low Gpa; too late to apply for vet school???

[seavaughner]

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Hi everyone! For the last month I've been stressful and thinking about my career choices. It got to the point where I needed some advice from people that have actually gone through what I am right now and joined this forum just to seek helpattachFull190162

Anyways!! I'm a 20 year old girl that is in her third year of college. I started with a biology major in freshman year because i thought i wanted to be an allergist like my dad. But I had really bad events happen to me in the first semester that shook me up badly and i got an F in biology/lab, and D in 2 other classesattachFull190165. After that I struggled to get back on track and lost the motivation to be an allergist, I didnt' see myself enjoying that. I kept my biology major for the next year but was really depressed and barely passed classes with C's. It wasn't until this semester (6'th semester, 3'rd year) that I discovered that what would make me really happy would be being a vet. I spent three months on a reserve in Kenya and shadowed a local vet everyday because his assistant couldn't make it there. I learned what he did and went through. I saw how he enojyed his job greatly and other days when he had to make tough decicions concerning any injured animal. It's not pretty and gruesome sometimes but i just can't see myself doing anything else. The realization of knowing what i really wanted to do pumped me up and has given me alot of encouragement to follow my dream ever since i came back home. Right now my major is History (i changed it last semester; and I've been told that i should major in something i love so my gpa will be good when i apply for vet school) and am doing pretty good considering how bad my grades were in freshman year! I've managed to raise my Gpa to a 2.3 as of right now. I know i know! it is pretty bad but i'm hoping that if i keep doing good in my science courses (prerequisite courses), gain more shadowing, retake any classes i made in poorly, and study study study i may have a shot at being accepted somewhere? I've looked at some schools in the caribbean as last option if i dont get accepted in state (i live in texas). I'm young and figured i have years to raise my GPA before applying to vetschool but maybe I'm just being too naive??attachFull190163attachFull190164 Many have told me that it's pointless and i'd never get accepted because of my past bad grades and that i should do something else but i am hellbent on being a vet, i've never been more sure about anything as i am right now. Please help, any advice and answers are welcomed!!! 😢

 

[lei325]

Well, it's never too late no matter what the grades. There were people in their late 30s/40s in my class. But definitely do your research into cost of vet school before you jump to St. George or Ross as your only options.

Also, this post would probably be better off in the Pre-Vet forum, there is a lot more traffic through there.

 

[seavaughner]

Hi everyone! For the last month I've been stressful and thinking about my career choices. It got to the point where I needed some advice from people that have actually gone through what I am right now and joined this forum just to seek helpattachFull190162

Anyways!! I'm a 20 year old girl that is in her third year of college. I started with a biology major in freshman year because i thought i wanted to be an allergist like my dad. But I had really bad events happen to me in the first semester that shook me up badly and i got an F in biology/lab, and D in 2 other classesattachFull190165. After that I struggled to get back on track and lost the motivation to be an allergist, I didnt' see myself enjoying that. I kept my biology major for the next year but was really depressed and barely passed classes with C's. It wasn't until this semester (6'th semester, 3'rd year) that I discovered that what would make me really happy would be being a vet. I spent three months on a reserve in Kenya and shadowed a local vet everyday because his assistant couldn't make it there. I learned what he did and went through. I saw how he enojyed his job greatly and other days when he had to make tough decicions concerning any injured animal. It's not pretty and gruesome sometimes but i just can't see myself doing anything else. The realization of knowing what i really wanted to do pumped me up and has given me alot of encouragement to follow my dream ever since i came back home. Right now my major is History (i changed it last semester; and I've been told that i should major in something i love so my gpa will be good when i apply for vet school) and am doing pretty good considering how bad my grades were in freshman year! I've managed to raise my Gpa to a 2.3 as of right now. I know i know! it is pretty bad but i'm hoping that if i keep doing good in my science courses (prerequisite courses), gain more shadowing, retake any classes i made in poorly, and study study study i may have a shot at being accepted somewhere? I've looked at some schools in the caribbean as last option if i dont get accepted in state (i live in texas). I'm young and figured i have years to raise my GPA before applying to vetschool but maybe I'm just being too naive?? Many have told me that it's pointless and i'd never get accepted because of my past bad grades and that i should do something else but i am hellbent on being a vet, i've never been more sure about anything as i am right now. Please help, any advice and answers are welcomed!!! 😢

 

[LivesintheLibrary]

So there's several points that I want to make so I'm just going to number them off to help me stay on topic 🙄

1. It's never "too late" to apply. You can see tons of stories as people taking gap years, pursuing other degrees first, choosing this as a second career, etc. Most schools have stats that say what the oldest and youngest student in each class is and the results may surprise you. Don't feel like since it's your junior year that you have to apply now.

