Louisiana State University c/o 2024

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EngrSC said:
If you have a spare moment, can you provide pros/cons about your experience so far?
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We are in-between a barrage of exams so I can definitely spare a moment.

Pros: It’s what I’ve always wanted to do and I’m doing it. Louisiana has a vibrant culture and the same is true with LSU SVM. Everyone is accommodating and the professors (thus far) have been better than I expected in that they treat you more like peers than pupils. They are more than reasonable. Do they expect a lot? Of course, it is a doctorate program after all, but on the whole they go out of their way to make sure you are successful. The Baton Rouge community absolutely loves the veterinary school being in their city (thousands upon thousands attend the yearly open house - yes, thousands) and that is reflected when I’m out and about and people see my LSU SVM badge. Everyone has positive comments when they realize I attend school at LSU. The community is incredibly supportive here.

If you’re a foodie, the dining down here is the best I’ve ever experienced. Love me some Cajun cuisine.

Cons: Honestly I can’t think of cons directly attributable to LSU. The curriculum is difficult, exams are difficult, and the program takes over your life. But such is veterinary school. Undergrad was a breeze compared to this. There are no assignments, no extra credit. Your exam scores are your grade. Depending on the class you may only have 3 exams before grades are final. The tests can be challenging and due to scheduling they tend to come in bunches. You can’t really have a bad exam grade or you’ll be sunk.

Some like to criticize some of the facilities here but a concentrated effort is being made to upgrade. Not going to lie, the school was built in the late 70s and some areas seem to be all-original. But the classrooms and library have been renovated and are state of the art. The technology here is phenomenal. In other areas of the school construction is ongoing and the administration seems to be committed to bettering the facilities on the whole.

Baton Rouge has some sketch/rough areas. Most large cities do but violent crime tends to be worse than normal here in terms of per-capita crimes. That said, there are several student-heavy neighborhoods nearby that are completely safe and the campus itself is safe. Just don’t sign a lease sight unseen if you are accepted/choose to attend. Talk to people, research, and visit before committing to living arrangements.

Baton Rouge traffic is horrendous. Like, truly terrible. A saying here is “Baton Rouge is an hour away from Baton Rouge”. It’s true. So bad. I cannot emphasize this enough. Live close to campus.

I’ve heard and firmly believe that veterinary school is what you make it. No veterinary program is completely perfect. Reciprocally, no veterinary program is complete crap. Chronic complainers will find issues with even the best programs. Will you be presented with all the info/answers on a silver platter here at LSU? No. Should you be? Not in my opinion. You will have to work very hard for your degree, as you should have to do.

I love living in Louisiana and feel like the education I’m receiving at LSU will make me more than successful in my career. I promise LSU didn’t pay me to say any of this, haha. I was accepted at multiple programs and chose LSU. Not being boastful at all; just trying to say I had options and LSU won out because of the vibe I got while visiting. I feel LSU is a special place.


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Thank you @BravesFan!

I have a tentative trip out there planned for January (which will become definite if I’m accepted or waitlisted in December). I can’t imagine attending a school sight unseen! I’m sure I’ll have more questions for you if that happens 🙂
 
Received a rejection today! Here’s what it said

No Longer Under Consideration - Committee Decision (Below Top 150)

We recognize and appreciate the time you took in developing your application and we commend you for your achievements and effort thus far. The Faculty Committee on Admissions, charged with the responsibility to review the qualifications of each applicant and to select the most qualified for admission, spends many hours evaluating individual records. As is the case each application cycle, there are many more highly qualified applicants than there is space within the constraints of a limited class size. With approximately 500 non-resident applicants in this year's application pool, the LSU SVM Admissions Committee only takes the top 150 - 250 ranked non-resident applicants to move forward into the folder review process. This Top Applicant List is based solely on the overall scores and rankings calculated from GRE scores, Required Course GPA, and Last 45 Credit Hour GPA. Unfortunately, your application did not make it into the Top Applicant List of out of state applicants and will not be given further consideration in this application cycle. Since your application did not make it into the review process, we are unable to discuss ways in which you could improve your application.

We would like to express our appreciation for your patience over this admissions cycle, and we thank you for your interest in our program. We wish you the best of luck if you choose to submit a future application.

