Post Mortems and File Reviews

[BlacKAT33]

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I've had a bad day and I really need to get this off my chest and see what you guys think.

VMRCVM:

So i wrote va-tech to get a file review. I've been waiting since I was first waitlisted in Feb because they said that you can't ask for one until after May 1st. In April i withdrew my application because my vet convinced me i should out of respect to others who would say yes if offered a spot off the waitlist. But...i still want to know why i wasnt accepted to my IS school! So i write them today, and all i get is a 2 sentence email saying they are confused because i withdrew my application and why would i want a file review still. what?? I mean, i know it is kind of weird i guess, but Ive heard of a lot of other people on SDN getting post mortems just to see what happened. right? am i making it up? haha

Anyway, i guess im just venting a little early because i wasnt impressed with vmrcvm this whole year. All i wanted to know was how to improve my resume and how i did on my interview. This was the multiple mini interview so i have no clue how i did on it. I can also share my information to other pre-vets applying to va-tech this year. Why do they think this is so crazy? i feel like they are purposefully trying to not let me hear feedback. and it was also the tone of the letter that really got to me.

This is what they said:
"I am confused. Today you requested a summary of your application. You withdrew your application(as an alternate on March 8) and now you are requesting an evaluation of why you didn’t get accepted?

Please provide additional information."

This is how I responded tonight:
"Sorry to confuse you. I was accepted at my top choice school so I withdrew my application out of respect for other candidates since I knew I would decline if I was offered a spot off of your wait list.

I'd like to see how you evaluated my application and I am still curious as to why I did not make the cut as an in-state applicant. I still like to learn about my flaws and how I can improve my resume or interviewing skills so I would like some feedback."

I've been waiting for so long to be able to get this file review (only offered after May 1st) What do I do if they say they won't give it?? Can they do that?


ok thanks for listening guys!! I figured id make this it's own thread so more people would respond. Also, it can now be used to talk about how you're file reviews went!

 

[heylodeb]

That is weird that they wouldn't want to help you out. Maybe you ruffled some feathers by declining? (don't see why - happens every year?)

I had my file review with Davis this Monday. It went better than expected. I thought that my lack of experience, the fact that I didn't state a clear career goal, and my GPA were the problems. (haha...basically I thought it was all horrible😳)

Anyways, they told me that I am competitive academically and do not need to retake the GRE or any classes. That's with 2 C's in my prereqs - there's hope out there for those of us with bad chem grades! (cGPA 3.67::sGPA 3.3ish)

However, my experience hours were not significant enough (I had 270 SA at the time of app - don't even get me started, I somehow thought my 1000's of hours of animal experience would mask those...a little naive last cycle!).

Also, I did not have a clear enough career goal in my PS. At the time of submitting my app, I puposefully (duh..) didn't declare my interest because I thought it was stupid because 4 years in vet school might change my mind. I was wrong. SAY IT ANYWAY!

So - encouraged that my grades were ok and that I knew what my weaknesses were. No scary surprises. Now working my buhtootey off with a goal of having 1,000+ hours before the app gets submitted in October. (50% there!)

oh - AND BIG THING...almost forgot. If you are volunteering - downplay that on your app for Davis - she mentioned that they prefer people who are employed in a clinic because it is assumed that employees are more involved and not just observing. This wasn't my case and I did mention all my "job" duties on VMCAS but it seemed like it was kind of a red flag. (obviously volunteering is better then NOTHING but I was a little surprised by that)


VERY interested to hear others reviews...

 

[HopefulAg]

oh - AND BIG THING...almost forgot. If you are volunteering - downplay that on your app for Davis - she mentioned that they prefer people who are employed in a clinic because it is assumed that employees are more involved and not just observing. This wasn't my case and I did mention all my "job" duties on VMCAS but it seemed like it was kind of a red flag. (obviously volunteering is better then NOTHING but I was a little surprised by that)

That is kind of interesting, though not from what is assumed. I thought the whole point of shadowing/volunteering/employment was to expose you to the field? Not to make sure you know how to do everything prior to being accepted. That's the only difference I can see in employment vs volunteering. If you can handle watching surgeries, cleaning up associated ****, and seeing a dog come in that's bleeding from its eyes (or HAS no eyes any more!), and you STILL want to apply, then I'd say you're cut out for the profession.

