Should I apply?

[jtom]

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Here is my background:

-BS in Biology
-Final GPA 3.69
-GRE- Verbal-540; Quant- 570
-conducted research for one semester while in college. My research involved amphibians and the impact pesticides has on their development. I spent most of my time caring for them and general maintenance.

My main concerns are obviously my GRE scores and the fact that I do not have any veterinary experience and that my research is not very lengthy in terms of how long I was involved in it.

Should I even apply? Are there any schools that I should just stay away from because they will definetly not admit me? Are there schools that I should apply to?

Also, is it ok to apply to vet programs but choose another type of program to choose as a backup? I would feel odd asking my recommendations to send letters to different types of programs.

Thanks alot!

 

[StayingHopeful]

Could you start getting experience now so that by the the application is due you would have some and by the time interviews come around you'd have six months at least?

 

[jtom]

As far as i know the deadline is october 1st for the following year so I dont think that would be something I could do.

 

[OnceBitten]

Could you start getting experience now so that by the the application is due you would have some and by the time interviews come around you'd have six months at least?

I would recommend this, as well. Use this summer to get as much experience as you can in as many different areas as you can so that, by the time you're asked to interview (usually December or later), you have a good bit of experience under your belt and will have had the chance to update the schools you apply to with regards to your increased amount of experience since October. Without doing that, I'm not sure I would apply this cycle. Interviews aren't guaranteed even for those applicants with similarly decent grades and a wide breadth and depth of experience and they're the first step to getting in (barring schools that don't interview, but your chances wouldn't improve with that), and applying even without interviewing will be costly.

 

[bunnity]

I think you would have a shot if you brought up that quantitative GRE score and got a good start on experience. One of the reasons vet schools want us to have experience is to make sure we know what we are getting into and that it is really the right field for us, so your personal statement and interview would also help sway them one way or another on that issue.

I guess my answer to "should I apply?" depends on if you have an in-state school and what school it is. Some schools like to see more experience while others might be a little more lenient if you can get your GRE to match your good GPA. I don't think any school would admit you with NO experience, though. Obviously you don't have to say where you live on this forum, but I think it should affect your decision.

Off topic, but awesome research subject. One of the professors at my undergrad was one of the first to study the effects of glyphosate pesticides on amphibians so I learned a little about it here and there in my classes.

 

[DVMorBust]

Do you have any animal experience aside from regular pet ownership? How did you reach the decision to be a veterinarian? What kind of research did you do for that semester?

Just a few points:

1. Research under a PhD or DVM in bio/medical area counts as veterinary experience for application purposes. So if that was bio research, you likely have some 'vet experience' hours.

2. If you have no vet experience AND no animal experience, I think it would be extremely difficult to justify (although not impossible) why you know you want to be a vet.

3. Vet experience isn't necessarily a right of passage, it's there to ensure that you know what you're getting into and for schools to see that you're dedicated to the field. If you can demonstrate that some other way, I honestly don't think much experience is necessary to get an acceptance.

Plus, you're likely going to need at least one LOR from a vet, so keep that in mind.

 

[david594]

What type of vet do you want to be?

I agree with the crowd, definitely gain some experience before October and try applying.

Research experience is good, but if you say you want to be a SA or LA vet, and have no experience in either of those I think you will be in a tough situation without gaining some this summer.

 

[dgm]

The only thing I know for certain is that you definitely won't get in if you don't apply. I agree with the others - getting more experience should help. But even if you can't do that, it still probably won't hurt to put your application in and see what happens (assuming you can spare the application fee). If you aren't accepted, you can usually request a phone call or a meeting to discuss your application and how to improve it.

Also, I'm not sure how much effort you've already put into your GRE scores. If you haven't done so in the past, perhaps you should go buy a couple GRE-prep books, work your way through them obsessively for a few weeks or a month, and take it again. You have plenty of time left to do that before the application deadline.

 

[jtom]

Thanks for all the replies.

My research was biology research through my university's biology department. I did between 80-85 hours during the semester I conducted the research. The majority of those hours were spent caring for amphibians.

