Newbie here!!!! Just a few easy questions that I have :)

[Dogcat1290]

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Hi all!!! I just have a couple questions that I'm hoping someone can answer for me. I'm a sophmore in college studying biology and I'm starting to try to organize the things I need (basic requirements I guess you can call it) to find to help me get to vet school. *Warning* extremely embarassing questions coming up 😀.. 1) What are vmcas?? I honestly just heard about the exams (?) from lurking around in the forum for a bit. Are they like SATs?? When would you take them? 2) Seeing as though I'm a college sophmore should I start looking at vet schools (touring)? I'm starting to research a few and email their admissions counselor just to learn more about them so I am starting that. I appreciate you answering here, I love that I just found this forum. 😍

 

[Marsala]

Hi!

Google VMCAS (the Veterinary Medical College Application Service), go to the second link on the page (VMCAS/AAVMC) and read up! All sorts of useful information for ya!

 

[luplodw]

VMCAS is the Veterinary Medical College Application Service. It is an online application for veterinary school. Most vet schools use this service....so you can fill out the main application online and it will be sent to all the schools that you choose. There are a few schools that choose to have their own application though. The GRE is the only exam you have to take to get into vet school. It is basically just like the SAT or ACT, but it is just math and verbal and it is taken on a computer

 

[goldielocks137]

In addition to what Luplodw said, there is also a writing section on the GRE. So it is pretty much exactly like the SAT. It needs to be taken (I think) within 5 or 6 years of when you apply, so you could take it now if you wanted. And, from my experience, I think it would have been easier to take the GRE straight out of high school because I just had all that SAT prep and I had much more English in high school than in college. But as long as you get a study book and do practice tests it is possible to get a good score years out of high school.

Oklahoma State and University of Georgia also require the Biology subject GRE. I haven't taken that yet, so I can't really give you too much info about it.

 

[that redhead]

Applying to vet school isn't exactly like applying to undergraduate schools. I know when I was applying to undergrad, I went and visited all of the schools I wanted to apply to as well as others I was considering. I had solid stats and to be quite frank, I felt pretty sure that I would get in to most of the places I applied. Granted, I didn't apply to any Ivy League schools but still. Anyway, with vet schools, it's a LOT more difficult to get in, as I'm sure you already know. With undergrad, a lot of the admission are really predictable - good GPA, good SATs (within ranges) and you're in, it seems. With vet schools, there are so many other factors (include the wild card) that its so hard to say. I would hold off on touring anywhere until you get to the actual applications. Of the eight (vet) schools I applied to this cycle, I've visited three of them (Colorado State, Iowa State and VA Tech). The first two I visited for undergrad and the last is close enough to me (and my in-state school) that I made the drive. If by some miracle I get accepted to more than one vet school, I'll make the trip out there again regardless to help my decision.

I know there are people on the forum that place a lot of importance on location and feel of the school, and I'm not one of them. I would rather go somewhere like CSU because I like the atmosphere of the place better, but that won't necessarily stop me from turning down another school. For me, with my low GPA, I really can't afford to be choosy and I've said before that if Hell had a vet school and offered me a spot, I'd go 🙄 You may be a more competitive applicant, though, and be able to choose based on location alone. Just depends on the person!

I think the most important thing to do at this stage for you is to do well in your pre-requisite courses (and familiarize yourself with what those are for various schools). Do well in your classes, study for your GRE and do well in that, and evaluate your experiences (do you have animal experience aside from pet ownership, experience with a veterinarian, etc?)

Sorry for the novel!

 

[NStarz]

I would hold off on touring anywhere until you get to the actual applications. Of the eight (vet) schools I applied to this cycle, I've visited three of them (Colorado State, Iowa State and VA Tech). The first two I visited for undergrad and the last is close enough to me (and my in-state school) that I made the drive. If by some miracle I get accepted to more than one vet school, I'll make the trip out there again regardless to help my decision.

Also, a lot of schools require interviews, so you may be required to go visit the school when you interview. Welcome to the forums!

 

[HopefulAg]

I know there are people on the forum that place a lot of importance on location and feel of the school, and I'm not one of them. I

I agree. Location and feel only make a difference if you have multiple acceptances to choose from.

 

[smilin1590]

Welcome! Looks as though everyone has answered many or all of your questions. You'll come to find out this place is full of useful info and also many supportive members! Glad you joined👍

 

[Dogcat1290]

Thanks for the replies!! I feel better about the whole thing. I am pretty excited this is happening lol!

 

[lullabies]

In addition to what Luplodw said, there is also a writing section on the GRE. So it is pretty much exactly like the SAT. It needs to be taken (I think) within 5 or 6 years of when you apply, so you could take it now if you wanted. And, from my experience, I think it would have been easier to take the GRE straight out of high school because I just had all that SAT prep and I had much more English in high school than in college. But as long as you get a study book and do practice tests it is possible to get a good score years out of high school.

Oklahoma State and University of Georgia also require the Biology subject GRE. I haven't taken that yet, so I can't really give you too much info about it.

I know I'm not OP but this is really informational for me.

Just wondering, is the GRE relatively harder or easier than the SAT?
ie; the math is pretty basic algerbra, geometry, etc. that just requires some thinking vs. ACT includes harder stuff >______<

Math was/is my worst subject, oh my gosh.

 

[twelvetigers]

It's not so much that the concepts behind the questions are difficult to understand, it's that they try to trick you. Your best bet is to get books designed for studying the GRE. If you can learn how to handle the tricks, you can do well.

 

[goldielocks137]

I know I'm not OP but this is really informational for me.

Just wondering, is the GRE relatively harder or easier than the SAT?
ie; the math is pretty basic algerbra, geometry, etc. that just requires some thinking vs. ACT includes harder stuff >______<

Math was/is my worst subject, oh my gosh.

You know, I took the SAT about five years ago and I don't really remember. And I never took the ACT. But it's the same basic set up. The math and verbal are at about the same level as the SAT and they do try to trick you.

But definitely doing well is simply about practice and learning what the types of questions they ask are. They are implementing changes to the GRE next August (adding a calculator to the math section, so the math will most likely be more difficult, removing analogies in the verbal section)

Probably it won't matter which version of the test you take, just make sure you study for and take the same versions! And last I looked it was somewhat hard to find study books for the current version, so that is something you should look into before you decide.

 

[rileydog]

From what I remember, there is a lot of geometry on the GRE. Another difference is the adaptive aspect of the GRE. If I understand correctly, the GRE is supposed to better reflect your abilities since as you get questions right, the amount that each question is worth increases and you therefore score higher. I would recommend that you also get study materials that have practice tests on the computer. It can take some getting used to. Especially in the math section when you are going back and forth between the computer screen and your scratch paper. And definitely practice taking timed tests. So glad to be done with that test, good luck to everyone who still has to take it