Highest Number of Application Cycles

[Cats4Lyfe]

I am curious what is the highest number of times someone has applied to veterinary school, successful or not (the highest I have personally heard is 6). For those who have successfully applied 4+ times, what do you think made the difference in your application that led to your acceptance? What school finally accepted you? What do you think kept you from being accepted on earlier cycles?

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[Dovetailequine]

There is an individual on Facebook who said she applied to her IS 8 times (unsuccessfully)

 

[Cats4Lyfe]

There is an individual on Facebook who said she applied to her IS 8 times (unsuccessfully)

Do you know if she ever got an interview?

 

[aflare19]

One of the vets at my clinic knows a guy that took thirteen (sorry the emoji thing doesn’t like numbers) cycles. He’s now a veterinary radiologist!

 

[pp9]

I have a friend that applied 4-6 times (can't quite remember now) and was unsuccessful...never even got interview invites. Beyond that, I don't know/remember her stats, school choices, etc.

 

[Cats4Lyfe]

One of the vets at my clinic knows a guy that took thirteen (sorry the emoji thing doesn’t like numbers) cycles. He’s now a veterinary radiologist!

Oh. My. Gosh. I can’t event imagine the cost, the years spent waiting, and the emotional toll that would take. That’s wild. Do you know where he went to vet school or how he finally got accepted?

 

[mn1309]

I’m on my third and last and I’m burnt out. I can’t imagine doing any more than that.

 

[pp9]

One of the vets at my clinic knows a guy that took thirteen (sorry the emoji thing doesn’t like numbers) cycles. He’s now a veterinary radiologist!

Oh. My. Gosh. I can’t event imagine the cost, the years spent waiting, and the emotional toll that would take. That’s wild. Do you know where he went to vet school or how he finally got accepted?

If this is actually true, I'd be willing to bet this person holds the records for most attempts. My morbid curiosity wants to know what the heck this person was doing for 13 years because when it gets to this point, it's most likely an applicant issue of some sort rather than 'bad luck' or some of the other things we say when the reason for rejection isn't obvious

 

[katiemcat]

I’m on my third and last and I’m burnt out. I can’t imagine doing any more than that.

I’ve never met someone IRL who’s applied more than 3 times. Usually they quit at 3, understandably.

 

[DVM882029]

A former colleague's spouse applied 17 years in a row (to her IS only). Had to keep retaking courses to keep them UTD. She eventually was accepted and is a practicing equine DVM now!

 

[mn1309]

A former colleague's spouse applied 17 years in a row (to her IS only). Had to keep retaking courses to keep them UTD. She eventually was accepted and is a practicing equine DVM now!

Omg I bet she is an amazing vet. That is some dedication.

 

[Cowsrcool]

I know someone who applied 6 times finally got into one school on the last go

 

[ACDinosaur]

I have applied 5 cycles. I added up the cost of applying for admissions (vmcas, transcript and supplemental fees… not inclusive of course retakes)…don’t do this… it will make you cry. And it was almost 12,000 dollars. For reference, my MS was 15k! Told myself this was the last time I was doing this. I applied to 15 schools this round, got rejected from 10 of them and I just got an acceptance (Virginia Maryland!!) tonight! I am waitlisted for AZ and waiting to hear from Iowa and WesternU. This was the first year I got an interview (x3 VM, AZ and WesternU). Last year I was an interview alternate for KSU but never got pulled off the list.

 

[mn1309]

I have applied 5 cycles. I added up the cost of applying for admissions (vmcas, transcript and supplemental fees… not inclusive of course retakes)…don’t do this… it will make you cry. And it was almost 12,000 dollars. For reference, my MS was 15k! Told myself this was the last time I was doing this. I applied to 15 schools this round, got rejected from 10 of them and I just got an acceptance (Virginia Maryland!!) tonight! I am waitlisted for AZ and waiting to hear from Iowa and WesternU. This was the first year I got an interview (x3 VM, AZ and WesternU). Last year I was an interview alternate for KSU but never got pulled off the list.

Congratulations!!! If money weren’t a factor I’d apply 20 more times if I had to, it just sucks how expensive it is.

 

[pp9]

A former colleague's spouse applied 17 years in a row (to her IS only). Had to keep retaking courses to keep them UTD. She eventually was accepted and is a practicing equine DVM now!

If you guys are going to drop stories like this, I’m going to have to require that you provide us with more information I have to wonder if your colleague was over exaggerating because 17 years of trying is absurd (as is 13 years).

I truly cannot fathom applying this many times in a row unless you are submitting an objectively bad application the first 10+ times to help explain it.

 

[DogtorAsh]

You can def search my post history and likely get most of my story, but I applied 4 times and got in last cycle and am currently in my second semester of first year! (During the span of my applying I moved like 3 times, changed states a few times, finished 2 masters programs, and also left vet med for 2ish years so I could make money to actually pay for my masters programs). Honestly not sure the 4th time would have been my last after all...I kept saying I was done but really cannot see myself doing anything else.

I did have an old coworker or two that applied at least 5 to 6 times (one only applied like 6 times to our IS at the time and never got in unfortunately).

 

[AppyDust]

I applied 4 times and got into ISU on the last application (first time applying to them). GPA was a factor and retaking science courses boosted both my last 45 and with grade replacement my prereq science for ISU.

 

[DVM882029]

If you guys are going to drop stories like this, I’m going to have to require that you provide us with more information I have to wonder if your colleague was over exaggerating because 17 years of trying is absurd (as is 13 years).

I truly cannot fathom applying this many times in a row unless you are submitting an objectively bad application the first 10+ times to help explain it.

No, this is true. She was a mom too, so that's why she only applied to her IS (technically contract seat vs IS, but semantics) to keep costs low both applying and for tuition. Her husabnd was a night shift barn worker (fancy ass world class TB breeding barn), and she was with their kids during the day. I met him through horses. She worked a full time job weekly for good pay/benefits and did shadowing/vet hours on weekend. It got easier for her as the kids got into high school to do more for her career goals vs when they were younger. She consistently applied until her 17th cycle and was accepted in her mid to late 40s.

 

[aflare19]

If this is actually true, I'd be willing to bet this person holds the records for most attempts. My morbid curiosity wants to know what the heck this person was doing for 13 years because when it gets to this point, it's most likely an applicant issue of some sort rather than 'bad luck' or some of the other things we say when the reason for rejection isn't obvious

I wish I knew! I don’t know any specifics of the situation unfortunately, I was just told this from one of the doctors at my clinic as a consolation for a rejection haha, they were all joking that despite 13 cycles he makes more than they ever will!

 

[Cats4Lyfe]

I have applied 5 cycles. I added up the cost of applying for admissions (vmcas, transcript and supplemental fees… not inclusive of course retakes)…don’t do this… it will make you cry. And it was almost 12,000 dollars. For reference, my MS was 15k! Told myself this was the last time I was doing this. I applied to 15 schools this round, got rejected from 10 of them and I just got an acceptance (Virginia Maryland!!) tonight! I am waitlisted for AZ and waiting to hear from Iowa and WesternU. This was the first year I got an interview (x3 VM, AZ and WesternU). Last year I was an interview alternate for KSU but never got pulled off the list.

I am on my 5th application cycle. I have been waitlisted at my IS, but rejected everywhere else I applied this year.