unless I say I want to be a vet because I love animals and want to save their lives. And the whole what kind of vet do I want to be... Still got a lot of work to do and lots of thinking to do.

 

[squirrelsrule]

VMCAS website opens up tomorrow, who's excited? I am super excited. It is becoming so real now!

I have successfully gotten two people willing to write me a letter of recommendation. One I am super confident is going to be an AWESOME letter and the other I have only known for 6 months (from the emergency clinic), but she is awesome and loves teaching me stuff and we talk about vet school all the time, so I think she'll write a good letter.

I have my third letter of recommendation all lined up as well, I just have to call and verify that the vet is willing (I have only shadowed him for 20 hours, but I have known him for years and he has been trying to talk me into going to vet school for years) and to make sure that the email address I have for him is the one he would like me to use on the application. 99% sure his letter will be awesome even though I haven't really worked with him.

So, all I really have left to do is keep getting vet experience hours (I am up to 374 hours 👍)

So, how is it going for everyone else, getting super excited yet?

 

[LittleWiz]

Was a little off on my grade calculation for O. Chem, actually had a 101% 😀. Had the final last night, it was pretty tough, especially considering it was cumulative over like the entire year 😱, but I only needed a D on it and I am sure I got an A or B with the curve. It was kinda cool to see how much of the stuff I actually remembered from that class! And after class we all met up at a sports bar and our professor came! He doesn't drink (I don't either), but came to hang out and say good bye. He said we were one of his favorite classes ever and he's been teaching 39 years and you could tell he really meant it. I am gonna miss that class so much. He's invited me back to help him with a video series he's making to give to students as a study tool. It's gonna have lab techniques and lecture in it I am pretty sure. I think it will be fun!

Kinda nice that it's summer now. I can try and focus on my application. Still working on what schools to apply to 😳. I know Ohio State, but can't decide on the others. Maybe Michigan and Wisconsin, or Michigan and Tufts, or Tufts and Wisconsin, or Tennessee, I just can't decide, for one reason or another I like them all.

I am up to 291 experience hours, still need to find a large animal vet to shadow, though!

I have a question about the application. For some schools you need 1 elor from anyone not related (going with an academic letter there) and 2 elors from vets and at other schools you need just 1 from a vet and 2 from nonfamily member. Is it possible to have more than 3 in VMCAS and then choose which to send to which schools or do they all go to each school?

I can't decide if sending 2 letters from a vet will be in my best interest if it isn't required or if I should send 2 from professors if possible? I have 2 very strong academic letters I could get- one from the school I graduated from in 2005 and taught many of my classes and has been encouraging me to go to grad school for years and then my O. Chem professor is also very eager to write me a letter and seemed kinda sad when I said I had one already and would probably need another but would let him know. So, I could have two awesome academic letters. I am not sure that would strengthen my application or not because I have a 3.99 so obviously I have excelled academically. It would be a no brainer if I had two equally awesome vet elors to use, but I have one that is gonna be good and the other is kinda iffy. the iffy one is from the clinic I am at now. I just started in Feb. and work part time and it isn't always the same vet working, so I have only actually worked with the vet that I'd like to get a letter from for about 80 hours total. Plus I am new so not that good of a tech. yet, but we have talked extensively about vet school and she is always eager to show me stuff, like an a arrhythmia, bleeding into the chest, stuff she is doing during surgery, all kinds of things like that. She is super nice and that has been great, so I think she'll write me a letter, but I am not sure how much she actually has to say about me. Plus, she might be leaving at the end of May, so it isn't like I can hold off until I know her better and she knows me better.

Not that school is out for the summer, I am gonna start seriously working on my personal statement. I have such a hard time writing about myself. I think I am too focused on the wildlife rehab, but it is hard to talk about anything else because rehabbing is what has driven me to become a vet. I know I can be an awesome vet because of the way I handle wildlife rehab. Plus the whole why do you want to be a vet question still has me nervous. I have a long winded reason, but can't really summarize it in a few short sentences, unless I say I want to be a vet because I love animals and want to save their lives. And the whole what kind of vet do I want to be... Still got a lot of work to do and lots of thinking to do.

I'm dreading application cycle! I was excited about it last year, but the thought of doing it again makes me sick!

I'm mostly dreading the personal statement. I'm writing a whole new one because mine from last year was poorly written. But with SDN and all the people who are willing to read personal statements, maybe it will go well!

Good luck all!!!!!!!!

 

[kanariya]

VMCAS website opens up tomorrow, who's excited? I am super excited. It is becoming so real now!

I am! In fact, I would have posted this if you hadn't! This is the moment I've been waiting for. Although I will most likely not be able to log in tomorrow because it is this first day of summer classes and I have to work 🙁

I have designated Friday evenings and Sundays as my VMCAS days. I can definitely see this thread getting much more activity from everyone in the running over the next several months! Good luck to all those applying this go round!

 

[squirrelsrule]

I usually work Thursdays, but have the day off tomorrow 😀. Can't wait. So glad for wildlife rehab about now, or I'd be driving myself nuts with the waiting and would be working on my application like nonstop when I wasn't working.

 

[NStarz]

Not only does the application open tomorrow 🙂eek🙂 but it is also my birthday tomorrow!! If that's not lucky, I don't know what is! I have four LORs secured--2 from vets (1 I know is going to be phenomenal, 1 will be good but not sure if it'll be earth-shattering). I start my new job next week and I may be able to find another vet there to write one for me instead, we'll see 🙂

I am so nervous about this and am just trying to keep myself busy so I don't freak out over everything too soon! I just secured an appointment with Rosanne at Penn for an admissions meeting (do any UPenn c/o2014ers want to give me a tour?? Not sure if you'll be around in July--but that's when I'm coming 😀) and am working with Patty at Tufts to do the same. And I went to the writing center this week to tear through my PS. I'm in such a good place (in my mind anyway) for the admissions process, I'm psyched (and terrified, of course). Now I just need to find me an equine or LA vet and I'm a-okay!

