Depressed & discouraged - need advice

[pethuman]

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I've been reading these forums for a while as a lurker then actually signed up. I thought I could do this whole thing on my own. But it's been one round of app cycles and I was rejected from all schools I applied to. I really don't know what I'm doing and I get conflicting advice from everyone. My family is biased and they don't know the competitiveness of vet school and all I hear from coworkers and doctors is horror stories of people getting rejected with 3.6s and "she didn't get in because she got an A- in Organic Chem!"

The brutal truth is: my stats aren't good.

Cumulative GPA: 3.10
Last 45: 3.16
Prerequisites GPA 3.41

The problem is that I have gotten nothing less than As and Bs in every single class except for Chemistry!!

I have obviously been struggling in chemistry since the beginning and this is very evident on my transcript with at least two repeats to pass.

Inorganic chem 1: B
Inorganic chem 2: C+
Organic chem 1: D, C-
Organic chem 2: D+, B
Biochemistry: C+

I was sitting pretty at a 3.6 when these stupid chemistries happened. The repeats and low grades dragged my gpa all the way down to 3.1. (I even had tutoring for both organic chems).

Big problem 1: I found out I have a C- in Org 1, which means I didn't even pass the prereqs for most vet schools that say a C- is unacceptable!

So I could go back and raise up that C- to something better. I probably should because most grad schools probably wouldn't accept that.

I was told by a friend that a friend of hers went back to school and asked her advisor if she should retake some poor classes and the advisor told her "Your stats just aren't good enough, retaking one class wouldn't help."

That might be the case with me. In that case, should I just go for a masters in something else and attempt vet school in 2 years?

I hate this, because I am 26 years old and this is taking forever and I just want to start my career uggggh... 🙁

Please help me 🙁

 

[Alhazred]

You're from NC, right? You don't meet NCSU's last 45 GPA requirement. You might want to take more classes so that you can apply to your IS (or at least, apply to it not under alternative eligibility, which is incredibly hard to get).

 

[Bisbee]

I know it may be hard to realize, but 26 is not very old. Many people applying to vet school are in their 30's and beyond. Oftentimes it takes time and distance from a poor record to convince the admissions committees that you are changed from the student you were before. I would work on getting all your animal and veterinary experience (the more and the broader the better). You may want to take one chemistry course at a time while you're getting this experience and aim to get an A in every single one, do or die, like it's your top priority. Then, in a couple of years you will have tons of experience and some great grades (and you still won't even be in your 30's).

 

[NStarz]

Down the road, you may also want to look at schools with grade forgiveness programs (ones that will only look at your most recent retake grades in calculating GPAs rather than average both the old and new scores).

Keep your chin up!

 

[Bearby]

Don't give up just because you didn't get in on your first cycle. It is possible to get into veterinary school with your past chemistry grades. Heck, I FAILED a class and got into two schools this year. My GPA is not strong, in fact it's the worst part of my application. However, when I retook any classes that I didn't do well in, I worked my butt off to raise the grade by at least a letter and a half.

I will echo what Bisbee said: you are not too old to fix this

At the bare minimum, you need to get your Organic 1 grade up, because it's required by every school, and you're right a C- doesn't cut it.

Work on strengthening the other areas of your application as well. Experience, GRE, personal statement, AWESOME LOR writers.

Past that, do your research. Find out which schools look less at your GPA and more at the other parts of your application...those are the schools you want to apply to.

 

[awaring1]

My pre-req GPA was about a 3.0 and my GRE was only 1150 and I was accepted on my first try. If I can do it, anyone can! 🙂

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Does your school require the GRE? Also, is it possible to take your Ochem at a community college? Maybe a different setting and different professor will make things click. Unfortunately, that C- could be part of the problem in your application, it isn't considered passing by most standards... 🙁 and the cumulative between the D and the C- is a D+ which isn't passing... 🙁 Best of luck...

