Successful Applicant Class of 2013

[IvyLynx]

---

Members don't see this ad.

wow genghis, i think you had a ton of experience! if the research is relevant to the veterinary profession, it's vet experience to me! looks really interesting too.

thanks taylorG and shanomong! i really thought the experience was the weak part of my application, so i was really freaking out about it...especially after seeing everyone's fantastic stats here. all the vets i spoke to told me that that would most likely be the reason if i got rejected. it's nice to know there isn't any single deal-breaker in our applications 🙂

 

[jakem333]

I think your other experience compensated for limited vet experience. I know some schools lump research under PhD's in with vet. And you did get a breadth of experience.

I was just curious if you/anyone knows any schools in particular that do this. It would be a huge boost for my application!

 

[Barnaby]

Unbelievable. 😳 I get the chance to be a veterinarian.

24 y.o. female, 1st time applicant

Applied: Illinois (IS), Wisconsin, Tufts, Florida, Colorado, Davis, Minnesota
Interview: Illinois, Tufts, Minnesota
Accepted: Illinois, Tufts, Minnesota
Rejected w/o Interview: Davis, Florida
Waitlisted: Wisconsin, Colorado

UG Degree: B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior with correlate sequence in Chemistry
GPA: 3.56
Science: Not sure, approx 3.6
GRE: 620V, 760Q, 5.5 AW

Veterinary Experience:
-200 hours at small animal shelter
-100 hours shadowing equine veterinarian
-40 hours shadowing specialty veterinarian (neurologist)

Research Experience (which I listed under veterinary experience!):
-500 hours summer program research on cargo proteins
-500 hours summer program research on embryonic brain injury
-3500 hours research technician in developmental neuroscience laboratory

Employment Experience:
-Laboratory intern for courses in undergrad
-Retail during high school and college

Extracurricular:
-Director of college student dance group for 3 years (4 year member)
-High school: Dance, theater, band, colorguard, validictorian, loads of silly things.

LORs
-Vet from the equine clinic
-Primary investigator at the lab. I work in
-College professor/boss/mentor who I admire the most and learned the most from

 

[Malhi]

Woo hoo Barnaby!!!
I just know you're going to be my classmate! Lol..

 

[DocDVMD]

Haha yeah, you guys are lucky to have quite a selection! 😛

 

[Barnaby]

Woo hoo Barnaby!!!
I just know you're going to be my classmate! Lol..

LOL 😛 My secret identity...

Haha yeah, you guys are lucky to have quite a selection! 😛

Thanks DocDVMD- I feel pretty lucky- I didn't think I had an ice cream cone's chance in heck of getting in anywhere. I'm very, very grateful. One silver lining of Malhi and I's acceptances... we can't go to all those schools!! Spots on the waitlists will be opening up for certain! 🙂

 

[PythonChick]

21 Year old female, 20 years old at time of application. First year applicant.

Applied: NCSU
Interview: N/A
Accepted: NCSU!!
Rejected: N/A
Waitlist: N/A

UG Degree: At the end of this semester I will be 3 free credit hours away from finishing a BS in Animal Science from NCSU, though I have only been here three years.
GPA: 4.00
Science: 4.00
GRE: V:620 Q:690 AW:6

Veterinary Experience:
220 Hours shadowing at a small and mixed animal practice watching/helping with everything from surgeries to routine meds and kennel care.
144 Hours with the same Doctor in High School just shadowing without actually getting to do too much.
204 Hours at a small and small exotic hospital working as a receptionist and kennel tech.
45 Hours observing and assisting with surgery at a small and small exotic hospital

Animal Experience:
400 Hours working as a field researcher tagging Sea Turtles off of NC's coast. I wasn't working directly under a Vet or a PHD Scientist so I had to list this here, but I kind of felt like it worked in both categories.
60 Hours with Amazing Acres Get Outside and Learn Program, a program that brings small farm animals into city schools for educational field trips
30 Hours Breaking and Showing a sheep
30 Hours in High School working at a facility that trains Assistance Dogs
24 Horseback riding Hours for Equitation PE Class
200 Petsitting hours from Middle School into High School
50 Hours with local Humane Society
25 Hours working at Milking and Educational Booths at State Fair
Not mentioned here but in my personal statement- I own 5 snakes and a bearded dragon, and have personal experience living with several types of small exotics.