 

[Bismarck]

I am so nervous about this and am just trying to keep myself busy

This application process is a marathon and not a sprint. Save a little gas for Sept./October? Definitely ready to start the process myself though.

 

[NStarz]

This application process is a marathon and not a sprint. Save a little gas for Sept./October? Definitely ready to start the process myself though.

Definitely agree! I meant busy in the sense that I've been doing other things (vet med related, of course, but not application related 😉).

I've already told my family that they will want to kill me by April. Especially between the months of December-April, I am not going to be fun to live with!

 

[heylodeb]

I'm dreading application cycle! I was excited about it last year, but the thought of doing it again makes me sick!

I'm mostly dreading the personal statement. I'm writing a whole new one because mine from last year was poorly written. But with SDN and all the people who are willing to read personal statements, maybe it will go well!

Good luck all!!!!!!!!

I know how you feel! You can do it! It's frustrating to fill everything out again and go through the waiting but that acceptance letter makes all the pain and agony float away like it was nothing!!


For all of you: I think this thread should be resurrected during the fall and spring of your first year of vet school. It'll be fun to read through all these comments starting from the freakouts about the GRE up to freak outs about first anatomy exams!

Good luck! Be your best!

 

[Bismarck]

Application system that was considered, but ultimately rejected:

... though I suspect there may be some disagreement as to whether or not some applicants would prefer this system as it would, at the very least, be more simplified. VMCAS tomorrow!

/there can be only one

 

[StartingoverVet]

I am so nervous about this and am just trying to keep myself busy so I don't freak out over everything too soon! I just secured an appointment with Rosanne at Penn for an admissions meeting (do any UPenn c/o2014ers want to give me a tour?? Not sure if you'll be around in July--but that's when I'm coming 😀) and am working with Patty at Tufts to do the same. And I went to the writing center this week to tear through my PS. I'm in such a good place (in my mind anyway) for the admissions process, I'm psyched (and terrified, of course). Now I just need to find me an equine or LA vet and I'm a-okay!

I'll be around part of July. Let me know when you will be here. Blackat and GellaBella might be around as well depending on the date.

 

[NStarz]

Thanks SOV, sending you a PM.

 

[thaowey]

sorry for my cluelessness, but what exactly are these "file review" type of things where you go to the school?

do you ask to tour the campus and meet with admissions ppl and tell them your 411 and they give you feedback on how likely you are to getting admitted to their school?


oh and in regards to finallyyyyy starting to apply tomorrow...this is me: 😱

excited, nervous, but most of all, hopeful!!

 

[PreVetBeaver]

sorry for my cluelessness, but what exactly are these "file review" type of things where you go to the school?

do you ask to tour the campus and meet with admissions ppl and tell them your 411 and they give you feedback on how likely you are to getting admitted to their school?


oh and in regards to finallyyyyy starting to apply tomorrow...this is me: 😱

excited, nervous, but most of all, hopeful!!

A file review is meant for students that have been rejected from a school and want to know why. It isn't for students that haven't already applied. I hope this helps 🙂

 

[LetItSnow]

A file review is meant for students that have been rejected from a school and want to know why. It isn't for students that haven't already applied. I hope this helps 🙂

That's true, but there's no reason someone who hasn't applied can't ask to set up a meeting to get more info. I did, and it was useful. We talked about how the school evaluated candidates, what in my background was useful, what wasn't, what kind of experience would best help my application, how to explain the ugly stuff in my past, whether I should do the pre-reqs at the university or a community college, etc. You know - all those things people come to SDN asking about.

It was basically the same as a file review, except in advance.

 

[LittleWiz]

An hour and a half everyone!!

I'm doing well under the pressure, I'm getting some of my PS done!!

 

[LetItSnow]

An hour and a half everyone!!

And hour and a half what? What did I miss? Did another rapture come and go and I'm still here slogging along?

 

[LittleWiz]

And hour and a half what? What did I miss? Did another rapture come and go and I'm still here slogging along?

Lol yes, another rapture that is VMCAS opening is on its way. It opens at noon eastern time. I have butterflies that resemble first-date butterflies! haha man, I suppose I need to get out more!!

 

[LetItSnow]

Lol yes, another rapture that is VMCAS opening is on its way. It opens at noon eastern time. I have butterflies that resemble first-date butterflies! haha man, I suppose I need to get out more!!

Lol! You'll be fine. 🙂

Other than the silly way you have to put each class in individually and click a few dozen times per course just to get one in .... I enjoyed filling out my app. It gave me the sense that I was actually making progress. So I know what you mean. 🙂

 

[thaowey]

A file review is meant for students that have been rejected from a school and want to know why. It isn't for students that haven't already applied. I hope this helps 🙂

thanks! that does help clarify! :]

and bahahhaaaa,,,,already started vmcas. even though i wont get much "progress" anyways....still have to write my PS, finish summer classes, notify LORs, and get more hrs!

man...this whole excitement about vmcas starting today is screwing with my scheduling...instead of studying, i just want to do research on vet schools and get more info! hahahaa

 

[LittleWiz]

Two hours (!) later, and I've finished the 'previous coursework' section on VMCAS. I've had enough for one day, I think!!