Lurkers, don't be shy!

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Hi! I actually have been lurking for a while..I am probably one of the youngest on here, I am getting ready to start my first year of undergrad. I am going for a BS in Animal Science and plan on going to vet school and becoming an Equine vet! I show Quarter Horses here in NC and work with my Equine vet a lot and am getting ready to start volunteering at another university with a DVM for lab/research hours. You all seem very nice and there are so many helpful threads here, even to me! Congrats on everyone who has been accepted this year and good luck to everyone applying!!!!
Amber
 
Wow... you guys are all so nice to new posters. Things are a *tad* more ruthless in pre-allo.
 
necoli said:
Wow... you guys are all so nice to new posters. Things are a *tad* more ruthless in pre-allo.
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ooo myostatin deficient dog! i used to work with myostatin deficient mice lol those things look so crazy and they can jump SO high
 
I'm really more of a newbe than a lurker, since I just found the forum today. I am not a frequent poster on any forum, so I just might become a lurker 🙂 Mostly I'm hear to shop for advice.

Right now I work as an MT (making the people to animal switch) full time in the evenings and am re-taking my pre-reqs over in the morning. I made the decision to go to vet school last year, because my original goal as an undregrad was to become a pathologist. This is a great example of once you see exactly what you'll be doing, you don't want to do it anymore 🙂 I hate histology and would be a horrible pathologist! My mom brought up the idea of becoming a vet, but I was too young at 20 to make the committment and thought I would be wayyy to emotional, because I perfer animals over people and I thought I would cry. I'm 27 now, so I believe I'm ready to commit, and I have heard from several vets that they cry over losing patients.

I was planning to apply for 2011 (this cycle), because I wanted to have my car paid off, but while I was bringing my min pin in for her checkup, my vet told me that LSU requires your pre reqs to be within 6 years, doh. I pouted for about a week and then decided to go for it, which proves to me that I really want this, more than anything. So now I'm working full-time, spending thousands of dollars to re-take undregrad courses I made Bs in and shadowing a veterinary surgeon on my day off. I also plan to start voulenteering at New Orleans Animal Rescue once fall semester startes and I figure out when I will have the time. I will be applying to LSU in 2012 (only, because I am too poor to pay for OOS fees), so if there are any Louisianians out there with pointers, I'd be glad to hear them. Oh, and I tend to ramble...
 
Hey kanariya, welcome to SDN.

It's nice to see someone on here applying to LSU. As this application cycle goes along, I'm sure you'll pick up tips, but if you have any specific questions about LSU, feel free to ask.
 
BlacKAT33 said:
ooo myostatin deficient dog! i used to work with myostatin deficient mice lol those things look so crazy and they can jump SO high
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haha yep. Wendy the Whippet.
sounds like a pretty sweet job.... a myostatin deficient mouse would probably be pretty scary looking though.
 
kanariya said:
LSU requires your pre reqs to be within 6 years, doh. I pouted for about a week and then decided to go for it, which proves to me that I really want this, more than anything. So now I'm working full-time, spending thousands of dollars to re-take undregrad courses I made Bs in and shadowing a veterinary surgeon on my day off.
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Welcome, kanariya!

Before you spend thousands, be sure to talk to someone in LSU vet admissions. I know ISU was willing to wave my "expired" courses, and I don't think this is terribly unusual for vet schools, especially if you have worked in related fields or taken upper-level courses. If they won't waive all of them, you may at least be able to take more advanced classes instead, which may be preferable to sitting through general biology and chemistry classes again!

Good luck! :luck:
 
soo im kind of a lurker too.
I am applying for the 3rd time this year. I did my undergrad at CSU, and just finished the masters plan b program in biomedical sciences to boost my GPA. I am looking to apply to a lot of schools this year, typically I have only applied to 3 or 4. I am having some trouble picking, does anyone have any advice? that would be cool 🙂 or just a hello is great too!
 
Hello, everyone. I know I've posted here and there so you know a little bit of my story, but I thought I would go ahead and give a formal introduction after I read through this thread.