Employment:
Lifeguard and Swim Instructor in High School during the summer and during the school year at YMCA

Extracurricular:
Treasurer of NCSU Companion Animal Club
Member of Animal Science Club
Didn't put anything from High school on Application

LORs:
Veterinarian from the mixed animal practice whom I had worked with since High School
Veterinarian whom I shadowed surguries with this past summer
My undergraduate advisor and the teaching coordinator for my department

Honors and Awards:
American Society of Animal Science Scholastic Acheievement Award
National Merit Scholar
Robert Byrd Scholar
Park Scholar
Dean's List

I don't have that much experience, but I feel that my high grades, decent GRE, and letters of reccomendation helped my application. Plus, I do feel that the experience I have is quite varied and expressed my interests well.

P.S. Ivy Lynx! You scared the you know what out of me last night when you posted your stats! Before you had mentioned something your mentor said, and I was panicking because, based on our stats, we seem similar. I was FREAKING OUT until I finally got my letter today!!

 

[robeezy08]

21 Year old female, 20 years old at time of application. First year applicant.


UG Degree: At the end of this semester I will be 3 free credit hours away from finishing a BS in Animal Science from NCSU, though I have only been here three years.
GPA: 4.00
Science: 4.00
GRE: V:620 Q:690 AW:6

Actually this goes out to the rest of you w/ near perfect GPA's or GRE's!

 

[Shanomong]

Accepted: NCSU!!

YAY!!! Congrats PythonChick!!! I was following the NCSU thread (idk why... lol, I should probably fill out that SDN reading habits poll going on right now) and I kept waiting for you to post your acceptance! Glad you finally got it

 

[SmallAndLA]

Let me preface this with I have no idea how I got in. None. I fully expected to have to work full-time and apply next year.

1st time applicant, 20 years old, Kansas resident, Female

Applied: Illinois, K-State (in-state), Wisconsin
Interviews: Illinois, K-State
Waitlisted: Illinois
Rejected: Wisconsin
Accepted and attending: K-State

Academic (all at time of application):
Cumulative GPA: 3.86 (Comm. College: 3.78; University: 3.93)
Science/Required GPA: 3.61 at Illinois, 3.66 at Wisconsin, 3.75 at K-State
Last 45 hour GPA: 3.91
Degree: B.S. in Agricultural Economics (May 2009)

GRE:
Round 1: 1190 (620V; 570Q; 4W) -- these were the only scores Illinois looked at
Round 2: 1400 (650V; 750Q; 4.5W)

Experience:
Vet: Approx. 360 volunteer hours at a small animal clinic/hospital, with hands-on experience in ophthalmic, orthopedic and general surgery.
Animal: I looked after some frogs during the summer when I was in 6th grade. I didn't put any pet ownership on as animal experience nor my visit to my aunt's house with her dairy cattle.

Extra-curricular/Work:
- Food Provider (Master of Sustenance) and Treasurer for school's chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma
- Resident Assistant for 2 years
- Accounting clerk/HR Assistant at previous job for a year and half

Honors:
- Phi Kappa Phi member
- Golden Key member
- Alpha Chi Sigma member (professional chemistry fraternity)
- Academic Honors (4.0 semester GPA) for the past 5 semesters
- Phi Theta Kappa member
- Dean's/President's List while at CC
- lots of scholarships that I didn't put on VMCAS

LORs
- Director of the undergraduate Ag. Econ program who moonlights as my adviser
- Residence Life Coordinator of the hall that I work in
- My veterinarian that I shadowed with over the past two years


I'm really, really embarrassed at my small number of experience hours. I mean, to the point where I seriously considered fudging/rounding up. But what would be the point of that, really? So there are my numbers in their unabashed, pathetic glory.

But what I do have is volunteer work and a good chunk of that is hands-on experience in surgery. I've gotten to scrub in on lots of things…some weird stuff like pinioning geese and a Persian with a corneal sequestrum…which started my love for all things ophthalmic. I also made sure to mention that I would continue to get experience this summer in my PS and in my veterinary experience box.

A lot of my strength in my application comes from my GRE scores, my major and my LORs. At both of my interviews I was told how important the business side of vet med was becoming and that it was an asset to be able to understand that. And my LORs were from people that I knew would talk about my strengths and had all seen me mature throughout the years.

