Entered to Vet school but...

[dfc-ret12]

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Im so happy that despite my trash performance in college I finally got in into vet school!! I think i want to do a residency after graduation but i'm still not sure which area. Right now Im kind of interested in soft tissue surgery, dentistry ,or exotics, but i'm still open to explore other areas. However, to my unpleasant surprise apparently some residencies like surgery do at least require a very high GPA. Some posts mention that a 3.7 is considered borderline at some of residencies with most reputation. I though at first that to get a residency what matter the most was vet experience, internships and LORs. Even though I finished college with a poor performance I still try my hardest do well however I got burnout due to barely having a social life, being isolated, poor organization, poor study skills, and no hobbies. I know vet school its extremely hard and grinding than undergrad, but I was planning to just put the effort to pass the class and move on, and also try to have a better social life. So basically im kind of worried that if I'm going to do well enough in vet school and at the same time also have a better life than undergrad, even though this would be much more difficult. Im starting vet school in 6 months. Any recommendations on how to start or approach vet school? How to better fit in?

 

[JaynaAli]

You don’t really ask any questions for us to answer, but your statements are all pretty much correct. Cs get degrees and as long as you pass classes then pass the NAVLE, then you’ll be a vet. But also, yes, advanced training positions are competitive and GPA in vet school does matter in those decision. LORs and experiences are probably most important, but GPA is also really important and it’s how many of the most competitive programs make initial cuts. Other programs may give GPA less weight but it still matters at least to some degree. My recommendation for any early student it’s to just do the best you can. Having a lower GPA doesn’t mean you absolutely can’t specialize…it might make it much harder and it’s possible it never works out, but early on, just do the best you can, whatever that looks like. Then make decisions later on. You don’t even know if or what you’d like to specialize in, so why borrow worry. Maybe you’ll love GP stuff and it won’t matter anyway.

But also, residency is even more busy and stressful than UG/vet school because you’re essentially working at least two full time jobs PLUS having to do a ton of learning and self-study outside of those hours to prep for boards. I’m not saying someone who got burned out in undergrad or vet school can’t be successful in residency by any means, but I would caution someone who truly struggled in those phases that they should really consider whether residency or right for them or setting them up for even worse burnout.

 

[Drjc1977]

Im so happy that despite my trash performance in college I finally got in into vet school!! I think i want to do a residency after graduation but i'm still not sure which area. Right now Im kind of interested in soft tissue surgery, dentistry ,or exotics, but i'm still open to explore other areas. However, to my unpleasant surprise apparently some residencies like surgery do at least require a very high GPA. Some posts mention that a 3.7 is considered borderline at some of residencies with most reputation. I though at first that to get a residency what matter the most was vet experience, internships and LORs. Even though I finished college with a poor performance I still try my hardest do well however I got burnout due to barely having a social life, being isolated, poor organization, poor study skills, and no hobbies. I barely was invited to anhy social gathering which is something now I wish I had more. I know vet school its extremely hard and grinding than undergrad, but I was planning to just put the effort to pass the class and move on, and also try to have a better social life. Now, I'm very nervous don't know what to do. Im interested to specialize, but also I dont want to be again in a state as I was in college since most of it I felt miserable. I just don't want to make my career of self-sabotaging myself.

I am not quite sure what you are asking about so I will just make a few comments that hopefully will be of value to you. First of all, veterinary medical school is a multispecies medical curriculum. Or in other words, you are in the big leagues of a collegiate education. If your undergrad performance was less than stellar, I would suggest you put forth your best-on-steroid effort to be successful. Be disciplined, develop good study habits and do not get behind. If a professor says it, it is fair game for it will be on an examination. As everyone reading this will agree, we have been trained since the first grade to pass the test. However at this level of a collegiate education you need to understand the material as well as pass the examination. Future courses will build on prior courses for any examination question. As an example, my professor in cardiology asked the class on an examination to diagram the major vessels of the heart. Such was never covered in class; but it was 2 years earlier in anatomy. I appreciate your career aspirations but I think you may be putting the cart before the horse. There is a real good chance as you are exposed to more as well as learning more, your interests will vary. If you having any anxiety or social issues, do the best you can to get them under control; if that requires some form of counseling, do it. I congratulate you on your acceptance to veterinary school and wish you the best in your chosen profession.