I am 29 years old and am in the US Coast Guard stationed in Bahrain, which is right by Saudi Arabia. My tour over here ends in late November or early December, and after that I am getting out of the service and will be starting up at Purdue in the spring in the Clinical Lab Science (aka Med Technology) program. My job in the CG is a mechanic, but the past few years have been spent doing mainly administrative type work because of my rank and now sort of discrimination against me for not wanting to further my career in the CG. I truly cannot wait to get out and move on with my life!

After I graduated HS in 1999 I was accepted in CSU's equine science major as a prevet student, and awarded a partial scholarship. However, I was unable to secure the remaining funding I would need (I am a Texas resident) so instead I took a semester off and then started at the local community college. I moved out of my parents house as soon as I graduated high school so I had to work full time to support myself and tried to go to school full time but ended up having to drop courses because of finances. It really seemed like everything was working against me as far as continuing my education. I am the first to attend college in my family, and college is not a big priority to them so I was not getting any support from my parents.

In 2001, still only about halfway through an associates degree, I got married and started the vet tech program at the community college. It was a cohort program that required full-time attendance, including everyone rotating through having days where they were responsible for the feeding and maintenance of all of the animals, and yet I still found myself working two jobs so that I could support myself and my husband. He quit his second job so that we could spend more time together, but instead decided to spend his spare time with another woman and spend my hard earned money taking her to dinner and buying her gifts. When I found out about this, I was truly devastated; we hadn't been married even two months before he started running around on me. I dropped out of the vet tech program (after the fall semester) but still took a class here an there towards my AS degree, and finally after another year of unhappiness with him I got a divorce.

I was really glad to be rid of him but at that point my life became a complete mess. Every financial obligation we had was in my name because his credit was so bad, and now I was stuck in a lease I couldn't afford, with a car payment I couldn't afford, paying off credit cards that he had ran up. The only thing I wanted was to be able to finish up school and to make something of my life, instead of constantly struggling for money and job satisfaction. So I joined the Coast Guard, thinking I could use those four years to get back on my feet and also get money for school.

Since I joined in 2004, I did manage to complete my BS in Sports and Health Sciences. I really wanted a degree in Wildlife Biology or something similar but it was impossible given my new lifestyle. So I earned what I could find that had a lot of health and biology-related courses in the curriculum. I really enjoyed the coursework and thought I would possibly like to be a Physical Therapist, but after I started shadowing a couple I turned away from it. It seemed ridiculously boring. Not long after I found out about Physician Assistants, and that appealed to me because it was only a 2 year program and I would have the major capabilities of a Doctor (prescribe, diagnose, surgery) without the liabilities or difficulty in changing specialties.

The past couple of years I have had to be a little more honest with myself about what I want out of life. I have extended my enlistment contract three times because I've been uncertain about what I wanted to do and afraid of falling back into the same life that I had before I enlisted. As much as going back into the civilian world scares me, I know I don't want to waste my time feeling trapped and doing something I hate. I've come to the realization that, as much as it would make my mother happy to see me as a PA or a doctor, I wouldn't be happy trapped in a hospital all day listening to patient complaints. I would eventually like to work in pathology or infectious disease research, and I couldn't really do that as a PA.

After high school and prior to my entry into the CG I gained about 1700 hours in veterinary experience and 2500 in animal experience, in a multitude of settings including working with dromedary camels at a zoo, taking care of lab animals, working for a SA vet, vet tech school, and training and riding horses. I volunteer at the Bahrain SPCA when I can, but it can be difficult with our work schedule out here. I'm looking forward to getting as much current experience as I can, finishing up the last of my prerequisites in the Spring and Fall, and applying for 2012 entry with my fingers crossed!
 
OneDay- that was a really sad story, i don't know how i could have worked through that. you are very strong! good luck with apps this cycle!
 
BlacKAT33 said:
OneDay- that was a really sad story, i don't know how i could have worked through that. you are very strong! good luck with apps this cycle!
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BlacKat- Thank you for your sympathy. My marriage was the most emotionally painful experience I have ever had to endure, and honestly it took some counseling and medication to move past that level of pain. The greatest realization that I had from that was that I shouldn't put my happiness in the hands of other people. Up until that point I was very reserved and insecure, and I have grown a million times in self confidence. My self reflection over the past six years has helped me realize who I am as a person, and that I shouldn't feel the need to compromise that for anyone else; I've also found that I can be completely self-reliant and don't need the approval of those around me to feel confident in the choices that I make. My time in the military has also certainly helped with all of that.

