Explanation statement, experiences and coursework

[KitCat]

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Just some last minute questions before submitting my application:
Explanation statement
1. Should I add any of these: low credit load due to finishing high school credits at the same time (for about 6 semesters), I feel that my GRE scores didn't drastically change due to not being able to spend over an hour or so on the computer without eyes bothering me badly and then getting a horrible migraine, C range in ONLY physics/chemistry lectures (have a history of ADD/depression so I don't know if this affected that or not)
Experiences
1. Can I add animal ownership for a hamster I've owned the past 9 months? I know it's only a hamster, but before owning him I knew nothing about them and have learned a lot. If so, how would I calculate hours?
2. Do we need to add weekly hours? Because other than where I worked I don't know any of the weekly hours for the places I volunteered, just total hours
3. If I have a record of how many dentals and cephalic blood draws I've done and how many surgeries I've observed/assisted on is that something that I should put in the descriptions on VMCAS? Or just leave out the numbers?
4. Should I mention that who I pet/house sat for was my bosses (veterinarian and his wife)? I feel like that's more impressive than pet/house sitting for "just anyone"
Coursework
1. If my university has a spring and summer semester, what do I put for summer semester, summer 1 or summer 2?

Thanks in advance!

 

[PetPony]

Why does it matter who you petsit for?

 

[wildcatj]

Just some last minute questions before submitting my application:
Explanation statement
1. Should I add any of these: low credit load due to finishing high school credits at the same time (for about 6 semesters), I feel that my GRE scores didn't drastically change due to not being able to spend over an hour or so on the computer without eyes bothering me badly and then getting a horrible migraine, C range in ONLY physics/chemistry lectures (have a history of ADD/depression so I don't know if this affected that or not)
Experiences

I would talk about the low credit high school thing.
GRE scores sounds like an excuse. If your scores totally suck and want to talk about that, fine. If it's just that they didn't improve I don't think I'd mention it.
Wouldn't mention the C's in physics/chem unless you can show that you've done something to improve.

1. Can I add animal ownership for a hamster I've owned the past 9 months? I know it's only a hamster, but before owning him I knew nothing about them and have learned a lot. If so, how would I calculate hours?

If you're going to put in animal ownership hours just put all pets together. Just list total number of hours and list the types of pets and duties you performed. Only count hours you're actually doing something for a pet. I'd imagine with a hamster you're talking maybe 5 min a day plus time for cage cleaning however often you do that.

2. Do we need to add weekly hours? Because other than where I worked I don't know any of the weekly hours for the places I volunteered, just total hours

I didn't always do weekly hours, especially if it varied a lot.

3. If I have a record of how many dentals and cephalic blood draws I've done and how many surgeries I've observed/assisted on is that something that I should put in the descriptions on VMCAS? Or just leave out the numbers?

Definitely wouldn't bother with numbers. Just list what you're proficient/have experience in. Highlight what procedures you've observed and call it a day.

4. Should I mention that who I pet/house sat for was my bosses (veterinarian and his wife)? I feel like that's more impressive than pet/house sitting for "just anyone"

You're still performing the same tasks, so no.

Coursework
1. If my university has a spring and summer semester, what do I put for summer semester, summer 1 or summer 2?

Thanks in advance!

I'd just list it as summer 1. Some universities (like mine) have two different sessions, so it really doesn't matter for you to pick one of the other, but summer 1 would make more sense to me.

 

[DVMDream]

Just some last minute questions before submitting my application:
Explanation statement
1. Should I add any of these: low credit load due to finishing high school credits at the same time (for about 6 semesters), I feel that my GRE scores didn't drastically change due to not being able to spend over an hour or so on the computer without eyes bothering me badly and then getting a horrible migraine, C range in ONLY physics/chemistry lectures (have a history of ADD/depression so I don't know if this affected that or not)
Experiences
1. Can I add animal ownership for a hamster I've owned the past 9 months? I know it's only a hamster, but before owning him I knew nothing about them and have learned a lot. If so, how would I calculate hours?
2. Do we need to add weekly hours? Because other than where I worked I don't know any of the weekly hours for the places I volunteered, just total hours
3. If I have a record of how many dentals and cephalic blood draws I've done and how many surgeries I've observed/assisted on is that something that I should put in the descriptions on VMCAS? Or just leave out the numbers?
4. Should I mention that who I pet/house sat for was my bosses (veterinarian and his wife)? I feel like that's more impressive than pet/house sitting for "just anyone"
Coursework
1. If my university has a spring and summer semester, what do I put for summer semester, summer 1 or summer 2?

Thanks in advance!

Explanation Statement:

1. If you feel these are weak parts on your application then explain them, but don't make them out to be excuses as to why you did poorly. If you feel that your ADD/depression maybe had an impact on your grades then maybe mention it, but also mention that you have since received help and are working on improving that area of your life. I wouldn't really focus on the other two: GRE or low course load, especially if you were still young/in high school when taking college courses. You don't want to draw too much attention to any weak parts in your application.

Experiences:

1. I didn't put in any animal ownership experiences at all whatsoever. I felt that to be unnecessary. If you really want to, sure, but I think it is a bit over the top considering that the majority of applicants have owned pets in their lifetime. I had hamsters for 2 and 1/2 years, it takes a minimal amount of time to care for them each day and I don't see the point in putting that in as an experience.

