Should I do a post-bac?

[yogismom]

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Hi all,

All and any advice/opinions are welcome, as I'm feeling pretty nervous and confused and could use some!

I would like to apply to vet school this cycle, but I am lacking quite a few prerequisites (a year of physics, chem 2, orgo, genetics, microbio, and biochem)-so the equivalent of about 7 classes in total. I am in a Master's program now and plan to graduate in May 2022. Should I begin taking the prerequisite courses during my degree program or will my outstanding number of prerequisites be too much to apply this cycle with?

I'm not sure if I can include my plan to take these classes on my application or if I should just try to apply next cycle and do a post-bac instead.

Brief background: my B.S. and M.S. degrees are in Earth and Environmental Science and I have been doing wildlife-related research, I worked with a few vets, and I have a decent amount of experience in the realm of animal-related research and work.

 

[JaynaAli]

That’s a lot of heavy science to cram into a single year, especially when you’re also in masters classes. I would plan on taking an extra year to space them out some so you don’t overload yourself and do poorly grade-wise. Also at my undergrad (a decade ago lol) I’m pretty sure chem 2 was a prereq for ochem which was a prereq for biochem so you couldn’t have even done them in one year without summer classes which have obviously come and gone this year.

 

[yogismom]

That’s a lot of heavy science to cram into a single year, especially when you’re also in masters classes. I would plan on taking an extra year to space them out some so you don’t overload yourself and do poorly grade-wise. Also at my undergrad (a decade ago lol) I’m pretty sure chem 2 was a prereq for ochem which was a prereq for biochem so you couldn’t have even done them in one year without summer classes which have obviously come and gone this year.

Thanks so much for your response! I would definitely be willing to take fall, winter, spring, and summer courses to fill those prerequisite requirements as I would really love to start soon, but I suppose I wouldn't have a decent chance of being accepted this cycle with so many missing prereqs.

 

[JaynaAli]

Thanks so much for your response! I would definitely be willing to take fall, winter, spring, and summer courses to fill those prerequisite requirements as I would really love to start soon, but I suppose I wouldn't have a decent chance of being accepted this cycle with so many missing prereqs.

I found your post on WAMC and with a low science GPA I definitely wouldn’t rush seven science courses and labs into a year. You need to get as many As as possible to raise that GPA and show an upward trend. Better imo to take an extra year or so and get As than to get Bs or Cs because you were in too many hours. Plus your only vet experience is a shelter tech and some research. Those are good experiences but I’d like to see at minimum some “normal” general clinic hospital hours. Preferably even more types of clinics like er or large animal but that’s my other concern for you is your experience hours. You’ve had a good start and have good experiences but the majority of vets are going to end up in GP so I’d try that out and make sure you like it. It’s a lot different than a shelter. So my advice is to take an extra year to get more varied experience while rocking these science classes.

 

[yogismom]

I found your post on WAMC and with a low science GPA I definitely wouldn’t rush seven science courses and labs into a year. You need to get as many As as possible to raise that GPA and show an upward trend. Better imo to take an extra year or so and get As than to get Bs or Cs because you were in too many hours. Plus your only vet experience is a shelter tech and some research. Those are good experiences but I’d like to see at minimum some “normal” general clinic hospital hours. Preferably even more types of clinics like er or large animal but that’s my other concern for you is your experience hours. You’ve had a good start and have good experiences but the majority of vets are going to end up in GP so I’d try that out and make sure you like it. It’s a lot different than a shelter. So my advice is to take an extra year to get more varied experience while rocking these science classes.

Thanks so much for your advice! This was really helpful.

 

[EngrSC]

Just thought I’d add that most (all?) schools only allow a limited number of prereqs to be in progress or planned at the time of application. And most schools require your prereqs to be completed spring semester prior to matriculation so summer session isn’t an option.

Definitely better to take a year to do well in your prereqs and get varied vet experiences and apply with a strong application 🙂