Hi there, I'm hoping you all can help me!

[BriannaWV]

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My name is Brianna, I am currently attending West Virginia University for Animal & Nutritional Science, this spring semester I will be a sophomore. I found this forum and joined in hopes of getting some advice and questions of mine answered.

I am (and have been for a long time) very interested in becoming a farm animal veterinarian, but right now I'm completely stumped on what to do! This first year of college has not been going so great, my grades are okay, but I know that I can do a lot better. My GPA last semester was a 2.78, and I'm looking at about the same this semester. I know that isn't terrible, but I've heard that to get accepted to vet school my grades have to be very good.

My boyfriend doesn't think that I can make it through vet school, if I was even to get accepted. That's a pretty big bummer because he's the one that I want to say to me "you can do it!" and support me.

I have gotten As and Bs in all of my animal classes so far, but the math and chemistry are what is going to do me in, I think I just failed my math class that I took this past semester! (I'm going to D/F repeat it, though)

I was just wondering, how hard is it to actually get accepted? I know GPA requirements are different for every school, but does anyone know about what the minimum GPA is before you aren't even considered? Were any of you in the same boat as me during their freshman year? Ohio State University would be the college that I would most likely want to go to if I had to choose, because I'm originally from Ohio. But I would also like to look into some other colleges -- so if you guys could, post your college of choice and why you like it.

If any of you could help me, that'd be wonderful, just give me some advice (I'll take anything at the moment) and any information would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[HopefulAg]

I'd dump the boyfriend and find someone more supportive.

That said, you do need really good grades and frankly, a 2.78 (or anything below a 3.0 really) won't cut it. I have a 3.4 and am having problems getting in (though I think [read: hope] this may be the magic cycle for me).

However that's not to say you're sunk. It sounds like you still have 3 years left - and then post-grad work if you need it - to bring up your grades. But that should be your primary focus at the moment. Also you need to start with getting animal and vet experience too.

 

[luplodw]

I know a lot of out of state schools have a minimum GPA requirement of 3.2 (But to get in on your first try it needs to be a lot higher than that). You could always consider applying to vet schools out of the country if you can't bring your GPA up. You can do it though!! Just work really hard. You have a lot of time to bring it up, so make it happen!

 

[GellaBella]

first of all..welcome! second...tell your bf to stop being an ass! third.. don't give up hope yet!

ok, let's be honest, your GPA needs to come up. a lot. you have time to at least start making that happen but you're going to need to focus and be serious about it. You need your GPA to be as high as possible. Depending on what classes you still need to take and how you do the next few years, it may not be possible to go straight to vet school right after college. Thats not the end of the world though, so don't worry about that.

You need a boyfriend who is supportive. Doing this is hard enough with someone who supports you 120% (I think my fiance has more faith in me than I do), it will be nearly impossible with someone who is telling you you won't make it because thats going to turn into 'why are you studying, its not worth it' and thats going to lead to bad grades. You need to tell him he's not being supportive and that you need him to be supportive of you.

kinda going back to my first point...i had a terrible undergraduate gpa. My science GPA was around 3.2 but my cumulative GPA was a 2.998 (Ahh so close to that damn 3.0). I'm applying this year for the first time but with extensive graduate work now under my belt. I'm hoping that plus a decent GRE will make up for my poor grades during undergrad. so this is a process. You can do it but you need to work hard. You have no idea how badly I wish I had done better in undergrad, even if its just to save myself the money from having to take courses again now!! They're expensive!

so buckle down and get better grades. get veterinary experience, and maybe some research experience and when you think you've got a solid package, apply for the schools you're interested in

 

[jpeterman13]

I agree with HopefulAg, esp. for Ohio, anything below a 3.0 isn't going to work. HOWEVER, getting into vet school involves much more than grades:

• Diverse experience
• good GRE results
• strong letters of recommendation
• strong personal statement
• strong supplementary materials
• successful interview (but grades are what get you to that point)

I was in your situation my freshman year. My GPA was a 2.2 (fall and winter). I worked it up to a 3.26 and will more than likely need to go to a caribbean school to get my DVM. But you are in a better position than I was, so don't give up! A lot of the GPA minimums are around 2.8 based on what I've seen. some of them say "in order to be competitive, you need a 3.2 (IS) or a 3.4 (OOS). Getting into vet school is very difficult, but what I've heard is correct (and I am POSITIVE that is it 🙂) vet school itself is much more difficult...thus the rigorous selection process. After you get through your organic chemistry and biochemistry requirements, you should have a better idea of where you stand. GOOD LUCK! be sure to hang around the forum, you'll get a lot of good info.