For any interested:
Cum gpa: 3.8
Last 45 gpa: 3.62
Required course gpa: 3.83
GRE combined 300
 
Rayprevet said:
Received a rejection today! Here’s what it said

No Longer Under Consideration - Committee Decision (Below Top 150)

We recognize and appreciate the time you took in developing your application and we commend you for your achievements and effort thus far. The Faculty Committee on Admissions, charged with the responsibility to review the qualifications of each applicant and to select the most qualified for admission, spends many hours evaluating individual records. As is the case each application cycle, there are many more highly qualified applicants than there is space within the constraints of a limited class size. With approximately 500 non-resident applicants in this year's application pool, the LSU SVM Admissions Committee only takes the top 150 - 250 ranked non-resident applicants to move forward into the folder review process. This Top Applicant List is based solely on the overall scores and rankings calculated from GRE scores, Required Course GPA, and Last 45 Credit Hour GPA. Unfortunately, your application did not make it into the Top Applicant List of out of state applicants and will not be given further consideration in this application cycle. Since your application did not make it into the review process, we are unable to discuss ways in which you could improve your application.

We would like to express our appreciation for your patience over this admissions cycle, and we thank you for your interest in our program. We wish you the best of luck if you choose to submit a future application.

For any interested:
Cum gpa: 3.8
Last 45 gpa: 3.62
Required course gpa: 3.83
GRE combined 300
Click to expand...
Wow, I am surprised by that. Your GPAs are very good! Were you in the holistic review?
 
Rayprevet said:
Received a rejection today! Here’s what it said

No Longer Under Consideration - Committee Decision (Below Top 150)

We recognize and appreciate the time you took in developing your application and we commend you for your achievements and effort thus far. The Faculty Committee on Admissions, charged with the responsibility to review the qualifications of each applicant and to select the most qualified for admission, spends many hours evaluating individual records. As is the case each application cycle, there are many more highly qualified applicants than there is space within the constraints of a limited class size. With approximately 500 non-resident applicants in this year's application pool, the LSU SVM Admissions Committee only takes the top 150 - 250 ranked non-resident applicants to move forward into the folder review process. This Top Applicant List is based solely on the overall scores and rankings calculated from GRE scores, Required Course GPA, and Last 45 Credit Hour GPA. Unfortunately, your application did not make it into the Top Applicant List of out of state applicants and will not be given further consideration in this application cycle. Since your application did not make it into the review process, we are unable to discuss ways in which you could improve your application.

We would like to express our appreciation for your patience over this admissions cycle, and we thank you for your interest in our program. We wish you the best of luck if you choose to submit a future application.

For any interested:
Cum gpa: 3.8
Last 45 gpa: 3.62
Required course gpa: 3.83
GRE combined 300
Click to expand...
Wow I am surprised since your gpa's are so good! I'm sure you will get in somewhere with those scores. Do you mind if I ask if you had much vet experience?
 
Eriyo said:
Wow, I am surprised by that. Your GPAs are very good! Were you in the holistic review?
Click to expand...

I was! For like 2 weeks I believe? I was surprised too, must be really competitive this year!
 
ReillyC said:
Wow I am surprised since your gpa's are so good! I'm sure you will get in somewhere with those scores. Do you mind if I ask if you had much vet experience?
Click to expand...

I was a little surprised too! I had about 750 vet hours when I applied, much more now though. 800 hours research, an overseas research trip to the Solomon islands, various clubs. Still rooting for all of you others who made it to folder review though! You got this
 
Rayprevet said:
I was a little surprised too! I had about 750 vet hours when I applied, much more now though. 800 hours research, an overseas research trip to the Solomon islands, various clubs. Still rooting for all of you others who made it to folder review though! You got this
Click to expand...
Wow that is so scary! I am sorry you didn't make it through.

Sent from my LM-G710VM using SDN mobile
 
Rayprevet said:
I was a little surprised too! I had about 750 vet hours when I applied, much more now though. 800 hours research, an overseas research trip to the Solomon islands, various clubs. Still rooting for all of you others who made it to folder review though! You got this
Click to expand...
Looking at previous class stats, it’s could be GRE. The OOS average was 309.
 
