Introduction and Questions

[Yorkie Paws]

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Hey, this is my first post on SDN, but I have been lurking for awhile. 🙂

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that I want to go into vet med. There is really no way that I could get into a university right now, so I need to start at a CC. I would like to transfer in 1-2 years though (before getting into upper division science classes). Here's where it becomes tricky. I'm visually impaired and don't drive. Right now I am working with my eye doctor and a vet to see what I can do before I get too far into this thing. It is just sooooo much easier for me to do any type of class online because I don't have to have a ride and accommodations don't have to be made. Obviously all the science courses with labs will have to be taken on-site, but is there a general concensus on how many basic classes can be taken online without it hurting vet school admissions?

Also, Michigan State is my IS school and first choice. Does anyone know what they like to see? Breadth of experience or depth? Is shadowing okay, or do they prefer that you have a vet related job? Do they place emphasis on the tier of your undergrad school?

Thank you very much.

 

[sumstorm]

You really need to contact schools and discuss this before you start down the path. There are some diabilities that may make you ineligible to study to obtain a DVM. At our school, we have to sign a form that states we don't have certain issues, and visual deficits that were not correctable was one of the issues.

They should be able to send you the declarations form (or let you see a copy of it) and then you will be able to make informed decisions on what to do next (whether that is pick a different path, continue on because you will be eligible, or see if exceptions/changes can be made.)

 

[jpeterman13]

Also, Michigan State is my IS school and first choice. Does anyone know what they like to see? Breadth of experience or depth? Is shadowing okay, or do they prefer that you have a vet related job? Do they place emphasis on the tier of your undergrad school?

Thank you very much.

MSU wants to see nearly flawless grades and GRE scores (correct me if I'm wrong everyone). They calculate a SIS score based on your Science GPA, Cumulative GPA, GRE, and Last 3 semesters. If you have a competitive score, then they send you a supplemental (which I have yet to receive because my grades aren't stellar ). They say that they will fill ~ 60% of their class with people with a stellar SIS score. If they look at experience beyond that point, I don't know. But if you aren't immediately admitted, then they will look through your experiences. they like to see RESEARCH, food animal experience, working while in school, etc. They then add points to your SIS score based on those experiences. They don't interview which I am not entirely thrilled about. But absolutely I would strive for breadth and depth of experience.
I don't know what their stance is on online courses. But from my experience, taking a course like organic chemistry would be extremely difficult online. I'd take sumstorm's advice and talk with the school, explain your situation, and ask questions. PM me if you'd like the contact info for MSU

 

[Yorkie Paws]

Thank you both. 🙂

I don't have a copy of MSU's form, but I have looked at the ones that are available online. I think a lot of it depends on what I can do safely and not necessarily that I have or don't have 20/20 vision. If visual aids allow me to do what is required, then I'd hope some school somewhere would let me in. I will ask MSU for theirs though and see what they say.

lol, great grades, research, and food animal experience is the opposite of what I wanted to hear.

Jpeterman, I see you did your undergrad at OU. That's where I would like to go. 🙂

 

[jpeterman13]

lol, great grades, research, and food animal experience is the opposite of what I wanted to hear.

Jpeterman, I see you did your undergrad at OU. That's where I would like to go. 🙂

yes I did. it's a great school, esp. if you'd like to do some research, there are tons of opportunities. not many pre-vet people here though (and by not many I mean like 4 that I've met 😀, not even enough to start a pre-vet club). But like I said, hit me up with a PM if you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

 

[sumstorm]

LOL. I specifically noted it wasn't about having perfect vision.

As for online courses, you will run into issues with labs. Also, potentially with recommendations, adcoms considering whether you can handle yourself in an academic environment, etc. I am not sure you could get in with a fully online degree (I have never heard of it happening, but I could be missing something) but some schools tolerate some online courses.

 

[Yorkie Paws]

LOL. I specifically noted it wasn't about having perfect vision.

As for online courses, you will run into issues with labs. Also, potentially with recommendations, adcoms considering whether you can handle yourself in an academic environment, etc. I am not sure you could get in with a fully online degree (I have never heard of it happening, but I could be missing something) but some schools tolerate some online courses.

I know for MSU, animal nutrition would need to be done online because OU doesn't offer it (unless I missed it). I'm really just kind of interested in doing my first semester at CC mostly or fully online. It would be very basic Intro Chem, Intermediate or College algebra (depending where I place), English, and maybe Psych or something. For this semester, it would just work out better for me. I don't want to regret it later though.

 

[sumstorm]

I thought most schools required lab with chemistry, but I might be clueless.

There is a difference between a few classes online and care sciences with labs.

 

[jpeterman13]

I know for MSU, animal nutrition would need to be done online because OU doesn't offer it (unless I missed it).

I'm pretty sure HS301 satisfies that requirement, and HEA1510 does from OCC.

 

[david594]

Thank you both. 🙂

I don't have a copy of MSU's form, but I have looked at the ones that are available online. I think a lot of it depends on what I can do safely and not necessarily that I have or don't have 20/20 vision. If visual aids allow me to do what is required, then I'd hope some school somewhere would let me in.

This is OSU's technical standards in case you hadnt come across it:

http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/assets/pdf/education/dvmProgram/incomingClass/technicalStandards.pdf

Your safety is one aspect, but your ability to perform diagnostics is another.