Now, that's not saying every volunteer opportunity will have that, but not every employment opportunity has that either. I just don't see how they can validate their line of reasoning of employment being greater than volunteering. I mean damn, it's hard enough even to get a volunteer spot, much less employment! That kind of miffs me that they'd do that.

 

[ZebraFinch]

Maybe they were confused because majority of people who request file reviews are people who got rejected but who wanted to go there, or didn't get in anywhere else. I don't think they get many people who willingly withdrew and who are attending another school asking for why they didn't get in. In their minds you didn't get in because you withdrew your app, and they probably think you're going to reapply.

But I totally see why you want a file review (it's a good idea), and I think you explained it fine in your reply. It should clear it up for them.

Adding in:

oh - AND BIG THING...almost forgot. If you are volunteering - downplay that on your app for Davis - she mentioned that they prefer people who are employed in a clinic because it is assumed that employees are more involved and not just observing. This wasn't my case and I did mention all my "job" duties on VMCAS but it seemed like it was kind of a red flag. (obviously volunteering is better then NOTHING but I was a little surprised by that)

Not to say that what you heard was wrong, but all of my veterinary hours were volunteer hours. I never got paid a dime for any of my vet time, and I still got in (with less than average grades). Granted, despite being a volunteer I did get a lot of hands on and was very much involved in the veterinary aspect, almost as staff. I was sure to put in the description all of my hands on duties, as I have never been just an observer. 🙂

 

[heylodeb]

That is kind of interesting, though not from what is assumed. I thought the whole point of shadowing/volunteering/employment was to expose you to the field? Not to make sure you know how to do everything prior to being accepted. That's the only difference I can see in employment vs volunteering. If you can handle watching surgeries, cleaning up associated ****, and seeing a dog come in that's bleeding from its eyes (or HAS no eyes any more!), and you STILL want to apply, then I'd say you're cut out for the profession.

Now, that's not saying every volunteer opportunity will have that, but not every employment opportunity has that either. I just don't see how they can validate their line of reasoning of employment being greater than volunteering.

agreed, but since they are the adcom - I'm a slave to their needs for the next 6-12 months. 🙂 ah. it's so lovely living in limbo. LOVE IT. 😱

 

[BomberCanoe]

That's quite ridiculous with VMRCVM. As far as you and they are concerned, you didn't get in. You were never, at any point, offered a spot in their class. Just because you declined doesn't mean you were somehow accepted. Hopefully they'll reply with a good file review or something, and not be sore about being rejected (you'd think they'd learn to have skin as tough as ours!)

NCSU definitely bothered me when I was told there was no file review or anything. All they offer is a group session in which they essentially just go over that year's statistics. Which is ridiculous. Yes, you can gauge yourself against the average and see where you fall short, but there's nothing to measure your essays (they don't have interviews) or personal statement against. Maybe they didn't like your job. But you'd never know. The guy I emailed about this ridiculous practice was nice enough to highlight a bit of the 'average stats', to sort of point me the right way. My experience wasn't as impressive, so its what I was expecting. But were I to apply again, I'd have no clue if they liked my essay answers, or what they thought about my personal statement. Kinda lame.

I think I kind of took over your vent with mine. I apologize, I'm just trying to sympathize with schools sometimes treating us like crap, since we're the ones that need them.

 

[heylodeb]

M
Not to say that what you heard was wrong, but all of my veterinary hours were volunteer hours. I never got paid a dime for any of my vet time, and I still got in (with less than average grades). Granted, despite being a volunteer I did get a lot of hands on and was very much involved in the veterinary aspect, almost as staff. I was sure to put in the description all of my hands on duties, as I have never been just an observer. 🙂

she did tell me to be more specific when I explain what my job duties were - so ,aybe my list just wasn't complete enough. I used a lot of blanket statements on my app that I think I should have gone into a lot more detail. (less "helped with surgery" and more "restrained for induction and intubation, monitoring anesthesia (sevo and iso), recording vitals, extubation, post surgery pain injection, recovery of patients..."

learning curves are fun.

 

[libster06]

Sorry to hear about their lack of response... seems kind of unprofessional in a way... BomberCanoe is right, you're entitled to an answer no matter what the outcome!

