Help for the interim?

[PsuMeercat]

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Hiii.

So, it's a little surreal to be actively posting on SDN rather than creepily lurking from the shadows, but I need some help and I figure this is the best place to ask for it.

First of all, I'm a bit of a unique pre-veterinary case. Not terribly so, just enough to make my application a little...rough around the edges.

I began college (Pennsylvania State University) as an english major, swearing all sciences/maths off. I stuck with a purely liberal arts major for my first year until I realized I excelled in an english classroom, and loved words, but did not want to dedicate my life to it.

So, the next real freak-out/realization I had to have was what did I love/enjoy. Animals. I wanted to be a vet when I was younger but as soon as I was old enough to understand what exactly it entailed, I shied away from the idea, finding solace in knowing I could love on all my pets and have whatever profession I could handle.

I made the switch to Animal Sciences as my degree the summer following my freshman year. Needless to say of my 42 standing credits at the time of my switch only SIX were applicable to my new major. Oh, and any "fun" class I could have ever used to pad my schedule was completely taken in various forms of shredded english "humanities" and "general requirements."

OKAY so my predicament. I don't have a strong GPA at all (3.2). I'm currently a fl resident. I still want to go to Vet School regardless of every advisor ever telling me to look into a different field due to my grades. I have only taken the GRE once but done relatively well (720q, 760v, 4.0a). I have one last semester to finish up before I graduate from penn state (I'm a 22 yr. old female, graduating in 4.5 years).

I have to figure out what exactly I'm going to do for the next 1.5 years of my life. I'm applying to vet school for admission of fall 2014. I'm waiting 1.5 years because I need to boost my hours with actual veterinary work. I have plenty of rehabilitation clinic hours, and some equine, but only about 350 hours of veterinary SA.

What do you think my best route is? I may move to establish residency in another vet school state. Is there a school in particular anyone suggests? One, perhaps, that has a little more favor to instate than others?

Should I be applying for a one-year grad program to fix my GPA? A lot of why it is so low is because when I studied abroad in Australia last spring it was a direct transfer and a lot of grade scaling (went abroad with a 3.45 came back with a 3.1 because of a 17 credit 2.6 semester--long, painfully frustrating story). I don't want to go to more schooling to prove I can handle schooling. Is it smarter to retake a few of my lower grades? Do you think I should take post-bac classes?

I'm applying to zoo internships, to build some different animal experience. I have a class to take in miami this summer, and while down there will do everything in my power to find some sort of shadowing/volunteer work I can do to boost my hours, too.

I'm just at a loss as to what to do next. I need to apply for some sort of serious hands-on work the six months following my graduation (which will be dec. 2012). Any suggestions on spring internships? I just, well, I just know it's always going to be hard with what I'm starting with. I made the decision so late into my life that I've been playing a terrible game of catch up. And my initial reasons for being hesitant rests in my inability to excel in science classes. I'm such a B student, which is demoralizing, but I know this is what I want to do.

So, basically, SDN: can a sista get some suggestions? Any personal experiences/internships/own-interim-periods that you can share would be GREATLY appreciated.

much love, and luck, to everyone else.

 

[variegata]

It's definitely not impossible. If you look over any of the Successful Applicants threads from previous years, I'm sure you'll see people in there that got in with a similar GPA to yours (you could even send these people messages to hash it out). Your math and verbal scores on the GRE are pretty excellent, so that definitely helps you, but are they from the new or old GRE? I applied before the new one came into being, so I don't know which one schools are looking for now, but if you took the old one, check with different schools you're interested in and see what they require.

Getting great veterinary experience over the next year and a half can also help counteract your GPA. Find a large animal vet and do some ride-alongs with them, continue shadowing in a SA clinic (check out different clinics if you're able - they all operate differently), get some shelter medicine experience or zoo medicine experience. Research experience can help too! In all of these experiences, make a good impression on the vet and really get to know that person so you can get yourself some awesome letters of recommendation. As you're graduating, make sure you've got at least one academic reference in mind since many schools want to see that in addition to DVM references.