Still, even now when I look back and remember where he put me and how dead inside he made me feel, I find it hard to hold back the tears. I no longer harbor ill feelings toward him or anyone else who as wronged me in life, though, and I consider that a great and positive accomplishment.
 
Hi all,
so I found this forum a few weeks ago and I already feel like it's going to be immensely useful in my coming undergrad years. I'll be a freshman at the University of Maryland this fall (two weeks away now, woooo!), with a declared major of Animal Science: biotechnology (I couldn't really tell you what the biotechnology concentration entails, I just thought it would be interesting, lol). Just wanted to say thanks for all of the great posts to everyone who posts on this forum. I definitely consider myself to be shy, and tend to be a lurker on forums, but I really hope to get more involved here =)
 
misterElmo said:
Hi all,
so I found this forum a few weeks ago and I already feel like it's going to be immensely useful in my coming undergrad years. I'll be a freshman at the University of Maryland this fall (two weeks away now, woooo!), with a declared major of Animal Science: biotechnology (I couldn't really tell you what the biotechnology concentration entails, I just thought it would be interesting, lol). Just wanted to say thanks for all of the great posts to everyone who posts on this forum. I definitely consider myself to be shy, and tend to be a lurker on forums, but I really hope to get more involved here =)
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go terps!
 
Former Lurker: now proud SDN'er! +thread poster!

I'm a 21 sophmore working on my Zoology degree. I'm still in C.C. but working towards transfering to Washington state U (BS Zoology). then to there Vet school there. I goofed off in high school so am paying the price now and working my but off. Was a super senior and after that I took a year off of school and worked FT. as an assistant to a SA Vet that did a ton of Repro and Ortho work(yes odd combo and I cant even count the animal hours I have!). Work at a aquarium now so im getting some "exotic" species exp. essentially fish/sharks/inverts. which is exciting, and I hope really sets me apart when app time comes and i'm sure will be brought up in a someday interview🙂

I come from a crappy financial background, which some of us do and doing what I can to keep that ever looming debt elephant in the room at bay. Which is what i use SDN primarly for in advice. Longterm goal is to do International aid relief and work. With wildlife/SA (i.e. spay/neut clinics, disaster relief, wildife rehab,etc.)

So nice to meet everyone!
You will start seeming me post a lot more now that I finally came out of the SDN Closet!
 
Hi!

Not so much of a lurker as a newbie. In fact, I just joined yesterday. I heard about this site from several folks last year who were going through the medical school application process and then learned from a fellow vet school applicant that there was a veterinary thread - but sadly not until after all of my letters of rejection arrived. Ce-la-vie.

Long story short, whomever posted that they were 'old' at 25 should feel like the proverbial spring chicken... I'm 36 and didn't make the decision to pursue a veterinary career until after the age of 25 when my MS was completed and I was doing pre-doctoral work. Life works in strange ways...

So, here I am just hoping to gain some knowledge (or perhaps share a bit) and hopefully get a better idea of where things are on the time line once the application process hits full swing. My schedule is a little nutty (work 50+ hours a week and am retaking o-chem this semester) but hopefully I will be able to post 'useful' information every now and again.

Cheers!
 
Totally a lurker here. I joined this past spring, and have come by off and on to see what's up... 🙂

I'm 28 and returning to school for my sciences for pre-vet in a couple of weeks! My undergrad is in the fine arts and education, but I have been around animals (horses especially) all of my life. Two things happened this spring that made me realize that it's not completely insane for me to go back to school for basically the next six years: 1) My teaching job was cut. 2) I pulled two dead kids out of a neighbor's doe. 🙁 I figured if I could handle that, that was a pretty good start. Growing up, the thought of being a LA vet was always in the back of my head, but I had problems being squeamish about blood and guts. That seems to be something I have grown (am growing?) out of.

