Question about qualifications gpa etc.

[hopingtogetin3]

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I have a gpa of 3.3 and am working on getting that up for my last 30 credit hours of undergrad. Because I have such a low gpa I decided to wait a year before applying to vet school and learn as much as I could so I could have better chances of getting a high score on the GRE and a better chance of getting into Vet school. I am so scared that the one thing I want to do with my life (become a veterinarian) is out of my reach because of my grades. I have about 2000 hours of volunteer and technician work with veterinarians and am hoping that will help me a little.
Does anyone have any ideas on anything that might help to increase my chances of getting in besides increasing my gpa (I'm already working on that 🙂)

Thanks so much!

 

[smilin1590]

Nice to have another new person here on the board. Feel free to fully introduce yourself on the lurkers/new member thread. Anyhow, I'm in the same position as you, so for one I'm glad I'm not alone and two just try to get varied experience whether it's animal or vet. Make yourself as diverse and...for lack of a better outstanding. What makes you awesome compared to the other applicants despite your GPA kind of thing. Also if you have not taken the GRE already study a bit and take that sucker. If you don't like your initial scores, study and go back and take it again, nothing wrong with taking it a second time (most applicants do) and now you'll know the format of the test. Also don't discount the Caribbean schools, supposedly they look at you as an entire applicant and not just your academic stats. Keep plugging along, there are times I just want to throw in the towel but I have to force myself to keep going if this is what I really want. The people here will be able to offer oodles of great advice.

 

[smilin1590]

also a 3.3 gpa isn't too bad. You should at least apply to your IS if nothing else, BTW what is your IS university?

 

[hopingtogetin3]

also a 3.3 gpa isn't too bad. You should at least apply to your IS if nothing else, BTW what is your IS university?

IS university? I'm new so I'm not familiar with all the terminology! The school I really want to go to is the university of Georgia but I am willing to go somewhere else!! 🙂

I have a little diversity in my experience such as a cattle/horse/goat/sheep farm, emergency small vet, and regular small animal day veterinary experience!

 

[LivestockDoc]

I definitely agree w/Smilin about experience. Try to volunteer/work in as many different settings as you can, and ask lots of questions of the people you work with so you can gain lots of insight into the care of that particular species. Three big plusses to this strategy:

1. You will have explored lots of options in veterinary med (good for you AND looks good to the adcoms)

2. Excellent reference letters b/c you demonstrated a strong interest in their field.

3. You'll have lots to talk about during an interview.

Absolutely NO REASON to think you won't get into a vet school b/c of a 3.3 gpa.
Good luck to you! 👍

 

[Whyevernot55]

Welcome to the boards! You'll get used to the terms: IS=in state school, OOS=out of state. SA=small animal, LA=large animal etc etc etc.

The best thing you can do in addition to raising your GPA is doing well on the GRE, and getting the most varied experience possible. If you browse the forums and use the search function extensively, you'll find a lot of good info.

 

[LivestockDoc]

IS means In-state. Sounds like you've got some great experience. See if you can add to that with, perhaps, lab animal, wildlife rehab, or something else that is less conventional. Can't hurt!

 

[smilin1590]

IS university? I'm new so I'm not familiar with all the terminology! The school I really want to go to is the university of Georgia but I am willing to go somewhere else!! 🙂

I have a little diversity in my experience such as a cattle/horse/goat/sheep farm, emergency small vet, and regular small animal day veterinary experience!

Hopingtogetin, you are giving me a good excuse to avoid my homework LOL! Anyhow IS (means in-state) my IS is university of Illinois. Anyhow another thing you may want to get if you don't have it already is a VMSAR book it tells you the exact requirements of each school, look through that and narrow down your choices by say how many OOS (out of state) applicants they take, minimum GPA and how they evaluate applicants. If you really wanted to start ASAP it's not too late to apply Carib because they all have rolling admissions and Ross has 3 start dates a year or wait until next year, apply to all viable options and if nothing in the US accepts you, then you can make a decision based upon that.

As a side note, I believe Georgia makes you take the Biology GRE test so take that into consideration as well.

 

[cowgirla]

3.3 is not too low! It'll be hard, yes, and maybe you won't get into your top choice, but it is possible. Apply wisely. Look at average gpas, the number of OOS accepted, and look for schools that don't have gpa cutoffs, and schools that value good experience. Vet school is not out of your reach!

I had a 3.2 an got into a few schools on my second try

 

[Maddiegirl]

Welcome ! It's always nice to see new people! I've only been here a short while and everyone has been so friendly and helpful.

I think you are definitely on the right path with your experience and plans for improvement, etc... Just keep a positive attitude and I think you'll end up where you want to be.

Good luck on your journey! 🙂

 

[hopingtogetin3]

Thanks so much for the great advice!!! Do you know where I can get a VMSAR book? That sounds like a great idea for me to look into!