I was also writing to say that thanks for the confirmation that we it is still okay to ask to our rejected schools for further answers about past rejections... even if we did get in somewhere else. I didn't know if other students did that but now that I know they do, I'm definitely going to just see what was up... not that it matters but it would be nice to know 🙂

So anyways, thanks for the help and added confirmation!

 

[HopefulAg]

she did tell me to be more specific when I explain what my job duties were - so ,aybe my list just wasn't complete enough. I used a lot of blanket statements on my app that I think I should have gone into a lot more detail. (less "helped with surgery" and more "restrained for induction and intubation, monitoring anasthesia (sevo and iso), recording vitals, extubation, post surgery pain injection, recovery of patients..."

Lol, they are aware that we have character limits right? 😉

 

[Armymutt25A]

I wouldn't anticipate a favorable response. You basically told them that you aren't coming and you think they have nothing better to do than to waste their time on someone who will never attend their school. While the wording isn't quite as harsh, that's how it sounds. While it would be nice to have a review that would possibly assist you down the road, there are applicants who are in greater need of their help now. You showed your hand too early. Withdrawing an application means you either got accepted elsewhere or you are impatient and indecisive. If you took a seat elsewhere, why would a school waste time on you? If you are indecisive about the field, well, you get the point. I think you did the right thing, even if it wasn't in your best interest. Perhaps you learned one thing - keep your cards close.

 

[BlacKAT33]

I wouldn't anticipate a favorable response. You basically told them that you aren't coming and you think they have nothing better to do than to waste their time on someone who will never attend their school. While the wording isn't quite as harsh, that's how it sounds. While it would be nice to have a review that would possibly assist you down the road, there are applicants who are in greater need of their help now. You showed your hand too early. Withdrawing an application means you either got accepted elsewhere or you are impatient and indecisive. If you took a seat elsewhere, why would a school waste time on you? If you are indecisive about the field, well, you get the point. I think you did the right thing, even if it wasn't in your best interest. Perhaps you learned one thing - keep your cards close.

yea i get what you're saying. I basically didn't have any choice in the matter. The vet I intern with was really trying to push VT on me and talking about how he can find out more to see if I can get off the waitlist...i really didn't want any "help" even though he has strong connections. He said that if i'm not going to accept my IS school if i get off the waitlist i had to withdraw asap. I didn't want to burn any bridges with him...so ya, i withdrew a week after that convo. At least I was honest though 🙂

I know there are other applicants who weren't accepted and want file reviews, although I'm not sure how many will take advantage of it since they have to wait until May 1st for it. I also feel like the May 1st date was set to limit the amount of people who respond since it is 3.5 months later.

But I still think i'm entitled to hear what they thought of me. It is the only file review I am asking for because it was my IS school and I had pretty good chances once offered an interview. So there must have been something that I really f'd up and if it was in the interview Id like to know what it was.

Everyone: thanks for the responses!! 😍

I didnt mean to offend anyone, i guess im just one of those people that if they never know what happened...i will think about it my WHOLE life and it will drive me insane. I also really want to warn other applicants in the c/o 2015 for things they should avoid when they apply here. Especially if it was during the MMI. We aren't allowed to share the Qs but I can still post how my response wasn't what they were looking for or how I messed up.

 

[Whyevernot55]

I had a review with Tufts, where I am waitlisted, to try and help me decide whether to accept my spot at Edinburgh (sell horse, move cats, leave boyfriend, etc), or stay and reapply to US schools next cycle (oh dear sweet pandas on crack). By the way, Tufts has LITERALLY the nicest admissions office ever. I set up my appointment with Laura, and when I called the day of to talk to her the receptionist said "oh yes, hi Allison! How are you? Just one moment, I'll transfer you!" and Laura remembered me at my interview after talking to me once on the phone about letters of recommendation.

Too bad they didn't just admit me, because I love them. Anyways. I was told that the MAIN reason is because my GPA is lower than it could be (3.23 or something), and I don't have a ton of upper level elective sciences - I'm post-bacc and non traditional, blah blah blah. She was very frank about it, that obviously I'm a competitive applicant since I was waitlisted on my first round, and that she could tell me to get more experience or something, but the GPA was the main issue. Also, since I'm non IS, the pool of applicants is a lot bigger and scarier.