2. Life goes on outside of academics, and admissions committees understand that (to an extent) so that's why most applications (either on the primary or secondary) have some kind of explanation statement. That's a perfect place to write about your experiences that affected your grades. I say to an extent, because most schools have a minimum GPA required for applying, but that varies from school to school, so I can't give you hard numbers there. I would wait to apply until you have at least the minimum GPA.

3. You already mentioned this, but any of those Ds or Fs I would retake if they're prerequisites. If they're not, I'd ask a pre-vet advisor, because you would like to remove those from your transcript if possible, but it may not be worth taking them again if they're not prereqs. Retaking classes and doing well in them could really help you out. I would also consider pursuing a Master's degree or something to help boost your GPA.

4. During the semesters I would spend your energy and time on grades, but on breaks I would strive to make your experiences as diverse and as stand-out as possible. There are a million threads popping up on this right now, but what I mean is find experiences that will set you apart- even if you won't get a billion hours from each one (even though it's nice if you can get more).

5. When you do apply, (besides finances) apply to schools that look more at experience and/or GPA over time (rather than cumulative) and if you're good at interviewing, schools that weight the interview heavily.

6. Keep pushing forward and raising your GPA. Keep your head up and take what happened in the past as a learning experience, but treat each day as a new leaf. It sounds like your experience abroad really impacted you so use that passion each day to excel in school and in your extracurriculars. It may take several tries to get in, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible. Lastly, Don't look back, you're not going that direction anyways. 🙂

 

[GrizzlyMaya3]

I think you can absolutely do it!! Don't listen to the naysayers. It sounds like you've had to overcome some serious experiences in your life; you can use your strength in overcoming them as a talking point for vet school apps. You've got some good determination going forward, judging by your last few sentences, which is a great character trait for pre-vets (and vets). Keep that feeling going! The experiences you had abroad will make for a great addition to your apps/personal statement and make a good turning point in your life/career. Study hard, retake those classes, get some more veterinary experience, and I think you can absolutely rise above your past. It doesn't need to chain you down and will only do so if you let it!

 

[seavaughner]

So there's several points that I want to make so I'm just going to number them off to help me stay on topic 🙄

1. It's never "too late" to apply. You can see tons of stories as people taking gap years, pursuing other degrees first, choosing this as a second career, etc. Most schools have stats that say what the oldest and youngest student in each class is and the results may surprise you. Don't feel like since it's your junior year that you have to apply now.

2. Life goes on outside of academics, and admissions committees understand that (to an extent) so that's why most applications (either on the primary or secondary) have some kind of explanation statement. That's a perfect place to write about your experiences that affected your grades. I say to an extent, because most schools have a minimum GPA required for applying, but that varies from school to school, so I can't give you hard numbers there. I would wait to apply until you have at least the minimum GPA.

3. You already mentioned this, but any of those Ds or Fs I would retake if they're prerequisites. If they're not, I'd ask a pre-vet advisor, because you would like to remove those from your transcript if possible, but it may not be worth taking them again if they're not prereqs. Retaking classes and doing well in them could really help you out. I would also consider pursuing a Master's degree or something to help boost your GPA.

4. During the semesters I would spend your energy and time on grades, but on breaks I would strive to make your experiences as diverse and as stand-out as possible. There are a million threads popping up on this right now, but what I mean is find experiences that will set you apart- even if you won't get a billion hours from each one (even though it's nice if you can get more).

5. When you do apply, (besides finances) apply to schools that look more at experience and/or GPA over time (rather than cumulative) and if you're good at interviewing, schools that weight the interview heavily.

6. Keep pushing forward and raising your GPA. Keep your head up and take what happened in the past as a learning experience, but treat each day as a new leaf. It sounds like your experience abroad really impacted you so use that passion each day to excel in school and in your extracurriculars. It may take several tries to get in, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible. Lastly, Don't look back, you're not going that direction anyways. 🙂

Thanks!
2. I'm a pretty charismatic person if i do say so myself. I enjoy being around animals and people alike, and blood doesn't scare me. And yes I've heard that many schools look at experience and all around attitude of their applicants, not just grades though I will be do my damned best in that either way. I know i can raise my 2.3 GPA to above a 3.3 in the next few years!
3. Could I continue to get a Master's degree in History also or do some other sort of field??
4. I plan on focusing in school in fall and spring semesters and in the summer focus on getting more shadowing/experience done anywhere: clinics, shelters, I've even already landed a spot at my local zoo for the summer to help out with preparing the animals' meals and help assist the zoo's primary vet.
5. That's a really good view of it, I've thought of applying everywhere and hope for the best. Expenses aren't my worries so I'll gladly accept whatever vet school responds back. I believe any accredited vet school is great.
6. thank you thank you!! I know my past grades are bad but i've learned from them and i'm in a very good place right now. I truly believe i can make my dream come true with determination and hard studying

