Large animal advantage?

[zpinkpanther]

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You rule, alliecat!!

Totally. And from everything that you've done, there's no doubt in my mind that you deserved to get into vet school. 🙂

 

[Weazlebub]

Also, just because she says she's going into large animal medicine doesn't mean that the adcoms will believe here. Lots of people sincerely (or not so sincerely) say they're going into LA, but end up not doing it.

Correct. We do have a few spots specifically designed to develop more rural large animal vets. But you can's just say you want to do large animal. Your background and work history will have to support your claim.

 

[VAgirl]

Once this application cycle is over, i'd be happy to tell you all. I've given advice to people both publically and via PM, and i do not want to give anybody an unfair advantage over another potential applicant.

Perhaps I'm just too uptight, but isn't giving advice to (and otherwise communicating with) individuals who are currently trying to gain admission while you're an active decision maker in that process a little...dicey?

 

[clawsbeatskin]

Perhaps I'm just too uptight, but isn't giving advice to (and otherwise communicating with) individuals who are currently trying to gain admission while you're an active decision maker in that process a little...dicey?

I agree, especially if you've already given advice via PM in the past...

 

[Weazlebub]

Once this application cycle is over, i'd be happy to tell you all. I've given advice to people both publically and via PM, and i do not want to give anybody an unfair advantage over another potential applicant.

That is my major reason... that and this forum is supposed to be anonymous 😉

I can't wait! I'm interested to find out who puts residents on the Admissions Committee!

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Warning: useless post 🙂

The monorail cat reminded me.....

Poor kitty....heh heh

 

[JerseyisCutest]

.

 

[lailanni]

Hehehe, new monorail cat! Good one!

If anyone wanted to know where I got the monorail cat pic (the one I got, I'm not sure about the fat cat?) it was from the 'i can has cheezburger' website : ) Funny stuff!

 

[julieDVM]

Perhaps I'm just too uptight, but isn't giving advice to (and otherwise communicating with) individuals who are currently trying to gain admission while you're an active decision maker in that process a little...dicey?

no. given that everybody has equal opportunity to ask me questions, and that i obviously do not solicit advice that would be unethical, my actions are legit. Also given that where i work is anonymous, i feel as though i'm not compromising my position.

 

[dvm'08]

I can't wait! I'm interested to find out who puts residents on the Admissions Committee!

I had a resident on my interview committee for vet school - i didn't think this was an uncommon occurrence... maybe i'm wrong?

 

[alliecat44]

Thanks for the support, guys! 🙂 (I hope people realize I posted all that personal stuff to illustrate a point and not to be full of myself!)

And the "1 in 1000" trick works for bad stuff, too. I pull that out of my pocket when a client tries to ask me (once my neurologist leaves the room, of course) "so, what are the chances that he has a brain tumor/GME/stroke/etc?" "How long will he live with radiation therapy?" "Being 1 out of 1000 doesn't really matter when your dog is that 1 in 1000."

Anyways, I digress. 🙂 VAGirl, how are you doing with interview prep/travel plans?? You're going to ROCK! 😍😍

 

[VAgirl]

I hope people realize I posted all that personal stuff to illustrate a point and not to be full of myself!

Of course we do, silly. 🙂

VAGirl, how are you doing with interview prep/travel plans??

Hmm...I'm getting there, I guess. Need to do more prep for sure! Thanks for the vote of confidence, though. 🙂

 

[Sea Hero]

Also given that where i work is anonymous, i feel as though i'm not compromising my position.

I wouldn't be so confident Oiler fan... Its not that hard to find who was accepted into residencies over the last couple of years, especially surgical residencies. Tread lightly!

The more you write on this forum the more I am tempted to email your posts to the participating VMCAS schools. I am sure the deans of the various schools would really love to hear that one of their admissions committee members is posting on these forums.

Also, it seems to me that you are posting during your work hours, and I am sure on a university owned computer/internet account. It wouldn't be that difficult for the university to figure out who you are. All they have to do is cross reference your post times on these forums with your log in times at work. Pretty simple.

Just had a revelation writing. Maybe I won't tell the schools, this way I have something to sue about in the future. I don't think courts look kindly on admissions committee members helping students gain an unfair advantage.

