I got a file review at Illinois today (my in-state). I didn't get to the interview round which left me kinda bummed. They start off telling you about the strong points of your application to make you feel better. lol Every little bit helps!
Good things about my app:
1) top 100 academically
2) higher than average GRE scores
3) personal statement and supplemental essays were well written
4) good small animal, exotics, and food animal experience
Bad things about my app:
1) didn't explicitly say after I talked about my experiences in my personal statement that I wanted to be a vet (I said it earlier in the essay though)
2) didn't have any equine vet experience (oops!)
3) only had one letter of rec from a vet (double oops!)
4) didn't shadow enough at each office and then said they don't really count hours, which left me a little confused
5) just didn't get the sense that I really "wanted to be a vet"
I'm waitlisted at K-State and I'm thinking about getting a file review there as well (I'm a glutton for punishment
), but I'm pretty sure they'll just tell me my interview skills were sub-par...I was so nervous!