My husband and I own a small goat dairy in Southern Maine, and hope that in the next few years, the farm will be his full time job, though with him still working full time, we share the work right now.

I am looking at applying to Tufts for the class of 2016. I know- eggs all in one basket. We can't (don't really want to) up and move our herd though!

I have been working at a small animal clinic this summer as well as doing a little bit of driving around on rounds with our goats' vet (who does primarily equine work). Over the next year or so, I also hope to do some hours at one of the emergency clinics, and volunteer or intern at the University of New England's Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center.

I don't know how much posting I'll be having time for in the upcoming days, but just wanted to say hi and let y'all know who this flyinggoat person is! 😉
 
reachforthesky said:
Former Lurker: now proud SDN'er! +thread poster!

I'm a 21 sophmore working on my Zoology degree. I'm still in C.C. but working towards transfering to Washington state U (BS Zoology). then to there Vet school there. I goofed off in high school so am paying the price now and working my but off. Was a super senior and after that I took a year off of school and worked FT. as an assistant to a SA Vet that did a ton of Repro and Ortho work(yes odd combo and I cant even count the animal hours I have!). Work at a aquarium now so im getting some "exotic" species exp. essentially fish/sharks/inverts. which is exciting, and I hope really sets me apart when app time comes and i'm sure will be brought up in a someday interview🙂

I come from a crappy financial background, which some of us do and doing what I can to keep that ever looming debt elephant in the room at bay. Which is what i use SDN primarly for in advice. Longterm goal is to do International aid relief and work. With wildlife/SA (i.e. spay/neut clinics, disaster relief, wildife rehab,etc.)

So nice to meet everyone!
You will start seeming me post a lot more now that I finally came out of the SDN Closet!
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Lucky! I'm at Washington State Vancouver (just transferred from a C.C myself) and I'm a biology major.

Which Aquarium? Point Defiance?
 
I'm a senior applying this year, almost done with a BS in Animal & Veterinary Sciences. I've tried to acquire enough hours to check every "box" out there - SA, equine, exotic, research, avian, food animal, etc - but cows hold my heart and they're 90% of what I intend to work with after vet school. I surf quite a few forums, some of you may have seen me on the 'net before under the 'milkmaid' handle. My folks are not cow-savvy, but I've worked at a dairy on and off for the last 6 years, which explains the name. 🙂
 
parietal said:
Welcome, kanariya!

Before you spend thousands, be sure to talk to someone in LSU vet admissions. I know ISU was willing to wave my "expired" courses, and I don't think this is terribly unusual for vet schools, especially if you have worked in related fields or taken upper-level courses. If they won't waive all of them, you may at least be able to take more advanced classes instead, which may be preferable to sitting through general biology and chemistry classes again!

Good luck! :luck:
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This is a late response, but I'm busy busy busy all the time! Unfortunately, I already called and confirmed with LSU Admissions, and am taking only the classes they requested I retake. Luckily, my job helps out a bit and I get 1500$ a year reimbursement, if I can maintain and A or B. And I already made the Bs, so an A should be a plausable. I wanted to pay my car off first anyway, I'm only getting set back a year, possibly 2 because I can get more money back if I carry over to Fall 2011 and stay a full year after reimbursment.
 
OneDay81 said:
BlacKat- Thank you for your sympathy. My marriage was the most emotionally painful experience I have ever had to endure, and honestly it took some counseling and medication to move past that level of pain. The greatest realization that I had from that was that I shouldn't put my happiness in the hands of other people. Up until that point I was very reserved and insecure, and I have grown a million times in self confidence. My self reflection over the past six years has helped me realize who I am as a person, and that I shouldn't feel the need to compromise that for anyone else; I've also found that I can be completely self-reliant and don't need the approval of those around me to feel confident in the choices that I make. My time in the military has also certainly helped with all of that.

