Random Questions

[platy11]

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Hi everyone..
I feel like I should know this, but I was hoping someone can help..

I am currently a rising junior and I am pretty confused about the application process. I would LIKE to go to vet school directly after I graduate in 2011, so do I take my GREs now and fill out my application for the fall deadline, or am I a year ahead?

As for GRE/VCAT, does anyone know of a site on which the different admission requirements are directly listed (instead of checking each school individually)?

Lastly, for now, if I need to take a year off between undergrad and vet school, how does that affect my student (undergrad) loans? I was told they can be put off so long as I am in school...

Thank you!

 

[EqSci]

If you are going to be a junior this fall, then yes you are a year early. You would apply the summer between your junior and senior year to matriculate the following fall.

As for requirements, try http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas/college_requirement.htm and http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas_downloads.htm (the first link, college general information chart). I printed out each school's page from the first link, then highlighted pertinent information so I could easily compare. I also made an excel sheet with all the different deadlines since they vary between schools.

ETA: As far as GRE's, feel free to take them this summer. If you do well and are happy with your score, you don't have to worry about it next summer. If you'd like to improve, then you have a chance to take them again without rushing anything. One less thing to stress about next summer!!

 

[cuitlamiztli]

To answer your last question, student loans can only be "put off" as long as you are at least a part-time student (at least in my experience). You will enter repayment if you take a year off.

 

[bunnity]

The VCAT is no longer offered, so you just need to take the GRE.

 

[StillDreaming]

if you are not a part-time in your year off, you will have to start paying back student loans. However, when you enter vet school, you can apply for them to be deferred again, and stop payment on them. I have a couple friends who had to do this, and they kinda of liked it because they worked full-time, earning a decent pay check and were able to save some money, as well as pay more than the minumum on some of their loans. One friend took two years off, payed off all her loans and saved enough money to cover at least rent for the four years (she had a very nice paying job and worked on-call for evenings and weekends... as well as flipped a house that earned her a nice profit)... not everyone can do this, but talking to her, she is very happy to have started vet school with no loans, and to minimize her loans bys upplementing with savings...

I know this is way more than you asked for haha, but it's just a side note to share about the 'advantages' of not getting in your first year. 🙂 Yes, you will have to start paying laons, if you are not taking classes, but this is not necessarily a bad thing 🙂

 

[NotAngie]

To answer your last question, student loans can only be "put off" as long as you are at least a part-time student (at least in my experience). You will enter repayment if you take a year off.

But most student loans have a six month grace period from the time you graduate so if you graduated in May you wouldn't have to start paying until December. Then you'd be in repayment until you started vet school.

Most student loan companies are extremely accommodating as long as you are in communication with them. They will do graduated repayment or hardship deferrals, and mine let me do an additional 6 month deferral on top of my grace period just because. That was a one time deal though so use it wisely.