Blah, blah, blah I talk a lot. I hope no one hates me. 🙁

 

[4paws]

27 y.o. female, 1st time applicant

Applied: Texas A&M (IS), Penn, LSU
Interview: Texas A&M
Accepted: Texas A&M
Rejected w/o Interview: Penn, LSU


UG Degree: BS in Animal Science, Minor in Photography
GRAD Degree: MS in Wildlife Ecology
GPA: 3.42
Science: 3.25
Last 45: 3.57
GRE: 460 V, 650Q, 4 AW

Veterinary Experience:
-8000+ hours at emergency animal hospital
-250 hours veterinary physical therapy

Research Experience:
-800+ hours doing research for my thesis

Animal Experience:
-50 hours at local animal shelter

LORs
-2 vets at emergency clinic
-chair of my thesis committee

Nothing too spectacular. I do think that grad school helped a lot. I gained a lot of teaching experience, research experience, and earned pretty decent grades.

 

[Shanomong]

a Persian with a corneal sequestrum…which started my love for all things ophthalmic.



Blah, blah, blah I talk a lot. I hope no one hates me. 🙁

LOL, why would anyone hate you?

I think I may <3 Optho too... though I'm leaning more towards internal medicine or cardio because I have a sick need to feel like I'm saving lives 😀

Anyway congrats!!! Stop feeling guilty about it and be excited!! 😛

 

[PythonChick]

Actually this goes out to the rest of you w/ near perfect GPA's or GRE's!

Seriously, I feel like that was one of the major selling points of my application. I look at the experience some of you guys have and feel like bowing down in awe.

 

[PythonChick]

YAY!!! Congrats PythonChick!!! I was following the NCSU thread (idk why... lol, I should probably fill out that SDN reading habits poll going on right now) and I kept waiting for you to post your acceptance! Glad you finally got it

Thanks so much!! I was freaking out all weekend because I didn't have a letter. Then it finally came today and I was like WHEW! I can relax!!

 

[SmallAndLA]

LOL, why would anyone hate you?

I think I may <3 Optho too... though I'm leaning more towards internal medicine or cardio because I have a sick need to feel like I'm saving lives 😀

Anyway congrats!!! Stop feeling guilty about it and be excited!! 😛

Thanks, Shanomong! I guess I just feel badly 'cause all of these awesome people get WL or outright rejected with such great amounts of XP and I somehow managed to get in. I really think it was that book (How the Irish Saved Civilization) though. Thank goodness I like to read weird things! I am pretty pumped though -- I still can't believe I have a real chance to be a vet sometimes! 🙂

Cardio is really, really awesome from what I've heard. A friend of a friend is doing a cardio something (either a residency or internship) up at ISU right now and he loves it.

 

[BayleeVet2B]

Thanks, Shanomong! I guess I just feel badly 'cause all of these awesome people get WL or outright rejected with such great amounts of XP and I somehow managed to get in. I really think it was that book though. Thank goodness I like to read weird things! I am pretty pumped though -- I still can't believe I have a real chance to be a vet sometimes! 🙂

Cardio is really, really awesome from what I've heard. A friend of a friend is doing a cardio something (either a residency or internship) up at ISU right now and he loves it.

What book??

 

[SmallAndLA]

/facepalm -- I forgot to put the title. Oh man, it is time for spring break.

"How the Irish Saved Civilization" -- my interviewers at KSU thought it was hilarious.

I edited my original comment too so there would be no more confusion. 🙂

 

[LivestockDoc]

YAY SUMSTORM!

Huge congrats! I love it when the non-trads are able to make their (post-poned) dreams come true. Hope I can follow in your footsteps next year. Nice job!! 👍

 

[Malhi]

GRE: 800 V, 800 Q, 6 AW

Are u serious?!!!!! 😱😱😱😱😱😱 That's awesome!

 

[GenghisCohen]

Thanks (**sheepish grin**)

I worked as a standardized test tutor for 3 years while I was in college so I think that might have helped.

 

[Turcle]

I'm so excited to post because I never thought I would make it with my GPA. But I did and I hope someone else might be inspired not to give up.

