Hey! I am new to this site. I am trying to get some advice for my boyfriend who is going to be a junior in college this year. He desperately wants to go to veterinary school and is wonderful with animals. In high school, he volunteered at a local vet hospital on weekends. His current major in college is Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Unfortunately, the last two years haven't gone so well and he is sitting on a 2.00 GPA right now. He is a really smart person and did well in high school, however, he has been slacking off in college and not applying himself because he is enjoying the atmosphere of college too much. Is it possible to get him back on track with summer classes or a graduate degree before applying to vet school? Any help would be fantastic. I'm stressed about the situation and I really want to help him out! Thank you in advance to anyone who helps me!
Help for my boyfriend please!
- Thread starter lar5126
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Hey there! Your boyfriend still has hope, but he must pull his act together. It might take longer for him to actually get accepted to vet school and he might have to repeat some courses. Also, he must be prepared to explain his low GPA if he gets some interviews. The best thing for him to do is talk to his advisor and try to figure out what the best thing to do is! 🙂
A GPA that low is going to be really hard to recover from. I'm in Canada, so I'm not as familiar with the US application system, but if he was applying to a Canadian vet school he would never get in. I think his best bet is to try and turn his grades around and try to get his GPA as high as he can for his junior/senior years, to prove that he's changed and that he's capable of putting in the effort. Pursuing a graduate degree might be helpful, but from what I've heard around here, it's best to get a graduate degree if you're actually really interested in it. However, even with a graduate degree, having a 2.00 GPA over two years is going to hurt a lot.
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I agree with what's already been said. I didn't do well my first two years, and dropped slightly below a 3.0. It took the rest of my undergrad to get it over a 3.0, and it still isn't that high (it would've been higher if I had managed to get straight As 😛). He should talk to someone about it, and straighten out his priorities if he really wants to go to vet school and get the best grades he can the next two years. I think it's doable, but it'll take a lot of time and effort on his part.
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Most programs are looking for, in (a guesstimate) order of preference:
There are people on SDN who have gotten in with less than a 3.0--only 1 I can think of w/o a graduate degree. They made up for it in other categories. With a 2.0 as an rising junior, I would say he's got a tough road ahead. If he has 60 credit hours, he needs 60 more of a 4.0 to get a 3.0 average. By the way, a 3.0 average is the cut off or even below the cutoff for lots of vet programs, esp for out of state applicants. I would say, if he is really dedicated to becoming a vet, he really needs to shape up and get awesome grades (and probably retake a few key classes), and get some research position in a lab--true interest and passion are required to get into a grad program esp with poor stats. Good luck
- High GPA
- Good GRE
- Experience
- Interpersonal skills
- Uniqueness of applicant
There are people on SDN who have gotten in with less than a 3.0--only 1 I can think of w/o a graduate degree. They made up for it in other categories. With a 2.0 as an rising junior, I would say he's got a tough road ahead. If he has 60 credit hours, he needs 60 more of a 4.0 to get a 3.0 average. By the way, a 3.0 average is the cut off or even below the cutoff for lots of vet programs, esp for out of state applicants. I would say, if he is really dedicated to becoming a vet, he really needs to shape up and get awesome grades (and probably retake a few key classes), and get some research position in a lab--true interest and passion are required to get into a grad program esp with poor stats. Good luck
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If your bf has done this poorly (esp if it includes a bunch of his pre-reqs), I'd have him look into a grade forgiveness program that some vet schools have. For those, all of your grades before a certain point (presumably this last semester and before) won't count. So it means he'll have to take any pre-reqs he's already taken over again, but that's definitely doable in 2 years. If he's taken enough general graduation requirements in the past 2 years to make it to graduation, he might even be able to graduate on time if he does summer school or something.
Think of it this way, if he gets 4.0's for the next 60 credits like someone else said to dilute his already accumulated 60 credits of 2.0 average, he'll only have a 3.0 and that in itself already hurts. If he gets 4.0 for the next 60 credits including all of his pre-reqs, then his gpa would be a 4.0 for those particular vet schools. and given his track record, I have a hard time believing that he would be able to maintain a 4.0...
Think of it this way, if he gets 4.0's for the next 60 credits like someone else said to dilute his already accumulated 60 credits of 2.0 average, he'll only have a 3.0 and that in itself already hurts. If he gets 4.0 for the next 60 credits including all of his pre-reqs, then his gpa would be a 4.0 for those particular vet schools. and given his track record, I have a hard time believing that he would be able to maintain a 4.0...
