Is there a chance in....?

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imagine21

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Just looking for a little hope or maybe a reality ck:my stats are CumGPA 3.35 from Tier 1 college/major dual bio & math;numerous honors & awards, science GPA 3.4; final GPA 3.7;lots of hrs.exp @ sm.animal/exotic clinic + lots of hrs @ equine practice;competive rider 15yrs exp.; GRE 1170 (Q720/V450(boohoo) Is there any hope for me??
 
Why don't you check the websites of the schools you're interested in for their average-class stats? That would give you a good idea of where you stand. You probably have a chance somewhere, but it really depends on the schools to which you're applying.

Your GPA is a little weak, but it's not going to keep you from getting in. Try to bring it up if it's possible. Your GPA scores are pretty weak; I'd take them over again and see if I could do better. (If you've already applied, some schools [such as Tufts] will still accept new scores after the application deadline, so check and see.) I would say your animal experience is a good strong point of your application, so play it up.
 
I did check all the schools requirements-I've lived on those sites (or feel like I have) but, all the schools list averages which I assume means some are lower and some are higher. (I also don't know if all schools raise their minimums for out of staters because I am not in-state anywhere) My GPA is pretty good for the school I attended and since I already graduated, unless I take post bac the gpa is not going anywhere. I know my downfall is my verbal GRE but do the schools sometimes grant interviews if something else on your app interests them or is that a fairy tale?
To be honest, I was a student in dental school and dropped out last year because I realized how much I wanted to be a vet and knew I was in the wrong place. I know dental schools won't look at you if your GPA is even a hair below their cut/off (usually a 3.2) or if your DAT average score is below their cut-off. No matter what else is in your application, if you are below a 3.2 and a 19 or 20 DAT, you will not get an interview. So what I should have really asked was, is vet school like dental school and if you are below their cut-off score, even on one item, do you go into the reject pile and never get a 2nd look or do vet schools do it differently and really look at your total package? BTW, I applied everywhere even before I knew the result of my GRE. I just took the GRE Oct.so I could only take it Nov. but I had just finished Kaplan and was consistently scoring in the 600's in verbal so I doubt taking it again will help. (although I do intend to try on Nov 1) Thanks for the input.
 
Well, to answer your question... as I'm sure you know, vet schools generally do have some pre-requisites and GPA is usually one of them. I can only speak for a few schools, but it seems that this required-GPA is pretty low. If your GPA falls below that, well, I wouldn't bet on an interview. The field is so competitive that, yeah you might have awesome experience, but someone else out there is going to beat you with awesome experience + good grades + good GRE, so there's no point in admin committees bothering with people who are below their requirements.

That said (provided your GPA meets the requirement per school, which I'm sure it probably does), I think you can feel pretty confident that you will get an interview somewhere. To answer your question about "fairy tales" 🙂laugh🙂, it *really* depends on the school. Some schools get really hung up on numbers, other schools on personality and/or having the "right" personality, and some schools take in the whole picture and are willing to sacrifice one thing for another. For you personally... you don't have the best grades, but you have awesome experience which shows that you know what being a vet is all about, and that is valuable! (I think we all know a vet or vet student who is super-smart on paper but dumb as a rock in practice.)

As for averages... don't get too hung up on them ("I'm below average so I'm never going to get in!") but they can be a good gauge ("Hmm, my GPA is a full point lower than their average, maybe not the best school to apply to.") Last cycle I applied to Va-Md with way-above-average stats and was rejected as an in-state applicant. I applied to Tufts--who has much higher stats--with way-below-average stats as an out-of-state applicant and here I am. It's a crazyfunky system :laugh: Since you're out of school now, don't worry about the GPA too much; I thought you were still in undergrad when I said that... it's not BAD by any means, just a little weak compared to your competition. I would suggest taking the GRE again as you've said, but then hold off on taking it a 3rd time until you hear something about interviews.

Also, try not to worry about it too much between now and then. Trust me, because I drove myself crazy last year worrying and waiting... just hang in there and be ready to make improvements *IF* you need to.
 