25 y.o. Male, 4th time applicant

Applied: Illinois (IS), Western, LSU, Ohio State, K-State, Penn
Interview: Illinois, Western
Accepted: Western
Rejected w/o Interview: Ohio State, K-State, Penn
Waitlisted: Illinois & LSU

Degree: B.S. in Animal Sciences & Chem Minor
GPA: 3.06
Science: (For U of I) 2.91
Last 45: 3.52
GRE: 560V, 680Q, 4.5 AW

Veterinary Experience:
~ 3500 hours at small animal private practice clinic
~ 500 hours at a specialty and emergency hospital, working with all the specialist (IM, Oncology, Surgery, Alternative, Dermatology & ER)
- 8 hours shadowing an equine veterinarian
- 24 hours spent with Zoo Veterinarians
- 8 hours shadowing a for Zoo Vet at an exotics clinic

Animal Experience:
- 80 hours working with farm animals as part of course work
- 3500 hours working between 2 different zoo, I worked with tons of animals


Extracurricular:
- Dean's List (once)
- Philanthropy Chair for my fraternity as well as service for Habitat for Humanity

LORs
-2 Vets I had worked for since High School
-College professor who I really liked[/QUOTE]

 

[GeeQued]

First time applicant, 21 California Resident
Applied: Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Auburn, UPenn, Tennesse, Kansas, Wisconsin, Washington, Illinois, UC Davis Purdue
Rejected: Colorad, Missouri, Iowa, Auburn, UPenn, Purdue
Interview: Minnesota, Tennesse (Declined) Washington, Illinois, UCD, Kansas
Accepted: Minnesota, Illinois,
Waitlisted: Wisconsin, Washington, Kansas
Waiting to hear from: Michigan and Davis

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.50
Last 30 credit hrs: 3.6
GRE: 1200 (430 verbal 770 math 5 writing

Honors and Awards:
- Alpha Lambda delta honors inductee
- Golden Key inductee
- Gamma Sigma Delta honours inductee
-Swine Scholarship
-Deans’ List (3.5-3.9) 7 times
-Equestrian dedication scholarship

Veterinary Experience:
- 2000 small animal vet
- 200 Research
Animal Experience:
-1000 Large food market animal hourse
- 5000+ equine hours (split between interning at a breeding operation, working at the racetrack, fitting show horses for a trainer)

Employment
- 4500 hours working in real estate
- 1000 hours serving as board of director for multimillion dollar california corporation

Community Activities:
-PCQHYA President, Vice Pres, Reporter multiple years
-pre vet club
-Norco Horse show assoc volunteer
-American Cancer Society volunteer - fundraiser/events

LOR's:
Breeding manager where I interned
Professor/Associate Chair of Department/PhD animal nutrition
Equine Denist/S.A vet I worked with
Equine Vet I worked with

 

[Ruminantlover87]

I was just curious if you/anyone knows any schools in particular that do this. It would be a huge boost for my application!

North Carolina State University allows you to include lab experience working under a PhD as veterinary experience.

Your letters of reccomendation as well. Two must be from a veterinarian or a PhD, that you have done research under, and one from whoever you want. One of my reccomendations was from lab experience in a large animal setting.

NCSU is one of the few schools that does not interview. So your GPA and experience have to speak for you. They seem to prefer large amounts of veterinary experience, diverse experience and a focus in an area of veterinary medicine that there is a national shortage.

 

[susiewaits]

🙂After all these years of knowing this is what I wanted, I am going to vet school! Last year I was waitlisted at Oregon State and Tufts, I got into St. George but decided to try one more time in the US.

23 y.o. female, 2nd time applicant

Applied: Tufts(IS), Ohio, Oregon State, Missouri, Tennessee, Upenn, UPEI, Edinburg, , Colorado, Minnesota, Purdue, Cornell
Interview: Ohio, Tufts, Minnesota, UPEI (declined interview)
Accepted: Ohio, Minnesota, Endinburgh
Rejected w/o Interview: Tennesee, Upenn, Missouri, Colorado, Purdue, Cornell, Purdue
Waitlisted: Tufts (2nd year in a row lol)
Waiting to hear: Oregon State (waitlisted last year)
UG Degree: B.A. in Biology
GPA: 3.41
Science: 3.3, not sure though
GRE: 590V, 700Q, 3.5 AW (I am a AWFUL writer)

Veterinary Experience:
-1400 hours at two different small animal private practices
-600 hours shadowing equine/mixed veterinarian (90% equine)

Research Experience
- 1800 hours as a research assistant at a pharmaceutical company