Still, even now when I look back and remember where he put me and how dead inside he made me feel, I find it hard to hold back the tears. I no longer harbor ill feelings toward him or anyone else who as wronged me in life, though, and I consider that a great and positive accomplishment.
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Holy crap! I feel like I was reading something I wrote!!! We have a lot in common! I'm sorry you had to go through all that... but you seem to be handling the outcome well now! It was so weird reading this perspective because I have basically come to the SAME conclusion on life and who I am! Congrats on learning that so early 😉 While I am 26, I've learned that many don't figure this stuff out until they are in their 40's or later.
 
nohika said:
Lucky! I'm at Washington State Vancouver (just transferred from a C.C myself) and I'm a biology major.

Which Aquarium? Point Defiance?
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Nice! Yes, Point Defiance. What schools are you looking to apply to once your done at Vanc. ?
 
Hiya--I was a lurker here last spring but got intimidated and fled when I read everyone's stats on the "Successful Applicants" thread. You people are amazing!

I graduated from Virginia Tech in 2001, and since then I've been working in office jobs. It took me a looong time to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up, which annoys me sometimes (because the choice was SO OBVIOUS, why didn't I do this EARLIER?) but at least I had a lot of fun while I decided.

I've been taking pre-reqs for two years, working full-time while volunteering in a shelter/low-income clinic and a zoo pathology lab, and I just did a volunteer project with lions in South Africa, which was amazing, even though the one in my avatar bit me. I'll be applying for the first time this cycle, and am alternately optimistic and depressed, depending on whether I'm thinking about my scores/grades (pretty good!) or my experience (no private practice). I keep telling myself: I'm GOING to vet school. I just don't know WHEN. 🙂

Oh, and I have a goofy brown mutt dog, and also an extremely affectionate kitten, both of indeterminate origin.

Nice to meet you all!
 
Ottergirl said:
Hiya--I was a lurker here last spring but got intimidated and fled when I read everyone's stats on the "Successful Applicants" thread. You people are amazing!

I graduated from Virginia Tech in 2001, and since then I've been working in office jobs. It took me a looong time to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up, which annoys me sometimes (because the choice was SO OBVIOUS, why didn't I do this EARLIER?) but at least I had a lot of fun while I decided.

I've been taking pre-reqs for two years, working full-time while volunteering in a shelter/low-income clinic and a zoo pathology lab, and I just did a volunteer project with lions in South Africa, which was amazing, even though the one in my avatar bit me. I'll be applying for the first time this cycle, and am alternately optimistic and depressed, depending on whether I'm thinking about my scores/grades (pretty good!) or my experience (no private practice). I keep telling myself: I'm GOING to vet school. I just don't know WHEN. 🙂

Oh, and I have a goofy brown mutt dog, and also an extremely affectionate kitten, both of indeterminate origin.

Nice to meet you all!
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Welcome! I'm in almost the same boat as you, but I'm just not as far down the river yet.... I worked in office jobs for the last ten years and been miserable for 9 of those 10 years! I *finally* decided last fall that I was going to take the plunge and go for what I've been wanting to do for years! Then, it took me another year to actually get my butt in classes.

I've played the whole coulda, shoulda, woulda game too, but realized that each experience in life whether it good or bad, is an opportunity to learn a lesson. Instead of beating myself up for the choices I made that lead me to this path, I am taking my lessons and using them as a guide to get me back to the path I am meant to be on.

Good luck in your journey! 🙂
 
Yes, I lurk more than I post. I'm a senior, currently applying to six vetschools. Unfortunately I'm a NY resident, which in my opinion is kind of like not having an in-state.. just because I don't think I'll have a better shot getting into Cornell ('cause they're so damn selective) than oos.

My GPA's not very high (3.25) but I go to a competitive school so I hope they take that into account. I've read that some schools don't 🙁. SDN has been an AWESOME resource for me. Especially just being able to see that other people are going through the same thing!

I go to school in GA and I've been considering staying down here if I don't get in this round and declaring residency to apply to UGA. Unfortunately that would entail taking two years off (12 months after I graduate before i can apply as a resident), and I'm not sure if I'm ready to do that.

