non US application advice please

[Anyella]

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I am considering applying to vet school abroad and I have some questions about the process since I am a non-traditional student.

The schools I would consider are in the UK, Australia or New Zealand. I have numerous credits under my belt both from my initial attempt at college over ten years ago (not very successful, I ended up dropping out) and my current run at a community college where I am honors with a GPA of 3.61 (4.0 in science). I have taken one semester biology, one semester chemistry, human anatomy and pre-calculus. I have volunteered and interned at a local wildlife rehabilitation center for over 200 hours.

I am not looking at graduate entry right now since I don't have a bachelor degree but I only recently realized I might be eligible for a five year program at universities that accept high school students.

Questions:
1) How competitive are international schools? both against each other and against acceptance in the US?

2)Are there any additional classes I should take? I won't have grades by application time this year but I need to know if there is something I should take this fall like physics first semester for Massey University-Animal Biology is not offered at my school, is it that necessary? or a statistics class for Murdoch University (Elementary Statistics is the only possible equivalent I can find) or anything else for Royal (Dick) in Edinburgh, University of Sydney, RVC London, University of Glasgow.

3)Does my experience fall short? In my intern position I am basically in charge of the avian nursery for my shift which means I might be feeding birds, giving them subQ LRS, giving meds, directing volunteers to tasks or escalating care to the vet or vet tech. I'd like to find additional and more varied volunteer or work opportunities for the fall. My current difficulty is that most of the "vet experience" opportunities I can find are limited to students in a pre-vet or veterinary program. Given the current job climate I'm not sure how viable it is, but I've considered working as a receptionist at a vet clinic. I need to stay in the city for my job and classes so I don't know how I'd get farm experience until next summer (even then it would be at a local zoo). Anyway, any suggestions as to where I can find the right sort of experience would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[lei325]

I would definitely take a look at the requirements for the international schools here. I'm not sure about the admittance from high school for US students, so I would double check the websites of each school you're looking at applying. I think pretty much all the schools are competitive (US and abroad) but it's a matter of making yourself a good candidate. 200 hours is good, but you really should get a broader experience. Call around to some animal practices and see if you can shadow some vets. I would recommend getting both large and small animal experience, since some schools like to see a variety of experience. Do what you can do. It sounds like you have a few more years to finish the pre-reqs, so you have plenty of time to get more experience and more credits under your belt before you apply.

I would also recommend looking at this thread to see the stats of some of the successful applicants from the past cycle (c/o 2014). It'll give you an idea of what some schools look for. Good luck! If you really want it, don't give up trying.

 

[laurafinn]

Massey doesn't care how much experience you have, as far as I know. You just need 2 weeks of working with a veterinarian to apply.

IIRC, they only consider your grades in the last three years, which is of benefit if you had a rocky start academically.

If you want to skip the competitive pre-selection semester, you will need a Biology of Animals equivalent (basically, the course is about half Zoology, half very basic Physiology -- I'm not sure what US course they consider equal), and maybe Organic Chemistry -- I don't know what they are counting towards Chemistry and Living Systems. Best thing to do is look up Massey's web site and email the current international student liaison.

Good luck!

 

[Nexx]

For entry into the five year program at Murdoch you need to have the following coursework done: Cell biology (basically bio 1 and bio 2), Chemistry (Chem 1 type course), Statistics (ideally biostatistics, but plain stats works too I think).


Applications for entry to Murdoch for 2011 close at the end of next month (Possibly end of october). You would have a year to take the necc classes and gain more experience to make yourself competitive.

I would recc doing a lot of research about the overseas schools and areas they are located. I came over here without knowing much about living here and have acclimated nicely. That said, I know people who came over and only made it to one day of class before flying back home deciding it (Perth/Australia in general, not vet) wasn't for them. Basically just make sure you aren't going to be learning a very expensive 'life lesson'

 

[chii chan]

1. It really depends on where you're located. My IS was Davis and that was very difficult to get in. I think KSU would have been easier than my IS. One of my classmates knows someone who got into Western but not Edinburgh and another person who got into Edinburgh but not Western. It varies and I'm not sure any of us know how they choose sometimes.

2. I have a BS so I don't know. Try contacting the admissions office at the schools. They would probably have the best idea.

3. It sounds like you have enough experience. Here at R(D)SVS (as well as the other UK schools like Glasgow and RVC), you have to do EMS husbandry by the end of your first year (on GEP) or second year (5 year entry), and then clinical EMS in your later years. Even if you don't come with a lot of experience, it really evens you out and gives you great opportunities to get a lot of hands on experience with every specie.



Lei are you in London yet? I'm about to start my 2nd week of class here in Edinburgh.

 

[lei325]

Chii-chan: I'm so jealous! I'm not flying over until September 10 since the pre-sessional doesn't start until Sept 13. I'm so ready to be there...

 

[chii chan]

So the fear hasn't set in yet? I started freaking out 3 days before I had to leave. But I'm so glad to be here and think it was all excitement.

You don't start until Sept 13? Do you have a flat yet?

 

[lei325]

I'm living on campus! I didn't want to worry about finding a flat this year. I am starting to freak out a little bit, but I still have 25 days left til I leave so no...the fear hasn't set in yet. :/ And real classes don't start until October 4th. It's the latest I've ever started school.

 

[Anyella]

You would suggest that I wait for next cycle to try applying then? I wasn't sure if classes in progress would count. I have e-mailed the International Enquiry Officer but she tells me I pretty much just have to apply to find out if my classes meet the requirements so it might be worthwhile to apply this cycle for that I guess. I just hate to spend money without having a fighting chance.

 

[Anyella]

Ok yeah I get what the different schools are looking for now and I definitely won't be ready this year. Now I just have to figure out where to go to school next, since my school doesn't offer what I need anymore.

Thanks for the advice everyone! These forums are great, I have a much better understanding of the process now.

 

[thisyrisit]

Anyella, your GPA is more than adequate for acceptance almost anywhere US or elsewhere (maybe not some OOS US schools) but just keep it there or higher with the rest of your pre-req classes and get a good GRE (for US schools) and you'll be golden. Experience is helpful but not a major factor. Some schools will allow you to apply this year if you expect to finish your pre-reqs by next spring so go for it if you can finish by then. G luck!