Should I Even Bother?

[rl1234]

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Give it to me straight!

Overall GPA: 2.92 Ugrad: 2.57 Grad: 4.0 Last 45: 4.0 Science: 2.8

GRE: V610 Q660 A4.5

>1000 hours research
>1000 hours zoo/wildlife
>500 hours animal health lab (immunoassays/PCR)
~300 hours non profit spay/neuter clinic
~200 hours shelter
~500 hours foreign vet clinic (SA & LA)
~100 LA- private ranch

Several research related presentations/publications, honors, and awards.

I know my ugrad GPA is the major weakness here. Can/will my experience and graduate GPA help?

Thanks for the input.

 

[hopefulinPA]

In which field are you doing graduate work? What do you want to do? Do you have residency anywhere?

 

[cyrille104]

Give it to me straight!

Overall GPA: 2.92 Ugrad: 2.57 Grad: 4.0 Last 45: 4.0 Science: 2.8

GRE: V610 Q660 A4.5

>1000 hours research
>1000 hours zoo/wildlife
>500 hours animal health lab (immunoassays/PCR)
~300 hours non profit spay/neuter clinic
~200 hours shelter
~500 hours foreign vet clinic (SA & LA)
~100 LA- private ranch

Several research related presentations/publications, honors, and awards.

I know my ugrad GPA is the major weakness here. Can/will my experience and graduate GPA help?

Thanks for the input.

Ok, this is a tough one...I think it's POSSIBLE for you to get in, but it's going to take some work. As you know, your undergrad GPA is going to really hurt. Your "overall GPA" is a little better, but it still doesn't hit 3.0...which would change things a lot.

You'll probably need to declare residency in a state that has a vet school with a holistic-style admissions process. Colorado comes to mind, but there are others that are a little easier to get into. How many years have you been out of undergrad? Illinois lets you petition to ignore grades from more than 6 years ago if you can convince them that they no longer apply to the type of person you are today.

You can get your GRE scores up for sure. With enough studying, I'm sure you can get your Q score to 780-800, V score to 650-670, and A to 5.0. That will help you immensely. Most schools don't really care that much about your grad school GPA. This is mostly because everyone has an amazing grad school GPA.

Finally, your experience is strong and varied but you'll probably want to beef it up even more with another 1000 to 2000 hours of the stuff that you haven't already focused on. Maybe LA if you can...

You should also apply out of the country to schools that have a less competitive applicant pool.

This is all my opinion, so take it with a grain of salt...good luck!

 

[agr1365]

Would depend on whether or not your grades that are "not so hot" are in pre-reqs or not. If all of your vet school pre-reqs are good....then by all means apply.

 

[Capella]

Definitely establish residency in a state with a vet school, and retake some pre-reqs to up your GPA. If you’re competing with fellow instate students, I think your GRE scores are fine. I think many schools use GRE to make sure there is a brain behind students with high GPAs, not just grade inflation.

For example Oklahoma State class of 2010 GRE averages:
Verbal - 476
Quantitative - 601
Biology - 571
Pretty low if you ask me. You’ve already blown the verbal average out of the water!

 

[sundoggie]

I would suggest 100% that you try to get in to vet school. My undergrad GPA and my cum GPA were as low as yours and my grad GPA was not even a 4.0 My GRE scores were 710 both, so maybe you could try to bring yours up..but I even got bad grades in some pre-reqs...I retook them later though. Anyway, I got into Cornell (out of state) and I have an interview at UPenn on Friday. Ironically, I am on the waiting list for an interview at Tufts even though they are my state school. It is not going to be easy, but you can definitely do it and it sounds like you have a LOT more animal experience than I did. If you are doing your graduate work in research, I would try to collaborate with veterinarians at a vet school and get yourself established that way. Make contacts. They will be crucial later. Keep your application unique and you still stand a good chance. Always try...I almost didnt. Good luck!! 👍

 

[twosoakers]

despite the fact that my graduate grades are 3.9 (for the last four years), my undergraduate gpa generally means automatic dismissal by nearly all adcoms (3.0 uga). i have received one interview, and that's to Western, and that's because Western is pretty radical. i interviewed at purdue last year, but that's because i'm a resident. can you substitute some of your grad grades for the pre reqs? it seems that most colleges are looking for core science people who have done perfection from the start. the uga becomes some kind of albatross. and some schools, like purdue, don't even look at course repetitions, despite how inane organic chemistry is.