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Hi, I think the first thing he wants to be sure is that he really wants to be a Vet as he will need to work hard. First, he needs to prove that he is good at school ..He will need some grades to show it. You know they won't accept someone only if they think he was good in a period in his life. They want someone that will be able to succeed as a student and a Vet and your boyfriend will need to prove it as this is the way to get in. You know even the best one sometimes are not able to achieve some goals ; Not because they don't have what it takes but because they don't make enough effort...they don't work hard enough
I have been in the same situation (Enjoying school lifestyle, friends, partying, etc etc 😉 ...) . I was getting older and my life priorities changed. 3 years ago, I realized that I would never do what I really wanted to do as a Job since I was a kid: Being a Vet. I wanted it so much that I was ready to do anything possible to get in.
The first thing I had to do is to have a look at the different universities and what was required to get in, what were my options. I have been able to find some universities that only consider a few courses, not a global GPA. That was my chance...I took the needed courses and end up having a 4,1 average. Shadowed a few vets in different sectors (slaughterhouse, government vets, large animals, small animals, equine). I am an active guy with few life experiences: doing a lot of sports (hockey, golf, professional skier, etc.), had few good job experiences that show I was able to handle stress and resolve problems, I have travelled a little bit... And I ended up getting in. During my interview they did not ask about my past as I think I had enough to show I was able to do it. I received my acceptance letter and I can't imagine I have been able to do it. After working that hard, it's so rewarding. I made some mistakes in the past and I was thinking it was not possible to recover from that. Human are human and we can change. I have been able to prove it and they give me my chance. I appreciate it everyday...
If I can help you with specific questions PM me, I will be please to answer.
Only thing I can tell you is that if he really wants it , he will be able to get in...I know what he is going through because I have been there before ...
Best of luck
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i dont really have anything new to add that hasn't been said. i just wanted to bring up something sort of unrelated but still important.
I'm sure he has wanted to be a vet for a long time and that is why you are trying to get advice for him. But remember that he is the only one who can change and if he truly doesn't want to give up the party life (or w/e he does) to get straight As then not even your support can help him. He should know his dream is slipping away, and honestly i wonder why it took him 2 bad yrs to realize this instead of just 1 bad year. That is a long time. Anyway, it was really nice of you to write on here to get advice for him...i'm just wondering, why didn't he write on SDN? Although I'm sure he would love to be a vet, maybe he isn't actually ready to buckle down and put effort into academics to get him to that point..? just a thought.
Also, i cant remember if anyone mentioned Caribbean schools. But he may want/need to apply there if his GPA doesn't increase. And actually, even if he does raise his GPA to a 3.0, he may still need to apply to caribbean schools.
I'm sure he has wanted to be a vet for a long time and that is why you are trying to get advice for him. But remember that he is the only one who can change and if he truly doesn't want to give up the party life (or w/e he does) to get straight As then not even your support can help him. He should know his dream is slipping away, and honestly i wonder why it took him 2 bad yrs to realize this instead of just 1 bad year. That is a long time. Anyway, it was really nice of you to write on here to get advice for him...i'm just wondering, why didn't he write on SDN? Although I'm sure he would love to be a vet, maybe he isn't actually ready to buckle down and put effort into academics to get him to that point..? just a thought.
Also, i cant remember if anyone mentioned Caribbean schools. But he may want/need to apply there if his GPA doesn't increase. And actually, even if he does raise his GPA to a 3.0, he may still need to apply to caribbean schools.
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I'm not going to say it's impossible, but he's in the worst situation I've ever seen. I did very well in high school too - and never studied. This mentality followed me to college and when I needed to study, I didn't know how. Anything that I didn't grasp right away, in class, I didn't learn well enough to ace a test. It's possible that in addition to a discipline problem, he has a lack of learning skills. Best bet at this point is to figure out how to study over the summer - many techniques out there and there's enough time left to figure out what works best. He's should probably separate himself from the old buddies that are bad influences, no matter how difficult it is. This is hard, especially if a roommate isn't a studier. With the likelihood of him getting a 4.0 for an equal number of credits to his current number, he should probably start looking for a grad program. A more drastic option is to scrap his current classes and start again. While this isn't necessarily viable, and with most schools, he'll only get an average of the two scores for any repeats, it might be his best option. Right now, he's sitting worse than I was at the end of my senior year, and I was facing a climb up Mount Everest wearing shorts and flip flops.
D
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A lot of good points have been made already. If he wants to go to vet school so badly, he needs a lifestyle change and it needs to come from him. I'm sure you care about him very much, but he needs to be proactive about his own future. I did realyl awesome in high school too, without studying, and this carried over to my undergrad. I lazed around assuming I'd be fine until this February when I realized holy crap, I'm not going to get in anywhere with these terrible grades. Since that very day I've been working my ass off - learning how to study and do well in courses. My free time has been almost entirely consumed but to be honest, it feels good to be making the turn-around.