You probably already know everything I'm going to say, but I'll try to answer your question as thoroughly as possible.

There is defiantly hope for you getting in somewhere at some point. For this year? It all depends. What schools did you apply to, if I may ask? It all depends on a lot of variables. You *may* get an interview some places with those stats, or you may not. A lot of people on this board have gotten in with one or more sticking points on their application, and/or after improvement over the course for 2 or more years of application. If you applied to Western I'd be surprised if you were not interviewed, from my experiences last year. On the other hand I'd be surprised if you were interviewed at NC State or accepted to Cornell. Your essays and LOR also make a big difference to some but not all schools.

It depends on how much you want it and what you are willing to do to get there. You CAN get that GRE score up. Vocabulary is built slowly and the test screens for a large and varied vocab. The best verbal section test takers are those people who have read everything they could get their hands on for a long time. You can spend the next six months reading, studying, learning words by context and by definition group. If you already know how the questions are asked and some basic test taking skills then building you vocab is your best option. Cramming almost never works (not saying you did cram).

You can go back and get your CUM GPA up. Take one or two classes, preferably upper level bio classes that will count toward pre-reqs you don't have. I was a double major too and I had to choose between cell bio and biochem one year. Now I could go back and take cell bio and open up more schools/ show I am capable of upper level bio classes. Or if there was one class you got a C, C+, B- in or was significantly lower than most of your pre-req classes re-take it and rock it. Two classes a semester and two over the summer (which is about 1/2 time school) will equal six classes by next cycle and could raise your GPA by .1 give or take depending on how many credit you have already and what you get in the classes. 3.35 vs 3.45 is the difference between being *under* the mean *almost* at the mean for some schools.

You could get more varied experience. If you have lots of hours (500 or more is lots to me). Then go volunteer or get a job with exotics, production, shelter, research or wildlife. For exotics go to a zoo, or to a SA practice that sees exotics, production go for chickens or pigs or cows to vary your LA exp. Shelter I found was the easiest volunteer position to find, but no paid positions available. Wildlife don't just think about re-hab, though it's a great thing to do, call fish and game in your state/ near by states and find out if they are doing and research in the area. NW NJ does study on black bears your can volunteer for in fall and spring. Research can be done at a teaching hosp or a biomed lab etc. If I could do it all over again I'd shoot for 500 hours in each area and them move on to another. I stuck myself in one practice (mainly) for over 3000hrs and I now have great knowledge about SA practice both the med and the business, but it did not help with getting in. Some schools, Tufts being one, will take into account supplemental info you send them after the deadline but before decisions are made. So you can up your GRE, and/or GPA, and/or get different experiences and have it count toward this year's cycle.

It depends on how far and where you are willing to go. If you are on the east coast then the schools in the UK are just about as far away as Davis and Western. An avma accredited school abroad may be a good option for you. There are schools in Oceana too, Sydney, Murdoch, and Massey. It is not easier to get into these programs because they are less strenuous or give you less of an education; that's what avma accreditation means, you get the same or better education. What happens is that students in other countries have less ability to get experience so American and Canadian students look great on that front. Further, the educational systems are a little different. They go to HS a year longer and then go right into professional school. So 1st year vet students are ~19 yrs old with no college education. Therefore vet school is 5 years long. Usually the 1st year is basic bio classes we take as pre-reqs in undergrad, then years 2-5 are like vet school in the US or Canada. Some schools break it up a little different. Most of these schools offer advanced placement for students with pre-reqs so you may be able to have 1 or 2 semesters of the 1st year waived. So again we look good because we have more educational experience. Here is a link to all of the accredited schools

http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/colleges_accredited/foreign.asp .

I am starting in Murdoch in July :-D and could not be happier. The other great thing about the schools in NZ and Australia is that they have independent applications and multiple deadlines. So, you can apply there now for some on Jan 1st for the others and have them as a back up if you choose to. If you have anymore questions about Murdoch I have some more info, but you didn't ask for it originally so I won't lengthen my post any more.