 

[Gemgrrrl]

I had to overcome bad grades as well. My situation is a little different, because my bad grade classes were several years ago. But I did overcome them and got accepted to my IS my first time applying. So all is not lost! Resilience is a very important trait, and showing that you're able to recover from setbacks and overcome challenges can only help you. I agree with every point that LivesintheLibrary made. Especially not retaking courses that aren't pre-requisites and working on graduate level classes instead, and the variety of experience. A couple of thoughts I had are -

I think it's great that you've had the epiphany that veterinary work is what you want to do, and that it's changed your outlook on school. But I think admissions committees are going to want to see some longevity on that. Graduate work will do better to show your long-term commitment than re-taking a bunch of undergrad classes. I am also a firm believer that an A the second time is not the equivalent of an A the first time. I think your better off taking a more difficult course and acing that than taking an easier course twice and getting an A.

I'm not sure if I agree with changing your major to history as a means to boost your GPA. Most schools do have a minimum overall GPA requirement, but they are all much more interested in your math and science GPA since that is the majority of the DVM coursework. If you can't hack a science-heavy course load, you won't make it through vet school. The UF website has a really good explanation of the way they look at non-science courses (http://education.vetmed.ufl.edu/admissions/undergraduate-course-requirements/). Basically, they want to know how those subjects will inform you as a veterinary student and veterinarian. Click the link and scroll down to the bottom of the page. That's the way you should be selecting courses, not what will be the easy grade.

They're also going to want to know that you're in love with the veterinary field as a whole, and not just with the romantic idea of treating zebras in Kenya. There are very few veterinarians who have those kinds of jobs. What will you do if you can't find one? Will they have invested in training a veterinarian who isn't contributing to the field because she couldn't get that one very specific job? Make sure you have a variety of experiences and interests.

I also highly recommend having a conversation with the admissions counselor at your intended school. They're the best person to tell you what you will need to do to make yourself the best candidate, given the grades that you have. Take their advice to heart. The advice I was given meant waiting an extra year to apply - but I followed it, and made the most of that extra year, and got in. If you have a conversation like that, and you feel like you have a good rapport with the admissions counselor, keep checking up with them periodically. Let them know that you're following their advice, and what progress you're making. They will remember you, and how committed you are.

 

[KCgophervet]

Just commenting along the lines of @Gemgrrrl - you have to excel in your science courses. It doesn't matter what you major in, but you still have to prove to admissions committees that you can handle a heavy science courseload because that's what vet school is. Sure you can get a masters in history... but why? If your goal is vet med you should pursue something academically related. Also if you're going for a masters you should make sure it isn't just for vet school. The sad truth is no one is ever guaranteed to be admitted to vet school, so if you're going to pursue a masters it should be along the lines of a "plan B". If you want to go use a masters in history to work at a museum (I'm making this up because I have no idea what history masters do... don't tell my friend Alan that though), then that's great, but I don't think getting a masters in history will help you in vet school applications. Just my 2 cents.

 

[seavaughner]

Just commenting along the lines of @Gemgrrrl - you have to excel in your science courses. It doesn't matter what you major in, but you still have to prove to admissions committees that you can handle a heavy science courseload because that's what vet school is. Sure you can get a masters in history... but why? If your goal is vet med you should pursue something academically related. Also if you're going for a masters you should make sure it isn't just for vet school. The sad truth is no one is ever guaranteed to be admitted to vet school, so if you're going to pursue a masters it should be along the lines of a "plan B". If you want to go use a masters in history to work at a museum (I'm making this up because I have no idea what history masters do... don't tell my friend Alan that though), then that's great, but I don't think getting a masters in history will help you in vet school applications. Just my 2 cents.

And what would be a good a good related field to get a Master's in then?
Yeah I've thought about it greatly! there's somewhat good chance I may not get accepted but I don't think about that for now. Im really positive I have what it takes to make it, or maybe im just too postive and naive. Who knows. Thanks though!

 

[DVMDream]

Thanks!
2. I'm a pretty charismatic person if i do say so myself. I enjoy being around animals and people alike, and blood doesn't scare me. And yes I've heard that many schools look at experience and all around attitude of their applicants, not just grades though I will be do my damned best in that either way. I know i can raise my 2.3 GPA to above a 3.3 in the next few years!
3. Could I continue to get a Master's degree in History also or do some other sort of field??
4. I plan on focusing in school in fall and spring semesters and in the summer focus on getting more shadowing/experience done anywhere: clinics, shelters, I've even already landed a spot at my local zoo for the summer to help out with preparing the animals' meals and help assist the zoo's primary vet.
5. That's a really good view of it, I've thought of applying everywhere and hope for the best. Expenses aren't my worries so I'll gladly accept whatever vet school responds back. I believe any accredited vet school is great.
6. thank you thank you!! I know my past grades are bad but i've learned from them and i'm in a very good place right now. I truly believe i can make my dream come true with determination and hard studying

I bolded the above because you aren't being realistic.

