HUGE VMCAS Problem! Please help!

[jumpin4joy]

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I am new to the forum and was hoping I might be able to get some help. I am reapplying to veterinary school from the last cycle. During the last cycle I needed to the list the total number of hours that I had spent working as a CNA at a hospital since 2004. The human resources department told me I had worked 6,572 hours at the time I applied last year. Since I am reapplying I called back my employer to get the new number of hours for this year's VMCAS. The problem is that my employer says that as of now I have only worked 6,452 hours with them. They said they must have made a mistake in their calculation from last year. So now I am in a pretty bad spot because if I list the true number of hours that I have worked then all of the schools I applied to last year (which are the same schools I am applying to this year) will see that I have less hours than my application from the year before and will think I lied on my application from the year before. However, if I just fudge the numbers they could check with my employer and see that I have put the wrong number of hours on my application. What should I do? I don't want to lie on my application by putting the wrong number of hours, but I also don't want to put something in the explanation statement because I am afraid that the schools will see it and that it will place me in a negative light with them. Any help would be HUGELY appreciated and I apologize for this novel of a question.

 

[ReadyBeVet]

Just list the same as last year. They say to round or use your best estimate when you're doing the # of hours. I wouldn't fret. 😀 When you've had six thousand hours somewhere, I don't think that being off about 100 hours is a big deal, especially when they gave you that number last year. Who's to say that this year's calculation is correct?

 

[moosenanny]

I'm not really sure how to answer your question, but my first thought was: Do you think schools are going to remember the exact number of hours you put down last year, and how that compares to this year's number? I may be wrong, but I don't think adcoms keep every application from year-to-year and compare them that closely (they probably don't have the space to store them or time to do this). In my opinion, seeing a number that big is generally impressive, and they won't dwell on the exact hours you put in. I'd be as honest as possible and say the new number cited to you, without any augmentation. Do others out there agree?

 

[flipflopper]

There is a spot on the VMCAS for "explanations". Perhaps you could explain why you are listing pretty much the same number of hours as you did in the last application. This is certainly not your fault, you shouldn't be penalized for it. This would be safer then lying about your numbers just in case schools actually check up on the accuracy.

 

[heylodeb]

I agree with the previous post - put a short blurb in your explanation statement...

 

[AUgirl365]

I think you should use the correct hours (the hours given to you this year). Do not worry about writing an explanation on such a minor detail. As others have said they will most likely not notice. The explanation page is for more serious issues like medical leave, spots on your legal record, academic probation, etc. and for over flow of the PS. If you are specifically asked about the difference between the hours from year to year tell the truth... your employer quoted you the wrong hours last year and you fixed the mistake on your application this year. To your knowledge when you submitted the higher number of hours last year it was true... no harm, no foul. Now that you know it is not true you shouldn't put the incorrect hours... remember when you submit the application you sign that all the information given is correct!

You could always call the academic affairs advisor at one of the schools you are applying to and explain the situation. They may have better advise on how you should proceed and will understand that the mistake wasn't your fault.

I hope the rest of the application process goes well for you. Good luck, I wish you the best.... fingers crossed for c/o 2015

 

[Minnerbelle]

If they have a question about it, I'm sure they'll ask you about it. And honestly I don't think they'll even care that you worked 6,400 hrs total EVEN IF they amazingly remembered your numbers from last year and were expecting more this year. It's not like you said you worked 6,000 hrs last year even though you actually worked 2000...

 

[BlacKAT33]

yea if you really wanted u could write something veryyy short in the explanation statement, but i dont really think it is necessary. i'd just right down the correct numbers from this year. even if they did look back at your app from last year they probably wont even notice anything except 6k, and if they did see a diff they probably will think you just messed the numbers up a bit because they are really close. no big deal. if you really felt guilty about it you could let them know when you are at the interview...and i bet they'd say they dont care lol

 

[jumpin4joy]

I can't thank you all enough for your help - I've been sweating bullets about this problem and I really appreciate all the advice. I've decided to list the true numbers that I have from this year exactly as they are. I am not going to put anything in the explanation statement. I guess no one will even really notice & (if on the off chance they do) I doubt they will deny me based solely on a few hundred out of thousands of hours. Thanks a ton!

 

[moosenanny]

I can't thank you all enough for your help - I've been sweating bullets about this problem and I really appreciate all the advice. I've decided to list the true numbers that I have from this year exactly as they are. I am not going to put anything in the explanation statement. I guess no one will even really notice & (if on the off chance they do) I doubt they will deny me based solely on a few hundred out of thousands of hours. Thanks a ton!

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