Major Decision to make... need some help!!

[dee vee emm]

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OK so I am majorly stressing out right now... This is my situation.
So I've applied the last 2 years to vet school (in Canada), and I've gotten interviews but I haven't gotten in (darn)👎.
So next month I'm starting my Masters at the school where I will apply again to vet school. It's a one year Masters (no thesis).
I wanted to apply in the graduate cohort in stead of the undersraguate cohort, but the rule states that you can't apply as a grad student unless by the time the application date comes (Jan 1st) you have completed three semesters of your MSc. This kinda sucks for me because I still would be done my MSc by the time next September rolls around, but I'll only have one semester done by the time I would apply.

So the thing is, I don't really know if it would be worth it applying right away again as an undergrad with the same marks and everything, because I don't know if my chances would be any better unless something really changed (hence the Masters).

But if I don't apply as an undergrad, then that means when I'm done my Masters at the end of next summer, I'd have to work or whatever for the year and then apply for the class of 2015 as a grad student (which means I'll be like 30 when I graduate😱...lol) .

And the other thing is, I signed up to re-write the MCAT again for Sept 12, and if I'm not going to apply for next year I need to decide all this by Friday so I can either get half my money back or try and switch it to a later time for next year (oh and I'm in the process of packing all my stuff up so I can move 3 hours away for my Masters... moving this Sunday), so I haven't been studying for it half as much as I should have.

I'm just stressing sooo bad right now, and any help would be greatly appreciated...
Thanks so much!!!
-Dee

 

[bunnity]

I'm not Canadian so I can't comment on some of the specifics, but I think whether it's worth it to do a master's program depends on what area of your application you're trying to improve. If it's academics, then I think it would be worthwhile even if you can't apply in the cohort you want, because you'll have a semester of (good) grades by the time you have an interview, and it shows a commitment to improving that area of your application. If your undergraduate grades are fine, you might do better by improving the experience side of your application with veterinary jobs or volunteering, or by studying to improve your MCAT score if necessary.

With the MCAT, do you have to take it every year, or does it "expire" after a certain number of years?

Have you done a "post-mortem" at the school you're applying to, so you can determine how to improve your application from year to year? It might be worth trying to meet with admissions before you make your decision.

 

[dee vee emm]

Yeah it's the grade thing I'm trying to improve.. though they aren't too bad.

And the MCAT doesn't expire quickly ... well I think you can still use your mark up to 4 or 5 years after you write it. But I didn't do too great on it, that's why I want to write it again.

And there is nothing like a post-mortem... it sucks because they don't give you any feedback at all. They interview the top 200-ish people and then cut it to like 110 after that. You don't even get to know where you were ranked at all.

At the interview you get an averaged score but all they will give you is your mark.... they don't tell you what you did wrong or what you could do better or anything like that...

But I'm not lacking in the experience department.. I've got plenty of that...

 

[nyanko]

But if I don't apply as an undergrad, then that means when I'm done my Masters at the end of next summer, I'd have to work or whatever for the year and then apply for the class of 2015 as a grad student (which means I'll be like 30 when I graduate😱...lol) .

I'll be nearly 30 when I enter if I get in this year. It's really not so bad. 😉

 

[GuelphAlex]

Guelph! XD
Do you think it will be easier or harder getting in? I think they have 10 spots for grad students.. but i guess there will be less grads too.I don't know

Since you aren't lacking experience.. are your grades okay or is it ur interview?

Sorry, I cant help much.. I am applying next december XD

 

[sinker]

I'd wait until you finish the Masters

 

[dee vee emm]

I mean it wouldn't hurt me to get my grades higher with the Masters, but then when I'm done school next summer, I have to work or whatever for a whole year before I apply.. that's the part that sux... but one year doesn't make too much of a difference I guess, right?
And I think the interview part I couldv'e done better in too. But now for the next app cycle, they're totally changing it up. No more 2 on 1 interviews, it's going to be the "multiple mini interview" now. So I don't know if I'd do worse or better on that. It sounds a lot more intimidating.