You're absolutely on the right track, and I think now is not the time to try to improve grades with a masters program. I think if you have excellent experience under your belt, with good LORs, good GRE scores and a solid personal statement, you can definitely get yourself some interviews.

 

[bunnity]

Agreed, I don't think you need a master's right now. If you decide on one though, Drexel in Philly has a couple good/popular ones you could look into. What's your last 45 hour GPA? Was it just that one semester that was bad? What is your pre-req GPA? I think if your last 45 and pre-req GPA are better it would help make up for the lower overall one. Your GRE score is really good so that helps some with the lower GPA too.

I think it would be a really good idea to buy the VMSAR book and that way you can look at average GPA by school, as well as consider schools that really weight the GRE heavily, or schools that like in-state or out-of-state or whatever.

Anyway, good luck! 🙂

 

[SnowyRox]

I second the suggestion of VMSAR. Pick a school with low tuition, high in state preference and favorable to your application. I know it's pretty easy to get residency in MN and OH. Never really looked into anywhere else. There is a thread going somewhere about schools that let you switch residency after first year so that could be a good place to look.

Your grades aren't great but they shouldn't be a death sentence for your application.

 

[PsuMeercat]

Ah, thank you all.
This is not only helpful, but encouraging. I'll look into the VMSAR book, that's definitely a step towards deciding on my next steps.

Also, good looking out with varied vet experience. I'll keep everyone in the loop. Thanks again!

 

[VeggieBurger11]

I made the decision so late into my life that I've been playing a terrible game of catch up.

I had to laugh when I read this. Let me tell you something that might make you feel a little better: I started out my freshman year in college.as Marine Biology and considered Animal Science as a path to working with animals in some way. I then

shied away from it when I realized what it entailed

, to once again quote your words. I became an English major, graduated, and then spent the next 18 years in jobs that were okay and trying to satisfy my dream of being a vet by compromising and volunteering at humane societies and having pets. I am now 40 and finally have the courage to follow my dream. I will spend the next two years completing the math and science prerequisites, but I am planning on applying Fall 2013 for entry in 2014.

You did not make the decision "so late in life". 22 is YOUNG!!!! Good for you for following your dream!

 

[LetItSnow]

I second the suggestion of VMSAR. Pick a school with low tuition, high in state preference and favorable to your application. I know it's pretty easy to get residency in MN and OH. Never really looked into anywhere else

Huh. I'm IS, so I'm no expert, but from talking to my OOS classmates, I don't know that "easy" is how I would have described the process of getting residency here. Maybe it really is easier than other schools, but my OOS mates don't seem to think it's easy.

OP, I think you need to make sure that your trajectory starts having some consistency. Something along the lines of "I want to go into X type of medicine, so I just spent the year doing Y" where Y directly tracks with your goal. You've done some wandering academically, which is perfectly fine, but you want to start building a strong story that shows some point at which you made a decision and started taking steps directly on that path. Does that make sense? If you want to go into wildlife medicine, the zoo stuff is great. If you want to go into small animal companion medicine, the zoo stuff is good but not great. A bit of diversity is awesome, but being able to show them that you're focused and attacking your goal is important, especially when you had a bit of meandering earlier.

I'm with everyone else on the master's work - don't do it. I've never looked at VMSAR, but some people find it really useful.

Variegata hit on a really important thing that you need to keep in mind so it doesn't bite you in the rear when it's application time: build solid relationships with the vets you get to know so that you're well-placed to ask for those LORs.

 

[SnowyRox]

Huh. I'm IS, so I'm no expert, but from talking to my OOS classmates, I don't know that "easy" is how I would have described the process of getting residency here. Maybe it really is easier than other schools, but my OOS mates don't seem to think it's easy.

AFAIK, you just work 10 hours/week for a year or two and get residency. It's slightly more complicated than that.... but not difficult. I was thinking about switching my residency before applying last year, but realized I only worked during the school year and not the summers so it wouldn't count 👎.

 

[PsuMeercat]

I don't know why I haven't checked my OWN post, haha, but I just saw this. I do feel silly after reading my own original post juxtaposed with your response.

I'm really happy/impressed/motivated by your own drive to do what you want in life. KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON! haha, but seriously, good luck!