 

[Weazlebub]

I had a resident on my interview committee for vet school - i didn't think this was an uncommon occurrence... maybe i'm wrong?

Not wrong.. I was only surprised. We pull in practitioners from the local area to take part. They provide good perspective. I know some residents here who would be great. I didn't mean to sound mean.

 

[cyrille104]

I wouldn't be so confident Oiler fan... Its not that hard to find who was accepted into residencies over the last couple of years, especially surgical residencies. Tread lightly!

The more you write on this forum the more I am tempted to email your posts to the participating VMCAS schools. I am sure the deans of the various schools would really love to hear that one of their admissions committee members is posting on these forums.

Also, it seems to me that you are posting during your work hours, and I am sure on a university owned computer/internet account. It wouldn't be that difficult for the university to figure out who you are. All they have to do is cross reference your post times on these forums with your log in times at work. Pretty simple.

Just had a revelation writing. Maybe I won't tell the schools, this way I have something to sue about in the future. I don't think courts look kindly on admissions committee members helping students gain an unfair advantage.

Hmph. Lurkers. I was wondering who was viewing the forums late at night without signing in.

You're a blankity blank blank.

 

[nyanko]

I wouldn't be so confident Oiler fan... Its not that hard to find who was accepted into residencies over the last couple of years, especially surgical residencies. Tread lightly!

The more you write on this forum the more I am tempted to email your posts to the participating VMCAS schools. I am sure the deans of the various schools would really love to hear that one of their admissions committee members is posting on these forums.

Why would you do a jerk thing like that?

 

[cyrille104]

Why would you do a jerk thing like that?

They wouldn't give a **** anyway

 

[nyanko]

They wouldn't give a **** anyway

True, but it's still immature and vindictive. Hopefully it'd backfire and the school would figure out who the e-mail was coming from and shred up that person's application for being so obviously immature instead.

 

[julieDVM]

I wouldn't be so confident Oiler fan... Its not that hard to find who was accepted into residencies over the last couple of years, especially surgical residencies. Tread lightly!

The more you write on this forum the more I am tempted to email your posts to the participating VMCAS schools. I am sure the deans of the various schools would really love to hear that one of their admissions committee members is posting on these forums.

Also, it seems to me that you are posting during your work hours, and I am sure on a university owned computer/internet account. It wouldn't be that difficult for the university to figure out who you are. All they have to do is cross reference your post times on these forums with your log in times at work. Pretty simple.

Just had a revelation writing. Maybe I won't tell the schools, this way I have something to sue about in the future. I don't think courts look kindly on admissions committee members helping students gain an unfair advantage.

Although you are probably right in that i'm sure people could eventually figure out who i actually am, I dont feel as though i've done anything wrong, and am confident that any advice i've dispensed to aid applicants has been done so in a professional manner that will not provide someone with an advantage over some else.

I am flattered, though, that you specifically signed up to SDN just to threaten me.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I am flattered, though, that you specifically signed up to SDN just to threaten me.



Uh uh, watch out JulieDVM, they're comin to get you!

 

[pomchi1]

Michigan State's vet school has advisors for applicants. The advisors give out advice to anyone who asks. It's not wrong. It's up to the students to take advantage of that, and the students realize in the end, it's just advice, not an admission or a promise of future admission.

 

[VAgirl]

Michigan State's vet school has advisors for applicants. The advisors give out advice to anyone who asks. It's not wrong. It's up to the students to take advantage of that, and the students realize in the end, it's just advice, not an admission or a promise of future admission.

But are the advisors on the admissions committee making decisions?

 

[Weazlebub]

But are the advisors on the admissions committee making decisions?

Some of them do.

 

[ri23]

But are the advisors on the admissions committee making decisions?

Yes, almost all of the time the people that you go in and do pre-consults are on the admissions committee (and most of the time they're the head of the adcomm). I'm really surprised that by browsing through these posts so many people are upset that someone that is on an adcomm is giving them advice. That is what the forum is for. If you look at the pre-med board they have a stickied ask an adcomm page.

 

[Hules728]

To all the threads about not getting in with a 3.0 GPA that is entirley not true. Especially if you study your butt off for the MCAT and do really well, and you have the animal experince to back up whatever you want to do. If you have a low GPA I would suggest doing really well on the MCAT to show that you understand the more difficult science subjects that may have caused your low GPA in the first place. A strong MCAT score hopefully will ensure a file review and then there would be a good chance you could be accepted.