Does "Thank you for checking the status of your LSU SVM application. Please log in at least once every 1-2 days to check your application materials and status. Failure to do so can jeopardize your possible admissions into the LSU SVM." give anyone else anxiety whenever they log in?
 
ajs513 said:
Looking at previous class stats, it’s could be GRE. The OOS average was 309.
Click to expand...

That was my thinking too, just thought with my experience and GPAs I could pull through! Oh well
 
Rayprevet said:
That was my thinking too, just thought with my experience and GPAs I could pull through! Oh well
Click to expand...
I’m really surprised your stats are much better than mine, except GRE (which is only about 10 points lower).
 
somebun said:
I’m really surprised your stats are much better than mine, except GRE (which is only about 10 points lower).
Click to expand...

10 points on the GRE can be the difference between a 30-40 percentile score change! So it’s actually a big difference!
 
LG012 said:
10 points on the GRE can be the difference between a 30-40 percentile score change! So it’s actually a big difference!
Click to expand...
It is a difference, but I don’t think one that’s so dramatic especially compared to how good their gpa is! Their cumulative and req course gps are both 0.3 better than me, the only area I have better is last 45 & they sent me straight to folder review.
This process is such a mystery to me
 
somebun said:
It is a difference, but I don’t think one that’s so dramatic especially compared to how good their gpa is! Their cumulative and req course gps are both 0.3 better than me, the only area I have better is last 45 & they sent me straight to folder review.
This process is such a mystery to me
Click to expand...
I see what you what mean! It would be interesting to see how much each section (req GPA, last 45, and GRE) were weighted for OOS applicants.
I ended up not applying at the last second because I felt my GRE score wasn’t good enough if they were all weighted equally. I got a 306 score
 
somebun said:
It is a difference, but I don’t think one that’s so dramatic especially compared to how good their gpa is! Their cumulative and req course gps are both 0.3 better than me, the only area I have better is last 45 & they sent me straight to folder review.
This process is such a mystery to me
Click to expand...

According to the LSU website, “the Out of State Top Applicant List is determined based off of an overall score calculated with the Required Courses GPA, Last 45 Credit Hour GPA and GRE score.” Who knows how they weight the GPAs and GRE ... maybe they place more emphasis on last 45 GPA? Or GRE?? 🤔

Regardless, I’m convinced that applying to vet school is a bit of a crap shoot. One school may think you’re the bee’s knees and another may reject you from the onset. There’s just no way to know! (Which is why my anxiety led me to apply to a ridiculous # of schools :laugh:)
 
Fragaria said:
Was this calculated through VMCAS, or self? I wonder if LSU had a different GPA calculation for you 🙁
Click to expand...

This was the calculations LSU did for me on their portal! my iowa required course is lower but am in committee review. My GRE isn’t AMAZING, but I thought my higher GPAs would make up for it enough! It’s so funny how they calculate everything
 
EngrSC said:
That stinks. Rooting for you this cycle!
Click to expand...
Im hoping but yeah its a crapshoot. Thought I had a chance :/. My Gpas were on average with previous years and my GRE was just a few points lower. Im starting to lose hope with just everything.
 
Last edited:
EngrSC said:
According to the LSU website, “the Out of State Top Applicant List is determined based off of an overall score calculated with the Required Courses GPA, Last 45 Credit Hour GPA and GRE score.” Who knows how they weight the GPAs and GRE ... maybe they place more emphasis on last 45 GPA? Or GRE?? 🤔

Regardless, I’m convinced that applying to vet school is a bit of a crap shoot. One school may think you’re the bee’s knees and another may reject you from the onset. There’s just no way to know! (Which is why my anxiety led me to apply to a ridiculous # of schools :laugh:)
Click to expand...
This is how they weigh the GPAs and GRE. The required courses is weighed more and the last 45 and GRE are weighed the same.
 

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Are some people still in holistic review? Just wondering because acceptances for OOS should be coming out this month.
 
Eriyo said:
Are some people still in holistic review? Just wondering because acceptances for OOS should be coming out this month.
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I'm OOS and still in folder review! Where did you see that acceptances come out this month?
 
We are in the home stretch OOSers! Let's hope for an early decision period!