 

[PsuMeercat]

Yeah, I'm definitely following what you're saying--and I completely agree.

I have been unhealthily stalking job/internship prospects (pair/unpaid) like it IS my job. I have a bunch of places set aside so come graduation (this december) I'll have applied to as many as possible and hope something clicks. I know so much of great pre-vet experience is truly knowing the right people or being in the right place at the right time. I want to focus on SA medicine so I'm planning to focus on SA hospitals and shelters.

I will probably accumulate hours in varied experience (LA practices/exotics-what have you) if the opportunity arises, but won't be trying to make it my focal point. Thanks again for the advice.

I'll probably be ranting/panicking/freaking out plenty more on SDN in the coming year, hah.

 

[Bearby]

Get experience and do well! Rack up hours and establish a report with vets. Get stuff to put into your personal statement. I got into UF as an IS with a 2.9 GPA. My undergrad was a charlie foxtrot, if you will, but I've done reasonably well so far in vet school. You're GRE score is good and I know that at least the previous dean of UF's CVM thought the GRE was a greater reflection of your ability than your GPA. I'm not really sure why you think gaining residency in another state is going to better your chances. May as well try UF and see what happens.

 

[PsuMeercat]

Get experience and do well! Rack up hours and establish a report with vets. Get stuff to put into your personal statement. I got into UF as an IS with a 2.9 GPA. My undergrad was a charlie foxtrot, if you will, but I've done reasonably well so far in vet school. You're GRE score is good and I know that at least the previous dean of UF's CVM thought the GRE was a greater reflection of your ability than your GPA. I'm not really sure why you think gaining residency in another state is going to better your chances. May as well try UF and see what happens.

Do you mind PMing me your stats? My science gpa is roughly a 2.9, too. I always assumed UF would just laugh at me. Did you get in first try? Did you retake courses? Are you an incredibly smooth talker who...too far? (I know, I know-sorry for the accosting verbal questionnaire!)

And i may not have been clear in my original post/might have just changed my mindset a bit in the meantime--but I don't think establishing residency elsewhere will help better my chances. I am mainly interested in establishing residency elsewhere because despite my family home being in florida, I'm not a huge Florida fan. After being back up north for my undergraduate degree, I've really sort of set my heart on moving from Florida. So my logic of establishing residency elsewhere comes from wanting the benefits of IS tuition/admission consideration in a state I enjoy more (i think originally i was attempting to locate a state with lower standards than UF). THAT being said I should state a few things:

1. No matter what, If I get into a vet school, I'm going. There's no way in hell I'm letting some minuscule aesthetic-driven desire to move states dictate whether or not I accept an offer. Beggars can't be choosers, and let's be real, I'm a well established beggar in this totem pole.

2. I love Gainesville and think UF is a spectacular school (and had it not been for a PSU scholarship, I would have attended it for my undergraduate degree).

3. Earlier this summer (in what has since been lost in the jumble of my ever-changing plans) I had thought to wait until next summer to apply. I might have changed my mind for a few reasons:
(1) I think even if I'm not a strong candidate this year, reapplying shows dedication.
(2) you really never do know.
(3) I will still have 6 months post-graduation/pre-veterinary school matriculation to accumulate hours. It's just going to be a
matter of finding something in time to secure to at least notify vet schools of pending hours. Oh and the hurdle of
actually securing any sort of experience. (suggestions? Ha).

(can we tell I like lists? Ugh).

 

[PetPony]

Just remember that not every school will count hours towards your application if they are not ob your application because they were done after you submitted.

 

[LetItSnow]

(1) I think even if I'm not a strong candidate this year, reapplying shows dedication.

Not exactly. It's reapplying and demonstrating significant advancement in the last year that really shows dedication and might win you a few points. I know a few people who have gotten denied and then just spend the next year tooling around blowing smoke and essentially waiting to submit the same application. If I were on an admissions committee, I'd deep six that sort of person without any hesitation.

I very much doubt that's you, from what I've read, but ... make sure your efforts are completely focused on advancing your application if you don't get in the first time 'round.