 

[skittles12]

How many schools did you apply to? Which ones?
You definitely need to retake Organic 1. I know how difficult it is--I barely scraped by with a C both semesters. Are there other biologic/animal science classes you can take at the same time? If you did well in those, they could help boost your GPA.

Also really work on getting diverse experiences if you can, and raising your GRE if needed. 26 is definitely not too old! I think if you work hard this year, you can definitely have a much better shot next year.

 

[GellaBella]

first off...how many schools did you apply to last year? Perhaps you applied to schools that do not take a lot of out of state applicants etc...tell us where you applied so we can help you potentially make a better list this year.

Second of all, I suggest you start contacting the schools you applied to and request an application review. Yes your chemistry grades may be the big red flag they saw...but maybe there was something else that was holding you back as well...you can get advice from them as to how you should go about remedying your situation (ie. do they think you need to retake orgo again - this will be a 'yes' for schools that have a C as the minimum grade allowed, and most likely you will need to get an A to show you can really handle the material, especially after seeing it three times)

maybe they will have other things they want you to work on: was your experience varied enough? was it long enough in length? are you certain you had outstanding letters of recommendation? how were your GRE scores - they will have to be high with a lower GPA. how many people read your personal statement? etc.

There is so much more to the application process than GPA.
My undergrad GPA was a 2.9 cumulative and approx 3.2 in the pre-reqs. now I'm not the normal applicant but I worked to make sure all those other areas were taken care of so that my low undergrad GPA wouldn't be a problem and there was no indication from any of my interviewers that they didn't think I could handle the workload, in fact I wasn't asked about my GPA at all.

I'll admit, I think you have an uphill battle since you've already taken Orgo twice now and didn't do well both times. But I don't think that will knock you out of the running completely. with some help and tweaking of the other aspects of your application packet as well as some strategic planning of places to apply to, I think you can eventually secure yourself a seat.

I would probably sit out the application cycle this year and work on fixing things that admission committees say they want to see in your app and go ahead and apply next year. You are still young, even though you don't feel like it. I promise.

 

[jmo1012]

Have you thought about Ross and/or SGU? They are known for taking applicants with "low" stats. The other thing you should do is talk to admissions at any schools you applied to and ask them what needs to change in order for them to consider you more competitive. Pre-Vet advisors just don't cut it in this field, you really need to go straight to the source. If you applied to VMRCVM, Dr. Pelzer is wonderful and extremely helpful.

 

[Dsmoody23]

What is the actual issue with these classes?

Before you spend too much time and effort retaking classes and trying to find an admissions loophole, it seems like it might help you to honestly answer that question.

Biochem, organic and inorganic chem are not 'once and done' subjects. You're going to be seeing this stuff for years to come in your work and classes.

If you can't effectively learn in these subjects, you need to understand why and address it before you move forward...

 

[Bearby]

What is the actual issue with these classes?

Before you spend too much time and effort retaking classes and trying to find an admissions loophole, it seems like it might help you to honestly answer that question.

Biochem, organic and inorganic chem are not 'once and done' subjects. You're going to be seeing this stuff for years to come in your work and classes.

If you can't effectively learn in these subjects, you need to understand why and address it before you move forward...

Biochem and gen chem...yes...
however, every vet I have ever worked with or spoken to has said that they never used organic after undergrad. You may be able to recognize certain structures because of organic but I don't forsee you having you be able to know the mechanisms unless you're going into a chemistry laboratory setting after vet school. Maybe I'm wrong, I hope not, Orgo sucks lol

 

[Dsmoody23]

Biochem and gen chem...yes...
however, every vet I have ever worked with or spoken to has said that they never used organic after undergrad. You may be able to recognize certain structures because of organic but I don't forsee you having you be able to know the mechanisms unless you're going into a chemistry laboratory setting after vet school. Maybe I'm wrong, I hope not, Orgo sucks lol

In that case, never mind.

The D's are totally acceptable.