Animal Experience
- I have been around horses ever since I was 8, constantly, approx 5 times a week (training, riding)
- 1000 hours stable hand

Employment Experience:
- Lifeguard/beach front director for 5 summers

Extracurricular:
- Best Buddies
- Paw pals
- IHSA
- Captian of the equestrian team
- Hunter/jumpers
- Broomball!
- track and field
- intrameural soccer

LORs
- Vet from Equine ambulatory practice
- Vet from small private animal practice
- Advisor from undergrad
- Supervisor from lab experience PhD (probably what got me in, he asked me to read the rec. before he sent it, he gets nervous about his writing like me, I cried (iv never had tears of joy before!))

 

[hopefulvet21]

Extracurricular:
- Best Buddies
- Paw pals
- IHSA
- Captian of the equestrian team
- Hunter/jumpers
- Broomball!
- track and field
- intrameural soccer

Another best buddies member here!! Woohoo! This was one of my favorite experiences in college! Umm broomball? Is that quidditch?

 

[nyanko]

Where I'm from broomball is sort of like hockey played on an ice surface in shoes it's really kooky.

 

[jakem333]

North Carolina State University allows you to include lab experience working under a PhD as veterinary experience.

Your letters of reccomendation as well. Two must be from a veterinarian or a PhD, that you have done research under, and one from whoever you want. One of my reccomendations was from lab experience in a large animal setting.

NCSU is one of the few schools that does not interview. So your GPA and experience have to speak for you. They seem to prefer large amounts of veterinary experience, diverse experience and a focus in an area of veterinary medicine that there is a national shortage.

that's great to know,

cheers!

 

[DollyyLlama]

I'm really grateful to have acceptances at all, but the rejection from Davis was hard. I suppose that the schools that accepted me are a better match, though. Tufts invited me out for the early interview day in Dec. and accepted me then, whereas my top choice/IS rejected me outright. I think my interests in ethics, farm animal welfare, policy, etc. appealed to Tufts.

24 y.o. female, 1st time applicant

Applied: Tufts, Western, Edinburgh, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, UPenn, UC Davis
Interview: Tufts, Western, Missouri (declined)
Accepted: Tufts, Western, Edinburgh
Rejected w/o Interview: Minnesota, Wisconsin, UPenn, UC Davis

UG Degree: B.S., Molecular Environmental Biology, UC Berkeley
GPA: 3.94
Last 45: 4.0
GRE: 760V, 750Q, 6.0W

Honors and Awards:
-high school stuff (awards for humanities, math&science, service, writing)
-top 3% of my college graduating class
-Regents' Scholarship at Berkeley

Veterinary Experience:
-2100 hours as an assistant at three SA vet clinics, a bit of reception time
-30 hours observing/assisting at a week-long free S/N clinic in Mexico

Animal Experience
-230 hours volunteering at two animal shelters, here and during my year abroad
-fostered five litters of kittens
-320 hours (written as 170 on VMCAS... oops!) live-in intern at the Farm Sanctuary

Employment Experience:
-3 weeks as an RA for high school students at a summer session

Community Activity:
-high school: community service, founding member/president of our peer education group
-1 year in college as health counselor (trained by campus Health Services) in my co-op

Extracurricular:
-taking naps

LORs:
-2 from vets I've worked for at SA clinics (I helped a bit on one of them)
-1 from college microbio lab professor
(Most panic-inducing part of app.: tracking down the one college science prof who might remember me, 3 years later)
-1 from a technical writing prof of a summer class (Tufts only- they wanted a 2nd academic LOR)

PS:
-Ugh, I wrestled with that thing
-Explained my interest in farm animal medicine and how my internship got me thinking about finding common ground, collaboration in communication, and so on. I tried to be objective and balanced, but still be saying something.
-I can PM it if anyone is interested

Application weaknesses:
-My experience in my stated field of interest is not well-rounded. I can easily see an adcom, especially at an ag school, saying "this one has no idea about agriculture/production" or "is there an animal rights activist lurking behind this common-ground facade?"
-Of the two years between graduation and application, about half the time I've worked like 15 hrs/week, and a few months not at all

 

[karmapple]

Extracurricular:
-taking naps

I, too, am particularly proficient in this hobby.

 

[bunnity]

Dollyllama, awesome GRE score (and GPA)!