 

[HopefulAg]

Go to Edinburgh, send back pictures (and a kilt!).

 

[BlacKAT33]

Well, I guess the discussion is going to end with a one sentence email, "That service is offered to applicants who wish to reapply for the next cycle."

I'm sorry that you felt the way you did Armymutt25A. I hope you will realize my frustration once you apply this cycle and spend 100s++ hours working on apps and following up, then to find that you receive no answers for why your instate school didn't accept you after an interview...when you had more than a 60% chance at that point. It's also hard to know that i could have just lied to them, kept my name on the waitlist for no reason and got some feedback. I wish i didn't "play" nice.

sidenote: in no way does this mean i take for granted my acceptance, i just wanted to wrap up unknown answers in a polite way. I am extremely happy to be attending penn next year and that is what i will look forward to 🙂

 

[BomberCanoe]

Wow, that is awfully lame. While I can see what others are saying, in that they don't want to give you any review because you told them you found something better (or however the adcoms wanted to read into it), the fact is, you paid and employed them. I don't know how much the supplemental application was there, or what it included, but at many of the places I applied, it was a joke. For UPenn (as you know), it was a a danged card, with information they easily could have skimmed from the application (which you paid about 200-300 a school for anyway). So you've given them additional money to consider you, the least they could do is take 5 minutes to give you feedback.

 

[BlacKAT33]

thanks bombercanoe 🙂 thats what im thinking, with all the money, time it took to write the supp essays, traveling during a blizzard to the interview, paying extra hotel costs because i got trapped in the blizzard lol i just wanted a couple min. response, not something in depth that would take up too much of their time

 

[gilch]

🙁 Sorry you got a negative response, Blackat. I could see why you would be lower priority, but there was no need for them to be rude and I totally see your point about why you want to know. I don't think it's an unreasonable request at all.

I did not and am not planning file reviews. I feel like I know why I was rejected from the schools I was rejected from and don't particularly want to dwell on it. I'm guessing most people feel that way after they get in somewhere.

 

[Roxysocks]

Hey Blackat--I just had a thought...Had you already been accepted to UPenn prior to your interview at VMRCVM? The only reason I ask is because I know through my friends in med school that med admissions committees can see which schools applicants have been accepted or rejected from through AMCAS (which is their version of our VMCAS). Since many med schools pride themselves on their "admitted/accepted" statistics and like to keep them as favorable as possible, I know for a fact that some med schools reject or waitlist applicants who have already gotten into another school because they don't want to offer a position to an applicant who will likely go somewhere else.

I don't know if VMCAS even keeps track of where each applicant has been admitted or rejected from, but perhaps that was the case and VMRCVM assumed you would accept the spot at UPenn and decided that their chances of seating someone who had not yet been accepted anywhere would turn out to be more favorable for them.

I'm sorry you had a negative file review experience (or lack thereof actually haha), but it was likely just a logistical thing and admissions felt like they needed to cater to those who were in most need of the help.

 

[CanadianGolden]

Sorry, I don't see the point of a file review if you withdrew your application. You already knew you were accepted elsewhere. I don't see what you could gain from asking VT why they waitlisted you. The problem obviously wasn't your resume or application if you were accepted to another school. You don't need to revise your resume because it will change dramatically during vet school. The service is for people who need to improve their apps for the next cycle. You don't, so the service isn't available. Otherwise they'd just have hundreds of rejected applicants banging down the door every year demanding to know exactly why they weren't accepted.

Sometimes you just have to accept that you didn't fit their class profile for that year and move on.

 

[BlacKAT33]

Hey Blackat--I just had a thought...Had you already been accepted to UPenn prior to your interview at VMRCVM?

I was waitlisted at VT first, then accepted to Penn a week later. Too bad, I liked your train of thought lol i could live in peace with that haha

Sometimes you just have to accept that you didn't fit their class profile for that year and move on.

sounds like a plan!

 

[nitheninny]

Sorry, I don't see the point of a file review if you withdrew your application. You already knew you were accepted elsewhere. I don't see what you could gain from asking VT why they waitlisted you. The problem obviously wasn't your resume or application if you were accepted to another school. You don't need to revise your resume because it will change dramatically during vet school. The service is for people who need to improve their apps for the next cycle. You don't, so the service isn't available. Otherwise they'd just have hundreds of rejected applicants banging down the door every year demanding to know exactly why they weren't accepted.

