Some VMCAS Questions

[russellang]

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I looked over the VMCAS website and they go over what is required: the application, transcripts and gre scores sent to schools. My question is what is comprised in the actual VMCAS application? It says theres 13 sections but I was particularly interested in any requirements related to writing a personal statement etc. Is the personal statement only found within the supplemental application of the schools (im assuming they tell you specifically what to write about)? I basically dont want to have any surprises when going through the application, I want to be completely prepared and written my personal statement so all I have to do it fill in. Is there a link to the VMCAS application so I could see every question they ask? I apologize if it is on the website, I didnt see it.

Thank you

 

[EnvyPointers]

Hey!

Good luck with your application.

Everyone else, correct me if I am wrong, but the Personal Statement for the VMCAS is open-ended. You write what you want. Supplemental applications for individual schools may or may not prompt your question(s), which will be a different application.

the application opens in just a few days, so don't fret too much about the specific questions. There's no link until the application actually opens (June 3rd). Then you'll have a few months to complete everything. If you want to feel more prepared, start compiling your experience. Divide it into Veterinary, Animal, and work. Calculate the number of hours at each place, and write a brief description of your duties. That should give you a leg up!

Good luck. Hope this helps.

(4 days!!!!)

 

[HopefulAg]

Well some schools require additional essays in addition to a PS. Missouri's was fantastic because they essentially asked you the same question in three different ways. Western has a freak ton of snippet essays, Iowa and Ohio have about three each, and so on. Each supplemental is different.

Then there's the core PS on the VMCAS itself that we all obsess over. You get about 5,000 characters - which sounds like a lot, but really isn't - to describe "why vet med?".


Other than that, it's just basics like where you went to school, where you live, and other personal info that's easily filled out. The only surprising thing is where you have to list every single class you've ever taken. Takes forever and a half.

But when it opens up (soonish?), you'll still have several months to play with it.

 

[BlacKAT33]

Sections:

Address information
Personal data
Background information
Personal Statement
Parent/Guardian
High School
Previous professional and undergraduate enrollments
Institutions attended
Course work
Other/Previous Application
Tests
Experiences (vet, animal, employment, honors and awards, community activities)
Evaluators
College Designations

Personal Statement Prompt from 2009 app cycle:
Your personal statement should be written clearly and succinctly - 5000 characters (including spaces) have been allotted for your statement.

Discuss briefly the development of your interest in veterinary medicine. Discuss those activities and unique experiences that have contributed to your preparation for a professional program. Discuss your understanding of the veterinary medical profession, and discuss your career goals and objectives.

 

[nyanko]

Everyone else, correct me if I am wrong, but the Personal Statement for the VMCAS is open-ended. You write what you want. Supplemental applications for individual schools may or may not prompt your question(s), which will be a different application.

There's a prompt for VMCAS. It's a broad prompt (or at least it was last year), but it's there.

Discuss briefly the development of your interest in veterinary medicine. Discuss those activities and unique experiences that have contributed to your preparation for a professional program. Discuss your understanding of the veterinary medical profession, and discuss your career goals and objectives.

 

[katryn]

I wouldn't fret too much over exactly what's on it and having it all put together. I'd go ahead and pick up copies of you're transcripts and have you're experience hours organized. But honestly, even if you have absolutely nothing put together you can knock out everything but the PS (and possibly your course list) in a single weekend. For the listing classes section you will need your transcripts, I think the prompt says something along the lines of list courses exactly as they appear on your transcript.

 

[animals2x2]

I looked over the VMCAS website and they go over what is required: the application, transcripts and gre scores sent to schools. My question is what is comprised in the actual VMCAS application? It says theres 13 sections but I was particularly interested in any requirements related to writing a personal statement etc. Is the personal statement only found within the supplemental application of the schools (im assuming they tell you specifically what to write about)? I basically dont want to have any surprises when going through the application, I want to be completely prepared and written my personal statement so all I have to do it fill in. Is there a link to the VMCAS application so I could see every question they ask? I apologize if it is on the website, I didnt see it.

Thank you

In case you didn't find this sample application, here is the link

http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas/documents/VMCASAppLicationQuestions2007.pdf

 

[squibby]

I know the app. opens tomorrow, but does anyone remember talk of VMCAS saving your data from previous applications so we don't have to reenter all of our info?
I sound impatient, probably, but it's actually a pressing issue for me, as I'm trying to decide if I will take 3 or 4 courses over the summer (depending on how much work my applications will be), and I need to know like tonight before the courses I would need in the Fall fill up. !