 

[nyanko]

Dollyllama, awesome GRE score (and GPA)!

Seriously. Your app is really really awesome. UC Davis is crazy!

 

[ForPainting]

I interviewed with OSU and Western and Got into Western🙂
We probably were traveling or interviewing together at one point, my stats are slightly different from your but not by much, similiar grades (even with the high GPA in the end, so maybe that's what matters). I have a special intererst study in Osteosarcoma and a little more veterinary specialty work .. it goes to show you that each school will fit a different personality or style of learning- and that maybe there is a little fate to it!
I wish you best of luck!! Yeah class of 2013🙂 CONGRATS!!!

 

[DollyyLlama]

aww, you guys are too sweet... 😍

 

[kristininboston]

24 y.o. female, 1st time applicant, MA resident

Applied: Cornell, Tufts, UPenn, VMRCVM, Minnesotta, Missouri, UCDavis, Tennessee
Interview: Tufts, UPenn, Tennessee (declined)
Accepted: Tufts, Cornell, UPenn
Rejected w/o Interview: Minnesota, UCDavis, Missouri (got that weird OOS notice, haven't heard anything since), VMRCVM (less than a month after applying - fastest rejection ever!)

UG Degree: BA Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, "Science in Society," Wesleyan University
GPA: 3.5
GRE: 680V, 800Q, 4.5W (and I thought I had done well on the writing section...oops)

Veterinary Experience:
-3400 hours (and growing) as an Emergency/Critical Care vet tech for the MSPCA
-400 hrs running a summer camp on a large animal farm
-400 hrs interning at a wildlife hospital
-800 as a kennel worker/poop scooper/bitch at various other small-animal clinics

Research Experience:
-400 hrs. working with a Biology prof. researching caterpillar/parasite interactions in CT forests - basically trying to see if the plants that the caterpillars eat make any difference in their resistance to parasites. Sounds interesting but really turned me off of research in general.

Employment Experience:
-TA for intro bio lab
-barista, one summer, Barnes and Noble
-4 years work study, Wesleyan library

Extracurricular:
-piano
-various crafts: jewelry-making, chair-caning, anything to bring in a little extra money and give as cheap Christmas gifts

LORs:
-E/CC staff veterinarian at the MSPCA hospital
-large-animal vet
-Philosophy professor/advisor
-Biochem/Mol.Bio prof/advisor

PS:
-Basically, my "journey" (sounds super-corny) towards becoming a vet. One admissions committee told me it was a terrible personal statement, one committee told me it was a great PS.

Application weaknesses:
-A few weak grades, especially in Gen. Chem., and one W (in intro to tennis)

General Stuff:
I worried at the end of college that taking two years off would make me lose the motivation needed to apply to vet school. If anything, the time off has really solidified my commitment and given me a great feel for the profession. I think it's important for every vet to have some experience as a tech/poop-scooper.

 

[ForPainting]

I worked 40+ hours a week through school as well as a lot of you guys, and I am ecstatic that we all busted our butts together and got in! It feel vindicated that we were all able to be competitive, well rounded applicants! Anyone going to be be a poor midwest kid in California with me?

OSU-applied, interviewed, waitlisted
Western- interviewed (fell in love with PBL)-> Accepted 🙂😍

Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine
c/o 2013

 

[susiewaits]

Where I'm from broomball is sort of like hockey played on an ice surface in shoes it's really kooky.

Kooky? its basically awesome. Haha a good way to vent frustration. It is hockey minus skates and pads. It just involves a lot of bruises. Haha they asked me about it at my Ohio and Minnesota interviews, since those are the two schools i got into they seemed to find that entertaining haha.

 

[nyanko]

I'm an ice hockey player so it was a really weird game to me.

 

[lenmaca]

First time applicant, 22, female, Georgia resident

Undergraduate institutions: Kennesaw State (2 years); UGA, Animal Science major (in progress, will receive BSA in December upon completion of my first semester of vet school)

Applied: University of Georgia (IS)
Accepted: UGA!