 

[shortnsweet]

Hey, this is my first post on SDN, but I have been lurking for awhile. 🙂

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that I want to go into vet med. There is really no way that I could get into a university right now, so I need to start at a CC. I would like to transfer in 1-2 years though (before getting into upper division science classes). Here's where it becomes tricky. I'm visually impaired and don't drive. Right now I am working with my eye doctor and a vet to see what I can do before I get too far into this thing. It is just sooooo much easier for me to do any type of class online because I don't have to have a ride and accommodations don't have to be made. Obviously all the science courses with labs will have to be taken on-site, but is there a general concensus on how many basic classes can be taken online without it hurting vet school admissions?

Also, Michigan State is my IS school and first choice. Does anyone know what they like to see? Breadth of experience or depth? Is shadowing okay, or do they prefer that you have a vet related job? Do they place emphasis on the tier of your undergrad school?

Thank you very much.

I definitely do not have 20/20 vision, but I still managed to get into vet school🙂 Come to think of it..I got into vet school with only one working one!!

I think your question as to where you stand in the original post is quite a loaded one. As we do not know how limited your vision makes you other than that you cannot drive, it is hard to say how much a school would do for you. That being said, I sympathize with you, as I know it adds just that much more difficulty to the application process.

Now, with the school thing. GPA and rigor of courses ranks pretty high up there. Many of the schools I applied to only liked to see one or two online courses..like nutrition for example. Once you get into the core courses(bio, chem, orgo, physics...the list goes on for pre vet majors...), they want as many labs and lectures as possible---a standard course load if you will--for me--it was 4 courses a semester for 4 years, and they wanted to see that as I moved through college, my courses were upper division and harder, but I was still keeping up. You mentioned that a 4 yr program is just not feasible right now, (why?)...but, a CC is with possibility of transfer..except you can't drive there. To play devil's advocate...would a public university with residential options be a possibility???

Like what others have said, we can't speak for vet school admissions..we were all a part of the game..and it's sadly a crapshoot. I would take sumstorms advice and contact the schools you are interested in..ask them what they want to see, what you can do in the next few years to strengthen your app etc. ...also, maybe contact potential undergrad universities and see what they can do for you in the now...transportation, course offerings, residences, research opportunities, pre vet clubs/majors/advice etc

It's good to hear you've already started talking with your vet...are you shadowing/working with him/her too?? Try and get some varied experience in the next year(s) to get your hands dirty and feel out what you can/want to do..the experience is the big indicator as to if you want to stick with this ;-)

Good Luck!!!!!

 

[marycatherine]

I definitely do not have 20/20 vision, but I still managed to get into vet school🙂 Come to think of it..I got into vet school with only one working one!!

Is it harder to get into vet school if you wear glasses/contacts?? I don't need anything else against me. 🙁

 

[twelvetigers]

Lol no. You might have a bit more trouble using a microscope, but that's just something you'll have to deal with - admissions doesn't care as long as you *can* see.

 

[shortnsweet]

Aww! No!! I didn't mean to scare you!!!I was simply saying it that way in response to something the OP said!! And trying to prove a point that even with eye issues(i'm blind in one eye, contact in the other), I still got into vet school and am doing just fine...i've never needed special accommodations!

Listen to Twelvetigers..she keeps me in line when I misspeak 😉

 

[Yorkie Paws]

I definitely do not have 20/20 vision, but I still managed to get into vet school🙂 Come to think of it..I got into vet school with only one working one!!

I think your question as to where you stand in the original post is quite a loaded one. As we do not know how limited your vision makes you other than that you cannot drive, it is hard to say how much a school would do for you. That being said, I sympathize with you, as I know it adds just that much more difficulty to the application process.

Now, with the school thing. GPA and rigor of courses ranks pretty high up there. Many of the schools I applied to only liked to see one or two online courses..like nutrition for example. Once you get into the core courses(bio, chem, orgo, physics...the list goes on for pre vet majors...), they want as many labs and lectures as possible---a standard course load if you will--for me--it was 4 courses a semester for 4 years, and they wanted to see that as I moved through college, my courses were upper division and harder, but I was still keeping up. You mentioned that a 4 yr program is just not feasible right now, (why?)...but, a CC is with possibility of transfer..except you can't drive there. To play devil's advocate...would a public university with residential options be a possibility???

Like what others have said, we can't speak for vet school admissions..we were all a part of the game..and it's sadly a crapshoot. I would take sumstorms advice and contact the schools you are interested in..ask them what they want to see, what you can do in the next few years to strengthen your app etc. ...also, maybe contact potential undergrad universities and see what they can do for you in the now...transportation, course offerings, residences, research opportunities, pre vet clubs/majors/advice etc

It's good to hear you've already started talking with your vet...are you shadowing/working with him/her too?? Try and get some varied experience in the next year(s) to get your hands dirty and feel out what you can/want to do..the experience is the big indicator as to if you want to stick with this ;-)

Good Luck!!!!!

Yes, I am shadowing a vet and will be scrubbing in on a surgery to see how things go because I want to see what I can see before going to far. Visual aids may work in my case, so there are just a lot of questions that will need to be answered over time.

A 4-year isn't doable right now because I didn't really care in HS and the grades just aren't there to go to a university. I hope to just start at a CC and then as long as I keep a good GPA, I can transfer pretty easily. Transportation will be looked at, but I need to start this semester (I'm already three years post HS) and it isn't really an option yet. I'm waiting on some funding or a job (which is pretty hard to get in Michigan right now) to pay for transportation, etc.