 

[that redhead]

I think, as mentioned above, the very first thing to do is sit down and think about why you haven't succeeded in these chemistry-based courses. My chemistry grades went something like this: gen chem I: F, retake C, lab C. Orgo I: W, retake D, retake B, lab B. Orgo II: B, Gen chem II: B. In between Orgo I and II I had like, a life revelation that I was being a lazy, entitled-feeling idiot and that I needed to get my ass in gear. I made Bs in OCII, OCII lab and GCII. I did get a C in GCII lab, and I'm projecting a B for biochemistry this semester. There was a HUGE difference in my work ethic and attitude toward the courses. I worked my butt off for those last couple of Bs. It sounds as though you aren't really understanding how to study for these courses. Generally, it's problems, problems, problems, problems, problems until you're dreaming mechanisms.

I think it's crucial that you understand this first, before retaking again because you'll just be stuck in the same cycle. Plus, vet school is heavily science-based and unless you can figure it out, vet school won't be any better.

I think you also need to evaluate where you applied to - did you apply to places that looked at things other than cgpa? For example, I'm in for 2015 and my cgpa was 2.965, but I had to apply really intelligently and got lucky with AVC because they evaluate applications a bit differently than most state schools.

 

[nyanko]

.

 

[libster06]

In that case, never mind.

The D's are totally acceptable.

OP retook orgo II and got B. So clearly they know D's aren't acceptable.


And Organic is useless; of course, I'm just a first year, and spend all of my time learning in a classroom and being lectured 8 hours a day, so I may know nothing and could have no idea that those 4th years are breaking out their model kits in the clinic trying to figure out why an animal's liver values are elevated. However, if you find yourself using it in the future in veterinary medicine please start a thread and let us know in what capacity.

ETA: I'm not saying chemistry itself is useless; I think Organic is useless. Especially in-depth stuff like organic II.

 

[Bearby]

In that case, never mind.

The D's are totally acceptable.

No need to be snarky. I'm pretty sure in my first post I said that they needed to at least raise their grade in Orgo I. If I didn't, then shame on me.

 

[libster06]

You will have to understand the concepts in these classes to do well in physiology, pharmacology, etc. That's why they are prerequisites.

You have to do well in Organic to show that you have an ability to pass nearly-unpassable classes like Pharmacology.

 

[Dsmoody23]

The material may be functionally useless, as is about 90% of what we're all learning, in the long run.

But these subjects are still the fundamental building blocks of any scientific education. If you can't learn how to adapt to, and overcome, material that you find difficult... your life is only going to get more depressing and discouraging.

Not having an immediate, practical use for coursework is the rationale I used in 3rd grade, trying to debate my way out of doing my math homework. And it's an equally valid argument now.

 

[RadRadTerp]

You have to do well in Organic to show that you have an ability to pass nearly-unpassable classes like Pharmacology.

Also, depending on your school, other courses like Medical Biochem & Nutrition might be harder depending on how much Organic Chem you have to understand. My experience in my first year definitely shows that people with a poor understanding of chemistry often had the most difficulties with parts of Nutrition, Medical Biochemistry, and even parts of Physio I&II. However, like I said, your course leader may or may not care that much about the chemical basis of some of the processes. My undergrad major in Molecular Bio definitely came in handy a lot more than I thought I would since I have limited experience in Anatomy, and I thought that would have been my biggest issue.

 

[BuggerDoodle]

To the OP,

First off, don't get too depressed and discouraged. There are a lot of us that it took more than 1 application cycle to get in. As some others mentioned, if any of the schools you applied to offer a file review, take advantage of it. You've got 5 months to improve your application before you have to submit your applications for the next cycle if you choose to apply then which is plenty of time to make some improvements.

I would recommend retaking Organic I and then also see if you can do some upper level chemistry, such as Inorganic or something along those lines and do well in it to show the admin committee that you can handle higher level sciences.