Glad there was a thread made for lurkers like me! 😍
 
I lurk a lot, haha. I'll try to post, but I'm afraid I'll show my ignorance and no one will want to answer my questions. I'll try though ;p
 
Hey all! I found this forum a few weeks ago and reading it has helped me out alot, so I thought I'd introduce myself. I'm applying this cycle and am almost done with my application. Just finishing up my personal statement which I change pretty much everytime I work on it, but hopefully it comes out alright. Just want to get this all over with and be in vet school already! 😱
 
I've been on here for a few weeks now, and have made some posts on some threads, but never actually introduced myself on the newbie thread. I have posted some of my background on other threads, but, minimumly, I am a junior in standing at 26 years old. I had a rough start with many personal issues outside of school, and have finally gotten back on track over the past year. I am a full time student/full time worker, and I am applying for vet school during the next cycle.

The closer the application process gets the more anxiety that builds. I have been diligently researching 11 schools after finally narrowing it down to the ones I am most interested in. One of the schools I am interested in is Massey, and to be honest, I'm scared to death to move across the world to a completely different place. I have moved across the country before, and that was a feat in itself haha. I love new places and new cultures, and traveling is one of my favorite past times, but jumping into an entirely new "world" with a new way of driving, a new lifestyle, a new currency, etc. is rather intimidating 🙂

I have been reading the threads on NZ/Massey here on SDN and it has been very educational (I love the ability to type in a title of a future thread and having 6 "related" threads pop up... wonderful idea! I found the search bar not as helpful). I have done some of my own research online as well and I have a friend who lives over there as well, but does anyone have any useful sites that I might be able to gain additional information on the school/area/lifestyle/etc. besides the typical websites (school site, immigration site, etc.) If it's easier, just PM me. Thanks for any help you can give and this forum is AWESOME!!
 
Shad0w said:
I lurk a lot, haha. I'll try to post, but I'm afraid I'll show my ignorance and no one will want to answer my questions. I'll try though ;p
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I felt the same way, but everyone on here has been very nice and incredibly helpful. 🙂
 
FutureDVM2016 said:
I am a full time student/full time worker, and I am applying for vet school during the next cycle.

The closer the application process gets the more anxiety that builds. I have been diligently researching 11 schools after finally narrowing it down to the ones I am most interested in. One of the schools I am interested in is Massey, and to be honest, I'm scared to death to move across the world to a completely different place. I have moved across the country before, and that was a feat in itself haha. I love new places and new cultures, and traveling is one of my favorite past times, but jumping into an entirely new "world" with a new way of driving, a new lifestyle, a new currency, etc. is rather intimidating 🙂
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So you're applying for class of 2016? Hopefully I will be too 👍
 
smilin1590 said:
So you're applying for class of 2016? Hopefully I will be too 👍
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Yes, that is the plan... if all goes how I want it, I should be finished with my bachelors in animal science and all pre-reqs before next spring 🙂 I CANT WAIT!!! I've been an undergrad for ENTIRELY too long!
 
reachforthesky said:
Nice! Yes, Point Defiance. What schools are you looking to apply to once your done at Vanc. ?
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I looooveeeee that Aquarium. Lovelovelove. Haven't been up there in a while, though, which sucks. Ah, well.

I'm not sure yet...I've not taken the time to look around much plus my GPA needs some repair so I'm not sure what schools I'll be competitive for. What about you?
 
Long time lurker here - since last year! I just haven't gotten a chance to post yet. I'm 26 years old - bday is on Wednesday... getting o l d e r... Was on the allopathic path, but decided that it was time to give myself the benefit of making sure I did not truely want to be a vet. Got a vet tech job last March and have been LOVING it. I now have a totally renewed passion for the veterinary field and animal medicine. I grew up surrounded by animals on a farm, and am ready to return. 🙂 Applying this cycle even though I need to complete a couple of upper level pre-reqs. GPA is not so stellar - taking the GRE on Monday! 😱 one crazy week. At least gives me practice for next cycle! Thanks to everyone on this thread, you guys give me so much hope. 🙂
 