Sometimes you just have to accept that you didn't fit their class profile for that year and move on.

I do understand why they would refuse the service to someone who withdrew their application from the waitlist. But I also understand that curiosity, that need to know. I'm getting file reviews from both schools that rejected me even though I got in elsewhere because I am curious what they saw/didn't see that other schools did. I actually just had my file review with Illinois yesterday. It was really interesting.

 

[libster06]

I think the whole bottom line is, I can see both sides, and its a horse of a different color kind of, because the app was withdrawn rather than straight up rejected (like me). But I still don't see why it would be a huge inconvenience for them to go back and look at a FILE to see what was written. Is the file 1 million pages? Maybe they're just sour grapes because you didn't want to hang around on the waiting list? Guess we'll never know...

 

[nyanko]

Cornell was pretty rude to me about doing a review before I heard back from UCDavis. I also figured it was essentially because I wasn't sure if I was reapplying. They did one, but it was really crap even though I asked questions. And that is uncharacteristic of their admissions office in general in my experience. So maybe it is a sore subject, I don't know.

CSU was great about it, though. It was really cool to be able to get an adcom's opinion on my application before interviewing.

 

[Shanomong]

.

 

[twelvetigers]

OKSU doesn't do reviews until after 06/15. No complainin' about May!

 

[BlacKAT33]

OK this is going to sound harsh, and I'm sorry. Don't let this ruin your impression of me for the next 3 years 🙂

The above statement shows a complete lack of understanding of the process and it sounds pretty self absorbed. Other applicants WILL go back after the 5/1 time frame (Penn has the same time frame FYI... i know, because I was rejected my first app and utilized this service) because they're REAPPLYING and need that info to get in to vet school when they start the next application process. The reason that is the deadline is because they're dealing with the applicants who were accepted during that time... notice how it's after the 4/15 response deadline? There is a lot more going on at a vet school admissions office during this time than just aleviating the ego's of those they rejected. Once the incoming class is more or less settled, they GRACIOUSLY offer this review service to rejected applicants in order to help them through the admissions process the next time around. This is not something offered in human medicine. It's a favor to those of us who want to know what we can do differently in order to get in next time. You said you feel entitled, well you shouldn't. Because you're not. And you're honestly lucky the school responded at all... they owe you nothing. And they're trying to offer the best they can to those who actually need their help.

Like I said, sorry, I'm not usually this harsh... but I think it will take a statement like that to hopefully help you realize that there are a lot of other people going through the process, many of whom didn't have the good fortune of getting into any school, and you're being very inconsiderate of their needs and of the gracious nature of the vet admissions process by declaring that you are entitled to such services.

Stepping off soap box. Sorry again.

I don't mind your comment at all 🙂 I know others need it more than me and I realize they weren't as lucky to be accepted. I wasn't in a rush or demanding it right now. I actually told her I'd be willing to wait until June or July. I also don't see what the big deal is if other schools are willing to give file reviews whether you were accepted or not. And I don't even care about a detailed file review, I just want to know in a couple sentences if it was my interview or stats that held me back. Not to mention, I could have been greedy and selfish and kept myself on the waitlist with the intention of never accepting an offer...just to get a file review.

So, I do the right thing and take myself off the list and ask for a file review? =inconsiderate?

Or, I keep myself on the waitlist knowing I won't accept their offer, lie about an acceptance, to get a file review? =inconsiderate?

just a thought, don't let this ruin your impression of me either!

edit: i guess i should add what i said halfway above. I wrote her back nicely and said that i understand they are busy with others and that i'd be willing to wait until June or July. I also said I was just curious about the MMI and not something super detailed. she replied that is was "against their policy" and she forwarded it to the director of admissions. Not sure why it would be against their policy? definitely more complicated than it needs to be. It would have been fine if she just said call in June/July after the rush. But I know Dr. Pelzer, and she is very friendly and helpful to students so hopefully she wont mind just typing one sentence to me back about my interview. and yes, interview skills WILL be needed for my future so if i bombed it i'd like to know

 

[david594]

That is kind of interesting, though not from what is assumed. I thought the whole point of shadowing/volunteering/employment was to expose you to the field? Not to make sure you know how to do everything prior to being accepted. That's the only difference I can see in employment vs volunteering. If you can handle watching surgeries, cleaning up associated ****, and seeing a dog come in that's bleeding from its eyes (or HAS no eyes any more!), and you STILL want to apply, then I'd say you're cut out for the profession.