A low GPA won't completely kill your application but you have to make other aspects of your application stand out to overcome it. Great LORS, unusual experiences, and a good personal statement go a long way to make your application stand out. I would also recommend applying to some schools that are more lenient towards lower GPAs, especially if you can get your last 45 up high since there are some schools that won't even look at your cummulative GPA. I applied with a 3.2 cumulative and was accepted to schools in the US so it can be done. Don't get too discouraged and keep working at making your application better and just remember, even though it seems like a ton of work now, it's worth it in the long run!

 

[CurrySpice]

Not having an immediate, practical use for coursework is the rationale I used in 3rd grade, trying to debate my way out of doing my math homework. And it's an equally valid argument now.

😍 Ain't that the truth!

Can we at least agree that there is no use for Physics II as a practicing veterinarian? Am I really ever going to need to calculate the motional emf of a loop moving through a magnetic field? Kill me now...

OP: I would recommend calling the schools where you were rejected and seeing what deficiencies they notice in your application. Your LOR may be poor if you're not a strong student academically. You have gotten some great advice on this thread about raising your grades, but you do need great animal/veterinary experience to succeed. Having the feedback of an ADCOM will only make this process easier.

You can do it!!! 👍

 

[bunnity]

I don't remember what is physics 1 versus physics 2 but for physiology you need to know a lot of pressure, tension, volume, electric potentials, flow...
cardiology is basically physics, renal is basically chemistry, respiratory is half physics half chemistry... this stuff doesn't go away so like someone said above, it is important to figure out what's giving you trouble and find a way to learn it - not so you can get into vet school but so you can succeed once you get there.

 

[Minnerbelle]

😍 Ain't that the truth!
Can we at least agree that there is no use for Physics II as a practicing veterinarian? Am I really ever going to need to calculate the motional emf of a loop moving through a magnetic field? Kill me now...

hmm... well i think it's very similar to the whole org chem thing (or actually almost all of pre-reqs).

if you're the type of person who really understood physics, then you would think of nerve conduction differently from someone who didn't. along the same lines, you would actually understand the circulatory system as a circuit! and just from your understanding of it, you would easily be able to evaluate what the systemic effect of capillary beds opening etc... without just rote memorizing what the powerpoints say. It makes radiology easier to understand. and the list goes on. you'd be surprised at how important physics is in physiology (i actually took an upper level medical physics course in undergrad, and it's helped me tremendously in vet school, much more so than comparative vertebrate anatomy and that says a lot).

sure, if you either never understood any of physics/chem or didn't retain any of it, you can totally get by vet school and be a great clinician. You don't have to really understand what surface tension is exactly to know that you need surfactants to breathe. But the number of facts you need to memorize goes way down in resp physio if you understood it in the first place. Or at least it makes it that much easier to memorize and make it stick to have a background to tie the new info to... rather than these things being facts #800 - 850 on your flashcard set (X makes Y go up. Z makes Y go down, etc...). Esp if you copied down something wrong in your notes or something, having that understanding will allow you to correct that rather than memorize it wrong! It happens all the time. So while I agree it's not necessary, it can really enhance your understanding of the material and make it MUCH easier to do well... at least on vet school exams.

Edit: lol, bunnity totally beat me to it!

 

[libster06]

Can we at least agree that there is no use for Physics II as a practicing veterinarian? Am I really ever going to need to calculate the motional emf of a loop moving through a magnetic field? Kill me now...

No, radiology is where that comes in. Not that I remember any physics, but that is where I found the relevance.

 

[tuwest2011]

Western University would actually take your higher grade for ORGO II . I know this for a fact because I spoke with Karen Lopez about repeat grades and such just a lil fact to throw out there

 

[sunnyshine]

Based on what you posted I think you may have some work to do before you would be admitted to vet school, but I still think that your getting in is a complete possibility. First, you will need to retake Organic 1 to meet the prerequisites of most schools. I would forget about retaking the other Chem courses because you already have over a 2.00 in all of them, even if O Chem II is averaged out. I would instead try to focus in on higher level chem courses like radioisotope techniques, advanced inorganic/organic chemistry, and etc. to prove to the vet schools that you can handle chemistry courses. You should also remember that GPA, although important, is only one facet of your application. Schools also look at your essays, GREs, completed degrees, credits completed, extracurricular activities, work experience (both in and outside of vet med), recommendations, and so on. If you can beef these other areas of your application then I think most schools would be less worried about the chem courses.