To be blunt, a 2.0 won't get him in anywhere. Even if he makes straight As for the rest of his undergrad, he will just make a 3.0, which is the cut-off for a lot of schools. It might not seem fair, but its the schools' best way of judging your ability to succeed in vet school. With a 2.0, he's telling them he doesn't care or can't handle the work he has now. How will he handle even harder classes and a more rigorous schedule?
I don't mean to be such a downer. It's technically possible for him to turn himself around (like, now) and get in. If he can make the turn around, it may take him an extra try or two, but if it's what he wants, it's what needs to be done.
To be blunt, a 2.0 won't get him in anywhere. Even if he makes straight As for the rest of his undergrad, he will just make a 3.0, which is the cut-off for a lot of schools. It might not seem fair, but its the schools' best way of judging your ability to succeed in vet school. With a 2.0, he's telling them he doesn't care or can't handle the work he has now. How will he handle even harder classes and a more rigorous schedule?
I don't mean to be such a downer. It's technically possible for him to turn himself around (like, now) and get in. If he can make the turn around, it may take him an extra try or two, but if it's what he wants, it's what needs to be done.
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I don't understand when you ask why he did not realize after a year... This guy may have problem that keep him away from focusing on school. (family problem or other). According to me , if he wants to get in somewhere , he needs to find a way that its previous grades won't be considered( forgiveness program as example )
One thing is sure , there is a big difference between dreaming, thinking , talking about becoming a Vet and actually doing what needs to be done to achieve that. I know many people in the first group , not many in the second...
If he is not ready to do it right now, I would stop school and start back again when he will be ready to have A's. Otherwise his chances are close to 0 or the price to overcome its situation will be too costly.
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i was just making an assumption from the info that the OP said
But you're right, there may be other problems that weren't stated
Thank you so much to everyone for the replies!
To answer a few questions:
He isn't on here posting for two reasons: 1. He is not nearly as into the Internet as I am and I did not even know that blog sites like this existed for advice and today I advised him to create his own profile and start asking questions! & 2. My computer is broken so I have his haha
I appreciate the honesty and I hope that by me showing him the advice you all have provided it will make him realize that it is about bucking down and doing it now or it may never work out.
In my opinion, it has taken 2 bad years instead of 1 because he started at a branch campus and then transfered last year. So essentially, it was like adjusting and readjusting to new environments.
I would love to know more information about "grade forgiveness" programs that were mentioned if anyone knows a good resource or would be willing to post more information. This site is wonderful and I appreciate all of you who take the time to help students know what the real world and application process is like!
To answer a few questions:
He isn't on here posting for two reasons: 1. He is not nearly as into the Internet as I am and I did not even know that blog sites like this existed for advice and today I advised him to create his own profile and start asking questions! & 2. My computer is broken so I have his haha
I appreciate the honesty and I hope that by me showing him the advice you all have provided it will make him realize that it is about bucking down and doing it now or it may never work out.
In my opinion, it has taken 2 bad years instead of 1 because he started at a branch campus and then transfered last year. So essentially, it was like adjusting and readjusting to new environments.
I would love to know more information about "grade forgiveness" programs that were mentioned if anyone knows a good resource or would be willing to post more information. This site is wonderful and I appreciate all of you who take the time to help students know what the real world and application process is like!
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I don't know of any "grade forgiveness" programs in the US that are THAT forgiving (that would be AWESOME if there were though, and I'm sure there are and I just don't know about them). We're talking about 2 years of coursework. Illinois has one that forgives the freshman year grades as long as they don't include any pre-reqs (correct me if I'm wrong UIUC'ers)...it didn't really help me out much though. As far as Caribbean schools, I'm not sure how far a 2.0 will get you there either. Ross, SGU, and SMU still do reject people (don't know a terrible amount on SMU though, they are very new). It'll take a lot of hard work and a lot of explanation to tap dance his way out of this hole. But it's totally possible! It will certainly test how badly he wants it. It sounds like he has a ton of support from you!
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Can you elaborate on this at all? This is the first I've heard of this and, as a non-trad with a few abysmal science grades from the first go-round of undergrad, my interest is piqued!
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Check out these threads (search and i'm sure you'll find more):
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=649255&highlight=grade+forgiveness
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=656334&highlight=grade+forgiveness
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=626047&highlight=grade+forgiveness