I guess I am just a little unsure whether volunteering this late would amount to much on my application as alot of other applicants have been volunteering for years. Unfortuantely I am out of school and am working full time and I couldnt devote a considerable amount of my time to volunteering. This would not be a big deal if I have already been volunteering for years but I feel if I am doing it this late that I would have to clock in considerable hours in order to catch up and I honestly cannot do that at this time.

Anyone else?

Thanks!

 

[rileyroo]

Thanks for all the replies.

My research was biology research through my university's biology department. I did between 80-85 hours during the semester I conducted the research. The majority of those hours were spent caring for amphibians.

I guess I am just a little unsure whether volunteering this late would amount to much on my application as alot of other applicants have been volunteering for years. Unfortuantely I am out of school and am working full time and I couldnt devote a considerable amount of my time to volunteering. This would not be a big deal if I have already been volunteering for years but I feel if I am doing it this late that I would have to clock in considerable hours in order to catch up and I honestly cannot do that at this time.

Anyone else?

Thanks!

i know it can be difficult to get in volunteer hours while working full time, but is there a 24 hour/emergency hospital near you? also, i know it seems a little late to start gaining hours, but i think if you could get in just a few, it would help - it might help you see a side to the field (whatever area you volunteer in), and if you didn't get in this year/decided to wait to apply, it would be a jump start for next year. some of my most valuable experience came from areas that i just volunteered a few hours in. so i know it might look like small experience hours wise but you could gain some valuable information from those few hours. 🙂

 

[dgm]

I guess I am just a little unsure whether volunteering this late would amount to much on my application as alot of other applicants have been volunteering for years. Unfortuantely I am out of school and am working full time and I couldnt devote a considerable amount of my time to volunteering. This would not be a big deal if I have already been volunteering for years but I feel if I am doing it this late that I would have to clock in considerable hours in order to catch up and I honestly cannot do that at this time.

Don't write off volunteering. I didn't start working at a vet clinic until August of last year. I thought for sure that that would keep me from getting in this time around, but happily, I was wrong. I was working full-time, taking biochem, and working 8-12 hrs/wk at the vet clinic. Every little bit helps...

 

[DickVetPlease]

I'm in a somewhat similar situation, in that I had no actual vet experience prior to this summer (I'm applying this cycle). However, I started volunteering at the beginning of the summer, and will have at least 200 hours by the time I submit the application. Obviously, I don't know whether it will make a difference just yet, but 200 hours seems a heck of a lot better than none at all. Also, it'll give me an LOR from a vet.

 

[robeezy08]

Posted this on another thread but could be helpful here. I'll add a few more points though:

Yes I agree w/ everyone, you need clinical vet experience and I wouldn't recommend applying w/o it, it's a waste of money and time. Admissions counselors can look over your stats and give you application advice if you ask. I'd def ask, call/talk to them about your chances this cycle and get your name out there. If they can place a voice/face to the name on paper, more power to you!
If you haven't already, get a hold of: 2009 Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements (VMSAR) handbook. Lots good info on MOST vet schools in US and Abroad. This websites helpful too: http://www.aavmc.org/students_admissions/students.htm
Start researching schools that will fit your specific requirements, i.e no vet experience. Michigan and UC Davis comes to mind as schools that require a decent amount of hours.

Your grades are great, but GRE needs help. Most schools look at Math more the verbal (think UPenn) and so I'd suggesting getting over 650 Math if you can.

As far as applying this year for next cycle, you may not have time. You need hours, a great LOR, better GRE scores (esp since you have zero animal exp) and a stellar essay!

BTW, I'll stress you need clinical vet experience! Question, why vet med? You'll prob get asked this question considering you don't have those hours so make sure you write about/mention it in the essay. Remember there are thousands of students who look just like you on paper, so you need to stand out. Your GPA is good, so if time is of the essence and getting the hours would be tough, bump up your GRE scores.

Hope this helps, good luck

 

[Pigsfoot]

You always have the option of graduating, working in a veterinary field, even as an assistant next year, and applying then, after a year of real life experience.