Rejected this year but chances next year?

[spark52]

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hi everyone some help please!
i applied this year and got rejected by so far 8/10 schools. i'm not hopeful for the other 2. i was wondering if you had input on what my chances were for applying next year.
my undergrad gpa is 2.85 🙁 my weakest point
i'm currently doing a Master of Science and so far have a 3.74 (i'll be finished with my degree after this summer)
GRE is V 630 Q 790 W 5.5 (total: 1420)
i've had about 800 hours paid at a vet clinic, 50 hrs volunteering at a zoo, 100 hrs volunteering at an animal shelter, and a summer of paid part-time research (~150 hrs).
what do you think?

 

[No Imagination]

I'd get more experience TBH.

What is your Masters in? Thesis based? 3.7 is great - but have you shown you can now take a decent course load in tough sciences and still do well?

 

[kayakman28]

The best thing you can do is have "post-mortem" meetings with the schools. There will go over your application with a fine tooth comb telling you what areas you are weak, and how to improve upon them.

To base a decision purely off of your stats is impossible. I'm sure schools consider what you have done in the past year(s) to make your application as strong as possible (PS/Explanation!).

I would highly recommend calling the schools once decisions are done and talk to the admissions folks about your application. Good luck with the remaining 2 schools and next year if needed!!

 

[Optimistic 13]

.

 

[spark52]

I'd get more experience TBH.

What is your Masters in? Thesis based? 3.7 is great - but have you shown you can now take a decent course load in tough sciences and still do well?

It's in biotechnology, nonthesis, and i've taken 7 science courses (biochem, molec bio, cell bio 1, physiology, genetics, microbiology, bioinformatics) and 2 elective ones (law, business) so far in 2 semesters. i'll be taking 1 more science course (cell bio 2) and 1 more elective this summer and be done...

 

[No Imagination]

It's in biotechnology, nonthesis, and i've taken 7 science courses (biochem, molec bio, cell bio 1, physiology, genetics, microbiology, bioinformatics) and 2 elective ones (law, business) so far in 2 semesters. i'll be taking 1 more science course (cell bio 2) and 1 more elective this summer and be done...

Sounds good, once all the hoopla dies down, like Optimistic said, request a file review from your schools.

 

[spark52]

Where all did you apply? Perhaps many of the schools you applied to have minimum GPA cutoffs that you did not meet, or are extremely competitive as far as applicant pools. Assuming that this is the case, next year I would do research as to which schools do not have such a cutoff (or place more emphasis on graduate coursework and veterinary experience) and who tend to accept a large number of OOS applicants. Maybe the problem was just picking the right schools to apply to. Of course, in the mean time you have another year to further improve your GPA and get a lot more veterinary experience to improve your application, and as kayakman said, meet with the schools and find out what areas they feel you are lacking in.

i applied to cornell, ucd (i'm resident), upenn, uwisconsin, tufts, uwashington, osu, uminnesota, uVA-MD, colorado.

do all of them have cutoffs? i feel like cutoffs are not listed on school websites maybe i have to call them about that as well as the gradschool/experience info?..

 

[spark52]

The best thing you can do is have "post-mortem" meetings with the schools. There will go over your application with a fine tooth comb telling you what areas you are weak, and how to improve upon them.

To base a decision purely off of your stats is impossible. I'm sure schools consider what you have done in the past year(s) to make your application as strong as possible (PS/Explanation!).

I would highly recommend calling the schools once decisions are done and talk to the admissions folks about your application. Good luck with the remaining 2 schools and next year if needed!!

that's great advice thank you i will definitely do that... i guess i just wanted to know if anyone else was in a similar situation and got in. i'm feeling like i just dont have a chance at all since i only got 1 interview at OSU but got flatout rejections and no waitlists.

 

[chris03333]

what do you think?

I think you should talk to the schools which have rejected you (they have post rejection file reviews available). Then you can have a complete review by someone, on an adcom, which has your entire application in front of them. It will help you know what you need to do to get in.

 

[Optimistic 13]

.

 

[DVMorBust]

Straight up numbers of OOS might be a bit misleading, too - maybe also take into consideration the percentage of accepted OOSers...there's a difference between 200 people competing for 20 seats and 900 competing for 20!

 

[rachroo]

I'd also like to add that the VMSAR (Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements) is a very helpful book in terms of putting together the pre-reqs, how much some schools weight GPA/GRE/etc, and the IS/OOS applications received vs. those that were accepted.

It should be available in late spring/early summer.

Here's some more info that also includes a link to the publisher: http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas/VMSAR_publications.htm

 

[Skillet9886]

Definitely do a file review with as many schools as you can.

I agree that applying to slightly less competitive schools might be a good idea. Of course, all schools are competitive, but some give you better odds than others, as Optimistic said.