Sure, you can apply to every vet school, however it is impractical, the expense is one reason, but also because you could end up having to turn down interviews if given more than one at the same time. I becomes a waste of money at that point.

Also, you really, really do need to consider the expenses of financing a vet education. It doesn't seem important to you at 20, but when you get into your mid-late twenties and early thirties, suddenly things change. Things you didn't think would be important at 20 become important. Suddenly that thought of I don't mind living in some small apartment forever and paying rent changes because you realize that you really do want to own a home. That thought of I enjoy working and can just keep going wears off and you start to value free time more. That thought that ramen noodles, cheap soup and grilled cheese constantly isn't a big deal eventually does wear on you after many years and you get to the point where you wish you could just make a decent meal more than once in a week, or not have to worry about dropping $30 at a restaurant because you want to. The thought of not caring that you are driving around in a 12 year old car, you eventually do care and even if you don't want a new car, you just want something newer that isn't having issues all the time, but you can't afford it. If you ever decide you do want to get married, start a family, go on vacation, take a long weekend to the beach or the mountains or wherever, you really do need to start thinking about the finances.

Unless you are independently wealthy, you are going to want to seriously consider expenses and finances. With how high debt is now and how low a vet income is, you are going to be living like a "student" well beyond graduation, if you can find a job. When you are suddenly staring at $250,000 in debt before interest has even been added on, things change rather quickly. And what you thought you didn't care about before, you suddenly do.

 

[seavaughner]

I bolded the above because you aren't being realistic.

Sure, you can apply to every vet school, however it is impractical, the expense is one reason, but also because you could end up having to turn down interviews if given more than one at the same time. I becomes a waste of money at that point.

Also, you really, really do need to consider the expenses of financing a vet education. It doesn't seem important to you at 20, but when you get into your mid-late twenties and early thirties, suddenly things change. Things you didn't think would be important at 20 become important. Suddenly that thought of I don't mind living in some small apartment forever and paying rent changes because you realize that you really do want to own a home. That thought of I enjoy working and can just keep going wears off and you start to value free time more. That thought that ramen noodles, cheap soup and grilled cheese constantly isn't a big deal eventually does wear on you after many years and you get to the point where you wish you could just make a decent meal more than once in a week, or not have to worry about dropping $30 at a restaurant because you want to. The thought of not caring that you are driving around in a 12 year old car, you eventually do care and even if you don't want a new car, you just want something newer that isn't having issues all the time, but you can't afford it. If you ever decide you do want to get married, start a family, go on vacation, take a long weekend to the beach or the mountains or wherever, you really do need to start thinking about the finances.

Unless you are independently wealthy, you are going to want to seriously consider expenses and finances. With how high debt is now and how low a vet income is, you are going to be living like a "student" well beyond graduation, if you can find a job. When you are suddenly staring at $250,000 in debt before interest has even been added on, things change rather quickly. And what you thought you didn't care about before, you suddenly do.

I understand what you meant, i know how much debt I'll have over the years and a vet's low salary. Again, though, Im not worried. I live with my parents still, i am single with no plans of settling down soon, and they've been 100% supportive of my decision to become a vet. They will be helping me pay most, if not all, of my schooling as long as I keep up with my work and prove to them that I am able to succeed. I know I'm lucky to have their support because many don't have the money ready so they rely on loans, that's why Im very determined to take advantage of what help I have. Not trying to sound braggish or arrogant, not my intention!! 🤔

 

[that redhead]

There's a lot of discussion and helpful advice on this topic if you use the search function 🙂

In a nutshell, it isn't at all impossible to get into vet school with a history of poor grades. However, depending on how deep the hole is that you're in, you will have to have the dedication to retake classes, excel in all of your pre-requisite courses, do well on the GRE and acquire meaningful veterinary experience. What I would do in your shoes (and what I did when I was in your shoes) is retake those classes and have a solid plan for success in your pre-reqs. If that means lining up a tutor, cutting out some of your "fun" time, etc., make it happen.

And just to note, the Caribbean schools are no longer the "back up" schools that they once were. Especially after becoming accredited, they've seen increases in applicant numbers and quality. Don't assume you'll have an easy in.

 

[LivesintheLibrary]

And what would be a good a good related field to get a Master's in then?

You said Texas was your IS, so I'm not sure where you're doing your undergrad, but I know A&M has a Master's in Biomedical Sciences which is a popular option because it has a non-thesis option. They (along with many many many schools) have a Master's in Public Health which could be a good option. You need something that you can demonstrate your ability to handle science courses. There's tons of options in Texas and they will allow you to have a plan B should you need it.