 

[thedogisgreen]

You do need to reenter all your info, they are mean like that, but you can still access all your old stuff, save it on your computer, and then just reference that as you are re entering everything. Tedious still, but saves some searching. To get the one from last year, you can just log in at the old (2010) vmcas page, go to print app, and then you can select it all and save in word or wherever. Don't know if that will still be there tomorrow once the new app is up, so the sooner the better!

 

[squibby]

Yeah, I printed last years. I could swear though that I heard that "new for 2011 cycle" they would save your data, and a few of us were excited about it. Maybe it was a dream....it would be nice! Also if they saved our transcripts and test scores can you imaging how much time and $ that would save us ?!

 

[HopefulAg]

Yeah, I printed last years. I could swear though that I heard that "new for 2011 cycle" they would save your data, and a few of us were excited about it. Maybe it was a dream....it would be nice! Also if they saved our transcripts and test scores can you imaging how much time and $ that would save us ?!

That was my understanding too, and what I've been telling others. I thought it said last year that our info would be saved this year? It was the year prior to that that I thought it was going to happen but was disappointed when it didn't happen last year (this is getting confusing), but elated when I saw that our info from last year would carry over to this year. I thought it said that right on their home page?

Either that or I'm getting VMCAS and TMDSAS mixed up.

 

[badcats]

No I remember it saying it would carry over information to this year too. I don't think we are all crazy, at least not in a "seeing things that aren't there" way...

 

[squibby]

That was my understanding too, and what I've been telling others. I thought it said last year that our info would be saved this year? It was the year prior to that that I thought it was going to happen but was disappointed when it didn't happen last year (this is getting confusing), but elated when I saw that our info from last year would carry over to this year. I thought it said that right on their home page?

Either that or I'm getting VMCAS and TMDSAS mixed up.

OK, I'm not crazy. I looked on the website today and couldn't find anything but a reminder that "re-applicants must create a new account," which wouldn't seem to follow with our hopes. Well, here's to 9 am ET tomorrow.

 

[ckd816]

I think they did save the info from last year. I remember hearing that too, and this is from the website:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]VMCAS will retain Application Data for a Period of 5 years..

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]VMCAS will provide copies of applications to applicants as far back as the 2005/2006 cycle for a $50 administrative / processing fee.
.
I think they have to send you a copy of anything before last year, which is what the second line is about. Maybe you're right though that they just send you what you filled in last time and it doesn't come automatically filled in for you? 😕 That would be sad.

 

[thedogisgreen]

http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas.htm
left side, it says - reminder: re-applicants must create a new account 🙁
maybe they will be nice and somehow transfer the stuff over to the new account?
If you have an app from last year, though, don't pay for it, just log in to last year's page and copy it now before it runs away and they can charge you for it!

 

[HopefulAg]

maybe they will be nice and somehow transfer the stuff over to the new account?

Maybe. I mean if you're going to be creating a new account, you're going to be using all the same info any how right? Same first and last name (unelss you got married I guess) and such. Perhaps that's how they match them.

 

[thedogisgreen]

Let's hope. But why bother even making a new account then? Roar. We'll see tomorrow..

 

[twelvetigers]

It was my understanding that the section where you enter what classes you've taken would be saved. I remember listing that as a positive thing and then saying, "but I hope I don't need to utilize it." Hah! Fat chance.

 

[HopefulAg]

Let's hope. But why bother even making a new account then? Roar. We'll see tomorrow..

To test the endurance and sanity of pre-vet students. "Ok, you passed the first test, proceed! Only 200 more to go!"

I think applying to vet school is just one big psychological study. Makes you wonder what being 'admitted' really means... 😛

 

[gone2dogs]

Oh man! I know for sure I saw last year that for the first time they would be saving our data and that re-applicants wouldn't have to re-enter everything. I just made my account and can't find any indication of this or how to import data. It really can't be that hard... I mean CSU allowed you to import your old info into the new supplemental!

If anybody figures this out, please post! I'm going to do a little more looking and maybe even call them if I can't find it... I have now attended 11 (yes, eleven) institutions, and to say that I am dreading entering all those classes again is an understatement!

 

[HopefulAg]

I was looking back at the VMCAS to try to find the answer to the above question, and noted one thing that caught me in quite a pickle last year:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]#3 (related to #2): VMCAS will only accept credit card payment for applications. .