Finally you could apply to Ross or SGU where you would most certainly get in (from what I understand). As non accredited schools you would face a lot more trouble and expense to come back to the US to practice. For me they would have been a very last resort, and I think you have a lot of options without dealing with a non-accredited school.

Any one improvement or applying to other schools could open your options up. I know last year the wait was horrid and I could have kept myself buisier and happier by improving my appication. I'm not saying you should, just that was my experience. Good Luck!

*whew* that was a long post.

~Marie




Just looking for a little hope or maybe a reality ck:my stats are CumGPA 3.35 from Tier 1 college/major dual bio & math;numerous honors & awards, science GPA 3.4; final GPA 3.7;lots of hrs.exp @ sm.animal/exotic clinic + lots of hrs @ equine practice;competive rider 15yrs exp.; GRE 1170 (Q720/V450(boohoo) Is there any hope for me??
 
Thanks for all the great info: I am stressing & it's silly cause what will be at this point, will be. Actually, I am taking biochem this semester because I never fit it in as an undergrad with my double major & minor in comp.science(I have an A so far,so good) Next semester I am signed up for bio stats and microbio (my local college only allows 2 courses per semester if you are a nonmatric)
The only vet prereq.(the only college course period) I took as an undergrad and got below a B- was Physics 101; I got a C+. (I missed class time due to illness &the jerk made me do all makeup tests the day I came back.) I can't see retaking Physics I01 because I took Physics I02 all that next semester & got an A- so anyone looking at my transcript would figure out that I know how to do the work.
I agree with all comments that cramming words for the GRE verbal doesn't work: that's why I don't see how retaking it Nov. 1 will/might make me look more pathetic. I have never been a reader/my fault. I learned all the Kaplan words but Kaplan's lists do not take into account someone whose vocab is sub par to begin with. I know many of the words I screwed up were not difficult words-I just didn't know them. Raising my verbal score will be a quick fix: wish it could be.
I applied to Iowa, Massey, UP, Cornell (I know that is impossible), Tenn, Western, Glasgow, Wisc., Auburn, Fl., Tufts, Guelph, Mich, Minn., PUrdue-told you I applied to alot! I am not in state for any.
Bubbles: can you give me any info on Murdoch? Thanks again.
 
Most states without a vet school have deals with states that do. You haven't shared what state you are in, but I know all the wastern states are covered with deals, along with many states in the northeast and central atlantic. So unless you have moved in the last 12 months (lost residency in home state with out gaining it "for tuition purposes" on new state), there usually is something in place.

anyway, there are a lot of other schools in the US that you didn't mention, some of which are easier to get into. but you can worry about that next summer if you have too.
there is always hope for anyone who wants it bad enough! I am in on my third try, but it was the first time applying to the school I was admitted to.
good luck!

Thanks for all the great info: I am stressing & it's silly cause what will be at this point, will be. Actually, I am taking biochem this semester because I never fit it in as an undergrad with my double major & minor in comp.science(I have an A so far,so good) Next semester I am signed up for bio stats and microbio (my local college only allows 2 courses per semester if you are a nonmatric)
The only vet prereq.(the only college course period) I took as an undergrad and got below a B- was Physics 101; I got a C+. (I missed class time due to illness &the jerk made me do all makeup tests the day I came back.) I can't see retaking Physics I01 because I took Physics I02 all that next semester & got an A- so anyone looking at my transcript would figure out that I know how to do the work.
I agree with all comments that cramming words for the GRE verbal doesn't work: that's why I don't see how retaking it Nov. 1 will/might make me look more pathetic. I have never been a reader/my fault. I learned all the Kaplan words but Kaplan's lists do not take into account someone whose vocab is sub par to begin with. I know many of the words I screwed up were not difficult words-I just didn't know them. Raising my verbal score will be a quick fix: wish it could be.
I applied to Iowa, Massey, UP, Cornell (I know that is impossible), Tenn, Western, Glasgow, Wisc., Auburn, Fl., Tufts, Guelph, Mich, Minn., PUrdue-told you I applied to alot! I am not in state for any.
Bubbles: can you give me any info on Murdoch? Thanks again.
 