Thanks!
5. That's a really good view of it, I've thought of applying everywhere and hope for the best. Expenses aren't my worries so I'll gladly accept whatever vet school responds back. I believe any accredited vet school is great.

I definitely wouldn't apply everywhere. As I said earlier, I would apply to schools that don't count GPA as the majority of their scoring system. Plus applications are a ton of work and the quality of each could suffer if you try to over do it. As DVMDream said, interviews can overlap which may mean you have to withdraw an application or two.

I bolded the above because you aren't being realistic.
Also, you really, really do need to consider the expenses of financing a vet education. It doesn't seem important to you at 20, but when you get into your mid-late twenties and early thirties, suddenly things change. Things you didn't think would be important at 20 become important. Suddenly that thought of I don't mind living in some small apartment forever and paying rent changes because you realize that you really do want to own a home. That thought of I enjoy working and can just keep going wears off and you start to value free time more. That thought that ramen noodles, cheap soup and grilled cheese constantly isn't a big deal eventually does wear on you after many years and you get to the point where you wish you could just make a decent meal more than once in a week, or not have to worry about dropping $30 at a restaurant because you want to. The thought of not caring that you are driving around in a 12 year old car, you eventually do care and even if you don't want a new car, you just want something newer that isn't having issues all the time, but you can't afford it. If you ever decide you do want to get married, start a family, go on vacation, take a long weekend to the beach or the mountains or wherever, you really do need to start thinking about the finances.

Unless you are independently wealthy, you are going to want to seriously consider expenses and finances. With how high debt is now and how low a vet income is, you are going to be living like a "student" well beyond graduation, if you can find a job. When you are suddenly staring at $250,000 in debt before interest has even been added on, things change rather quickly. And what you thought you didn't care about before, you suddenly do.

This is EXCELLENT advice. If there is a chance you could have any debt at all (even though it sounds like you're not) then I would really take this to heart.

 

[jmo1012]

since you've mentioned masters programs, have you looked into any seriously? if thats a route you're thinking of pursuing, you should start looking around, because a lot of them are very competitive and require minimum GPAs to apply.

also, its great that you have family financial support, but you should still look to make the best financial decisions possible. even if your family absolutely doesnt care what it costs, you should practice evaluating what does and does not make good sense. it will help you later on in life as you make other big financial decisions.

the "i will go absolutely anywhere!!!" attitude may come back to bite you in the future. its easy to look into the future and say it doesnt matter and wont matter, but the hard truth is that it often does end up mattering. this is how people end up at schools where they are absolutely miserable because of the location they are putting up with. i think its funny that you mention that you're single and unattached, because while i used to think that was a great option, its now starting to feel like a detriment (particularly from the financial aspect)! i also wouldnt assume that any accredited school is great (though i think by the time you are eligible to apply the newest US schools will be a few years old and working through their hiccups more smoothly...but i worry about some of the latest program structures to be honest)

 

[StartingoverVet]

My overall observation....

You have what I think is a fairly easy to sell story to adcoms. Your PS almost writes itself. You sucked at school, got interested in vet med and turned your life around. You saw both the good and bad of the profession, know how difficult it is, but still want to plow ahead. That should be easy to write, and will be quite believable, and should adequately address your earlier lower grades.

As others have said though, you will need to prove that you can handle the academic workload. History is fine, but it doesn't really fit in with your whole "epiphany" in my view. I would like to see you dive into all those hard science classes, and not just do well in pre-reqs, but upper level classes as well.

I know the old "major in what you like" advice, but I think in your case, maybe you don't have that luxury. You want to demonstrate that your life is turned around by vet med, and the history major (and possibly masters) make me wonder how serious you are.

Just my opinion, but I think an "all in" attitude would be helpful to you, as it will be a much easier sell to adcoms.

 

[bbeventer]

I understand what you meant, i know how much debt I'll have over the years and a vet's low salary. Again, though, Im not worried. I live with my parents still, i am single with no plans of settling down soon, and they've been 100% supportive of my decision to become a vet. They will be helping me pay most, if not all, of my schooling as long as I keep up with my work and prove to them that I am able to succeed. I know I'm lucky to have their support because many don't have the money ready so they rely on loans, that's why Im very determined to take advantage of what help I have. Not trying to sound braggish or arrogant, not my intention!! 🤔

That's great and all to have family support, and not trying to being the over the cloud attitude down and all, but haven't you already proven that you are struggling to succeed? DVMD brought up a serious issue that everyone should seriously consider before diving head first into the abyss. Parents are often not aware of the challenges and the financial burden a DVM can bring. They often think their child is the smartest and will be the most successful individual around. I think it is up to us to educate them, and set our own limitations and not bring our parents into financial hardships for our silly follies.
Just something to consider.