I really appreciate the wonderful responses! My nerves are definitely calmed a little knowing its possible!! 🙂

 

[smilin1590]

Thanks so much for the great advice!!! Do you know where I can get a VMSAR book? That sounds like a great idea for me to look into!

I really appreciate the wonderful responses! My nerves are definitely calmed a little knowing its possible!! 🙂

http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas/VMSAR_publications.htm you can buy it here or buy it used on amazon. This is obviously for this years applicants but it will give you a great place to start. It's my new best friend LOL!

 

[that redhead]

I'm applying this year with a 2.97 cumulative. I did decently on my GREs, have lots and diverse experience and I think the rest of my application would be dynamite if not for my low GPA. Am I prepared to have to re-apply next cycle? Yes. But I'm not going to not apply because I know this is what I want.

My strategy has been to apply intelligently. A lot of the schools I'm applying to (and I'm applying to eight - more than most, which is another strategy!) look at last 45 credit hours or certain prereq grades. Like I said, I'm not going into it all too optimistically but I'm going to be a vet, it's just a matter of time. The longer you hang around here, the better understanding you will gain of the different ways that you can work against your "lower" GPA 🙂

 

[hopingtogetin3]

I'm applying this year with a 2.97 cumulative. I did decently on my GREs, have lots and diverse experience and I think the rest of my application would be dynamite if not for my low GPA. Am I prepared to have to re-apply next cycle? Yes. But I'm not going to not apply because I know this is what I want.

My strategy has been to apply intelligently. A lot of the schools I'm applying to (and I'm applying to eight - more than most, which is another strategy!) look at last 45 credit hours or certain prereq grades. Like I said, I'm not going into it all too optimistically but I'm going to be a vet, it's just a matter of time. The longer you hang around here, the better understanding you will gain of the different ways that you can work against your "lower" GPA 🙂

Wow that is very inspiring!! Please keep me updated on your status if you get in, your interviews, if you don't get in etc. I would really love to hear how everything works out for you! I wish I had everything done so I could go ahead and apply but after speaking with my advisor she suggested I take a year off before applying. Now after talking to you (and everyone else on here) I'm very inspired to continue with what I want and to not let anything stop me!!!

 

[Savethewhales]

A lot of schools also look at where you did your undergrad. For instance, a 3.3 at a top tier school is looked at differently than a 3.2 at a 3rd tier school. Where are you getting your bs?

 

[that redhead]

Wow that is very inspiring!! Please keep me updated on your status if you get in, your interviews, if you don't get in etc. I would really love to hear how everything works out for you! I wish I had everything done so I could go ahead and apply but after speaking with my advisor she suggested I take a year off before applying. Now after talking to you (and everyone else on here) I'm very inspired to continue with what I want and to not let anything stop me!!!

I'd be happy to let you know how it goes 🙂 I've had a lot of different people either tell me flat out NOT to apply or to wait and I politely declined their advice. I acknowledge that I need plans for a life between application cycles, and I've prepared myself to graduate and find myself an animal-related job (just because its what I love to do, vet or not a vet!, and what I have qualifications/certifications for) and pay my expenses. There's a difference between being prepared for rejection but still be determined to stay on that path. While I respect that some advisors/mentors/whatever perhaps don't want the applicant's feelings to be hurt, real life isn't always about feelings and being happy. It can be about getting rejected and learning from it and growing as a person.

Anyway! I'm glad I could help to inspire 🙂

 

[goldielocks137]

I'd be happy to let you know how it goes 🙂 I've had a lot of different people either tell me flat out NOT to apply or to wait and I politely declined their advice. I acknowledge that I need plans for a life between application cycles, and I've prepared myself to graduate and find myself an animal-related job (just because its what I love to do, vet or not a vet!, and what I have qualifications/certifications for) and pay my expenses. There's a difference between being prepared for rejection but still be determined to stay on that path. While I respect that some advisors/mentors/whatever perhaps don't want the applicant's feelings to be hurt, real life isn't always about feelings and being happy. It can be about getting rejected and learning from it and growing as a person.

Anyway! I'm glad I could help to inspire 🙂

👍 I feel the same way, except I'm already in my year off after graduating. Good luck!

 

[JollyBlueJay4]

Similar situation with me! I have a cumulative GPA 3.14 and I'll be applying this year too. Heavily relying on a lot of my other categories to get me in... Good luck!!

 

[168135]

I have a GPA in that range... never actually calculated it because the system at my university is pretty lax (85 is an A-???). I'm applying to a Canadian school, so no personal statements, references and VCMAS crap 😛

The school I'm applying too only looks at pre-req grades. I pumped up my vet experience and extracurriculars to get as many points as possible in those areas and to show them how unique and cool I am. I'm also taking a lot of upper level courses.

Best of luck and welcome to the forum! This forum has the best vet school advice so stick around 👍