I'm sort of a lurker but not really. I've posted some but I just joined. I didn't really decide I wanted to be a veterinarian until last December. I knew I wanted to be in some sort of science based field working with lab animals or public health awareness. I majored in Biology and Psychology, but I was in a neurotransmitter lab for 2 years where we studied appetite and behavioral effects on avian animal models. This was very basic science and I loved it so much. I've got some shelter experience also that I also enjoyed but it was sort of stressful. I also have lab animal medicine experience. This is a little different from research because 1. I worked with rodents (lol they are different than avians lol) and 2. lab animal medicine is less intense on research and more intense on animal welfare and how best to treat animals in research settings. Not gonna lie, I LOVED IT. I don't have any private practice experience but I'm going to get some more even though I've submitted my app and just send an addendum. I'd also like to get wildlife medicine experience more than anything really. Being a veterinarian is the only degree in which you can have a global impact on animal and human health --- I just didn't get satisfaction from my human only interactions, not that I don't love interacting with people, but I love interacting with both. I've always wanted a career in which I can have a global impact. So ultimately like I said I'm aiming for lab animal medicine and/or public health veterinarian --- maybe zoonotic diseases with wildlife etc. I'm only applying to one school Virginia-Maryland, whom has excellent program options for non-traditional veterinary careers (ie those that don't want to be a private practice clinician). The reason I'm putting all my eggs into 1 basket is because of their option for non-traditional vet careers AND I'm married and will have to be away from my husband (he's in med school) --- VMRCVM is where I'm from, most of my family lives there (my mom, dad, grandmother, brother, etc). SO having them with me while my husband is away is important to my well SANITY. lol It's only about 2.5 hours from where my husband is located. I have 2 dogs (sort of) and 2 cats. The reason I said sort of is that we have an aggressive dog that has beaten the crap out of the other one so bad that we're currently trying to find a single dog, no children, no cat home for him.... eh so heartbreaking. This is my husband's bachelor dog too 🙁

I don't know if people are posting stats but I guess it won't hurt so people will know IF I get in what they are.
VMRCVM might be my IS school --- it's up in the air cause we left temporarily but paid income taxes.
540V, 660Q, 4.0W, 3.53 overall GPA, 3.68 sciences, around 3500-4000 hours total animal experience.

Something kind of cool about me is that I am a first generation college grad --- and I figure why not keep going and make it a first generation college grad AND veterinarian?! I can be a true role model to my small town high school where people should be dreaming bigger 😍

Ok I think thats enough lol Ya'll shouldn't be too weirded out by me now. 😀
 
hahatoofunny22 said:
The reason I said sort of is that we have an aggressive dog that has beaten the crap out of the other one so bad that we're currently trying to find a single dog, no children, no cat home for him.... eh so heartbreaking. This is my husband's bachelor dog too 🙁
😀
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Welcome to the forums! Good luck with VMRCVM, I hear they have an excellent program!

I had the same problem with my two dogs for about 3 years. Thankfully, our consultation with a vet behaviorist proved successful, but they were separated for around that time. Hopefully you'll be able to find a good home for your pooch!
 
Hello, I have been a lurker for a few weeks now. I absolutely love the information available on here. Most of the time it gives me so much motivation! (Other times when I look at successful app stats it makes me sad--I have a lower GRE 🙁. But I am totally focused on getting into vet school so it's good 🙂).

A little about myself...I graduated in May 2010 from South Dakota State University with a Bachelors in Animal Science. I grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota and have many pets. My husband and I recently rescued a long-haired dachshund, Lily. At the farm I have cats, 3 other dogs, calves, cows, heifers, pigs, and a pygmy goat.

I am a second time applicant. This cycle I applied to Minnesota, Kansas, and Illinois. I am definately interested in going large animal. I love my magnificent bovines!
 
hey everyone, I've been a lurker for quite a while, it's about time I post! I'm currently a 5th year senior from Iowa State, applying for the first time. It was definitely nice to have SDN to procrastinate while filling out all those supplementals. I ended up applying to 7 different schools (broke now!) but would love to go to CSU for orthopedic surgery.

About me, I grew up in South Dakota but love it at ISU, graduating with a BS in Animal Science and International Agriculture with a minor in General Business. I have an 8 month old weimaraner and she's as crazy as the stereotype but thats why I got her!

Have fun trying to stay sane while we wait!
 
Ithink I've been around I'm just being silly.
 
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Well I guess I should come out of the woodwork too... I have been a lurker ever since I discovered this sight at the beginning of the summer when I began the application process hardcore.