Also, I wouldn't be too upset about not getting in this year. The application process is very competitive and many applicants are not admitted on their first application cycle. I would also second all of those who have mentioned to you that 26 is not that old in the grand scheme of things. As a vet you could very well be working into your 60's or 70's.

I would also pay close attention to the schools that you are applying to. I recommend purchasing a copy of the VMSAR, which contains detailed information on all of the AVMA schools, including the average GPAs and GREs of the accepted classes for almost all of the schools. Class statistics very highly between different schools so it is important to match yourself with schools that tend to accept people who are more around your stats. Also, call every school you applied to for a file review.

I would also definitely reapply next year. My two reasons for this:

1. I feel that persistently applying, especially to the same schools, proves to them the sincerity of your interest to enter the profession.

2. If you don't apply then you will definitely not get in. But if you apply then at least you have a shot.

If you really push yourself and don't give up then I feel that you will be admitted eventually. Good luck!

 

[pethuman]

Wow, guys, thanks for the responses. I'm gonna have to read through a couple times to fully absorb all the advice.

Some info you asked for:

I applied to NCSU (it was clearly the last 45 that disqualified me there), to University of Missouri, UC Davis (longshot school) and University of Georgia (didn't take the GRE Biology subject test in time and disqualified for that one).

I admit I am definitely scrutinizing schools this time around and seeing which ones take only the most recent attempt of a class grade, as well as average stats. As well as being aware of additional junk they require (ie hoops to jump through).

Also, my GRE is not phenomenal. I was so nervous I had to keep taking bathroom breaks (LOL? >.<) I got 1130 and 3.5 writing.

I have a breadth of animal experience more so than depth. I have worked at small animal clinics as your standard assistant, a kennel tech, assistant in a graduate student's lab, volunteered with elementary schools to teach reptile safety with my herpetology club, completed a pre-veterinary internship at a zoo, and currently work as a sterile processing technician in a 24 hr specialty hospital that has really nurtured my interest in public health for the past year.

Here and there I have done sporadic volunteer things with the state fair livestock, rodeo horses, shelters, and large animal husbandry at beef ranches (I'm from Texas originally, now in NC).

I really appreciate the input and you're kindling a small flame of hope again. I wish I could tell you what is wrong with me and chemistry. Something in organic 2 clicked for me. I think it might be because it was more visual and you could see functional groups and how they changed in mechanisms. Now that I have a firmer grasp of mechanisms from Organic 2, I might do a lot better. I am still terrified, though! And terrified indeed of the prospect of having to take higher level chems...I'd rather take the hardest biology that is offered!

I did take some challenging courses like Endocrinology, Developmental Anatomy and Principles of Embryonic Development. Those were pretty dang challenging but I heard about some other classes like Neurobiology that might be hard too. I may not be the brightest bulb but I am stubborn enough to make it and I hope that counts for something.

I noticed none of you mentioned a master's, but since I would probably do something like public health which has less science classes I doubt it would help other than prove I can handle graduate-level curriculum. (Thoughts?)

 

[tuwest2011]

Well I did horrible in Chemistry 😱 I mean it was the worse part of my academic application..... Although I took upper divisions in order to somewhat mask that downfall of my application. Aslo I applied to 2 programs and I got into both....Please be realistic about which programs you may be accepted into call the school speak with staff it will work out and if you need more encouragement go to the stats post and find mine😀

 

[nyanko]

.

 

[moosenanny]

Frankly I don't know much about Mizzou

Mizzou's average GPA of accepted students tends to be about a 3.7, if I'm recalling correctly from last year when I applied. So yeah, same deal as Davis and UGA.