 

[nyanko]

To all the threads about not getting in with a 3.0 GPA that is entirley not true. Especially if you study your butt off for the MCAT and do really well, and you have the animal experince to back up whatever you want to do. If you have a low GPA I would suggest doing really well on the MCAT to show that you understand the more difficult science subjects that may have caused your low GPA in the first place. A strong MCAT score hopefully will ensure a file review and then there would be a good chance you could be accepted.

Just FYI most vet schools accept the GRE general exam rather than the MCAT, though some still take the MCAT.

 

[Moonpaw]

To all of those who are quite upset about people telling you that you probably won't get in with a 3.0 GPA, realize that no one is stopping you from applying. They're just trying to give you realistic advice. And even if you do have great experience otherwise, unless you have a very solid reason for having such a low GPA, you shouldn't expect a miracle.

 

[ri23]

To all the threads about not getting in with a 3.0 GPA that is entirley not true. Especially if you study your butt off for the MCAT and do really well, and you have the animal experince to back up whatever you want to do. If you have a low GPA I would suggest doing really well on the MCAT to show that you understand the more difficult science subjects that may have caused your low GPA in the first place. A strong MCAT score hopefully will ensure a file review and then there would be a good chance you could be accepted.

Have you even read this thread. Every single person that has commented on it being hard to get into vet school with a sub 3.0 GPA (and you better believe that it IS hard) has said that having a really strong application in other areas will certainly help. And yes, all schools except the GRE, some, but very few, except the MCAT.

 

[ri23]

ANYWAY, you are so correct, I have found several contradicting posts from people on here who claim to have done some things that I think is either a lie or a huge exaggeration at best, judging from the contradictive posts. 🙄 Accordingly, I've started to doubt even things that make sense that these people have posted.
And I would most definitely like to know at least the general area she's in, though I'm not implying that she's one of the fibbers, it would just make everything a little more legitimate.

While it is hard to believe everything you read on the internet, most of the frequent posters on here are pretty legitimate. What contradictory posts have you found?

 

[PAThbrd]

Last edited by cyrille104 : 01-08-2008 at 11:36 PM. Reason: Deanna would have killed me
i know where you live too...


Seriously guys... this is getting a little out of hand.

Julie (and everyone else on here!) is just trying to give honest advice to help you. Take it as you will, and if you do get fired up by someone's words, take that energy to improve yourself and your application so you can be that 1 in 1000, instead of bashing them and threatening lawsuits and blackmail, etc. when these people are, in their own way, trying to help you. The facts are facts, and it hurts to accept some of them, but you can't take it out the people that are making you look at them.

And please remember, current vet students, interns, residents, practicing DVM/VMDs, etc. have busy, crazy lives and we do get kinda miserable and cranky and we don't always come off as the nicest people even if our intentions are good. We're trying to help you by being here to offer our insight as people who have applied to vet school, have sat through the classes, served on the adcoms, worked in the profession, etc. SDN is to help, not hurt. Please don't take every comment personally!

And please, PLAY NICE!!! Or I'll have to start doing all the nasty little things that SDN lets me do like give infractions, close threads, etc.

 

[cyrille104]

Last edited by cyrille104 : 01-08-2008 at 11:36 PM. Reason: Deanna would have killed me
i know where you live too...

Yes, right before the end of the world (aka true west philly). Don't forget to call 898-walk if you come after me - the streets get a little dangerous at night 'round these parts 😛

 

[SweeTeaPie]

Yes, right before the end of the world (aka true west philly). Don't forget to call 898-walk if you come after me - the streets get a little dangerous at night 'round these parts 😛

Speaking of West Philly, where do most Penn Vet students get housing? I work at CHOP and am all too familliar with the area...

 

[SweeTeaPie]

Let me just say I will start medical school this fall and I have a 3.5 science gpa and a 3.44 overall gpa. I have never applied or had the intent to apply to vet school (i like what you guys do though). My stats are not relevant to this, the point i am making remains.

P.S. Where do Med students get off telling us about the application process? Everyone knows it's harder to get into vet school anyway. There are more Med. schools in the Philadelphia area alone than there are Vet. schools on the entire East Coast. Besides, you can't ask a horse where it hurts, unless of course the horse of course is the Famous Mr. Ed...