 

[BriannaWV]

I'd dump the boyfriend and find someone more supportive.

That said, you do need really good grades and frankly, a 2.78 (or anything below a 3.0 really) won't cut it. I have a 3.4 and am having problems getting in (though I think [read: hope] this may be the magic cycle for me).

However that's not to say you're sunk. It sounds like you still have 3 years left - and then post-grad work if you need it - to bring up your grades. But that should be your primary focus at the moment. Also you need to start with getting animal and vet experience too.

Sometimes I wish I could dump him. 😛

I might have 3-4 more years left here, I'm hoping I get a 3.0 this semester. I'm waiting for my grades to get posted online, I should find out in 2 days. I just can't wait, though! I volunteered at an animal shelter for 2 years, so that's some animal experience. But I know of one vet that has already told me that I can follow him, but he's 2 hours away. But my boyfriend knows of another one who would probably let me follow her.

Also, I hope you get in this time, too 😀

I know a lot of out of state schools have a minimum GPA requirement of 3.2 (But to get in on your first try it needs to be a lot higher than that). You could always consider applying to vet schools out of the country if you can't bring your GPA up. You can do it though!! Just work really hard. You have a lot of time to bring it up, so make it happen!

Thanks! 🙂 I'm definitely going to try and bust my butt these next couple years. I think I was too used to slacking off in high school because it was so easy and now I'm finally realizing that this isn't high school anymore. Thanks for the encouragement, I needed it!

 

[ckd816]

I can't remember which schools have it, but I know grade forgiveness programs exist where they'll only look at your courses from after a certain date or something like that... Basically a positive trend will really work in your favor. Many people struggle to adjust in the first year of college, so that is something that may be forgiven if your grades in later or upper division courses/prereqs are good. 🙂

 

[lalzi22]

Don't give up hope! I had a 2.3 my first semester freshman year and now I have a 3.5. (math did me in btw). You need to stop, look at what your doing to study AND CHANGE IT. clearly, studying for math/chem the way you are isn't working. find a tutor. get a study group. study 2 hours every night if you have to. do practice problems, BUT WORK. like everyone said, anything in the 2's really wont cut it, and even a low 3 is hard to work with. I say, every summer and winter break, get as many vet/animal hours as you can (esp vet is important), and during the school year work your butt off to get great grades. oh, and dump the non-supportive bf. you need AMAZING people behind you to get through this horrible, yet terribly exciting process.

good luck!

 

[168135]

I was in the same boat you were in... got As and Bs in biology, failed math my first year and didn't do so well in chem.

I'm in my third year now, and haven't given up. Just got an awesome research job and am thinking of doing my honours next year to make me stand out from the crowd.

I wish you the best of luck, and don't let others get you down.

 

[OtakuVet]

Wow does most pre-vets have killer first or second semesters? To go along with everyone else I had a pretty killer second semester. Pre-calculus is what did me in along with taking Chem. It wasnt a good semester. But yes, you since you are so young in the game you should focus more on bringing that GPA up. Im actually quite ashamed of my gpa and really think that me getting into any accredited vet school was a fluke. But the fact of the matter is on average anyone who gets accepted to an accredited vet school must have above a 3.0. So if you are having a hard time with General Chem and Math and let me tell you General Chem is so much harder than Orgo in my own opinion. That what you should do is seek out a tutor who can show you where your weak spots may be. Gen Chem is hard and so is math but both of these classes take ltos of time and lots of practice. What I found myself doing in Gen Chem was practicing problems over and over again. Every single day was a problem set. I also enrolled in study classes that came along with the class in order to get more exposure. After all that work I got a B in both sections of Gen Chem and an A in both labs. Same method works for Math too. I got a D my first time in Pre-Calc and a A the second. Also it has to do with the teacher too. Some teachers, I strongly believe may be brilliant in so many ways but just might not work with the whole teaching thing. Or just may not be your personality type. So ultimately since you are doing well in your animal classes, I would recommend that you take out more time to study for the classes that you are having the most hard time out of practicing like chem and math and then maybe invest in a teacher if those methods do not work. It is possible to get into vet school even with subpar stats but if you want to really have an easy street then I would work on that. Also dont forget your experience and leadership skills. That shows alot of dedication too.

