How Important are grades in Vet School

[chipster]

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Hey guys,
I keep hearing from everyone at school that how well you do in vet school doesnt really matter. That as long as you graduate its fine, we have a saying here at Penn that C=VMD. Do you guys find this to be true? I just can't accept that grades don't matter as much anymore I guess.

 

[Bill59]

The most important thing is to learn the material. Although it's possible to master the content while making mediocre grades, for the most part the students that make the best grades are the ones that best learn the material.

But other than possibly flunking out, grades matter for at least two other reasons:

1. At most schools, there are a lot of scholarships available throughout the 4 years that are based on part on academic performance.

2. If you apply for internships/residencies grades are critical. The problem here is many people decide to do this only after they get to the clinical years, when it's impossible to move your GPA very much.

 

[seaturtlegirl]

Hi Chipster. I have likewise been bombarded with the C = DVM idea. Personally, I have to agree with Bill59. It is most important that you learn and understand what you need to! Maybe in some classes that are particularly hard, a C is fine, and maybe in some it's not. In addition, if you have any thoughts of specializing, etc, then shoot for the A! (that said, I have come to the unhappy conclusion that despite my greatest efforts, I am mostly a B student now, and have only a few A's to show for all my sleepless nights!)

I think that if you feel as though you understand what you need to, and that you truly did the best you could, then that should be enough...I hope! 🙂

 

[maddiemh]

I found this while trying to figure out what school is all about and why I shouldn't stress out over an exam (and yes, it was during one of those night before an exam not-wanna-do-this moments). This is inspiring.. it puts things into perspective for me...

And now, Veterinary school according to Dr. Sleasman:

Freshman year you learn the normal form(anatomy, histology, etc) and function (physiology) of the different systems of the body; skin, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urogenital, nervous, musculoskeletal, organs of special senses (eyes, ears, smell, taste), immune system, hemopoetic system, lymphatic system, endocrine system, respiratory system and "dental" system.

Sophomore year you learn pathophysiology, how the body responds to insult to a system via injury, disease or degeneration. You learn how the body attempts to restore itself to normal form and function, homeostasis.

Junior year you learn the body's compensations made in order to return to homeostasis and how we can help the body address injuries and insults in an effort to restore all or a degree of homeostasis; ie. medications (how they work), nutrition, surgical interventions and even alternative therapy.

Senior year you've learned how a healthy body works, how a body responds to insult and injury and how it will make compensations in order to obtain homeostasis both with and without intervention. Now you spend your senior year and your entire career pulling it all together in the science of practice. You learn that the name is not the answer. Knowing the name of the disease or disorder doesn't make you a vet. What makes you a vet is when you put aside your expectation to cure and focus on *assisting* the body in its goal to achieve homeostasis. 😳