 

[Moonpaw]

P.S. Where do Med students get off telling us about the application process? Everyone knows it's harder to get into vet school anyway. There are more Med. schools in the Philadelphia area alone than there are Vet. schools on the entire East Coast. Besides, you can't ask a horse where it hurts, unless of course the horse of course is the Famous Mr. Ed...

Yeah, we tend to ignore those guys. There was once a pre-podiatry student trolling this board, but she eventually got the idea that no one cared what she said.

 

[cyrille104]

Speaking of West Philly, where do most Penn Vet students get housing? I work at CHOP and am all too familliar with the area...

usually between 42nd and 47th...don't wanna be too close to the undergrads, but don't wanna bet too far from school either

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

There was once a pre-podiatry student trolling this board, but she eventually got the idea that no one cared what she said

She got foot-in-mouth disease.

I couldn't resist.

 

[Moonpaw]

She got foot-in-mouth disease.

I couldn't resist.

Thank you. I actually LOL'ed at that.

 

[Karazy]

Thank you. I actually LOL'ed at that.

So did I! Nice one, bud.

 

[Cheska]

This one had me cracking up- thought it would fit well in this particular thread. It is from this month's Veterinary Medicine:

Mind Over Miller: The interview: Species-specific silliness

Jan 1, 2008
By:Robert M. Miller, DVM
Veterinary Medicine

Professor A: Well, Terry—may we call you Terry?—you aspire to a degree in veterinary medicine?

Terry: Yes, sir. I want to be a veterinarian.

Professor A: Good! We have reviewed your undergraduate scholastic record, and it is excellent.

Terry: Thank you, sir!

Professor B: However, acceptance to veterinary school is competitive. Because there are many more qualified applicants than there are available spots, we must look at more than an applicant's GPA.

Terry: I realize that, Doctor B. I hope I can meet those other criteria.

Professor C: On your application, you expressed an interest in food-animal medicine.

Terry: Yes, ma'am.

Professor C: Are you aware that a critical shortage of veterinarians has developed in that area?

Terry: I've heard that, Doctor. I'd like to help alleviate that shortage.

All three professors: Good. Yes. Good.

Professor A: You come from a large city. Are you certain you'll be happy in a rural environment?

Terry: As long as I don't have to get up early.

Professor C: There is talk of opening a veterinary school devoted exclusively to food-animal medicine. If you are not accepted here, you could consider applying to such an institution.

Terry: If I attended an institution like that, would I be allowed to treat other animals after I graduated?

Professor C: Probably not.

Terry: You mean I'd only be licensed to treat cows?

Professor C: No, you could treat cows and hogs and sheep.

Professor A: —and goats!

Professor B:—and rabbits.

Professor A: Rabbits are lab animals.

Professor B: Not if you eat them.

Professor A: In some countries, they eat dogs.

Professor C: What about poultry? We eat them, but we usually lump avian medicine with exotics.

Professor A: Well, what about horses? We consider them to be companion animals, but people in some countries eat them. If we started species-limited schools, would a graduate of an equine school be an equine practitioner or a food-animal practitioner?

Professor C: What about wool production? That's not a food.

Professor B: It is for moths!

Professor C: Very funny.

Professor A: I'm serious. If we limit licensing in the future, who will treat wool-producing sheep? What about llamas? Students study them in exotics, but they are a domestic species.

Terry: May I say something?

All three professors: No!

Professor B: Times change, Terry. It's not like when I was in practice.

Terry: Were you in small-animal practice or large-animal practice?

Professor B: Yes.

Terry: Did your practice include food animals?

Professor B: It was all food animals—if I didn't treat everything, I couldn't afford to eat. I'd often put in 20 hours. It was tough!

Terry: Twenty hours a week? What's tough about that?

Professor B: I meant 20 hours a day.

Terry: Uh, may I go now?

Robert M. Miller, DVM, is an author and a cartoonist, speaker, and Veterinary Medicine Practitioner Advisory Board member from Thousand Oaks, Calif. His thoughts in "Mind Over Miller" are drawn from 32 years as a mixed-animal practioner. Visit his Web site at http://www.robertmmiller.com/.