But even though it would suck to wait another year, that's what I'm kinda leaning towards. Then at least I can do a lot more volunteering, do the MCAT again, and be good and ready for the next time.
I just need someone to agree that that would be the best...lol.😎

 

[thnythe]

I would call/write admissions and see if you could get an exception for your case, since you will be done your Masters within a year. Worst case scenario they just say no, and you're back to where you are now.

As for the multiple-mini interview (MMI), it's not thaaat bad. Just have a few practice ones beforehand if you can.

 

[david594]

I'd apply again as an undergrad if they wont let you apply under the grad rules.

You have gotten interviews the last 2 years, so they are at least considering you. You never know if someone who reads your personal statement this year can sympathize with you a bit more, or your interview might go a bit better.

I definitely wouldn't skip applying this year.

 

[dee vee emm]

Yeah I already emailed the secretary and she said that since I'd only have one semester done, I can't apply as a grad student.

And this is where it's tearing me apart about applying again. The only thing different on my app will maybe be a few more hours of expereince, and one semester of grad school. But even if I do awesome in those classes, I can't use any of them for applying.

Their rules are SO strict. The courses you use for pre-req's have to be in full time semesters (5 classes), and at the appropriate level of what year you are in. Now that screwed me over for 3rd year (that's when I found out that rule, even tho I was sure I knew the website inside and out), because my awesome classes I couldn't even use at all which really sucked.

So your pre-req's and last 2 full time semesters count as 40% each of how they rank the top 200 ppl, and then the MCAT counts as 20%, and the top 200 get picked from that. ANd then if you get an interview, your interview score is averaged into that and everyone is re-ranked again and then they pick the top 110 or whatever...

It sucks that we can't know where we rank so you know like if you really really need to rock the interview or not... So I don't know how much the personal statement adds to that, cuz it doesn't have too much of an effect on stuff... other then you probably need a good one ...

 

[dee vee emm]

And if I could apply as many times as I wanted until I got in then I'd go for it for sure. But they only give you 4 tries, and I already used up 2 of them...
😕

 

[twelvetigers]

Wait, you only get four tries??

 

[david594]

And if I could apply as many times as I wanted until I got in then I'd go for it for sure. But they only give you 4 tries, and I already used up 2 of them...
😕

Shoot, now that really sucks.

So if you strike out after 4 tries are you allowed to move to a different province and try for a different school?

 

[dee vee emm]

yep only FOUR tries!!
Which is dumb cuz they get the money anyways from you applying so why cap the limit? I don't know...

But yeah I could move to another province, but then there's another year I'd have to wait cuz I'd have to establish residency there first for a year (without going to any university or whatever)... 👎

Sometimes I wish I lived in the States....lol

 

[pawprints]

Their rules are SO strict..and at the appropriate level of what year you are in. Now that screwed me over for 3rd year (that's when I found out that rule, even tho I was sure I knew the website inside and out), because my awesome classes I couldn't even use at all which really sucked.

Hey, a fellow OVC hopeful!!! I think I replied to your post in the FVC forum...And with respect to that whole 'take courses in appropriate year thing' I swear, they changed the website, because I have OVC as my homepage and it totally did NOT say that when I was planning out my academic career...In fact, it NOW says that 60% of your courses have to be at the appropriate level...They keep changing everything, ARGH! Like you, I got majorly screwed over (I had to appeal my courses and head of Bio had to write this huge letter...Everything worked itself out, but man, was I a stressball during that time!)

I stand by my opinion though, that regardless of your decision grad school wise, you should definitely retake the MCAT...Maybe take a course (I don't know how much it helps, but it can't hurt!) or something, but retake it...I'm taking it for the first time in a week (I really should be studying...) and if I get anything less than a 28Q, I'm retaking again...I just want to put myself in the best possible position marks wise, because even if I rock the interview, marks still matter more...😛

 

[dee vee emm]

Yeah I was sure they kept changing the site on me too, cuz I remember when I read it in high school it wasn't like that... actually I think I still have the print out I made like 7 years ago...lol.

SO what appeal did you have to make? Maybe somehow I could do the same thing... (you can pm me about that if you want).

Good luck on your MCAT.. so are you applying for class of 2014?