Well it looks like you have quite a spread, and you're willing to go abroad 😀 . Western was my first choice in the US and I can tell you that getting more varied experience will greatly benefit you in gaining entrance there. They interview everyone that they think is competitive after looking at your application holistically. Then if you pass the interview they seat their class based on diversity. The only diversity you have control over is the diversity of your experience. Wish I had known that last year about this time. Good luck!

Murdoch is located in Perth a city of 1.4 million in Western Australia. I've been told by family friends that it's a laid back city. It's a five year program. Semester one starts in February and semester two begins in July/ I was exempt from the 1st semester and one class in 2nd semester with gen bio, an general elective, a "foundation unit" which is like a first year seminar/thinking class, biostats, and cell bio. The application was simple, three page paper application (downloadable online) and a 500 word personal statement, 1-2 LOR, no GRE required 😀 . I found out about a month after the deadline. They have quarterly evaluations for applications. The last open one for this year was September 30th. I've talked on the about.com message board to a woman who applied late and was accepted anyway. She applied in spring 06 for entrance in 2007 but was accepted for July 2006. You could certainly contact the international department and ask to be considered. The cost is less than most out of state tuition, about $25,000 a year for tuition and about $10,000a year for cost of living (Perth is much cheaper than LA or Boston). So $35,000 per year vs $58,000 per year for Western (the only one I know off the top of my head). Hope that helps. If you have any questions I didn't answer don't hesitate, and here's a website that I've found very helpful http://vetstudents.net/home.html

~Marie
 
I am from NJ and I am not sure what the status is there because I know Jersey students used to have slots held at Iowa, Tufts, Cornell, UPenn & not sure where else but then I heard that just this year, Jersey Gov. Corzine did away with the funding that Jersey gave to the contract program to balance the state budget and because of that, Jersey vet students would not get compensated anymore at out -of -state vet schools-I am not sure if that means seats are no longer held or just that the money isn't paid. I would have applied elsewhere, but I did not take the GRE until Oct. 2 and that meant I missed the deadline at other schools.
 
You may get in, you may not. If not, or better yet in the mean time:

Memorize Kaplan's 500 Gre Words (you can get this at an major bookstore chain), and possibly get a book on how to test for the GRE. You will gank your verbal score up a ton just learning those 500 words. It is pretty ridiculous.

Then vary up your experience. You seem to have quite a bit of Small animal and Equine. Might want to try for some zoo, wildlife, large animal, or biomedical research experience. It is pretty easy to volunteer at a variety facilities that could provide you with all these different exeperiences. All it takes is a few phone calls and some determination.
 
I am from NJ and I am not sure what the status is there because I know Jersey students used to have slots held at Iowa, Tufts, Cornell, UPenn & not sure where else but then I heard that just this year, Jersey Gov. Corzine did away with the funding that Jersey gave to the contract program to balance the state budget and because of that, Jersey vet students would not get compensated anymore at out -of -state vet schools-I am not sure if that means seats are no longer held or just that the money isn't paid. I would have applied elsewhere, but I did not take the GRE until Oct. 2 and that meant I missed the deadline at other schools.

This is the last letter I got from them:

Thank you again for contacting our office in support of funding for the state's Veterinary Medical Education program for Fiscal Year 2006-2007.

Due in part to the advocacy efforts of yourself and other supporters who contacted our office, we took steps to restore all of the program's funding eliminated by Governor Jon S. Corzine in his March budget proposal.

Through a series of budget cuts and efficiencies, the Legislature reduced enough state spending to restore the Veterinary Medical Education and other higher education initiatives in the budget bill we passed and sent to the Governor.

