Retake prereqs vs Masters vs more science courses

[shunshine16]

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Hey guys!

I have 2 schools to hear from still but have gotten serval rejections and am already preparing for next cycle. I feel great about my application with the exception that I have low GPAs (cum and prerequisites are right below 3.0, and last 45 is 3.2) due to some unfortunate circumstances. I have already reached out to schools for app reviews, however most have told me I need to wait until March/April when they have finished their application process.

I know that my gpas are what I need to fix the most but am unsure which approach to take. I am wondering for people who may have been in similar situations, how did you decide? Is it best to retake classes I didn’t do well in, continue to take upper level science courses, or to pursue a masters? For those who pursued a masters did you stop working to do so (I currently work ~50hrs/week at an ER)? I obviously plan to also ask schools during my file reviews but wanted some feedback from other students as well!!

Thank you so much for any input and good luck to everyone as we start hearing back from schools!


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[Cobyology]

After undergrad, I had a 3.0 GPA with even lower pre-req and last 45 credit stats. I applied, got rejected by everybody, and got advice from admissions staff. Basically they told me to retake courses. So I retook 24 credits of pre-req courses throughout Fall 2015 and spring 2016 (had an A in 21 of the credits, B in 3 credits), while working full time at an ER.

After all of those credits were completed, I then received only one interview (Minnesota), was waitlisted, and did not get in. After I was waitlisted, I enrolled in an MPH program for Fall 2017. That year, prior to any of my MPH grades being on my application, I only received an interview with Michigan State (again waitlisted, finished #1 on wait list). This cycle, I did not receive an interview invite from Minnesota, they said I did not meet their academic minimum.

Fast forward to this application cycle, I had the first year of my MPH finished (3.75 GPA), some classes even fulfilled pre-req requirements. I was also working full-time at the ER (40 hours/week). Prior to starting my MPH, I told my advisor about my plan to work full time while taking a full course load, she strongly advised against it and said that she didn't know of anybody currently doing both full-time work and full-time grad school, particularly because the program was very rigorous.

Anyways, this year I had applied to Wisconsin (IS), Minnesota, Michigan State, Cornell, Purdue, and Illinois. I was rejected by Cornell, I am still waiting to hear from Wisconsin, but I have interviews at the other 4.

Basically, my advice is to do a year of retaking pre-reqs. If that doesn't do the trick, then a masters program. You certainly could just start a masters program, but just know that it might not affect your pre-req GPA.

If you have any questions, or just want to talk it through with somebody who understands the situation, you can message me.

 

[shunshine16]

After undergrad, I had a 3.0 GPA with even lower pre-req and last 45 credit stats. I applied, got rejected by everybody, and got advice from admissions staff. Basically they told me to retake courses. So I retook 24 credits of pre-req courses throughout Fall 2015 and spring 2016 (had an A in 21 of the credits, B in 3 credits), while working full time at an ER.

After all of those credits were completed, I then received only one interview (Minnesota), was waitlisted, and did not get in. After I was waitlisted, I enrolled in an MPH program for Fall 2017. That year, prior to any of my MPH grades being on my application, I only received an interview with Michigan State (again waitlisted, finished #1 on wait list). This cycle, I did not receive an interview invite from Minnesota, they said I did not meet their academic minimum.

Fast forward to this application cycle, I had the first year of my MPH finished (3.75 GPA), some classes even fulfilled pre-req requirements. I was also working full-time at the ER (40 hours/week). Prior to starting my MPH, I told my advisor about my plan to work full time while taking a full course load, she strongly advised against it and said that she didn't know of anybody currently doing both full-time work and full-time grad school, particularly because the program was very rigorous.

Anyways, this year I had applied to Wisconsin (IS), Minnesota, Michigan State, Cornell, Purdue, and Illinois. I was rejected by Cornell, I am still waiting to hear from Wisconsin, but I have interviews at the other 4.

Basically, my advice is to do a year of retaking pre-reqs. If that doesn't do the trick, then a masters program. You certainly could just start a masters program, but just know that it might not affect your pre-req GPA.

If you have any questions, or just want to talk it through with somebody who understands the situation, you can message me.

Thank you so much for your reply! Sounds like we pretty similar in terms of our situations. I am leaning towards retaking prereqs to start, but wanted some feedback on what other people had done so this is super helpful!


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[Cobyology]

Thank you so much for your reply! Sounds like we pretty similar in terms of our situations. I am leaning towards retaking prereqs to start, but wanted some feedback on what other people had done so this is super helpful!


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You're welcome! It will certainly take a lot of time and effort, but living out your dream of being a vet is worth it.

 

[BravesFan]

Hey guys!

I have 2 schools to hear from still but have gotten serval rejections and am already preparing for next cycle. I feel great about my application with the exception that I have low GPAs (cum and prerequisites are right below 3.0, and last 45 is 3.2) due to some unfortunate circumstances. I have already reached out to schools for app reviews, however most have told me I need to wait until March/April when they have finished their application process.

I know that my gpas are what I need to fix the most but am unsure which approach to take. I am wondering for people who may have been in similar situations, how did you decide? Is it best to retake classes I didn’t do well in, continue to take upper level science courses, or to pursue a masters? For those who pursued a masters did you stop working to do so (I currently work ~50hrs/week at an ER)? I obviously plan to also ask schools during my file reviews but wanted some feedback from other students as well!!

Thank you so much for any input and good luck to everyone as we start hearing back from schools!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

For what its worth, I too agree with Cobyology. My situation is a bit different but alike in several ways: I did not take the typical route to veterinary school, i.e.: applied straight out of undergraduate school. I didn't do doctorate-level program work in undergrad as I was happy with simply passing - I really had no idea what I wanted to do in life - so I had a cumulative GPA that was lower than yours (2.8ish - not sure actually as I have blocked it from memory, haha). When I decided that I was called to be a veterinarian I simply applied, and of course, was rejected from everywhere. Heck, I would have rejected me too. But the feedback from the rejecting schools was invaluable and gave me direction. All were unanimous: I needed to get my grades up.

I focused on schools that focus on your last 45 GPA, prereq GPA, and GRE scores in regards to their academic review of an application like LSU, Michigan State, Minnesota, and KSU (there might be some more out there). I decided given my relatively poor cumulative GPA that it would be nearly impossible for me to raise my entire GPA to a level to make myself competitive at a school that takes the entirety of your collegiate academic performance into account. I methodically began retaking prereq classes with a few upper-division science electives thrown in there and was able to get my prereq GPA to 3.86-3.96 depending on the program, my last 45 hour GPA to a 4.0 and my GRE to a 310. In total I took 54 hours more over 2 years with most of the classes being prerequisites.

It was, without a doubt, difficult, time-consuming, and money-consuming - all while working full-time - to get to that point though. But as the cliché goes, if it were easy, everyone would do it. I never once wavered in commitment despite all the aforementioned obstacles, so that is how I knew I was on the right path.

I work full-time at a veterinary facility as well and I think that experience was, for me, invaluable on my application.

All that said, I have been accepted to one program and have two more interviews to go. I hope that helps some measure and alleviates any fear you have that it might not ever happen.... I was there, I felt that fear too, but just keep your nose to the grind and good things can happen!

Best!