 

[HopefulAg]

My first and second semester wasn't too bad, it was my 4th and 6th that got me. No happy parallels to draw there but we do all have bad semesters I'm sure, it's just rocking them back into awesomeness with good semesters that's the problem.

 

[BriannaWV]

Wow, you all have made me feel a LOT better about my grades and everything. I seriously thought I had no hope, but now I have some as long as I can get my act together for next semester.

I have another question

Right now I'm majoring in Animal & Nutritional Science (this will change eventually), and minoring in Equine Management, will it look better when applying to vet school if I have a minor, or does it really not matter?

 

[HopefulAg]

Well it certainly can't hurt, but I don't think it makes any big difference.

 

[ORvetgirl]

I know a lot of out of state schools have a minimum GPA requirement of 3.2 (But to get in on your first try it needs to be a lot higher than that).

Not necessarily! I had a 3.21 and got in on my first cycle (off the waitlist) but to balance it out, I had a good GRE and some diverse experience (zoo med, equine, research), plus had taken a year off and gotten some good life/work experience. It's possible, but you'll need to work hard to bring your GPA up and do well on the GRE, and get as much experience (breadth AND depth) as possible.

 

[Caninerepro]

I will repeat what everyone else has said. Give your BF an ultimatum: get whipped into shape or you will replace him with one that is more inline with your needs (and I am a guy saying this!).

As for grades, again there is no nice way to say this, but you need to make a MARKED and IMMEDIATE change here. If it is only taking one "problem" course a semester or whatever you need to do to make things work, you need to bring your cum GPA up a lot. Also you need a few high GPA semesters -- like a couple 3.8+. Not every semester, but probably your next one at least, so that you can have a line drawn on your transcript which says "OK I saw my problems and I decided to overcome them". It is OK to flounder a bit when you first make the transition to college life and all, but you have been there long enough and grown up enough now. 😎 Time to buckle down, and you can do this we all know! 🙂 Now, that does not mean your life needs to end completely, but if you really want to become a Veterinarian, school MUST be your #1 priority right now. Above your boyfriend, above a social life, above everything except posting on SDN!

To give you a decent example, try 2-3 hours a day outside of school spent studying. Every day. Then say 4-6 hours both Saturday and Sunday. That is what it takes for most people to pull things off, and it sucks to be sure, but it is so worth it when you get in. Once you get to professional school all bets are off, and your life ends as you knew it before. (I think I remember something called a life before I came here, but it is kind of fuzzy) 😀 Here in vet school we study at every opportunity, and always have a text book or a packet of notes with us to look over while waiting for the bus or whatever. Probably double the hours at least what I suggested for you as an undergrad, or even more. And we love it this way! A lot of us don't even have cable TV anymore.

OK, so anyhow you can do this if you really want to, but you need to decide to work hard and bring your grades up. I know there was a thread on here last spring where those who got in listed their stats and experiences. You may want to search for that topic and get an idea what it took for us to get in. Then try for that. But also remember every case is different, and a median accepted GPA of say a 3.5 also means that half the people who got in were under that mark. So all is not lost, and admissions committees love to see people who tripped and then got back up and kicked butt. Just like you are going to do from here on out. You can't change what has happened in the past, only what you do in the future.

Good luck and here's to your future.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...sful+applicant
the link to the successful applicant thread.

 

[SocialStigma]

That's terrible of your boyfriend 🙁, he should be the one believing in you/supporting you when you don't believe in yourself! I had a rough fall semester this year (soph in university) and my boyfriend was the one telling me he knows I can do it and I can overcome this obstacle etc.

Anyways I don't have much advice since the only vet school I'm applying to is OVC (in Canada), and the mean/median average for accepted applicants there is 83-85%, which translates roughly to 3.8-3.9 in terms of GPA, I believe. They use a weird conversion where 4.0 is 90-100% and 3.9 is 85-89%, 3,8 is 80-84% etc. So there's quite a lot of pressure for me to maintain a high GPA ugh.

I think most vet schools will look at only the past __ semesters, and so as long as you bring up your grades and show an upward trend then you've definitely still got a chance.