Dear 2nd time successful applicants...

[Riotgrl91]

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It looks like I'm not getting in anywhere this year. Looking to see what you did to improve your application. The reviews I've had already said it was about my grades (lower end of competitive), but I'm looking to see what others did.

Thanks!

 

[prevetkid]

Do you mind posting your stats (like in the Succesful Applicant page where you applied, grades, hours, etc.)

 

[CoffeeQuestionMark]

I am successful third time applicant. The packet review is really what you want to go by as everyone is different. Personally improved by diversifying my experiences. I had probably to full quarters necessary to get rid of my weak quarter in my last 45 so wasn't interested in that. Also my GRE scores have always been good so had no reason to retake it

 

[honeybeez93]

Hey! So I was accepted into my instate with a poor GRE score and a 3.4 GPA. I had to go to grad school, but I feel it's made me a more mature student and ready for the rigor of veterinary school. So depending on what your schools tell you, maybe grad school might be a good option! Several schools offer non thesis programs that can take a year to finish (what I'm currently doing)

Don't give up!!!

 

[supershorty]

I was a successful second-time applicant. Things that helped: doing file reviews with the schools I planned to reapply to (and taking their suggestions) and applying smarter the next time around.

I had a very average cumulative GPA and science GPA, but had a very high last 45 credits, experience hours, and research hours by the time I applied again. Applying smarter based on my strengths and weaknesses helped a lot.

 

[ERDVM2023]

I was a successful second-time applicant as well. I did the file reviews but the ones I received weren’t very specific to my application and were very general just saying things like “these are the reasons people are typically not accepted, find which ones apply to you”. So what I did was look at those and find out what applied to me and I also personally critiqued my application and compared it to people on the successful stats page.
When I applied the first time, my GPA was high average and my GRE scores were very competitive, so I focused on my experiences. At the time I only had about 500 hours from being a shelter surgery tech and working at an emergency vet. So I kept my grades up and raised my GPA a little and I continued working at the emergency hospital to get more hours as well as took on a second job working at a dairy farm. I also started doing research and I got 3 leadership positions my senior year to show I could juggle multiple demanding responsibilities. After I graduated, I moved to establish residency in a state that I believed I had a higher chance of getting into the vet school than my old in state school. In the new state I started working for a general practice vet as well as a new emergency hospital and started volunteering at a turtle rehab facility.
So overall I just worked hard to increase my vet experience hours and the diversity of them. When it was time to reapply, I reworded every experience I listed to make it sound more valuable than I had described it previously.

 

[MSUcvmHOPE]

Successful third time applicant here.
I think it really depends on where you are trying to get in. Also did you make it to interviews or just get rejections/interview waitlisted?

I really got the most out of my file review after my second attempt (let's pretend my first didn't happen, lol) so I would highly recommend that route the most. I had looked at my app and figured I could either try to improve my grades more, look for more research experience (I had 30hrs of assisting), or take the time to Shadow in the specially I was interested in more. Since the school I was most interested in getting into valued unique experiences the most and I had already met the minimum grades needed to get a file review, they advised only working on shadowing the specialist more. This and writing better essays and tweaking my experiences are the only things I did differently.
So if possible find out what the school you are applying to values most and work towards that. Or if you got an interview then work on your interview skills more.
Also if you think it's just grades, look into applying to other schools that may value other aspects of you application instead of weighing your grades so highly.

 

[VetPathLife]

I was a successful second time applicant also.
This time, I applied only to my in-state contract schools and two oos schools (one I applied to last cycle, one new). I just took the advice given by the different admissions' offices at the end of last cycle; I increased my GRE to over 300, I got more human volunteer hours, continued getting more hands-on vet experience hours, and had 3 letters of recommendation by veterinarians VS the 1 I had last cycle.

Honestly, one of the downfalls I was told was that I went to a small, liberal arts college and those are typically perceived as "easier" courses. I branched out and took a summer course online with Purdue University since it's a more well-known school. Not sure if that actually had anything to do with my acceptance this year, but I feel it didn't hurt (and I needed that course for two schools I applied to anyway xD)

If grades are your main worry, pick up some summer courses or online courses, if you're able to.
If you didn't have many human/community volunteer hours like at a nursing home, shelters, town functions, etc, definitely pick up some to add ot your application. Last cycle, I honestly did not think it was a huge deal to put that on my application but one school was really looking for those community service activities and that's the school that I got accepted into this cycle; so I think it definitely made a difference. 🙂

 

[Vet2022-20224]

Successful second time applicant..

I applied with the same GRE score ( could not increase it at a third re-take) 157 V 149 Q and with average low GPA 3.6 overall and 3.4 science/last 45. I only applied to my IS the first time, so in my second cycle I applied out of state and really focused on schools that had statistics that fit my academic stats better by using AAVMC | Admitted Student Statistics. (These are my tips, considering I did not want to spend more $ on more classes or another degree and felt slightly confident since I was three spots away from my getting in my competitive in state school...could have not worked out for me though so take this idea (of not increasing GRE or GPA) lightly)

Weirdly enough, I decided to add a school last minute that was close to my state and thats where I have gotten in so far (waitlisted at another). Strangely, when I went to their "values" they were almost exactly what I had based my essays on for those two schools. So finding schools that are the "right fit" for you might also be valuable (not that I did, but should have and it is an interesting find..for me at least😵). I continued increasing my vet hours at two different hospitals (small animal emergency, and equine surgery hospital) while working full time with a research vet (the area I most enjoy of vet med) so that could've definitely made an impression too.

So, to summarize..
1.Apply smart
2.Show your values and strengths in your essays and find schools that match those as you go through trimming a list of potential schools
3. Continue gathering experience to add to your variability and/or on what truly makes you passionate about vet med.

Goodluck!🙂

 

[Riotgrl91]

I was a successful second-time applicant. Things that helped: doing file reviews with the schools I planned to reapply to (and taking their suggestions) and applying smarter the next time around.

I had a very average cumulative GPA and science GPA, but had a very high last 45 credits, experience hours, and research hours by the time I applied again. Applying smarter based on my strengths and weaknesses helped a lot.

Hi, @supershorty and @Vet2022-20224 ;; I know its been a while since I responded, but I was wondering if you could give me some insight on applying smarter. Either here, or by message! Thanks!

 

[supershorty]

Hi, @supershorty and @Vet2022-20224 ;; I know its been a while since I responded, but I was wondering if you could give me some insight on applying smarter. Either here, or by message! Thanks!

I would start by posting your stats on the what are my chances forum - you can get good advice about what schools to apply to based on your individual strengths and weaknesses. For example, my cumGPA was very average, but my last 45 and science gpa were quite good, so it made the most sense for me to apply to schools that weight last 45 more.