 

[Gemgrrrl]

its great that you have family financial support, but you should still look to make the best financial decisions possible. even if your family absolutely doesnt care what it costs, you should practice evaluating what does and does not make good sense. it will help you later on in life as you make other big financial decisions.

Amen to that!

I worked with a newly minted DVM at a clinic who also was lucky enough to have her parents finance 100% of her education and living expenses for the whole 8 years. She had a really rough time of it coming out of school because she couldn't understand why we had old equipment, or couldn't have an extra tech on staff, or why some people weren't able to pay thousands of dollars in vet bills for their pets. She had never had to make those kinds of decisions. I'm not saying that everyone who has their education paid for takes money for granted in that way - because most people don't. But when I hear someone say things like "I'll apply to every school, because I have the cash to blow", it makes me wonder how they'll handle the realities of the profession.

 

[sorasea]

To piggyback on other suggestions, I would even consider identifying which schools do grade replacements for re-takes and don't look at cumulative GPA, then move to one of those states and try to establish residency there. Spend a couple of years working in a vet office/something similar that adcoms will appreciate (that puts thousands of hours of veterinary experience in your pocket), and if you get residency, you could have a decent shot at that school. This is assuming you've retaken your failed prereqs, shown over a few semesters that you can ace a science-heavy courseload, accomplished a high last 45 GPA, and scored well on the GRE. Look at average stats of incoming classes for the schools you're interested in. Most of them use some sort of GPA/GRE number-crunching to thin the applicant pool, so if your GPA's are on the lower end of the range, you should aim for the upper end of the GRE range.

I suggest moving to a new state because I've heard TAMU is pretty numbers-focused, although someone who actually applied there might know better.

 

[LivesintheLibrary]

To piggyback on other suggestions, I would even consider identifying which schools do grade replacements for re-takes and don't look at cumulative GPA, then move to one of those states and try to establish residency there. Spend a couple of years working in a vet office/something similar that adcoms will appreciate (that puts thousands of hours of veterinary experience in your pocket), and if you get residency, you could have a decent shot at that school. This is assuming you've retaken your failed prereqs, shown over a few semesters that you can ace a science-heavy courseload, accomplished a high last 45 GPA, and scored well on the GRE. Look at average stats of incoming classes for the schools you're interested in. Most of them use some sort of GPA/GRE number-crunching to thin the applicant pool, so if your GPA's are on the lower end of the range, you should aim for the upper end of the GRE range.

I suggest moving to a new state because I've heard TAMU is pretty numbers-focused, although someone who actually applied there might know better.

TAMU is numbers heavy being that 180/300 points are based on GPA and GRE. However, as sorasea stated, use the GRE to your advantage. TAMU also puts a lot (I think 60, but it's been a while since I looked) of those 180 points towards the last 45 credits, which if you do well in a master's or however those hours shake out, could really be used to boost you up. So of those 180, you potentially have 120 (I think the GRE is also 60) that you really have a chance to shine with. Granted these could change by the time you apply, but as of now I think that's about how they stand.

 

[StartingoverVet]

since you've mentioned masters programs, have you looked into any seriously? if thats a route you're thinking of pursuing, you should start looking around, because a lot of them are very competitive and require minimum GPAs to apply.

also, its great that you have family financial support, but you should still look to make the best financial decisions possible. even if your family absolutely doesnt care what it costs, you should practice evaluating what does and does not make good sense. it will help you later on in life as you make other big financial decisions.

the "i will go absolutely anywhere!!!" attitude may come back to bite you in the future. its easy to look into the future and say it doesnt matter and wont matter, but the hard truth is that it often does end up mattering. this is how people end up at schools where they are absolutely miserable because of the location they are putting up with. i think its funny that you mention that you're single and unattached, because while i used to think that was a great option, its now starting to feel like a detriment (particularly from the financial aspect)! i also wouldnt assume that any accredited school is great (though i think by the time you are eligible to apply the newest US schools will be a few years old and working through their hiccups more smoothly...but i worry about some of the latest program structures to be honest)

i pretty much disagree with all of this.. . to each their own.

Lots of people's families support them through graduate/professional school. OP doesn't need to be worrying about that. if you are graduating vet school without debt then you are in a pretty decent position, and whether or not you "think about" these things now is not going to make you financially responsible.

Also, the most successful people I know have an "i will go anywhere" attitude. It is about being open minded and willing to accept lots of different options and pick the best one. It is a wonderful position to be in, and a wonderful attitude to have. To a lot of people location doesn't matter. I wouldn't presume of the OP that it does.

As for the single,..... absolutely it is not a detriment at this point in life. All the single people got to go wherever they got the best job after school. All the married people have to struggle to find a suitable fit for both people. Single people have less distractions in school generally, and seem to do better in my unscientific observations.

