Question about Cornell Vet

[Gurame21]

Hey everyone,
I was wondering why Cornell seems to have such minimal pre-requisites and other requirements. I was thinking that the number one vet school in the US would require the more rigorous pre-requisite lists, yet it has probably the most sparse lists out of a lot of the veterinary schools I've looked at (UF for example has quite a few specialized math and science requirements). Is this because Cornell is one of the schools more concerned with extra-curricular experiences?

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[Bismarck]

Cornell gives about 20% consideration to your extracurricular experiences. They give greater weight to your GRE score (25%) and GPA (25%) respectively as their philosophy seems to lean towards a strong academic foundation (with good if not stellar experience) as the basis for starting a veterinary education. The school also has a rather robust supplemental application with essay questions and letters of recommendation from 5 animal/vet sources. Cornell has most of the shared pre-reqs with other schools (Orgo, Gen Chem, Bio, English) but also takes note of any other advanced coursework on your transcript.

Also looks like they redid the site this week. If anybody applying this cycle wants an overview of what I mentioned, you can find one it here.

 

[SnowyRox]

Not that it really matters, but I would do some research into that ranking system if I were you. US News is good for undergrad schools, ok for med schools, and useless for vet schools.

But schools simply set which classes they think their students need as a basis to best understand their vet curriculum. Ex. Some schools require animal nutrition as a pre-req either because they don't cover it much in the curriculum OR they want to skip the basics. Other schools will do a more comprehensive nutrition course.

Cornell cares a lot about your GPA and undergrad school, so you need to rock the classes you do take. And have a bunch of vet & animal experiences. And a good GRE. The whole package! 😉

I'm sure you know this if you're researching Cornell, but you need a letter of rec from every single vet & animal experience you've had. That discouraged me from applying b/c several of my best experiences were many years ago.

 

[light10]

I would say their pre-reqs are kept general, not necessarily that they are simpler/less rigorous. The more general, the wider range of colleges people can attend to complete them and the wider applicant pool you can draw from. For example, poeople at the top liberal arts colleges (and likely several of the Ivies/top ranked Universities), which Cornell likes to recruit more than many vet schools, won't have the opportunity to take many applied sciences (nutrition, animal science, etc.) but will still have an excellent basic science background and Cornell seems to feel they are ready to tackle their curriculum. Cornell still requires things like microbiology and biochemistry, basic science courses taught at many schools. Personally, it's a trend I'd like to see continue - way simpler for applicants and schools alike.

They also have some oddities like requiring a 4 or 5 on AP exams for Chem/intro bio credit, even if your school gave credit for a 3*, so you have to submit scores from the college board, rather than your college transcript. Just in case you were worried they weren't being annoying enough .

*this is from my memory of several years ago and could be entirely wrong or outdated.

 

[RagtimeWillie]

As much as I would like to apply to Cornell, the LORs and comprehensive supplemental app are what's putting me off. Maybe one day I'll realize my IS is perfectly fine 😉

 

[equineconstant]

Wow, I didn't realize Cornell's supplement was so intimidating. Well, I already sent them my GRE scores, so I guess I'm applying there regardless...😳

 

[heylodeb]

Wow, I didn't realize Cornell's supplement was so intimidating. Well, I already sent them my GRE scores, so I guess I'm applying there regardless...😳

I sent my GRE scores to a couple schools I didn't end up a applying to in the end.

 

[Bismarck]

Wow, I didn't realize Cornell's supplement was so intimidating. Well, I already sent them my GRE scores, so I guess I'm applying there regardless...😳

Maybe I don't get the" intimidating" part that a lot of people bring up: the supplemental is longer than many others (e.g. Penn), but you have substantial control over the input process. You can carefully craft a message over several weeks (or more) until you are ready to submit. I used 3 of my VMCAS eLORs towards the five letter requirement and used the remaining two people to write Cornell-specific letters to shore up my one potential application weakness (hours in clinical vet med). You also get a chance to explain away any hiccups on your application if I remember correctly.

I think this is much better than having to craft a response on the fly as you might have to in an interview, no? (Cornell does not interview DVM applicants)

 

[equineconstant]

Maybe I don't get the" intimidating" part that a lot of people bring up: the supplemental is longer than many others (e.g. Penn), but you have substantial control over the input process. You can carefully craft a message over several weeks (or more) until you are ready to submit. I used 3 of my VMCAS eLORs towards the five letter requirement and used the remaining two people to write Cornell-specific letters to shore up my one potential application weakness (hours in clinical vet med). You also get a chance to explain away any hiccups on your application if I remember correctly.

I think this is much better than having to craft a response on the fly as you might have to in an interview, no? (Cornell does not interview DVM applicants)

Better than crafting a response on the fly? Sure, except that questions that you would answer both on the supplement and in the interview you could prepare for for the interview, too. And you don't have to prepare for the interview while you also need to be spending time preparing differently for all your other applications. Frankly, I have no idea how people apply to 11 or 12 schools...that sounds like a lot of supplements to me.