So if you're like me and like to keep your credit card limit low, might want to start the process of upping it now, as it takes a couple weeks. At least with Wells Fargo. They can lower it over the phone, but not up it. They gotta send you a form, you sign it, and then send it back.

 

[twelvetigers]

Oh boy, that means I'll have to borrow mommy or daddy's. That's another thing I dislike about this process and how expensive it is - as much as I'd like to pay for it all myself, I just don't have the funds. I'll have to get help for a lot of it, and it makes me feel like I'm being a bum - all this money to apply and interview, and what if I end up with nothing to show for it?

It's enough to make me binge, and then my suit won't fit again and I'll need a new one. Again.

 

[VeganSoprano]

Does anyone know why on earth they need you to enter Every. Class. You've. Ever. Taken. when they have your transcripts? Is there a point to this or is it meant to be a huge waste of time?

 

[cowgirla]

Does anyone know why on earth they need you to enter Every. Class. You've. Ever. Taken. when they have your transcripts? Is there a point to this or is it meant to be a huge waste of time?

Apparently, if you lack the ability to do boring, repititious, mundane tasks, you therefore lack the ability to be a successful veterinarian.

 

[NiennaDimple14]

Apparently, if you lack the ability to do boring, repititious, mundane tasks, you therefore lack the ability to be a successful veterinarian.

Lol.

I cannot believe I just spent two and a half hours of my life that I will never get back entering 4 years of classes into the application that said it would save our stuff from last year...thank you Harry Potter on itunes for keeping me company during this dreadful time.

 

[VeganSoprano]

Be grateful it was only 4 years. I was a music major. We averaged 20+ credits a semester and about 1/3 of these were 1-2 credit classes. And I'm a non-trad with postbacc work. I am so not excited.

 

[HopefulAg]

You know it really wouldn't even be that bad if they didn't make it drop down menus for everything and you could just tab over. Then you could 10-key and type it without a sweat, but you lose a ton of time fiddling with the mouse or tab + arrow keys.

 

[Packers04]

I just entered and saved all of my coursework and I was wondering why that section on the application is not getting a little red check mark, showing that the section was complete. What is going on here?

 

[caligirl03]

If I want to go to vet school in the year of 2012 when should I apply??? ?I plan to finish up my B.S. degree the spring of 2012 so should I apply to vet school the year before??? Or 2 years???? So do I apply the year before I want to enter vet school????

 

[HopefulAg]

You'd apply in the 2011 application cycle, so your deadline would be October 2, 2011.

 

[Armymutt25A]

Wow, this course entry thing is really clunky. Almost makes me long for the old days of using a typewriter to fill this one out. I'm jealous of those of you that have fast internet. I'm working off of one VSAT terminal that I am sharing with about 5000 other people. This is going to take a while.

ETA: Ironically, just after posting this, I decided to switch from the commercial network to the strategic network. Just as I finished entering in one class, we lost our internet connection. Awesome!

 

[gone2dogs]

Oh man! I know for sure I saw last year that for the first time they would be saving our data and that re-applicants wouldn't have to re-enter everything. I just made my account and can't find any indication of this or how to import data. It really can't be that hard... I mean CSU allowed you to import your old info into the new supplemental!

If anybody figures this out, please post! I'm going to do a little more looking and maybe even call them if I can't find it... I have now attended 11 (yes, eleven) institutions, and to say that I am dreading entering all those classes again is an understatement!

OK, I e-mailed them and asked how to import the data, or if I was just going insane thinking they said that this was going to be possible. The good news is that we were not insane and we were told that we would be able to, the bad news is that it hasn't worked out to be able to do it this year. Possibly next year, but no promises! So at least if I go for a round 4 I know better than to expect to import the data, but will perhaps be pleasantly surprised when I can. But I am really not looking to go for a round 4...

 

[HopefulAg]

Nuts, you beat me to it!

This is the response they sent me:

. . .Thanks for your email. Regretfully, we were unable to roll this feature out this year. It’s still in the works for the future, but we encountered some roadblocks that prevented us from making it happen this year. .
. .
.Best of luck with your VMCAS 2011 application, please contact us if you have any other questions!

.

 

[thedogisgreen]

I'm pretty clueless with website workings, but really, can it be that that difficult to save things from one year to the next, especially if they let us keep the same account? grr.