Unfortunately, Governor Corzine used his powers of line item veto when signing the FY07 appropriations act and reduced funding for this initiative, as well as three others that benefit higher education in New Jersey. The state support for the program now stands at $650,000.

The final budget enacted restored a total of $130 million in higher education funds cut by the Governor in his original proposal, bringing total state funding for higher education to $2.1 billion.

Again, thank you for taking time to write us on this important matter affecting New Jersey higher education and the state as a whole. Please do not hesitate to contact our office in the future on this or any other important matter.

Sincerely,
Assemblyman Lou Greenwald and Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt




I've been calling all summer - apparently, the seats are never "held", just funded. According to the schools, NJ applicants are placed into the out-of-state pile with everyone else. NJ funds however many students statistically get into the school per year. More than that are not funded, less than that I guess too bad for us? From what I understand, everyone that's in is still funded, just with half of what they used to get.
 
Thanks Cory for responding to my query on NJ-
Oh and I should be embarrassed to say this-but believe me, I learned the Kaplan 500 and then some having memorized their spiral book and taken their course.
 
At the risk of sounding stupid:

What's the deal, then, for NJ folks? I.E., new applicants now. If we get in, are we eligible for anything? Meaning, is there any contract $ available for new vet school students from NJ, attending a school that contracts with NJ?

Or, is it that Corzine veto'd, and now there's some money left, but it'll go to folks already in a program...

Regardless, I'm ready to bite off the huge debt, but boy would it be nice to have a little help.

Sorry to bother. I've re-read your post a couple times, and I still sit here unsure. The email I had sent weeks ago to the NJ Higher Education Authority people, whatever they're called, went unanswered -- and I had pretty much figured it was a lost cause.

Thanks for any reply, in advance.
 
At the risk of sounding stupid:

What's the deal, then, for NJ folks? I.E., new applicants now. If we get in, are we eligible for anything? Meaning, is there any contract $ available for new vet school students from NJ, attending a school that contracts with NJ?

Or, is it that Corzine veto'd, and now there's some money left, but it'll go to folks already in a program...

Regardless, I'm ready to bite off the huge debt, but boy would it be nice to have a little help.

Sorry to bother. I've re-read your post a couple times, and I still sit here unsure. The email I had sent weeks ago to the NJ Higher Education Authority people, whatever they're called, went unanswered -- and I had pretty much figured it was a lost cause.

Thanks for any reply, in advance.

Next year's eligibility will depend on next year's budget. You have to get in, first, and then after the budget passes they give out money for the year.
 
Definitely a good chance. My GPA was lower than yours and I'm a first-year now. Do some research into how schools make their decisions - don't apply to those that do an initial cut based solely on the numbers (GPA/GRE), but there are others that will definitely look at the whole application.

Of course, you do have to make up for grades with a lot of good experience! Make it as varied as possible.
 
HI, I'm a second year vet student, and my GPA was lower than yours. Incidentally, my class-mate who sits next to me at Ohio State University is from NJ. It sems to me that different schools definitely have different priorities in selecting students. Ohio State is big on diversifying the student body; in fact, part of their app includes an option (at least I think it was optional, if I remember right) of explaining how you can add to the diversity of the student body. I and one other student in the class were single parents when accepted, and several others were married, or switched from other careers. One thing that I think admissions committees in general like to see is good people skills. We all like animals, right, that's why we're doing what we're doing, but you really have to be good with people too, and some brainiacs lack that. So, it's more than just the numbers. Ok, that's it for my $0.02 🙂
 
Thanks for the encouragement. I guess I could be contrued as a diversification because I am a career switch. I wanted to apply to Ohio because of their strong equine program but I was too late with my GRE scores to apply there so, maybe next cycle.
 
Thanks for the encouragement. I guess I could be contrued as a diversification because I am a career switch. I wanted to apply to Ohio because of their strong equine program but I was too late with my GRE scores to apply there so, maybe next cycle.

You seriously might want to take a closer look at the changes in the OSU/Galbreath equine program over the past few years before you consider it all that strong.
 
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