Some stuff about me, I am a junior in college and have always have had an interest in equine medicine. I have owned and competed my own and other peoples horses since 8th grade and still actively compete in eventing (though its really hard with school). I have worked as a vet tech at an animal hospital that did small animals + exotics and have over 2000 hours from there. My sophomore year in college I decided to take up a research position in the Parasitology lab on my colleges campus and was working as a lab assistant, though I was conducting my own research. This summer I gained an undergrad assistantship in the same lab and am continuing my research.

It seems like I have been working towards this goal my whole life and been trying to take all the correct steps, unfortunately, in 2009 I got really sick and had to be hospitalized for the last part of the semester, and my grades (1 weighted class) took a turn for the worst, so my GPA is fair, not bad but fair, unfortunately my GRE's arnt something to brag about either.... I guess I will just have to charm them with my great personality :laugh:
 
Sorrryyy, I'm a full fledged lurker, but I'm being better! Applying this year (yikes). Most of the information on this website has been extremely helpful to me during the application process, especially with calming my own doubts/worries.

Quick info: Low undergrad GPA (3.14), worked 2 years full time vet hospital. Am now on my 2nd (hopefully last) year of MS program with research assistantship at Purdue. It has helped! grad GPA of 3.84, plus tons of large animal experience (none prior), and a butt-load of research!

I can totally help anyone with questions about research programs. Can maybe help less with questions about vet med programs...

Sooo, that's all... HI SDN! =) Good luck c/o 2015 hopefuls!!!
 
nohika said:
I looooveeeee that Aquarium. Lovelovelove. Haven't been up there in a while, though, which sucks. Ah, well.

I'm not sure yet...I've not taken the time to look around much plus my GPA needs some repair so I'm not sure what schools I'll be competitive for. What about you?
Click to expand...


Yeah you should come visit we are constantly evolving! lol.
My GPA needs some repair as well, 🙄 but i've got plenty of time do so so.(at least i'm hoping haha)

I will definitly be doing our IS school(WSU) and i'm looking at oregon, georgia, florida, and maybe Cali. But of course all things can change!
 
Hi! I am a third year undergrad applying this cycle and I just found this forum. It has been a BLESSING reading over everyone's stories, PS advice, Experience advice, etc. I am submitting my VMCAS & Supps tonight, and after that I look forward to posting more! 🙂
 
reachforthesky said:
Yeah you should come visit we are constantly evolving! lol.
My GPA needs some repair as well, 🙄 but i've got plenty of time do so so.(at least i'm hoping haha)

I will definitly be doing our IS school(WSU) and i'm looking at oregon, georgia, florida, and maybe Cali. But of course all things can change!
Click to expand...

I would but school has me tethered here. x_x Hopefully I can go up...um...when I graduate! 8D;;;
 
welcome catsx3 and welelu!
 
Hey there everyone! I've been a "guest" lurker for months now, and I've finally got the courage to sign up! I'm a 26-year-old with a BS in biology and MAEd in community college biology instruction. (I thought this second degree would be more marketable than just an MS, but when the economy tanked while I was in grad school, that plan tanked with it.)

I wanted to be a vet, then I had some bad grades early in undergrad and gave up on it for a while. I've tried lab work, retail management, and teaching, none with the satisfaction I get from working in a vet's office. A year ago I decided I'd get back on the horse (or dog/cat since I'm a SA person), and I just applied last week. We moved to VA a year ago, and I couldn't find a teaching job, so I worked at a Humane Society for almost a year. I've been an overnight emergency tech for several months now. I LOVE being back in a vet clinic and learning, and emergency is new for me. So is the vampire work schedule, but it's worth it for now!
 
I've been lurking for a little while now and I guess I will finally introduce myself, I'm 24, graduated undergrad with a neuroscience degree and have done work in research for the past year. I have really enjoyed working w/ our animal care facility which brought me back to my childhood dream of being a vet. I have been postbacc. to finish some requirements and submitted the VMCAS this cycle.
Is anyone else interested in research?.... I would love to chat w/ anyone who applied to dual degree programs.
 
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