Cum. GPA: 3.82
Last 45: 3.6
Science: ~3.6, maybe a bit higher depending on how they calculated it.
GRE: 650Q, 550V, 4.5 AW
Bio GRE: 610

Veterinary Experience:
-2150 hours at a small/exotic animal practice

Animal Experience:
-515 hours working at a dairy
-10 hours volunteering for pet rescue/adoption organization
-30 hours showing dairy heifers

Other employment:
-UPS store
-Day spa receptionist

Honors/Awards:
-Key to the City
-High school academic letterman (4.0)
-NSCS
-President's list at KSU for all four semesters that I attended (4.0)
-Phi Eta Sigma (freshman honor society @ KSU)
-Dean's list at UGA (1 semester)

Extracurricular Activities:
-Girl Scouts of America (although this is something I stopped participating in before college, I was in GSA for many years and I felt that the experiences I gained from it were relevant to my application and also my personal statement)
-Taekwondo
-President of KSU pre-vet club
-FBLA

eLORs:
-2 veterinarians that I worked for in the SA practice
-Veterinary practice manager of the SA clinic who knew me when I still a volunteer (about 10 years ago).
-Farm manager from the dairy who is also an ag specialist for the college
-A professor/advisor that I really liked

PS:
I will PM it to anyone who is interested in reading it. At first, I had two completely different versions, and when I finally settled on one version, I edited it at least 10 times before coming up with something that made me somewhat happy. I'd never written a PS before so, to me, this was the most difficult part of my application. Afterwards, I felt a bit better after I let my mom read it and she cried (happily, of course). 😍

 

[prevet09]

i wanted to post to encourage those out there, i felt like not the greatest candidate because of a lack of experience (i simply didn't have time to do a lot during school b/c by the time i was out of class, there wasn't enough time to do shifts at places etc.). but let my stats give hope to you out there that maybe recently switched to pre-vet and haven't had time to get a lot of hours under your belt!

First time applicant, 21 (turned a few days after i submitted VMCAS... PERFECT timing to be 21 😀), female, Minnesota resident

Applied: Minnesota, Cornell, Missouri, Wisconsin, UCDavis, UPenn, Illinois, Tufts, Purdue, Colorado
Rejected: Minnesota (SAD without an interview too..), UCD, UPenn
Waitlisted: Cornell, Missouri, Wisconsin
Interviewed: Tufts, Illinois, Purdue
Accepted: Tufts, Illinois, Purdue

Undergraduate institutions: Washington University in St. Louis (will be getting a B.A. in Biology and Psychology, minor in ballet), and took some summer classes at University of Minnesota

(reporting from what I have on Illinois app, b/c i have that on hand)
Cum. GPA: 3.60
Science: 3.55
GRE: 800Q, 670V, 6.0 AW

Veterinary Experience:
-100 hours at a small animal clinic volunteering
-75 hours shadowing at a small animal clinic
-12 hours at a zoo hospital

Animal Experience:
-100 hours at a dog/cat adoption center
-105 hours researching foxes at a zoo (marked behavior from tapes)
-150 hours working with rottweilers for adoption
-100 hours researching in an ecology lab (looking at granivory of rodents and herbivory of deer)

Other employment:
-RA for a summers program
-dance teacher
-computer lab monitor

Honors/Awards:
-Dean's list for all but two semesters
-joseph c. duke scholarship
-sam walton scholarship
-random stuff from high school

Extracurricular Activities:
-performing arts department (dance, theater etc.)
-leader in a christian fellowship
-choreographed for student shows
-tutor
-other random things i did for maybe a year or so, and i listed stuff from high school (NHS, badminton, dance, church group etc.)


eLORs:
-professor i researched for over the summer and took his class
-veterinarian i worked with
-a dean at my school (also my advisor)
-my computer lab employer

i feel CRAZY lucky and think it's a miracle i was accepted into veterinary school (ESPECIALLY b/c i don't have much experience), but i think what worked to my advantage is that my activities etc. are fairly well-rounded (at least that's what i had prepared to push in my defense at interviews 😛).

BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE (those applying, reapplying, attending next year, making decisions ETC!)!!! and congrats to everyone who've made it!!! i love reading how diversified people's backgrounds are, me ==> EXCITED to meet people next year!😍

 

[stick91]

Totally possible to get accepted with average or below GPA!

1st time applicant, traditional (currently taking one year "off" after undergrad), 22 y.o.

