Licensed Technician applying to vet school

[LVTmom]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am an LVT in the state of Alabama. I received my license in 2006 and have been practicing full time since. I am also a wife and a mother of two sons. I plan to apply to veterinary school in the next application cycle. I have had countless hours of job experience as well as clinical rotations and received very high evaluations both before I graduated and on the job. I do not necessarily have stellar grades but have managed to pass my needed pre-requisite courses that I am currently taking, all while working full time each semester. I would like some input on what my chances may be of getting in. I am a little older than the typical applicant but feel that this would not necessarily affect my status. I plan to practice mixed animal but heavily concentrate on large animal as there is a serious shortage in my area.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
LVTmom

 

[dgm]

Your best bet for an accurate assessment of your competitiveness is probably the admissions personnel at the vet schools you'd like to apply to. They should be able to give you some idea of where you stand, and also suggest things you can improve on between now and application time.

I don't think anyone here can tell you your chances of getting in, especially without knowing where you're applying, what your grades are, what your GRE score is, etc. Even with all that info, we still wouldn't be seeing the whole picture, and the admissions process can be a bit mysterious anyways!

 

[LVTmom]

Good point, I am scheduled to take the GRE for the first time next month. My target school is Mississippi State, but plan to apply elsewhere too. I have met with the admission staff there and try to keep an open dialogue with them. For now I am just trying to do the best I can!

 

[PrimalMU]

Good point, I am scheduled to take the GRE for the first time next month. My target school is Mississippi State, but plan to apply elsewhere too. I have met with the admission staff there and try to keep an open dialogue with them. For now I am just trying to do the best I can!

What about Auburn??

 

[LVTmom]

Don't Worry!!! They are on my list. MSU is just my top pick, for several reasons. Mainly because my husband, 7 yr old and 11 yr old sons are staying home and home from MSU would only be 2 hrs.

 

[dgm]

Good point, I am scheduled to take the GRE for the first time next month. My target school is Mississippi State, but plan to apply elsewhere too. I have met with the admission staff there and try to keep an open dialogue with them. For now I am just trying to do the best I can!

There ya go, sounds like you're on top of everything 🙂

 

[sumstorm]

We have an LVT in our class (married, non-trad).

Something to think about is how you will answer the question 'why vet, why now? especially since you got your LVT just a couple years ago.

 

[LVT2DVM]

Contrary to my previous concerns about LVTs gaining admittance to vetschool (see previous post)...we have 4! LVT/RVTs in our class this year. I have 3 kids; the others do not but 2 are older and been practicing at least 10yrs, and the 4th graduated about 3yrs ago.

I second the recc. that you contact the schools you are interested in. Have them completely evaluate your statistics and such. They can tell you what your strengths and weaknesses are and where to concentrate your efforts for improvement. Make sure you get study guides for the GRE! and try to get a 1250 or higher (IMO) to be competitive.
Dont feel you have to justify your reasons for applying to VS, if you want, it go for it. However, be prepared to discuss this if brought up in an interview. Another bit of advice....dont use you tech experience to make a case for your admittance to VS...instead focus on what interests you about veterinary medicine (ie medicine, science, ect...)

Good luck!

 

[Martee527]

Hello and Welcome 🙂

I'm also an RVT (licensed in OH for 5 years) and non-trad! Just wanted to wish you luck and let you know that you're not alone!

Try to kick butt on your GRE (I sure didn't...and it's hurting me) and write some really good essays/personal statement.

You can do this! Btw, 3 of my classmates from tech school are in vet school now! There are lots of techs out there taking the next step! oh, and Happy Vet Tech Month! 😛

 

[psjlg2]

Is there some stigma for licensed techs getting into vet school? I got my license last year (I'm only 21), but I thought it would be a plus and not necessarily something that detracts from my application....
Does it really matter?

 

[Martee527]

I sure hope not!!!!!!!!!! yikes. I never even considered that 😕

 

[Pointer1330]

I'm no expert but would reiterate talking to admissions at the schools you're considering. Also, you say you "passed" all your prerequisites. If you mean you got C's in all of them, then that could be an issue but I'm assuming that isn't the case. If you have decent grades and can do well on the GRE I don't see why you couldn't be a competitive applicant.

 

[Pandacinny]

I've heard there's a stigma, but didn't see that myself when applying. I've only been an RVT for a couple of years and became one between by first and second times applying to vet school. My application was judged on its merits - the downside being my undergrad grades and the upside being my GREs, LORS, and experience. Nobody mentioned being an RVT one way or another and it certainly didn't seem to handicap me. If you've got a competitive application as far as grades, experience, and interview skills go, you should be fine. If not, just don't expect your tech certification to make up for poor grades or low GREs.

 

[Bill59]

Is there some stigma for licensed techs getting into vet school?

no