Now, that's not saying every volunteer opportunity will have that, but not every employment opportunity has that either. I just don't see how they can validate their line of reasoning of employment being greater than volunteering. I mean damn, it's hard enough even to get a volunteer spot, much less employment! That kind of miffs me that they'd do that.

Volunteers tend to see a lot more of the good than the bad. Surgery and cool cases are the fun stuff they would show the volunteer. They aren't going to drag the volunteer into the room when they go over estimates with the clients and they are arguing how everything is overpriced.

A volunteer is never going to have to explain to an owner that if they cannot afford treatment that euthanizing is their only option. Then clarifying for them that you did actually mean you are recommending they kill their animal. And finally trying to get them to sign an AMA form as they refuse everything and take their animal home. Then you make the followup call with the humane officer to stop by the now ex-clients house.

 

[Armymutt25A]

I'm sorry that you felt the way you did Armymutt25A. I hope you will realize my frustration once you apply this cycle and spend 100s++ hours working on apps and following up, then to find that you receive no answers for why your instate school didn't accept you after an interview...when you had more than a 60% chance at that point. It's also hard to know that i could have just lied to them, kept my name on the waitlist for no reason and got some feedback. I wish i didn't "play" nice.

I do know what it's like - very much a BTDT. Between vet school rejections and my rejection for selection to Civil Affairs for no reason beyond "current branch does not concur with selection" (i.e. the Signal Corps said we aren't letting him go), I've had my share gut punches after a lot of hard work. Like a previous poster stated, perhaps you didn't fill a niche that VT was looking for.

 

[zeebra44]

Is it just me, or are schools more reluctant to give a file review when you're on a waitlist with them rather than being straight out rejected?

 

[cowgirla]

Is it just me, or are schools more reluctant to give a file review when you're on a waitlist with them rather than being straight out rejected?

Sometimes theres a very fine (or none at all) line between accepted and waitlist. Maybe its easier for them to come up with a concrete reason for rejections, and waitlists are just more subjective?

 

[OneHealthDVM]

I've had some pretty bad experiences with file reviews this year. In fact, I just had one with Michigan State.



First, Iowa State , Cornell, and Ohio State have all told me that the main reason my application was not accepted was because of my gpa. I know it isn't high, but I never really thought a 3.52( at time of application...about a 3.57 now that I am graduating) was that bad until this year.

I know this year, there was a whole lot of competition...which is noticeable because I thought I saw that Ohio State's accepted and matriculating class for the Fall has a cGPA of over a 3.7 ( kudos to everyone at The Ohio State) Iowa gave me an interview, and they stated they couldn't comment on why I was rejected post interview other than my gpa was lower than those accepted or chosen for the wait list.

Michigan State (Still on the alternate list) was probably the rudest file review I've received( don't want to go into too much detail....but it almost seemed as though they didn't want to be bothered with me for more than a few minutes). I asked for a review a few weeks in advance and they stated that today was the earliest date until after June 1st that. They couldn't give me anything after work, so I took a half day today so that i could be there when they called. So, they called, and I really wanted to talk about my application and what I could do to improve if i wasn't pulled off the waitlist this year. The counselor ( Donna I think) said that they were done pulling individuals off the waitlist, so that it was pretty certain that I would not get called off. Even though that kind of burst my bubble, I asked if there was anything I could do to improve my application. She said that she couldn't go into details about my application, but like the other schools...she said my gpa and SIS ( a 858) was a factor in the decision.

I guess I was naive about the whole process, but I just kind of wish someone gave me more information than simply stating my GPA was my major issue....especially when I know other students at my undergraduate university that were accepted at these schools with a lower gpa than mine.

**Anyway, congrats to everyone accepted this year. Hopefully file reviews will go better for others requesting them this year. Try and be nice to the people, as its pretty obvious that they get our badgering a lot and it can be a little exhausting. Try and get some concrete advice about your application, unlike me. Keep at it, and improve yourself as other application cycles approach.

