Potential Plan B for Vet School

[xStormWarningx]

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Hi Everyone!

So in the midst of applying, I can't help but fret over what I'll do if I can't get in. My GPA is iffy, a 3.36, my GRE was 590 Verb, 660 Quant and a 5 written and I have:
Vet Experience: 2091
Animal Experience: 1596
so 3667 hours total experience, most of which also qualifies as volunteer work.

I already submitted my VMCAS *THANK GOD* and so while I complete a few remaining supplemental, I am already beginning to worry. So I feel that if I have a few set Plan B's it might soothe some of this general confusion and stress until I get definite Yes or No's some 6 months from now. Would anyone be willing to share their Plan B's with me? 🙂 Mine consist of:

Ross, etc (going to the Caribbean schools) - but I have heard of people having trouble with importing their spouses???

Spending an additional year finding a job as a vet tech, doing volunteer work and applying again.

Graduate school, looking at a short term program: Professional Science Management

Graduate school, seeing if the lab I currently work in would take me on as a Grad student...

Unfortunately, as with all plan B's, they are just plan B's and don't appeal to me nearly as much as vet school. 🙁

 

[ImaJerseyGirl]

My plan B's are along the same lines: Grad School or work full time at my current job and take classes as an non-matriculated student... then part of me just wants to take a road trip and run wild for a year. I never did get it out of my system living at home and commuting to school. 😀

Or I could move and establish residency and wait ANOTHER year, then re-apply. Unlikely in my situation though.

 

[Shanomong]

then part of me just wants to take a road trip and run wild for a year.

Doooo it!! 😉 I drove cross country last year, best trip of my life

Even if you do get in this year, you could try to do it next summer.... trip of a lifetime 🙂

 

[OtakuVet]

My plan B is defiantly grad school Ive been working on a research project since May as an Undergrad and my Professor and my associate PI dont even know that I may be leaving for Veterinary school. But I have my project here just waiting for me. I dont know if I want to take another year's worth of classes though, Id rather just do my research and continue working that way I can get myself out of debt. (yeah right! ) But wait...nevermind...Japanese graduate program...hmmm =D If Vet school doesnt pan out, Japan here I come! Who is with me?

 

[DVMDream]

My Plan B:

1. File review from schools. This way I know what I need to improve.

2. Grad school and try to get more breadth of experience since I have a lot of depth in SA.

3. Volunteer abroad working with wildlife rehabilitation centers in either South America or South Africa.

 

[nyanko]

I will start a PhD program at UCD next fall if I am not accepted this cycle. For me, it wouldn't really lead to a terribly divergent career path, and I would probably keep working at getting into vet school here while doing my PhD.

edit: although last night I considered just deleting all of my applications and becoming a stripper instead.

 

[twelvetigers]

You'd have to go blonde... pink/purple doesn't earn good tips. 😉

 

[nyanko]

You'd have to go blonde... pink/purple doesn't earn good tips. 😉

If you don't think there's a market for pink and purple hair, you have spent too much time in Oklahoma. 😉

 

[twelvetigers]

A lifetime!

 

[eventualeventer]

This thread made my day! My plan b is to go sell pineapples on the beach somewhere. Pineapples and daquiris, I suppose. I got the idea from a 3rd year resident last June, and I'm shamelessly stealing it.

As for my real plan B, um, really not sure. Even though I could technically graduate this fall, I'm planning to take classes next spring in order to keep boosting my GPA, since that is my weakest link, and try to get more SA experience (I have almost none). I'm a little hesitant about master's programs mostly because of cold feet about the commitment but also because I would not go unless I were offered funding. Going in more debt before I get into vet school = not an option, and my parents in academia say that I would be crazy to go to a traditional (i.e., not one of the pre-med/pre-vet super-intense class-based programs) master's program without securing funding.

I've actually been considering applying for something like Americorps that I could do for a year or less if I don't get in. So far, it's an ill-researched, off-the-cuff sort of idea with no real plans.

 

[rileyroo]

my plan is to work full time, travel at least once in the fall and once in the spring, and read as much for fun as i can!

i had considered a one-year masters program my PI is trying to get me look into. but i think if i don't get in this year, i'm going to take full advantage of not being in classes for a little bit.

but i say that now...and i have been in college consecutively since 2001...so i don't think i'd know what to do with myself if i weren't in at least one class per semester. 🙂

maybe i'll take one class and work full time! 😀

 

[xStormWarningx]

edit: although last night I considered just deleting all of my applications and becoming a stripper instead.

Oh my gosh, that made me laugh. I believe I have said the same thing a few times this year. 🙄

and Eventual, isn't that like applying to Ross? 😉 j/k. I was reading that if you do bring a spouse they are pretty much not allowed to do anything but sit on a beach and chill. 😱 I would be too jealous if my SO got to lounge about while I busted my butt!!!

 

[PigsRock]

I am applying this year as a junior, even though it's really only my second year in college (yay AP credits!) If I don't get in this time, I'll just stay another year and graduate. But I'd like to not pay out of state tuition any longer than I have to!

If I apply again and don't get in, well, I guess it won't be the end of the world. I want to be a USDA vet, so if I never get into vet school I could still work for the USDA and be happy. Well, mostly happy...

 

[HandD42]

My plan B is graduate school. My career goal is to find a job improving equine health so I will be looking for PhD programs where I can move towards that goal. Of course vet school would be ideal but the world will go in with out it.

I don't see myself applying another cycle.

 

[ckd816]

edit: although last night I considered just deleting all of my applications and becoming a stripper instead.