And yes, all accredited schools are fine. Stop nitpicking. Every new school people "worry" and then they are fine. These will be as well. Once you start working no one cares where you went.
'
All in all, I think these points are distractions to the OP and OT.

Sorry.

 

[jmo1012]

i pretty much disagree with all of this.. . to each their own.

Lots of people's families support them through graduate/professional school. OP doesn't need to be worrying about that. if you are graduating vet school without debt then you are in a pretty decent position, and whether or not you "think about" these things now is not going to make you financially responsible.

Also, the most successful people I know have an "i will go anywhere" attitude. It is about being open minded and willing to accept lots of different options and pick the best one. It is a wonderful position to be in, and a wonderful attitude to have. To a lot of people location doesn't matter. I wouldn't presume of the OP that it does.

As for the single,..... absolutely it is not a detriment at this point in life. All the single people got to go wherever they got the best job after school. All the married people have to struggle to find a suitable fit for both people. Single people have less distractions in school generally, and seem to do better in my unscientific observations.

And yes, all accredited schools are fine. Stop nitpicking. Every new school people "worry" and then they are fine. These will be as well. Once you start working no one cares where you went.
'
All in all, I think these points are distractions to the OP and OT.

Sorry.

i know more than a handful of people who had the "i will go anywhere" attitude and are absolutely miserable with their decisions. yes, there are lots and lots of happy people who really dont care, but there are definitely people who are now in a hole wishing they could get out but unwilling to accept the consequences. look before you leap 😉

as for the other stuff...agree to disagree!

 

[missdarjeeling]

As for the single,..... absolutely it is not a detriment at this point in life. All the single people got to go wherever they got the best job after school. All the married people have to struggle to find a suitable fit for both people. Single people have less distractions in school generally, and seem to do better in my unscientific observations.

Can't speak as to how it is in vet school, specifically, but based on my experience so far in going back to school and in having my husband move us to another state for his Masters, I agree. The emotional support, extra income, and household help are all great, but there are trade-offs. You're limited in where you can go for school, internships, residencies, and jobs by your spouse's career and wishes/opinions, and your family obligations double. Having to consider the well-being of another person with their own career and the health of your relationship can be difficult, so being single and unattached can definitely be an advantage.

 

[LetItSnow]

I dunno. Maybe I'm just in a slump or something. Or grumpy (for real, not just the usual SDN "LIS is always a grump" thing.). I usually am super encouraging to people who post this type of question.

But I gotta tell ya, OP, you may be looking a long road. With that GPA, you've got a crap-ton of work ahead of you. You could always focus on applying to schools that only look at last-45 credits and pre-req GPA (and then, obviously, re-take any pre-reqs you bombed and get great grades in whatever's left). That plus picking up a few hundred hours more experience could move you from a pretty unlikely applicant to someone with a great chance.

But ... I just have this gut feeling it's a longer road than that for you. So you may want to think in terms of years of getting ready - 4-6 or even more. If you're down with the long haul, it's certainly doable. The other thing is that unless I missed it, your experience is limited to that Kenya experience (which, btw, sounds awesome and cool). That's ... well, somebody has to be a vet in Kenya, so it's not like it's impossible. But it's a long-shot job. You're going to want to tag along at jobs you're more likely to get (if only for a period of time) to find out if vet med still seems as cool as it seems to you now.

Definitely not trying to rain on your parade or anything. It *is* doable. I just wouldn't want you thinking that now that you've come to this epiphany it's a quick 'n easy turn-around.

 

[DVMDream]

I dunno. Maybe I'm just in a slump or something. Or grumpy (for real, not just the usual SDN "LIS is always a grump" thing.). I usually am super encouraging to people who post this type of question.

But I gotta tell ya, OP, you may be looking a long road. With that GPA, you've got a crap-ton of work ahead of you. You could always focus on applying to schools that only look at last-45 credits and pre-req GPA (and then, obviously, re-take any pre-reqs you bombed and get great grades in whatever's left). That plus picking up a few hundred hours more experience could move you from a pretty unlikely applicant to someone with a great chance.

But ... I just have this gut feeling it's a longer road than that for you. So you may want to think in terms of years of getting ready - 4-6 or even more. If you're down with the long haul, it's certainly doable. The other thing is that unless I missed it, your experience is limited to that Kenya experience (which, btw, sounds awesome and cool). That's ... well, somebody has to be a vet in Kenya, so it's not like it's impossible. But it's a long-shot job. You're going to want to tag along at jobs you're more likely to get (if only for a period of time) to find out if vet med still seems as cool as it seems to you now.

Definitely not trying to rain on your parade or anything. It *is* doable. I just wouldn't want you thinking that now that you've come to this epiphany it's a quick 'n easy turn-around.

This isn't grumpy, this is realistic. I was going to say something like this but got busy and then decided that I am too tired to figure out how to word it right.