 

[BlacKAT33]

OneHealthDVM- sorry that happened to you, especially with more than one school! I think you're GPA is definitely competitive so I'm not sure why all of the schools only mentioned that reason. Are you going to apply next cycle? I'd be happy to look over your PS if you want to change it for next cycle. Maybe you can also start a thread with your stats and experience to get some SDN feedback on how to improve.

 

[ambulocetus]

OneHealth: You may want to consider your LOR - i know a couple people that were told "we can't say much" and it was due to their letters being less than stellar. As you typically waiver it, even if someone gave a crappy letter - or even left it blank, they wouldn't/couldn't tell you or even hint at it. If your application is strong otherwise, it might be an issue. Not saying that is what's going on in your case, but something to consider.

Blackat: No offense, but i can see where they are coming from - you pulled your application, and you are in somewhere, so not really a pressing concern for them. On a larger scale, who cares? you are in at an excellent school, in five months time you will have waaaaay more to worry about than why you didn't get in somewhere else. May i suggest getting some PennWe stuff and locating some good foodtrucks as a better use of your time 😉

 

[HopefulAg]

First, Iowa State , Cornell, and Ohio State have all told me that the main reason my application was not accepted was because of my gpa. I know it isn't high, but I never really thought a 3.52( at time of application...about a 3.57 now that I am graduating) was that bad until this year.

I'd look into other factors. I doubt it's your GPA (unless you have a low alternative GPA, like science or last 45) as that's a rocking GPA. I had a 3.4 and got waitlisted at both Ohio and Iowa (13 for Ohio, not sure what it was for Iowa) and accepted at a couple others (didn't apply to Cornell).

I'd try and call back, maybe ask for a bit more detail about which part of the GPA they didn't like. Tell them you're aware that a 3.52 is a (very) competitive GPA and were wondering if they could give specifics. Perhaps specific classes they didn't like?

 

[nyanko]

OneHealth: You may want to consider your LOR - i know a couple people that were told "we can't say much" and it was due to their letters being less than stellar. As you typically waiver it, even if someone gave a crappy letter - or even left it blank, they wouldn't/couldn't tell you or even hint at it. If your application is strong otherwise, it might be an issue. Not saying that is what's going on in your case, but something to consider.

That is an excellent point, good thinking!

 

[BlacKAT33]

OneHealth: You may want to consider your LOR - i know a couple people that were told "we can't say much" and it was due to their letters being less than stellar. As you typically waiver it, even if someone gave a crappy letter - or even left it blank, they wouldn't/couldn't tell you or even hint at it. If your application is strong otherwise, it might be an issue. Not saying that is what's going on in your case, but something to consider.

Blackat: No offense, but i can see where they are coming from - you pulled your application, and you are in somewhere, so not really a pressing concern for them. On a larger scale, who cares? you are in at an excellent school, in five months time you will have waaaaay more to worry about than why you didn't get in somewhere else. May i suggest getting some PennWe stuff and locating some good foodtrucks as a better use of your time 😉

excellent advice on both parts, you should post more often!! 😀

 

[OneHealthDVM]

Thanks everyone. Yeah, I really doubt its the gpa thing, but it seems to be the first thing every school went to as an excuse. I'm pretty confident that my LOR were good( at least from three of the individuals I asked) Two were veterinarians that I worked with for over 6 years, and they allowed me to view the LOR after they sent them in to VMCAS. And, I am pretty confident on the third.

Still, yeah, LORs could be a possibility. I am sure it is a range of things. it may be the personal statement, although I had it read over by vets and professors and the writing center at my university. It may be LORs. It may be a mix of things. Simply, it may just be this year, where next year or the year after I would be a more competitive applicant.

It is my fault for not delving deeper into the reasons behind my rejections...and I recommend everyone not to do what i did and simply take the first couple reasons they spat out because I felt like I was wasting their time.

I will do some more investigating on my applications, and I'll let everyone know what i find out once its all gathered. Still, I believe its not necessarily one thing that is keeping me from being accepted.