 

[julieDVM]

Give it to me straight!

Overall GPA: 2.92 Ugrad: 2.57 Grad: 4.0 Last 45: 4.0 Science: 2.8

GRE: V610 Q660 A4.5

>1000 hours research
>1000 hours zoo/wildlife
>500 hours animal health lab (immunoassays/PCR)
~300 hours non profit spay/neuter clinic
~200 hours shelter
~500 hours foreign vet clinic (SA & LA)
~100 LA- private ranch

Several research related presentations/publications, honors, and awards.

I know my ugrad GPA is the major weakness here. Can/will my experience and graduate GPA help?

Thanks for the input.

In all honesty - vet school is going to be a major stretch for you. Although it is possible (as someone here claims), in all probability your undergrad academic record is likely going to result in an unsuccessful application. ONe suggestion: you need to retake some undergrad classes to try and boost your gpa before you apply.

 

[m&ossyducks]

I have wondered the same similar things about my undergrad GPA. I have just over a 3.0, but have excellent grades in a lot of core prereq classes. I often wonder how they can let some of the people I have class with into vet school, when they make C's and B's in Biochem and Genetics. As my biochem teacher said it best Dr. Tsai, "I don't want a doctor prescribing me medication or putting me under anesthesia if they made a C in biochemistry."

As stated on the CSU applicant overview of admissions process "courses such as genetics and/or biochemistry are often viewed as indicator courses"

So basically if you can do well in upper division undergraduate science classes I think you may stand a chance of getting into vet school. This is my .02cents.

 

[k9 <3er]

I have wondered the same similar things about my undergrad GPA. I have just over a 3.0, but have excellent grades in a lot of core prereq classes. I often wonder how they can let some of the people I have class with into vet school, when they make C's and B's in Biochem and Genetics. As my biochem teacher said it best Dr. Tsai, "I don't want a doctor prescribing me medication or putting me under anesthesia if they made a C in biochemistry."

As stated on the CSU applicant overview of admissions process "courses such as genetics and/or biochemistry are often viewed as indicator courses"

So basically if you can do well in upper division undergraduate science classes I think you may stand a chance of getting into vet school. This is my .02cents.

on the flip side of that, i know plenty of people who are book smart and have received A's in upper division science classes but i still wouldn't trust them with even restraining my animals.

 

[mistifical]

If it's what you really want to do, then go for it. Def. consider becoming a resident of a state with a vet school, that is your best shot (as most people have already said). Plus, you have a ton of experience, and several different types. Your grad gpa is great, and maybe some ad coms will take into consideration that you've "matured" academically and realize you are capable of succeeding in a program. If you are a resident of a state with a school, i recommend you contact that school and see if you can set up a meeting with somebody to go over your grades and everything. They can certainly give you better advice than any of us can. Also, if you apply and don't get in the first time, improve your application, and apply again, ad coms will recognize and maybe even consider your dedication to the field.

Basically... if this is what you really want, then there is no point in not trying. Just be aware that it may take added effort on your part.

 

[Cheska]

"Should I even bother?"

Well if you don't give it a try, you will always wonder... you never know when somebody on an admissions committee will take a liking to your application. Good Luck!!

 

[chris03333]

Give it to me straight!

Overall GPA: 2.92 Ugrad: 2.57 Grad: 4.0 Last 45: 4.0 Science: 2.8

GRE: V610 Q660 A4.5

>1000 hours research
>1000 hours zoo/wildlife
>500 hours animal health lab (immunoassays/PCR)
~300 hours non profit spay/neuter clinic
~200 hours shelter
~500 hours foreign vet clinic (SA & LA)
~100 LA- private ranch

Several research related presentations/publications, honors, and awards.