 

[LetItSnow]

Please help me 🙁

Three comments.

1. Don't give up hope. You've been rejected through one cycle, which puts you in the same boat as a bajillion other people. One of the first things I realized after volunteering at the UMN hospital for the last few years and talking to student after student is how many took 2+ years to get acceptance.

2. If schools you are applying to are requiring all the pre-reqs to be a C or better, and you've got a C-, then nothing else matters and you will *have* to take that class again and do better. They don't bend on their pre-requisite requirements. Before I applied, I met with the former director of admissions. Somewhere in the conversation we got to talking about the number of applicants versus number of seats and he noted "It's not as bad as it looks; you'd be amazed at how many people apply without meeting the pre-requisite requirements." Your GPA at that point doesn't matter if you don't even meet the pre-reqs.

3. You have one really big advantage already over last cycle: you've been through it once. Use that! Ask for a review from every school you got rejected from. Take what they say and make a specific plan to address the weaknesses. That's how I approached it, and I found that it a) made me a lot calmer about applying (I felt like I had a *plan*), and b) I was amazed at how much better my application was the second time around.

@Curryspice: Sure, you'll need all that magnetic physics knowledge.... Don't you want to know how an MRI works? 🙂 🙂 *ducks and runs*

 

[jmo1012]

in terms of getting a masters, remember that you will be required to complete the masters before matriculating into a vet program. the other thing to do would be figure out who you want to apply to and ask them if having a masters will help you in terms of GPA. VMRCVM told my roommate that unless she wanted a masters degree, she should take extra classes at community college to boost her gpa because they didnt factor masters classes into the gpa calculations. it only proved to them that you could handle tough coursework (but that wont matter if your gpa is below a required range)

 

[LetItSnow]

in terms of getting a masters, remember that you will be required to complete the masters before matriculating into a vet program

Do you have something that substantiates that claim? I find it pretty hard to believe. You can withdraw from a masters program just like any other.....

VMRCVM told my roommate that unless she wanted a masters degree, she should take extra classes at community college to boost her gpa because they didnt factor masters classes into the gpa calculations.

This, otoh, is a pretty compelling reason not to do it....

 

[jmo1012]

Do you have something that substantiates that claim? I find it pretty hard to believe. You can withdraw from a masters program just like any other.....

from VMRCVM's website (and i know i've read/heard it elsewhere): "For students currently enrolled in graduate school, a letter is requested from the applicant's advisor and department head stating that if accepted into veterinary college, the applicant will have made satisfactory arrangements for completion or release from the graduate program. Please send letters directly to the College of Veterinary Medicine's DVM Admissions Office - not VMCAS."

From everything I've heard (including what they told my roommate), if you sign up for a masters program, you'd better complete it because they want to a) see commitment and b) see that you can handle that type of program. In all of my experience with vmrcvm admissions over the last few years as an undergrad, they never once mentioned that you could withdraw from a higher degree program, only stressed that you need to finish it in order to be accepted.

 

[twelvetigers]

Starting a thesis based masters and then dropping it halfway through is a good way to burn bridges, as well. It doesnt look good to leave a PI high and dry.

 

[pethuman]

Thank you all! I've already applied back to my school where I graduated and I'll throw some summer classes in.

I realize now I didn't apply to the right places, I didn't even know what I was doing.

I've ordered a copy of the VMSAR and hopefully that will help me figure out what schools to target (ones that accept lower gpa).

I've also made friends with some vets that will have more recent and probably better insight on my character for LORs.

Thank you, I really was/am rock bottom and now I think I'm climbing my way out of my hole and trying to find the light again. You guys are inspirational.

 

[LetItSnow]

Starting a thesis based masters and then dropping it halfway through is a good way to burn bridges, as well. It doesnt look good to leave a PI high and dry.

Sure, no argument about that!

