Dropped 2 bad years?

[mpang]

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Hi all, I just heard back from Heather of WCVM and she informed me that my overall GPA is 74.9%, as you know, the minimum requirement is 75% so I am screwed. The reason for my low GPA is due to my previous degree (graduated 8 years ago) which I got very very very low grades, I went back to school to get all l of my pre-req (last 2 years) and got very good result, Heather told me that the admission committee may consider to drop 2 bad years if they see continual improvement in recent years and also the fact that all of my pre-req are done in the last 2 years. Does anybody know anything about this? Should I even apply? I feel really discouraged about the situation, I felt like my past is dictating my future!

Thanks!

 

[RackingHorse]

If it were me, I would consider taking some upper level science courses this coming semester in order to raise my gpa. This would also show that you are able to handle high level science classes like you would be taking in vet school. Some courses you might look into taking are comparative anatomy, physiology, and what ever other upper division courses you can think of that might be relevant to vet school. If your undergrad has an animal science program you might also consider taking some classes in that department like reproductive physiology and nutrition.

 

[LetItSnow]

I feel really discouraged about the situation, I felt like my past is dictating my future!

And? It is your past, after all.

 

[mpang]

yes, I know it's my past! What I meant is what I have done in my youth is kinda hindering me moving forward! Even though I worked really hard in the last couple of years to improve!

 

[mpang]

Hi RackingHorse, thanks for the reply. I will be taking the upcoming school off because I need to establish my residency in the province that I am residing in.


The undergrad degree that I am working toward is animal science and have taken animal reproduction and physiology classes. And I absolutely agreed with your suggestion and will continue on that route, right now, I am kinda wondering whether I should apply in the upcoming cycle, the admission committee might consider to drop 2 bad years since my GPA did improve from 65% to 95% in the last 2 years.

Does anybody has any experience/knowledge in this issue? I know some people who also done poorly in their first degree and worked years to up their GPA (also never got an interview).

 

[LetItSnow]

yes, I know it's my past! What I meant is what I have done in my youth is kinda hindering me moving forward! Even though I worked really hard in the last couple of years to improve!

I feel yer pain. I failed out of college. It took a while to make up for it. 🙂

 

[shortnsweet]

Two more years and your old grades would expire, no? Isn't there a 10 year rule?

And that sucks--I commend you for trying to turn your life around, but you have to accept that your past for the most part does dictate your future, especially in medicine. Frustrating I know, but they need to know you can handle the curricula.

I agree with Rackinghorse though...I wouldn't take the year off to just establish residency. Take some classes. You don't need to get a degree, just get your science GPA up. Do you have a lot of veterinary hours as well? Sometimes vet experience can help pull your app up.

 

[mpang]

Thanks again for all the replies. Initially, I thought there's a 10 years rule, but apparently not (otherwise Heather wouldn't have asked me for my first year GPA which is 13 years ago). As for taking a year off, I have no choice in the matter because the admission manual stated one must live in the province for 12 consecutive months without attending any schooling, I would love to continue my study as I am fairly close to obtaining my second degree.

So I guess no one here have applied to WCVM and been given an exemption?

 

[Escalla]

Which province are you trying to gain residency in? There have been discussions that BC and AB have the most applications to WCVM and are therefore more competitive (although AB has UCVM which lessens that somewhat).

Also, I came from a similar situation as you. I didn't do very well at all the first two years of university, but I transferred to a different university, figured out what was going wrong and aced the following 4 years. That's what you need to do -- register in some upper level science classes and rock them. WCVM will acknowledge your improvement, you're just not there yet. You have to meet their minimum to be looked at seriously, and if your GPA is 74.9% than it wouldn't take much to raise it to that point. They granted me an interview and now I'm waitlisted (I also got an interview at UCVM and accepted to Kansas State), so it is possible to come back from mistakes early on. You just have to keep working towards proving to them that it was a blip and you know what you're doing. 🙂

 

[mpang]

I am establishing my residency in MB, it took me 5 years to finish my engineering degree and got very low GPA (~65%), I went back to school 2 years ago and aced every single courses (~95%). All my pre-reqs are done in the last 2 years with good grades, I will go back to take more higher level courses next year after I established my residency here, I guess I was just wondering if anyone knows of the dropping 2 bad years situation. I know if I take another full year undergrad I will definitely meet the minimum requirement, I was just hoping I don't need to spend any more $$ and time in undergrad.