I know my ugrad GPA is the major weakness here. Can/will my experience and graduate GPA help?

Thanks for the input.

Apply and see. Does not matter what anyone on any forum says, only matters what the vet schools say. You will never know for sure if you don't try....

 

[sisiut1]

I often wonder how they can let some of the people I have class with into vet school, when they make C's and B's in Biochem and Genetics. As my biochem teacher said it best Dr. Tsai, "I don't want a doctor prescribing me medication or putting me under anesthesia if they made a C in biochemistry."

While no one can argue that you shouldn't get A's it is also good to remember that not all grades are created equal. There are some factors that schools take into account (course loads, work hours) but also I am sure biochemistry classes can vary quite a lot between institutions in terms of content, testing, curving etc... So it is possible one person earning a B could have learned more and worked harder than another earning an A so I don't think generalizations can be made about one specific grade indicating a persons abilities.

 

[Taenia]

Biochem is tough. So is organic. So is (insert course here). Your grad GPA is great, I think adcoms tend to skim over the grad courses though, unless they are cell bio, or something similar- not just a seminar. I agree with the others- you should try, you never know.

 

[rl1234]

Thanks, everyone. I am instate in Texas, and I know for instaters their minimum GPA is 2.91 *or* 3.5 in last 45. So I should at least get in the first round of reviews.

I am retaking Orgo I and Physics I this semester. I earned an A in Biochem last semester. What other classes are included in the 'science' category..just core or advanced sciences like Immunology and Ecology, too?

 

[sundoggie]

I also agree that grades vary dramatically from school to school and I know a lot of people who are great at memorizing things and got A's in their classes, but are horrible at applying those facts in the real world. So, in my opinion, a letter on your transcript does not always mean a whole lot. If you have a reason for getting Bs or even Cs...ie, you worked full-time during undergrad..and you went to a tough school...that will be taken into account. BUT, if you can re-take them now at night and get a better grade, that would be useful as well. In the end, talk to the schools and the people at the schools...they will be honest and probably more helpful than people, like myself, who don't make the decisions.​

 

[wildfocus]

physics (2-3 quaters plus labs)
general chem (3 quarters plus labs)
organic chem (3 quarters plus labs)
biochem (2 quarters)
biology (3 quarters plus labs)
genetics (1-2 quarters)
calculus or equiv (2-3 quarters)
stats (1-2 quarters)

upper division chem or bio courses are a plus too...

 

[wildfocus]

[LEFTthey will be honest and probably more helpful than people, like myself, who don't make the decisions.[/LEFT]

or people like me, who haven't even been acepted anywhere!!!!

 

[Pennymare]

I would see how you match up in the prereq's, but I think that you definitely have a chance! If your grad work is science, animal, or medicine related, then a even better chance.

Most folks have already suggested most things that I would; 'cept consider getting more experience in a specific focus, if you have one. You have good experience across the range of veterinary fields, but a slight focus may help to emphasize that you are focused...doesn't have to be species specific.

Start planning and keep trying! Vet schools are looking at th complete package! If at a reasonable point in your goals, you may be ready to apply in the next cycle (depending on pre-reqs, state). Good luck!!!!!!

 

[Pennymare]

physics (2-3 quaters plus labs)
general chem (3 quarters plus labs)
organic chem (3 quarters plus labs)
biochem (2 quarters)
biology (3 quarters plus labs)
genetics (1-2 quarters)
calculus or equiv (2-3 quarters)
stats (1-2 quarters)

upper division chem or bio courses are a plus too...

Those are the good basic prereqs. I would also recommend Animal courses, if available. Nutrition (especially Animal Nutrition), medical or veterinary courses like Pathology, Histology, Immunology, Parasitology, Diseases, Anatomy etc. Most of these courses are nonessential for acceptance, but if you have time, they might help you stand out. Ooo, maybe a finance course too.

Of all of them, I highly recommend Nutrition and Cell Biology, which can be limiting prereqs at some schools.