Got about another year left...and plenty of questions

[TongueFuCal]

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So I have about 2 semesters (spring and summer) left until I'm technically done with undergrad but I feel it would be impossible to get to vet school next fall and realistically I am looking at retaking some courses the following fall and continuing studying and working at my internship for another year.

I feel TOTALLY lost sometimes as far as where I'm at and where I need to be. I've considered UF, Texas, Penn and a handful of other schools out west (montana) but I'm wondering most specifically about UF as it's my dream college😍


What GPA (despite the average) should I strive for?

GRE score?

I've been volunteering at my current internship for the last year+ and because it's unpaid the doctor (graciously) lets me scrub in with him for every surgery (he does soft tissue, neurosurgery and orthopedics). Does getting another (or multiple in the next year) internships stand to benefit me?

How heavily do they consider my letters of rec?

When is the application deadline for the fall '09 class? (around june 08 right?)

....and anything else you think I may have left out (and most likely did🙂)

Thanks!

 

[ShelterGirl]

There is a really good website for VMCAS, the consolidated application service for many veterinary schools, that also has a fact sheet for each school that participates:

http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas/college_requirement.htm

These sheets list the average GPA and GRE scores (keep in mind, they are averages!) for accepted students, as well as required prerequisite courses.

Also, Purdue University Press publishes a good book with more detailed info for each school, called VMSAR. I would wait until the 2009 edition comes out next summer before ordering it if I were you, though.

As far as experience goes, the more the better. It seems (from my observation) that many of the people who are accepted to schools have 1000+ hours of veterinary experience. Variety also counts - they want to see that you have a good feel for the profession.

The next application cycle (for entering fall 2009) will probably open in late may/early June, and close around October 1.

Good luck!

 

[sofficat]

Don't stress out! I know it seems impossible and crazy and you'll never get there, but you will!! First of all, make sure you have all of your prereqs down before you start applying- check all of the school's websites for details. I recommend trying to get a job at a clinic. That way you can interact with clients and really see the in's and out's of a hospital. If not, the more volunteer/internship stuff you can do, the better (even if you do have a job!). Ok, i'm gonna wrap this up because I have a final tomorrow!😱
MINIMUM GPA (in my opinion)- 3.3
MINIMUM GRE - 1000

keep in mind, if you couldn't make a 3.3 or 1000, it doesn't mean you won't get into vet school... it will just make it a little harder. 😉

good luck! feel free to ask more, or PM me.

 

[VAgirl]

Also, Purdue University Press publishes a good book with more detailed info for each school, called VMSAR. I would wait until the 2009 edition comes out next summer before ordering it if I were you, though.

I would not rely solely on this, though. I've found factual inaccuracies in the 2008 edition. (Well, don't rely solely on any one source of information is probably the best advice. But I know that this one isn't always necessarily completely correct.)

When in doubt, contacting a school directly about their info is best.

 

[cyrille104]

I would go for a 3.4 if possible, and study hard and aim for a 700+Q/550V. It's great that you're already looking at schools, but I think you'll be pretty disappointed with Montana's vet school...

 

[philomycus]

I'm an instater for UF. I applied last year and got an itnerview but didn't get in. My GPA was 3.4 ish. My GRE stinks, but my subject GRE rocked. Even though they don't require it, I think it hepled me - they know I can really take a standarized test. UF avgs around 1200 for the general GRE for instaters. OOS needs to be a littler more competetive as only ~ 15% of their students are OOS.

 

[VAgirl]

I would go for a 3.4 if possible, and study hard and aim for a 700+Q/550V. It's great that you're already looking at schools, but I think you'll be pretty disappointed with Montana's vet school...

But Montana State University doesn't have a vet school...it has a department of veterinary molecular biolology in the college of agriculture. That's not the same thing. It looks as though you could do undergrad or graduate (MS/PhD) work there, though.

Of course, the original poster doesn't specifically mention they want to pursue a DVM or a VMD, I suppose...

 

[TongueFuCal]

Thanks for all the info thus far🙂 I'll try and rock the GRE like a hurricane😉 and get a few LOR from my teachers to help since my GPA isn't as high as I'd like it to be. Montana (hadnt given it much thought or researched) was a suggestion by a family friend, who apparently didnt know what he was talking about 😀

If you can think of anything else that might be pertinent, I'd appreciate it!