As far as more specific info/advice, since you've already looked into raising your GPA with a Master's, I would probably try to get some large animal and/or veterinary research experience. I assume in your original post that "vet clinic" means small animal hospital? Working with a large animal vet might give you more varied experience and help your application.

Other than that, most of what's been said so far is good advice, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[livefor32]

I'm kind of in the same boat as you (lower undergrad gpa, great grad gpa, thesis-based master's), and I think what I am going to do is work for a year while volunteering at a shelter to increase my experience hours. It does really really help that you've worked hard to increase your GPA, however they will not turned a blind eye to your undergrad GPA. Have you considered re-taking classes at a 4 year college near you during your time off?

I don't know if you can do this, but maybe when you talk to the admissions office about your application, you can ask them if they think your next plan of action (whether it be increasing experience or re-taking classes) is a good one.

GOOD LUCK

 

[TSUJC]

I would definitely agree with No Imagination, you need more experience to offset your GPA. Your GRE is amazing! 👍

 

[VetUBet]

hi everyone some help please!
i applied this year and got rejected by so far 8/10 schools. i'm not hopeful for the other 2. i was wondering if you had input on what my chances were for applying next year.
my undergrad gpa is 2.85 🙁 my weakest point
i'm currently doing a Master of Science and so far have a 3.74 (i'll be finished with my degree after this summer)
GRE is V 630 Q 790 W 5.5 (total: 1420)
i've had about 800 hours paid at a vet clinic, 50 hrs volunteering at a zoo, 100 hrs volunteering at an animal shelter, and a summer of paid part-time research (~150 hrs).
what do you think?

New here, and I read your post and it gave me hope. How did you obtain a position in a master's program with an undergrad gpa below 3.0? The schools I have looked at for a masters all want an undergrad gpa of 3.0 and above, not quite what I have 🙁

 

[Lechatnoir]

Vet schools usually expect you to finish graduate programs by the spring of the semester before you start so that could be part of the problem...

 

[spark52]

Vet schools usually expect you to finish graduate programs by the spring of the semester before you start so that could be part of the problem...

Really?!??!
That's definitely going to be one of the questions I'll ask for the feedback when I call the schools then. Wow, I had no idea that was even a possibility. I'll be very relieved if it was... then maybe I'll have a chance next cycle?

 

[david594]

Really?!??!
That's definitely going to be one of the questions I'll ask for the feedback when I call the schools then. Wow, I had no idea that was even a possibility. I'll be very relieved if it was... then maybe I'll have a chance next cycle?

Not sure about masters, but it is the case at most places for students currently in PhD programs. It seems a lot of school require a note from department/PI/somebody in charge of you in your program saying that you are being allowed to leave. As opposed to you just screwing over your PhD program and leaving without their approval.

 

[Shanomong]

I think, especially with a year off to greatly increase your experience hours, you'd be a great applicant next year. They usually just want to see that you are capable of doing well in upper level sciences, and you've proven that. I wouldn't be surprised if they told you in your file review that it is becaues of the Masters program running into the summer. I'm sure they can come up with other things to tweak, but I'd guess that's the major reason. People get into vet schools with GPAs around the 3.0 mark, some slightly under, even without the grad school (check out the successful applicants thread). And your GRE is way above average. I'd say you're in great shape 👍

Also are any of these schools your IS? If not, I'd move to the state of your top pic or if you're impartial than to a less competitive state for next years app cycle. It does help a lot in the numbers game.

Good luck!!

 

[Lechatnoir]

Really?!??!
That's definitely going to be one of the questions I'll ask for the feedback when I call the schools then. Wow, I had no idea that was even a possibility. I'll be very relieved if it was... then maybe I'll have a chance next cycle?

From what I understand, the schools don't want you to pursue a different graduate degree just to kill time before applying again. They want you to finish the degree you are pursuing first and typically they will not accept classes that aren't finished until the summer, it must be finished in the spring. Definitely have a good chance if you will have a master's for the next cycle. I agree that you have a great GRE score. I'm struggling with that now =(

 

[WildZooVet]

Really?!??!
That's definitely going to be one of the questions I'll ask for the feedback when I call the schools then. Wow, I had no idea that was even a possibility. I'll be very relieved if it was... then maybe I'll have a chance next cycle?

Not to dissapoint, but, I will be finishing my masters over the summer. My profile is simular to yours (below average ungrad GPA, good grad GPA, good GRE's.) I definitely had to address my undergrad GPA at interviews and the truth is that I was still pretty immature. I didn't put it quite like this, but, I played really hard in undergrad, then figured out what I wanted to do and have been very dedicated to it since.

What area of vet med are you interested in going in to?