Finally, to address a previous post from Blackat: Sadly, no, I won't be applying this upcoming application cycle. I will be working on my next personal statement in the mean time, especially since I now know what to expect from the application process, VMCAS, etc. I will be getting my masters after completing my Officer Candidate Course(OCRC) for the Army Reserve this summer. Needless to say, it will be an application cycle or so before I reapply. GOOD LUCK TO ALL THOSE GETTING INFORMATION, GOING TO VET SCHOOL, AND THOSE APPLYING FOR THE C/O 2015!!

 

[gone2dogs]

After reading all this I guess I am feeling pretty lucky that CSU is so incredibly nice about file reviews! Especially given that I have now had 2 of them😀. Except for the LORs which I had waived the right to see, they were very helpful and specific. I don't know if I will ever get it right for them, but at least they have given me very real things to work on! If there is anyone who has to reapply (I guess I am of the school of thought that I wouldn't bother unless I was reapplying, but to each their own!) and has the opportunity for a file review with CSU, I definitely reccommend it!

 

[kittenj]

First off BlackKat - I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I understand wanting to know, even though you got in elsewhere. I do agree with some of the others that you 'showed your cards' and that is why you are not getting the feedback you want. That is unfortionate because I think you did do the polite thing by withdrawing your app once you knew you were not going to be attending so that they could focus on other applicants.

I just wanted to share my experience receiving a file review from Iowa State (the only school I applied to last cycle) because I really feel it was a huge factor in my receiving acceptances this year. Iowa State doesn't accept requests for file reviews until 6/1, and after receiving my rejection last year I circled that date on the calendar. Come 6/1 I called admissions and was given the options of having a review by phone, email or in person. ISU is my instate, so I decided it was worth it to make a daytrip to Ames and have an in person review and to tour the school (I hadn't previously).

Dr. Howard in admissions was awesome. She had a two page document made up for me about how my application was rated and was genuinely happy to answer all of my questions. I used that info to improve myself on paper, and went from not receiving an interview last year to two acceptances and an interview which I declined at the three schools I applied to this year.

If anyone who is thinking about doing a file review this year, especially if you were rejected at ISU, I highly recommend it. In my experience the admissions process is so complicated that the same applicant can be rejected or accepted based not on what is said in their application but how it is said. Good luck all.

 

[jpeterman13]

Dr. Howard in admissions was awesome.

...nicest lady ever 😀

 

[OneHealthDVM]

Yeah, Iowa State doesn't give true file reviews until June First, but you can schedule an over the phone meeting in the mean time if you have certain circumstances that will not allow you to be in touch with them after the June first date.

You can always call, and Iowa state is extremely helpful. Especially with Dr. Howard. Dr. Howard is probably the nicest person I have ever met...well, her and Missy Hadaway from Mississippi State.

 

[Animevet]

Well, I guess the discussion is going to end with a one sentence email, "That service is offered to applicants who wish to reapply for the next cycle."

Wow...that was rude of them. You applied there...spent time and money working on apps and interviewing. You deserve to know why whether you reapply or not. I got a file review at my instate even though I was accepted elsewhere. Sometimes you just need closure!! 😀

 

[squibby]

OneHealth: As you typically waiver it, even if someone gave a crappy letter - or even left it blank, they wouldn't/couldn't tell you or even hint at it.

Sometimes you get someone that will bend the rules for you though. During one file review I was literally read my one LOR that was iffy, and another told me which person to not get a LOR from next time. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

 

[StartingoverVet]

May i suggest getting some PennWe stuff and locating some good foodtrucks as a better use of your time 😉

👍 to the advice on good foodtrucks. Can't survive at Penn without finding the good ones!

 

[CurrySpice]

I just scheduled a pre-application file review at Tufts! 🙂

I'll let you all know how it goes...

 

[HopefulAg]

A pre-application file review? Never heard of those. Do they give you their opinion on how competitive you are or something?

 

[eventualeventer]

I did an (informal) one at Penn - I just emailed Dean Keiter and said that I was interested in coming up to see the school and talk to him about the school. He was very receptive, arranged to see me almost immediately (despite them still being in the middle of interviews and decisions for that year's class), and gave me helpful pointers on what to do to improve my application. Of course, for various reasons, I ended up not following his advice about retaking prereqs, so I didn't get offered an interview, but it was nice nonetheless.