2. I can't remember if this was required or not. I think it may have been for the application to be complete. I just put in an estimate for how many hours I would have worked per week and then made mention elsewhere that I was a seasonal employee or that I volunteered x number of days/week for x hours/day.

3. I wouldn't put in the numbers. I honestly lost count of the number of those things I had done after the first couple weeks of being a tech. It is completely irrelevant, IMO.

4. If this was a one time job, then you could possibly put them in as a contact since I think animal experience asks for a contact name. Otherwise, pet sitting for a vet is really no different than pet sitting for anyone else.

Coursework:

1. I would ask VMCAS support. My school had a summer 1, summer 2, fall and spring semester. Actually, the CC I took a couple classes at had this same set up so I would either verify with your school or VMCAS.

 

[Minnerbelle]

One thing you don't want to on your apps is sound desperate by trying to make something more out of an experience than it is, and some of the things you listed I think would do just that.

If you're someone lacking a lot of animal experience, I think highlighting your hamster ownership might draw extra attention to it rather than give you any extra points. I also don't see much good out of listing how many times you've done cephalic draws. If you've done it hundreds of times, then I think adcoms will wonder why you felt the need to keep track... It might seem like your priorities are a little off. If you haven't done it too many times, then again, it draws attention to your lack of experience. By saying "I've done cephalic blood draws 42 times," it also highlights the fact that you don't know how to access other venipuncture sites. If you want to make yourself sound better, I think just saying venipuncture/phlebotomy would probably be in your best interest.

As for your dog walking gig, there's nothing wrong with listing your boss as your "supervisor" contact on your experience section, but I wouldn't make a big deal about it for the reasons stated above. If these dogs needed a ton of veterinary care while you were taking care of them, then definitely put that in your job description.

 

[bunnity]

If you put the computer screen thing my first thought as an adcom would be: how will you survive vet school where you stare at some screen or another for most of your waking hours?

 

[Packen]

Explanation
Basically what the others said - perhaps explaining the HS credit issue, but not the others. Although depending on your situation, you could mention the ADD and depression in your PS, perhaps as an "overcoming adversity" type thing.

Experience
I had a few adcoms tell me that they liked to see a variety of experience with different types of animals. I grouped all my small mammal experience (hamsters, rabbits, mice, rats, etc) into one. Also, for my weekly hours, I think I would add up my total hours and then just divide them by the number of weeks I was at a place.

 

[KitCat]

Thanks every one for all your help! It's really nice to get veterinary students and other pre-vet's opinions 🙂

 

[Abnerrs]

Ok, so as far as pet ownership this is something I have been wondering about.

Most of you know that three years ago my dog had to have back sx. She was fully paralyzed in her hind end and required a lot of care. I was thinking about including a VERY conservative number of hours for the time I spent on physical therapy and helping with acupuncture etc?

Thoughts?

 

[Abnerrs]

Ok, so as far as pet ownership this is something I have been wondering about.

Most of you know that three years ago my dog had to have back sx. She was fully paralyzed in her hind end and required a lot of care. I was thinking about including a VERY conservative number of hours for the time I spent on physical therapy and helping with acupuncture etc?

Thoughts?

I'm bumping this cuz I has a question!

 

[bbeventer]

Ok, so as far as pet ownership this is something I have been wondering about.

Most of you know that three years ago my dog had to have back sx. She was fully paralyzed in her hind end and required a lot of care. I was thinking about including a VERY conservative number of hours for the time I spent on physical therapy and helping with acupuncture etc?

Thoughts?

I believe VMCAS says it is okay to use pet ownership hours as long as you are the one preforming the work. So, why not? 👍

 

[Packen]

Ok, so as far as pet ownership this is something I have been wondering about.

Most of you know that three years ago my dog had to have back sx. She was fully paralyzed in her hind end and required a lot of care. I was thinking about including a VERY conservative number of hours for the time I spent on physical therapy and helping with acupuncture etc?

Thoughts?

I had one adcom that told me to put down all pet hours for pets that were strictly mine. Another that just recommended hours where I worked one-on-one (which I think you did here Abney). I trained and competed one of my dogs in agility and one in Schutzhund and tracking. That involved a ton of hours, especially on the training side, so I definitely put those down. I don't see how physical therapy is any different. So, short story long here, yes, do it 😀

 

[LetItSnow]

Most of you know that three years ago my dog had to have back sx. She was fully paralyzed in her hind end and required a lot of care. I was thinking about including a VERY conservative number of hours for the time I spent on physical therapy and helping with acupuncture etc?

I would.

Just some last minute questions before submitting my application:
Explanation statement
1. Should I add any of these: low credit load due to finishing high school credits at the same time (for about 6 semesters), I feel that my GRE scores didn't drastically change due to not being able to spend over an hour or so on the computer without eyes bothering me badly and then getting a horrible migraine, C range in ONLY physics/chemistry lectures (have a history of ADD/depression so I don't know if this affected that or not)

I wouldn't.

 

[Emiloo4]

I would.



I wouldn't.

Agree to both.👍