Experience After Applying

[jtom]

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I just had a thought. Do vet schools start going through applications right away after the october deadline or do they wait? I know several vet schools will say that the GRE is due in november and I have seen some of them say you can submit it sometime in january. I was just thinking that if they looked at your apps well after and you were working during and after the application deadline, could you send them an adendum in the spring saying that "now I have X many hours in a vets office?"

 

[CurrySpice]

I'm hoping so! I have an internship lined up next fall, and will get a few hundred hours doing that... which would make me WAY more competitive.

 

[jtom]

Yea me too! Theres a chance I will get a full time job in a vets office very soon and I would love to be able to add a few more months of work on my file.

 

[nyanko]

The answer to this, as for so many other questions, is that it depends on the school. CSU this past year had all decisions back by December. On the other hand some schools don't really start reviewing until later. So search the forum for keywords like "updates" to find out which schools want them and which don't historically, and ask the schools later on. No point in worrying about this now.

 

[August24]

I sent an addendum because I had so much more experience in a humane society, large animal experience, and in research, as well as I sent a letter from a prereq I was at that time retaking and getting an A in, and I had won something in an academic competition.

I asked my supervisor I'm very close with if it was a good idea (she works closely with admissions at my scool), and she said that it was because if they couldn't accept it, it wouldn't hurt me and would just get tossed, but if the did see it it would help me. I think it i good to keep your file in the front and your name in their minds.

Also, I just want to say that submitting the VMCAS early is great, but be aware that if you submit it in August and you just got a job at a clinic or whatever a month ago, you could gain hundreds of hours between then and the deadline, and it might not be counted. And, those hours could have made the difference between you and the person ahead of you.

 

[nitheninny]

I'm hoping so! I have an internship lined up next fall, and will get a few hundred hours doing that... which would make me WAY more competitive.

Put it on your application now, if it's a sure thing. I had an undergrad research position starting right when I was applying. It probably started a few days before I hit submit, but I guesstimated on hours. It never came up as a problem.

 

[nyanko]

Put it on your application now, if it's a sure thing. I had an undergrad research position starting right when I was applying. It probably started a few days before I hit submit, but I guesstimated on hours. It never came up as a problem.

Careful because if I recall correctly there ARE schools that say not to do this. The VMCAS instructions also say not to.

Be sure to list both average weekly hours and total hours for each experience. The total hours should reflect completed hours (total hours to date), and should not include future hours. You are allowed 480 characters in the Description of Duties window. If you need additional space, use the Explanation Sheet.

Nothing in life (but death) is a sure thing.

 

[moosenanny]

Yeah, VMCAS specifically said not to predict future hours. I had two jobs (RA and TA) starting in the fall, so I waited until I had a few hours in each before submitting my app (about three weeks before the deadline, although I was technically done with it over two months prior). In the description I indicated that the jobs would be year-long and semester-long, respectively, so I let them assume I'd have tons of hours by the end.

For the OP, even if you don't get to send in any updates, in interviews they will most likely ask you what you've done since the time of application (Davis basically opens with this one). Or, if they don't ask that question specifically, they often do ask if there's anything else you wish you had talked about, and you can fit that info in then. Ad coms will be impressed that you earned further vet med experience hours even after the app was due, showing true commitment 🙂

 

[nitheninny]

Careful because if I recall correctly there ARE schools that say not to do this. The VMCAS instructions also say not to..

😱

I take it back, then. I have NO IDEA how I missed that, given I read everything like a dozen times. I got lucky, I guess.

 

[nyanko]

I take it back, then. I have NO IDEA how I missed that, given I read everything like a dozen times. I got lucky, I guess.

Obviously you were well good enough regardless. 👍

I imagine it would only really be a problem if your app ends up on the desk of someone who is pretty nitpicky, but then, you have no control over that and sometimes they have to look for nitpicky reasons to eliminate people (so many qualified applicants!) and I would hate to see someone get tanked for that reason. 🙂

 

[StartingoverVet]

, even if you don't get to send in any updates, in interviews they will most likely ask you what you've done since the time of application (Davis basically opens with this one).

I second that one. And wish I knew that would be the opening question because my answer was basically, not much new. In hindsight, would have been nice to have something new to add. Still got in though..

 

[OnceBitten]

As mentioned above, even if you apply to schools that will not look at updates, your new experiences are something that will come in handy as a topic for interviews. If they don't ask about what you've been up to, you can mention it at the end of your interview when they ask if you have any questions or comments. Some schools also send out updates for you to fill out on supplemental applications, as well. Wisconsin comes to mind for that.

 

[libster06]

^^ I second that... unless you have ZERO experience other than this upcoming job you should be fine, and then you'll have a whole slew of experiences to bring up in the interview.