Thanks for letting me know about the no interview thing, btw.

 

[hopefulinva]

My Cornell application was the worst application I think I've ever handed in to anyone, ever. =) It's no wonder they rejected me outright (I swear, I think I was the first person to hear back from them 😀 ).

To be fair, I hadn't really decided I wanted to apply to Cornell until well into the application cycle and I did 0 research for what was actually involved in their supplemental. Perhaps the fact that it was due weeks after the supplementals at my other application schools should have told me something; but when I cracked that thing open and realized I had to write, like, 5 essays, I knew I was screwed - I just didn't give myself enough time.

But you're discovering this well in advance of the deadline, so you've given yourself ample time to prepare. With months to get it done, it shouldn't be too intimidating.

 

[Bismarck]

I would add for the "essays" portion you have about 500 characters/250 words to tell a short story/vignette that illustrates a positive character trait or attribute in response to the prompt. Hardly the next great American novel, but the supplemental opens in July and it will take several tries before you get a sizable paragraph that feels "right". Upside is you can use these responses in another interview to answer several different types of questions.

If anybody wants last years' essay prompts, either PM me or check on Cornell's site; I have no idea if they have a sample application pdf still up but they have had one previously.

 

[Emiloo4]

Frankly, I have no idea how people apply to 11 or 12 schools...that sounds like a lot of supplements to me.

You are correct, it's insane and expensive and I regret ever doing it lol. You just can't put enough effort into each one. There is a thread on here someone opened recently about which schools interview and which schools don't. I would find it for you but I'm on my phone. It was just a few days ago I believe. Check that out and check which schools have a lot of OOS spots. Kstate, Ohio state, OK state I believe?? etc.

 

[equineconstant]

You are correct, it's insane and expensive and I regret ever doing it lol. You just can't put enough effort into each one. There is a thread on here someone opened recently about which schools interview and which schools don't. I would find it for you but I'm on my phone. It was just a few days ago I believe. Check that out and check which schools have a lot of OOS spots. Kstate, Ohio state, OK state I believe?? etc.

I already decided where I'm applying (LSU (IS), Missouri, Penn, and Virginia in addition to Cornell). I was just kind of assuming everyone did interviews. Heh. I guess I still have more research to do.

 

[GreyMatter 17]

Not that it really matters, but I would do some research into that ranking system if I were you. US News is good for undergrad schools, ok for med schools, and useless for vet schools.

Just curious, does anyone know of a better ranking system out there?

 

[NStarz]

Just curious, does anyone know of a better ranking system out there?

Any ranking system is basically useless as there's only 28 vet schools in the country. US news is all based on peer judgements, but that's really the only "ranking" system out there. Every state with a vet school prefers that vet school.

 

[TigerWillow]

You are correct, it's insane and expensive and I regret ever doing it lol. You just can't put enough effort into each one. There is a thread on here someone opened recently about which schools interview and which schools don't. I would find it for you but I'm on my phone. It was just a few days ago I believe. Check that out and check which schools have a lot of OOS spots. Kstate, Ohio state, OK state I believe?? etc.

Dittttttooooo


I think I remember banging my head on my desk writing all my supplementals (Cornell was pretty bad, but western was worse). And the two schools that accepted me did not either require a supplemental or they had one just to fill out your courses

 

[Bismarck]

Any ranking system is basically useless as there's only 28 vet schools in the country. US news is all based on peer judgements, but that's really the only "ranking" system out there. Every state with a vet school prefers that vet school.

I think it's fair to say that the "best" school is the one the satisfies your financial status and best prepares you to meet (and achieve) your professional goals: in other words, makes you the best veterinarian you can be. Depending on your ambition(s), you may be just as well served almost anywhere (small animal) or need a school in the proper geographical area to make the most of the curriculum (food animal). I would say the rankings are a pretty good indicator of strength/perception of research programs though.

 

[hopefulinva]

. I was just kind of assuming everyone did interviews. Heh. I guess I still have more research to do.

Have fun with the Virginia interviews. 😉 They throw 6 of them at'cha, and they're not like "normal" interviews!

I think it's fair to say that the "best" school is the one the satisfies your financial status and best prepares you to meet (and achieve) your professional goals

👍👍

 

[Emiloo4]

Dittttttooooo


I think I remember banging my head on my desk writing all my supplementals (Cornell was pretty bad, but western was worse). And the two schools that accepted me did not either require a supplemental or they had one just to fill out your courses

Yeah, I wrote 26 or 27 essays plus my PS when I applied. It was awful. I thought CSU's was pretty in depth as well.

 

[TigerWillow]

Yeah, I wrote 26 or 27 essays plus my PS when I applied. It was awful. I thought CSU's was pretty in depth as well.

I believe I copied pasted all my things together and then blended it in. There's only so much I can talk about!!!

 

[Emiloo4]

I believe I copied pasted all my things together and then blended it in. There's only so much I can talk about!!!

Yeah a few of them I tweaked from a previous one, but it was just a pain. I am SO glad I don't have to do it again!!! 😱