But I read that VMRCVM quote from jmo2012 as making it pretty clear that you CAN get into vet school midway through a masters program, so long as you can get them to sign off on it. Which is pretty different than what jmo2012 said the first time: "You will be required to complete the masters before matriculating into a vet program."

Personally, I don't think a masters program is going to help the OP much, but if it was something s/he really wanted to do, you *could* get out of it to get into vet school. Some masters programs are really just a couple years of post-grad classes - not research-based programs where you'd be bailing on a PI. I almost did one in my undergrad area of study ... it wouldn't have burned any bridges or ticked anyone off if I had started it and not finished.

Thank you, I really was/am rock bottom and now I think I'm climbing my way out of my hole and trying to find the light again. You guys are inspirational.

Having a plan almost always helps! Best of luck, pethuman.

 

[jmo1012]

But I read that VMRCVM quote from jmo2012 as making it pretty clear that you CAN get into vet school midway through a masters program, so long as you can get them to sign off on it. Which is pretty different than what jmo2012 said the first time: "You will be required to complete the masters before matriculating into a vet program."

I honestly think it's going to take more than just signing off to be considered for admissions even if it's what they say on the web site. Until I actually went back to see if they had it phrased on the website, the only thing i had ever heard from them was that it's not optional. You start a masters, you finish it first. I think the statement they provide should be taken as an extenuating cases only sort of thing. Could be wrong, but as competitive as admissions is these days, I just don't see them not seriously questioning someone who dropped out of a masters program even with approval (especially because they give no weight to the personal statement-they skim it for ability to write, so you wouldnt really get the chance to explain the drop to them well)

*so no, apparently it isn't actually required, but i'm willing to bet it is more serious than their statement leads us to believe

 

[twelvetigers]

...especially because they give no weight to the personal statement-they skim it for ability to write...

They what???

 

[Dsmoody23]

Things we have learned in this thread:

- Organic chemistry is academically useless.

- Instead of improving your grades, you should look for admissions loopholes

- Personal statements are your opportunity to let your grammar and vocabulary shine, because the content is not important. Write a story about unicorns.

 

[jmo1012]

i know. they told us this year that they dont really care about the personal statement so write it well, but don't spend much time on it if you weren't applying elsewhere as well.

in the supplemental, there's a checklist where you can pick your areas of interest in vet med

this whole convo about vmrcvm has really been more of a side note, but thinking about it now, it may not be a bad place for pethuman to apply to because they are substantially increasing their OOS class size for next year and supposedly even more after that.

 

[that redhead]

this whole convo about vmrcvm has really been more of a side note, but thinking about it now, it may not be a bad place for pethuman to apply to because they are substantially increasing their OOS class size for next year and supposedly even more after that.

Honestly, VMRCVM is not a place I would recommend to someone with weak numbers, even with the increase in OOS seats.

 

[lostbunny]

Hey,

I'm not that familiar with American schools, but in my experience with other schools they look at more then just grades. If you have As and Bs in everything, thats great- but rather then trying to go back and get As and Bs in things you suck at (we all suck at something 😀 I was so proud of my D+ in Molecular genetics.... I was expecting to fail or just pass, but NO i got a "+"!! I EARNED that "+"! lol) try and work on other aspects of your application.

I'm applying for the 2nd time as well, and since I'm still eligible for vet school, I figure I might as well go for it rather then go back to undergrad, hate it and end up with something like a B- or C+. I was looking at my old PSs and man- do they SUCK!! They are so horrible and crap that I'm embarrassed that someone even read it- I'm sure they must have died laughing or cried because it was so horrible lol.

I'm 25 if its any consolation, and so I think right now you need to take a small break for a pitty party, then start looking at your application and where you're missing. Forget your marks for now, just look at your experience, your personal statement and your references. What can you improve on there?

