Getting a Jumpstart on App. Process

[cavygirl]

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i know you're all busy waiting for interviews & acceptance letters, but i have a few questions if you don't mind...something to occupy your anxious minds...

i'm planning on applying to vet school for the first time this coming fall and was wondering how you all handled asking for letters of reccomendation. i have a number of work & volunteer experiences dating back a few years, and am unsure how to approach letter writers & what specifically to ask for. i don't want to say "hey...um, remember me?...could you say some nice things about me?". obviously, i'll be more memorable to some than to others but i'm thinking particularly about a theraputic riding program which involved many volunteers and which was a couple of years ago. also, if you haven't developed close relationships with any professors (i'm trying...) what's the policy? ask the profs whose classes you scored well in? ask around broadly?

also, what resources did y'all find most helpful for studying for the gre?

 

[ri23]

i know you're all busy waiting for interviews & acceptance letters, but i have a few questions if you don't mind...something to occupy your anxious minds...

i'm planning on applying to vet school for the first time this coming fall and was wondering how you all handled asking for letters of reccomendation. i have a number of work & volunteer experiences dating back a few years, and am unsure how to approach letter writers & what specifically to ask for. i don't want to say "hey...um, remember me?...could you say some nice things about me?". obviously, i'll be more memorable to some than to others but i'm thinking particularly about a theraputic riding program which involved many volunteers and which was a couple of years ago. also, if you haven't developed close relationships with any professors (i'm trying...) what's the policy? ask the profs whose classes you scored well in? ask around broadly?

also, what resources did y'all find most helpful for studying for the gre?

The best thing to do for recommendations is to ask the people that you worked with extensively. Most schools require 1-2 vet recommendations so make sure that you ask the vets that you've worked with for a good amount of time. As for professors, I would definitely ask a professor that you've gone to talk to a lot as well as scoring well in their class. Professors will notice when you are working hard in their classes if you make the time to ask them questions. The third recommendation can be someone of your choice that knows you well and has seen your work ethic/animal qualifications, just make sure it is someone that thinks highly of you!

As for the GRE, I bought the princeton review book and I thought it was extremely helpful and adequate. By practicing the techniques for the writing and quantitative portions you should be fine. It also has an extensive vocabulary which was really helpful for the verbal section as well as a few practice exams.

Good luck with everything!

 

[RosieMoll3]

Don't feel bad if you haven't kept in close contact with prospective letter writers. A non-trad friend of mine applying to med school asked one of her undergrad profs that she hadn't talked to in years.
I felt somewhat weird about asking people, but professors are usually used to it, and vets that you work with should expect a pre-vet who's been volunteering/working for them to ask.
A recent vet school grad i talked to said a good way to ask is, "would you feel comfortable writing me a strong letter of recommendation for veterinary school?" That way, they have an "out" if they feel they don't know you well enough, and if they confidently say yes, it should be a good letter.
Hope this helps a little.

 

[alonepear]

also, what resources did y'all find most helpful for studying for the gre?

It might be dorky, but I took a prep class. And not one of those $1000 ones from Kaplan, it was a local class that met once a week, geared for adults who were going back to school (I was the youngest one there).

Doing the class did not necessarily *teach* me much, but it forced me to truly immerse myself into studying and brushing up on all of my math skills and vocab I hadn't looked at since the SATs.

It really did wonders 🙂

 

[4theanimals]

The most important thing is that whomever rights your letters should a) highly recommend you and b) be able to write adequately and professionally. You definitely need a minimum of one veterinarian. As earlier stated, if you've been working with someone they should be aware of your goals and asking shouldn't come as a shock. In regards to faculty, what classes have you not only done well in but made yourself known? Either by asking questions in class or attending office hours? A second letter from a vet would be great. If not that do you have some paid work experience who might be able to speak to your qualifications for vet school. Basically, bite the bullet and ask. And don't be afraid to ask what kind of things they would say about you. You can also first ask potential references "What qualities do you think would make me a good vet?" If you like their answer - ask them to put it in writing. 🙂

GRE prep: buy or make some vocab flashcards (you can find some common words online or in books). Carry them around with you and take a look at them while your standing in line at the grocery store, etc. Do some practice analytic problems every weekend. If youcan manage just do a little bit between now and then - you'll be amazed what you retain. When you register for the GRE use the software they provided and take some sample tests. Not so much for scoring, but so you really get a feel for how the exam will work.

Best of luck!

 

[seaturtlegirl]

Hi Cavygirl. Everyone'sadvice here is right on the money. As for the GRE, I found the flashcards to be very helpful as well. Find your weaknesses and concentrate on them - I wish I had done so with the math. And remember, some schools, like Penn, weigh the math section heavily, so do the best that you can!

My other advice about the application process in general:
1. START EARLY!!!! I left everything until the last minute, only to find out later that schools like Michigan do a type of rolling admissions, so the sooner you get your app in, the sooner you'll get a response.
2. be sure you know exactly what classes the schools you are interested in are looking for. Some schools want animal nutrition, which many of us had to take online. Others want cell bio, or calculus! do your homework!

best of luck!