- Joined
- Aug 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 0
Recently, I've been thinking about vet programs but I'm just not sure I'd get accepted. Here's my situation. I started my BS in Biology in 1998. I have a 3.9 in major and was two semesters away from graduation. In my college career, I participated in five research projects, student taught class six classes and even TAed on lab. In short, I was perfectly placed to go to graduate school and do research. Then I was hit with some massive life changes.
My mom had three heart attacks and was hospitalized for two months. In the midst of this turmoil, I met my future husband. We married three years later. I hadn't planned to get involved with anyone until after grad school, but if we could plan out our lives like that, life would be so boring. He was also a biology major, and I knew well the difficulty facing two biologists trying to stay together through grad school, post-doc and job searches. During this time I failed physics and organic, not because I couldn't understand the material, but because I was so often with my mom at the hospital and my confusion regarding my future with my husband. I decided to change majors to journalism and pursue science writing, but I just couldn't put my heart into it. I went from a 3.7 GPA to a 3.0 and then finally, I left without dropping my courses and ended up with a 2.7.
I had always intended to go back to school, but I couldn't decide what I wanted to do. I knew following my previous path of research would mean separating from my husband for many years. He's currently a land steward with The Nature Conservancy and those jobs are really, really hard to come by. Even so, I couldn't stand the thought of not finishing and so this summer I transferred to Purdue where I will spend two years finishing my Biology degree.
A few weeks ago, I talked with our family vet about my situation. He suggested I try for veterinary school. I was shocked, because honestly, I'd absolutely never thought about it before. It was like, to use the old cliché, a light went on. I love animals and I've always been interested in animal body functions. For the first time in six years, I felt absolutely sure of what I wanted to do. I'm planning on interning for him next summer and possibly shadowing him a bit this fall and spring. I think I'd really like to do mixed practice in a rural area. I've read this type of vet makes the least, but that doesn't matter to me at all. I just want to do something with biology that's helpful and rewarding.
Now, the difficulty lies in my past record. I've no doubt I can graduate from Purdue with a 3.7 or better. I'm also not concerned about the GRE. When I took it in 2003 I scored in the high 700s for quantitative and analytical (790-something, I think). I also took the biology subject GRE and scored in the 95th percentile, 99th in the anatomy and physiology section. However, my GPA at Purdue will be averaged with my GPA at Indiana University, correct? This would mean that even if I got a 4.0 at Purdue, I'd still only be able to claim a 3.5, if that. Also, I'll only have one summer to intern as a vet's assistant before applying. If I volunteer 40 hours a week, that's only 480 hours total. It doesn't seem very impressive.
I've read that vet schools like to see that you've been dedicated to the idea of being a vet for years. The thought only entered my mind a few weeks ago. How can I show them I'm dedicated when I have so little time to prove myself? Should I take three years to finish my BS instead? It's already been so long. I don't mind though, and really I'd do whatever it takes. I know it sounds strange, but I absolutely know I want to be a vet. Even though it's been only a short time, I just know. The only way I can explain is by comparing it with the feeling I had when I met my husband. From the first time I talked with him I thought "this changes everything." It's exactly the same with my conversation with our vet: It changed everything.
I can't believe I never considered being a vet before. We had horses and sheep when I was a teen. I remember being fascinated when the vet would come to check on them. My internship this summer will really help me understand if I have what it takes to be a vet. But still, do I have a snowball's chance in heck of getting accepted anywhere?
Ideally, I'd like to go to Purdue's vet school. However, I would apply to others. Being away from my husband for four years would be painful, but if it was only for four years, I know we could work something out. He's absolutely supportive of whatever I decide.
Thanks for your help and input, I'm so glad there are places like this where I can talk to people who have or will go through the application process.
What I'd really love to know is, has anyone out there has had an experience like mine and, if so, how did it worked out? Also, any advise on increasing my chances would be absolutely wonderful!
Jessica
My mom had three heart attacks and was hospitalized for two months. In the midst of this turmoil, I met my future husband. We married three years later. I hadn't planned to get involved with anyone until after grad school, but if we could plan out our lives like that, life would be so boring. He was also a biology major, and I knew well the difficulty facing two biologists trying to stay together through grad school, post-doc and job searches. During this time I failed physics and organic, not because I couldn't understand the material, but because I was so often with my mom at the hospital and my confusion regarding my future with my husband. I decided to change majors to journalism and pursue science writing, but I just couldn't put my heart into it. I went from a 3.7 GPA to a 3.0 and then finally, I left without dropping my courses and ended up with a 2.7.
I had always intended to go back to school, but I couldn't decide what I wanted to do. I knew following my previous path of research would mean separating from my husband for many years. He's currently a land steward with The Nature Conservancy and those jobs are really, really hard to come by. Even so, I couldn't stand the thought of not finishing and so this summer I transferred to Purdue where I will spend two years finishing my Biology degree.
A few weeks ago, I talked with our family vet about my situation. He suggested I try for veterinary school. I was shocked, because honestly, I'd absolutely never thought about it before. It was like, to use the old cliché, a light went on. I love animals and I've always been interested in animal body functions. For the first time in six years, I felt absolutely sure of what I wanted to do. I'm planning on interning for him next summer and possibly shadowing him a bit this fall and spring. I think I'd really like to do mixed practice in a rural area. I've read this type of vet makes the least, but that doesn't matter to me at all. I just want to do something with biology that's helpful and rewarding.
Now, the difficulty lies in my past record. I've no doubt I can graduate from Purdue with a 3.7 or better. I'm also not concerned about the GRE. When I took it in 2003 I scored in the high 700s for quantitative and analytical (790-something, I think). I also took the biology subject GRE and scored in the 95th percentile, 99th in the anatomy and physiology section. However, my GPA at Purdue will be averaged with my GPA at Indiana University, correct? This would mean that even if I got a 4.0 at Purdue, I'd still only be able to claim a 3.5, if that. Also, I'll only have one summer to intern as a vet's assistant before applying. If I volunteer 40 hours a week, that's only 480 hours total. It doesn't seem very impressive.
I've read that vet schools like to see that you've been dedicated to the idea of being a vet for years. The thought only entered my mind a few weeks ago. How can I show them I'm dedicated when I have so little time to prove myself? Should I take three years to finish my BS instead? It's already been so long. I don't mind though, and really I'd do whatever it takes. I know it sounds strange, but I absolutely know I want to be a vet. Even though it's been only a short time, I just know. The only way I can explain is by comparing it with the feeling I had when I met my husband. From the first time I talked with him I thought "this changes everything." It's exactly the same with my conversation with our vet: It changed everything.
I can't believe I never considered being a vet before. We had horses and sheep when I was a teen. I remember being fascinated when the vet would come to check on them. My internship this summer will really help me understand if I have what it takes to be a vet. But still, do I have a snowball's chance in heck of getting accepted anywhere?
Ideally, I'd like to go to Purdue's vet school. However, I would apply to others. Being away from my husband for four years would be painful, but if it was only for four years, I know we could work something out. He's absolutely supportive of whatever I decide.
Thanks for your help and input, I'm so glad there are places like this where I can talk to people who have or will go through the application process.
What I'd really love to know is, has anyone out there has had an experience like mine and, if so, how did it worked out? Also, any advise on increasing my chances would be absolutely wonderful!
Jessica