Do they look at GPA after you have been selected for interview? Like accepted based on solely one's performance at the interview?

 

[Escalla]

Yes, GPA does play a role even after the interview. I believe your GPA/application/etc. is worth about 60% and your interview around 30%. The GPA is broken down as well -- 2/3 is looking at your cumulative and 1/3 your best year.

I don't think there's much they can do when you're JUST below the requirement, so I think Heather was referring to the ad com's ability to disregard your previous years if you have shown marked improvement since then (which you have!) and have met the minimum GPA required to apply. Experience plays a big role in the interview, so try and gain as much as you can in the next year to ace that and you should stand a good chance.

 

[mpang]

I think she's telling me to apply even though it is 0.1% below requirement as the admission committee might decide to dismiss 2 years of my previous study....

 

[Escalla]

Oh, sorry -- I thought you got that as feedback from this year's application. This will be your first time applying then? Well good luck!

 

[LeilaFay]

If you haven't applied as a MB resident yet, I say do it!

It will give you feedback on where you stand in that province.

 

[LeilaFay]

I had a lower GPA in my first degree as well, and went back to school. It took three years to balance out my GPA, but I did it, so can you!

 

[mpang]

Yeah, I had high hope (before i know they looked at my previous study as well), I guess I will apply just to see what they say (with the expectation of not getting an interview at all). Then take yet another year of undergrad next year....

I had some good experience and currently working at university with the ruminant unit, before all these I was a senior computer engineer, we'll see, I am mentally discouraged (for now)....

 

[LeilaFay]

I am establishing my residency in MB, it took me 5 years to finish my engineering degree and got very low GPA (~65%), I went back to school 2 years ago and aced every single courses (~95%). All my pre-reqs are done in the last 2 years with good grades, I will go back to take more higher level courses next year after I established my residency here, I guess I was just wondering if anyone knows of the dropping 2 bad years situation. I know if I take another full year undergrad I will definitely meet the minimum requirement, I was just hoping I don't need to spend any more $$ and time in undergrad.

Do they look at GPA after you have been selected for interview? Like accepted based on solely one's performance at the interview?

Your GPA dictates whether you get an interview or not. One year you may make that cut off, another you might not, depending on who is in the applicant pool.

The ten year expire applies at UCVM.

 

[mpang]

It wouldn't as bad if I don't need to take that year off to establish my residency....feel like time is just going down the drain

 

[LeilaFay]

It's natural to feel discouraged. I certainly had those moments in the past 7 years 😉

I will say this again... What is another year of UG, for the rest of your life?

 

[thenuttyclub]

It's natural to feel discouraged. I certainly had those moments in the past 7 years 😉

I will say this again... What is another year of UG, for the rest of your life?

Agreed. However, I'll post something encouraging for you; I know a girl who was applying from AB and her UGPA after 2 degrees was low. Corresponding with Heather, she had something like a 73ish%... BUT when she moved to SK this year she interviewed, and had not gone back to school. So they must have dropped her worst 2 years or she wouldn't have made the cut-off. Also, she got in. I know applicant pool is similar in MB, so it's definitely worth applying anyway, because they will do some mathematical gymnastics to get you an interview if it's possible.

Best of luck to you!!

 

[LdT]

I'm pretty much in the same boat with a low GPA from ~15yrs back and a much better GPA redoing the pre-reqs right now. And I'm also stuck just below 75%... so, hearing that they might drop the my bad years makes me very happy! Thanks for the good news 😀
Yes, the 10yr rule applies at UCVM 😡