Last week I was definitely considering stripping to fund my apps and save for vet school! Times are desperate-- what can I say? 😛

You'd have to go blonde... pink/purple doesn't earn good tips. 😉

I am a blonde! Lucky me... 🙄

 

[IHeartGoldens]

okay.. this is a question that has to be asked.
Is anyone considering Ross (or SGU, SMU etc etc) if they do not get in this cycle? Especially if this is your last cycle?

 

[xStormWarningx]

okay.. this is a question that has to be asked.
Is anyone considering Ross (or SGU, SMU etc etc) if they do not get in this cycle? Especially if this is your last cycle?

*raises hand* Despite my poking fun at it, I am seriously considering going. Haven't decided if I would stay the whole program there or not. I know someone who went there. He really knew his stuff, passed his exams to practice in the US easily and is now a successful vet.

But I've heard of people having problems with getting their SO's into the country and I am not sure I would be willing to leave my relationship for the Caribbean.

 

[eventualeventer]

Oh my gosh, that made me laugh. I believe I have said the same thing a few times this year. 🙄

and Eventual, isn't that like applying to Ross? 😉 j/k. I was reading that if you do bring a spouse they are pretty much not allowed to do anything but sit on a beach and chill. 😱 I would be too jealous if my SO got to lounge about while I busted my butt!!!

Yeah, I'll take the beach part without the busting my butt and going into debt part!

 

[ReadyBeVet]

okay.. this is a question that has to be asked.
Is anyone considering Ross (or SGU, SMU etc etc) if they do not get in this cycle? Especially if this is your last cycle?

This is my first application cycle. If I don't get in, I will apply a second time and at the same time I'll be applying to SGU or Ross. I have always wanted to be a vet and I'm not going to let anything stop me. Previously, I would have never considered going out of the country for fear of looking "less qualified," etc, but you know what?! We're given one life and I want to do with it what I was meant to do- be a veterinarian. My husband is very apprehensive about Ross or SGU because that could potentially mean time away from one another, etc. We'll cross that bridge if it gets here.

 

[IHeartGoldens]

I agree with you, ReadyBeVet.
Although this is my first app cycle, I am indeed applying to Ross and SGU. I'm 25, engaged and I feel that I need to start my life already. If I do not get accepted into a US school, I cannot imagine reapplying next year with the hopes that I will gain entry to start in 2011.
Even though that would mean time apart from my SO, I need to do this for ME. I could have stayed here and pursued a masters or phd but my heart is set on this and if I need to go out of the country, so be it.

 

[eventualeventer]

IHeartGoldens, to be honest, Ross is not on my list because of the accreditation status as well as concerns I have about how well I would do in the environment of high attrition, stuck on an island, etc. It sounds like it's a good option for a lot of people but I'm not sure that it's right for me.

 

[Chill1818]

This is my first round through and I'm definitely apprehensive. I absolutely feel like a qualified applicant, but am not so sure that comes across in terms of numbers. With that said...

Over this next year I'm taking 4 courses to boost my GPA, especially in regards to my last 45 units.

Try to get a lot more LA experience and maybe even a little zoo, already looking into volunteer opportunities

Go from being an assitant veterinary technician to a licensed one, mostly for financial reasons

Go through post-mortems and improve my app

I'm also 25 and definitely feel like I want to get on with my life, but I am willing to go through another application round if need be, really don't feel as if there is something out there I'm meant to do...well, maybe travel but it's hard to find a job that pays for that, haha.

 

[rileyroo]

really don't feel as if there is something out there I'm meant to do...well, maybe travel but it's hard to find a job that pays for that, haha.

several areas of anthropology 🙂

 

[futurepetfixer]

I took SGU's summer academy and had an absolute blast. Some of the greatest vets I know went there and you would never be able to tell they didn't graduate a US school. There is a lot more hands on experience gained early on and the education is just the same-don't overlook SGU.

 

[OneHealthDVM]

I agree with thoughts about SGU. I know a couple vets that have graduated from St. George's, and they are fantastic veterinarians. Many of the schools that allow SGU or Ross to do their clinical year there are very impressed with the quality of students that attend these schools. Still, you do have to be careful, and you truly have to make the best out of your education. Going to an island isn't for everyone. Many people would benefit from a graduate degree or certificate, work experience, lacking animal or veterinary experience, etc.

While I am applying to SGU in addition to some US schools, I am also applying to a few masters programs. I am a NY resident, so SUNY schools would be my cheapest option. Still I am attracted to the MLAS from Drexel. The sad truth is, is that you need to keep an open mind and your options open. You need a choice, especially if you don't get into a US school your first time around. Find out what you truly want and what you need at the moment, lay your cards out on the table, and when the time comes, make the best decision for your particular situation.

 

[misswhiskers]

I won't be starting my first cycle until next year and I'm already trying to think of what to do if I don't get in to any schools. I am limited to applying to only a few US schools because of my number of Physics credits 🙁, so I will definitely be applying to the islands, Edinburgh, Dublin, etc. What have I got to lose right? I know someone who went to Ross and absolutely loved it there because of the faculty and all the hands-on experience she received. Currently I am a student in the MLAS program at Drexel so OneHealthDVM, if you have any questions about the program feel free to ask. 🙂

 

[OneHealthDVM]

Thanks misswhiskers. Hopefully you enjoyed/are enjoying your time there and felt the program was strong. Keep positive, confident, and try your best to get you applications done early. Edinburgh and Dublin are great programs as well, and the accreditation status is always a plus. I'm guessing you'll be trying to get in the 4 year programs at those schools. Good luck this year and with your upcoming application cycle. Thanks again for the offer and I hope to get in contact with you soon. This is exactly why I joined SDN...for the contacts and exchange of information.