After I was rejected I decided to pick up and go to Australia to work as a research assistant and go backpacking. I've been here for 10 months and I'm involved with wildlife (koalas <3 !!), horses, etc. So unless the schools you are applying have a definite cut off, then who cares about your C's and D's right now. If you're still in the running then go for it. Remember your advantage of being 26, you've got work experience, life experience...use that to your advantage

ETA: haha sorry- i totally wrote a post before reading. Congrats on applying again lol. Best of luck!

 

[jmo1012]

Things we have learned in this thread:

- Personal statements are your opportunity to let your grammar and vocabulary shine, because the content is not important. Write a story about unicorns.

Haha not trying to say the PS isn't important because it definitely is, but VMRCVM admissions told us they don't care about it. Thought that was worth mentioning. (though it would be fun to see what they had to say if you submitted something about unicorns in the application review)

I personally wrote, edited, and re-wrote that essay probably 6 times myself not including everything from my editors. The other schools I applied to definitely did care about the PS.

 

[bunnity]

Hey,

I'm not that familiar with American schools, but in my experience with other schools they look at more then just grades. If you have As and Bs in everything, thats great- but rather then trying to go back and get As and Bs in things you suck at (we all suck at something 😀 I was so proud of my D+ in Molecular genetics.... I was expecting to fail or just pass, but NO i got a "+"!! I EARNED that "+"! lol) try and work on other aspects of your application.

I'm applying for the 2nd time as well, and since I'm still eligible for vet school, I figure I might as well go for it rather then go back to undergrad, hate it and end up with something like a B- or C+. I was looking at my old PSs and man- do they SUCK!! They are so horrible and crap that I'm embarrassed that someone even read it- I'm sure they must have died laughing or cried because it was so horrible lol.

I'm 25 if its any consolation, and so I think right now you need to take a small break for a pitty party, then start looking at your application and where you're missing. Forget your marks for now, just look at your experience, your personal statement and your references. What can you improve on there?

After I was rejected I decided to pick up and go to Australia to work as a research assistant and go backpacking. I've been here for 10 months and I'm involved with wildlife (koalas <3 !!), horses, etc. So unless the schools you are applying have a definite cut off, then who cares about your C's and D's right now. If you're still in the running then go for it. Remember your advantage of being 26, you've got work experience, life experience...use that to your advantage

ETA: haha sorry- i totally wrote a post before reading. Congrats on applying again lol. Best of luck!

Pretty sure all US vet schools require a C (not C-) for prerequisite classes.

 

[jmo1012]

not quite all but almost. VMRCVM is the only one I looked at that didnt require C or better (C- for them)

 

[Chinola]

I just wanted to throw a comment in about leaving Master's programs for vet school. I started a non-thesis Master of Public Health program fall 2010. I took classes in the fall and spring. Having started the Master's program actually helped me, not hurt me. At all 4 of my interviews I discussed my interest in public health and how I am enrolled in a MPH program now. They were all very excited that I could transfer in to their dual degree program (except for Minnesota - they wouldn't let me transfer any credits. However, they were excited about my interest and experience in a MPH program.)

I don't know if being enrolled in a MPH program helped me to get an interview. However, being in the program definitely helped me in my interviews.

And no one required me to get a letter releasing me from the program. A handful of schools may require it but at least in my experience the head of my program definitely would have written it.

 

[libster06]

- Personal statements are your opportunity to let your grammar and vocabulary shine, because the content is not important. Write a story about unicorns.

"All right, let me ask you this, tell me if you think this is creative. When I was five, I imagined that there was such a thing as a unicorn. And this is before I had even heard of one, or seen one. I just drew a picture of a horse that could fly over rainbows, and had a huge spike in its head. And I was five, five years old. Couldn't even talk yet."

 

[LetItSnow]

"All right, let me ask you this, tell me if you think this is creative. When I was five, I imagined that there was such a thing as a unicorn. And this is before I had even heard of one, or seen one. I just drew a picture of a horse that could fly over rainbows, and had a huge spike in its head. And I was five, five years old. Couldn't even talk yet."

And you got into vet school with that personal statement. I worship the ground you walk on.....