Sent from my LM-G710VM using SDN mobile
 
Good luck OOSers. Lol I wish us IS got to know this early too lol
 
Auburn (my IS) doesn't even hold IS interviews till March soooooooooo I am grateful for at least one school to be early!

Sent from my LM-G710VM using SDN mobile
 
Lavaniel said:
Auburn (my IS) doesn't even hold IS interviews till March soooooooooo I am grateful for at least one school to be early!

Sent from my LM-G710VM using SDN mobile
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LOL, my IS is UGA. They don’t interview and don’t send decisions until late February 🤔
 
LSU is definitely working through applications. Portal last updated today at 3:53 pm CST.
 
WHAT A HEART ATTACK LOL. What would be considered as make-up interviews?? Like if you strictly can't make it on the 18th?
 
Eriyo said:
Did they send an email?
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Yesss:::

Applicants,

We appreciate your patience throughout this admissions cycle. We are doing our best to make interview notifications before our office closes for winter break on December 20, 2019. However, we wanted to make sure that you save the following dates in the event you are selected for an interview:

  • Saturday, January 18, 2020
  • Wednesday, February 5, 2020
  • Thursday, February 6, 2020
  • Friday, February 7, 2020
The bulk of interviews will be scheduled on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The other dates will be reserved for make-ups. You will be notified of your interview date and time via the Status Check, and you will confirm your attendance via an online form.

Kind regards,

SVM Admissions

-----
Super different dates than what they announced as their tentative dates- January 20th - January 27th- so am a little confused now.
 
Bigcathope said:
Yesss:::

Applicants,

We appreciate your patience throughout this admissions cycle. We are doing our best to make interview notifications before our office closes for winter break on December 20, 2019. However, we wanted to make sure that you save the following dates in the event you are selected for an interview:

  • Saturday, January 18, 2020
  • Wednesday, February 5, 2020
  • Thursday, February 6, 2020
  • Friday, February 7, 2020
The bulk of interviews will be scheduled on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The other dates will be reserved for make-ups. You will be notified of your interview date and time via the Status Check, and you will confirm your attendance via an online form.

Kind regards,

SVM Admissions

-----
Super different dates than what they announced as their tentative dates- January 20th - January 27th- so am a little confused now.
Click to expand...


are you IS or OOS?
 
Lavaniel said:
Did they only send that to IS or the special case OOS? I wish they would update us on when OOS could expect to hear decisions!

Sent from my LM-G710VM using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
I’m guessing only to Louisian, Arkansas, & Puerto Rico residents. So “IS”.
 
I have been looking at successful applicant threads from past years and right now I am just waiting for them to send out decisions so I can get my rejection and get it over with :nailbiting:
 
justwannabeavet said:
I have been looking at successful applicant threads from past years and right now I am just waiting for them to send out decisions so I can get my rejection and get it over with :nailbiting:
Click to expand...

Stop it, stop it right now! They may see something they love about about you!
 
"
Subjective Evaluation - 35%

The subjective evaluation of applicants is based on non-academic qualifications considered relevant to the determination of the applicant's prospective performance in the veterinary medical curriculum and in the practice of veterinary medicine. Motivation, maturity, attitude, interest, and other characteristics will be evaluated for all qualified candidates, along with work experience, familiarity with animals, and reference information submitted in support of the application. These qualities are evaluated by two separate panels acting under the authority of the Admissions Committee. The first panel reviews the supporting documents (autobiography, letters of recommendation, transcripts, work experience, and familiarity with animals). The second panel evaluates the individual through a personal interview, if the Admissions Committee chooses to invite candidates to interview. These appraisals result in an average subjective score which is added to the objective score to produce the total numerical evaluation of the candidate. Through this process, the professional judgment of several faculty members is included in arriving at a final decision of recommended students for the new incoming class. The total subjective score is derived from:

  • Folder Reviews - (15%)
  • Interviews - (10% if conducted. The Admissions Committee decides annually whether or not to conduct interviews.)
  • Admissions Committee Holistic Assessment - (10%)
"
Does anyone understand how that works if you are OOS? Would the 10% for interviews just go to the other two? And if we went to folder review immediately would all 35% be folder review?
 
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