 

[Lupin21]

The only thing I can tell people who consistently ask about the low GPA status is that vet school is just that, school. You must study, you must take exams, and you must pass. It is great to imagine yourself as the vet who is already treating animals and seeing the ins and outs of life as such, but it remains that your must go through a curriculum before that happens.

This is not to say those with a low undergrad gpa can't do alright, or even excel once in vet school, but you must be able to learn quickly and regurgitate material on a test over and over again first. This is why gpa is looked at as a large percentage of why one is accepted or not. 20-22 units per semester of hardcore science courses challenges even the 4.0 student, so those with weaknesses quickly become overwhelmed, despite the love of animals and having had the desire to be a vet since diapers and other such similar stories.

Yes there is much to consider in all situations and that is why there is never one path into vet school, but people need to realize you don't just go to school overnight and suddenly find yourself a capable vet. You have to go through the aches and pains that is learning an insane number of bacterial/viral/fungal/protozoan/ectoparasite/endoparasite/autoimmune etc. infections, how they affect the body, and what drugs/surgical/other methods you choose to treat them, but at what risks to the patient you incur with each choice and so on and so forth.

Grow a thick skin is the advice to one and all. Adversity is everywhere, and the better you are able to let it roll off, keep going and get the job done to the best of your ability every time, the better student, vet, and person you will be.

 

[DVMYeezy]

Wow, a lot of good advice in this thread! I may be coming in late into the game on giving my two cents but I'll leave it here anyway.

I'm not going to pretend like I know what life is like in vet school because I'm not even in my first year yet but I did apply to a ton of vet schools this round and was accepted on my first try. And this was with a gpa less than a 3.3 at the time of application. I really did not do well my first two years of college and I had no excuse for my bad grades other than I was adjusting to college life and being on my own. But like you, I had a lot of international experience (one of them was at a zoo) over the course of 4 summers and I think the admissions people really liked that. Some vet schools really like diversity (multicultural) so you should look for schools that ask you things about it in their supplemental essay questions. I'm interested in zoo medicine so it went a long way for me, so I agree with some of the other SDN'ers about shadowing veterinarians who are in fields you are interested in so you get a real taste of what you want to get yourself into. Show them you didn't just follow the first doctor who looked your way regardless of how different your interests were.

I am also one of those with the "I will go anywhere" attitude. I don't have an IS so I didn't really have a choice. I applied to schools that took a large number of OOS students, went to my interviews and just absolutely fell in love with one of the schools before I was accepted. I can't say how the next four years will work out since I'm not there yet but if you are really determined, don't let location hold you back. There are definitely a lot of things to consider regarding tuition, SOs, your life outside of vet school, but if you are as determined as you seem in your post I am sure you can make it work! I did that for my undergrad (in Texas actually!) and will be doing it again for vet school. As much as I loved Texas, I am definitely ready to start somewhere new again.

@LivesintheLibrary actually told me this when I was gearing up for interviews (we go to undergrad together), the admissions people want to see the person they read about in your essays come to life. Obviously first things first, raise up your grades. I didn't end up retaking my science courses that I got C's in but I did get A's and B's in my science courses that were considered more difficult than Intro Biology and Gen Chem. I got asked about that in every interview but they seemed to like that my grades went up instead of down as the difficulty went up. Do your research on what schools would fit you. But like everyone said, keep working at it because it could take some time accumulating a higher gpa and more experience. Oh, and write some damn good essays. Good luck and PM me if you have any questions!

 

[Skimble]

Just a note on "applying everywhere". It's really not that easy. Every school requires similar, but different pre-reqs. There is a good chance you won't have all of the pre-reqs for every school. There are also schools that won't admit students with a GPA below a certain cut-off, so that is another thing to consider. It's also not as easy as clicking "apply to all" on VMCAS, most schools have supplemental applications with their own questions, essays and fees. Logistically it's not practical to apply to every school; at the very least it's a poor use of time.

 

[LivesintheLibrary]

.

@LivesintheLibrary actually told me this when I was gearing up for interviews (we go to undergrad together), the admissions people want to see the person they read about in your essays come to life.

No matter how long this process takes you, one thing that I think is so essential to staying grounded and not going crazy, is having people that are going through it with you that get it. They get the stress, the emotions, the fears, and everything else that comes with applying. DVMYeezy is the equivalent of "my person" and even though we're going to different vet schools in the fall (cue the waterworks), distance won't be an issue haha. I can't describe how much of a difference it makes to have people that "get" this process. If you can find people that will be supportive of your goals even though they want them too, it will make this process a heck of a lot easier and you'll end up with some pretty awesome friends too.

Sorry for the sappy-ness.

 

[iLegendness]

So, I'm curious. How did it go? I'm in the same boat as you were in 2015, and I'm wondering how you're doing so far?