Applied: Oregon State (IS), Colorado, Illinois, UPenn, VMRCVM, Auburn, Wisconsin, UGA, Tufts
Rejected: Colorado, UPenn, VMRCVM, Auburn, UGA
Interviewed: Tufts, Illinois, Oregon State
Waitlisted: Wisconsin & Tufts
Accepted: Illinois & Oregon State

Undergrad: Scripps College '08, BA in Biology and a minor in History. Did a summer course at Portland State University and study abroad at University College London for a semester.


Cum. GPA: 3.53
Science: 3.31 (O-chem and physics kind of killed that, but I did well in all of my upper-division bio classes)
GRE: 700Q, 590V, 5.5 AW
Bio GRE: 740

Veterinary Experience:
-ride along with ambulatory equine vet once a week since June '08
-animal care assistant at 10 doctor small animal hospital (had just begun at time of application)
-100 hours Foal Team volunteer during undergrad (yay 10pm-2am!)
-32 hours shadowing small animal internal medicine vet @ a referral hospital

Animal Experience:
-8,000+ riding, showing, raising horses
-250 hours as a groom/barn assistant, included giving weekly i.m. injections
-450 hours taking care of animals in the science department. included mice, rats, zebra finches, lizards, geckos, toads, and a salt water fish tank.
-150 hours IHSA competitor
-30 hours as a dog walker 1st year of undergrad (I was desperate to have animals to hang out with!)
-450 hours doing Oregon High School Equestrian Team
-832 hours as a 4-H member (5th-12th grade)

Research Experience
-820 hours of molecular/cell bio research on yeast proteins the summer before senior year and then as my thesis research senior year.

Other employment:
-3 semesters as an intro bio lab TA
-a couple summers working in medical offices, filing and exciting things like that

Honors/Awards:
-Honors major
-Dean's list last three semesters
-Presented thesis at Scripps senior thesis forum
-Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges
-State, regional, national awards in Dressage
-high school stuff

Extracurricular Activities:
-IHSA team secretary senior year
-New Student Peer Mentor sophomore-senior year
-reading, photography, jewelry making
-attended American Association for Cancer Research meeting in 2008

eLORs:
-Equine vet who I ride along with and has known me since I was a little kid.
-bio professor who I TAed for in bio labs and took 2 classes from
-bio professor who I TAed for in bio lab, took 1 class from, and was my second reader for my thesis
-bio professor who I took 2 classes from (one was a humanities class), did research under her summer before my senior year, and was my 1st reader for my thesis.

 

[nyanko]

Totally possible to get accepted with average or below GPA!

I know it's meant to be encouraging but I just had to laugh at this statement, because of course it's possible to get accepted with an average or below GPA, otherwise that wouldn't be the average!!

Congratulations. 🙂

 

[TaylorG520]

I'm so excited to post here!!! I never thought I'd make it with the small amount of experience that I have.

I'm a 1st time applicant, traditional (although I'm finishing undergrad a year early), 20 years old, female

Applied: Cornell, Colorado State, Illinois, UPenn, Wisconsin, Tufts, Minnesota, Tennessee, Iowa State, Ohio State
Rejected: Cornell, Colorado State, Illinois, UPenn, Minnesota
Interviewed: Tufts, Iowa State, Ohio State, Tennessee (declined)
Waitlisted: Wisconsin, Ohio State, Iowa State
Accepted and Attending: Tufts!

Undergrad: University at Albany (SUNY): Will be receiving a B.S. in Biology in May

Cum. GPA: 3.73
Science: 3.72
GRE: 710Q, 580V, 5.0 AW

Veterinary Experience:
- 700 hours at a small animal practice

Animal Experience:
- 225 hours doing animal research: I participated as a project leader in a study on behavior of mice and rats when exposed to varied estrogen levels
- 24 hours volunteering at a miniature horse farm
- 12 hours spend on a professor's farm helping him ear tag sheep

Other employment:
- Resident Assistant/Student Assistant for 4 semesters

Honors/Awards:
- Presidential Scholar (scholarship) every semester
- Dean's List every semester
- AP Scholar w/ Distinction
- A few scholarships from senior year of high school

Extracurricular Activities:
- Albany Medical Center Emergency Room Volunteer for one semester
- Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps during Summer 2006
- University Symphonic Band for 2 semesters
- Pre-Medical Club for 2 semesters (oh the days when I was pre-med....)
- Various music activities in high school

eLORs:
- Veterinarian from the small animal clinic I worked for
- Another veterinarian from the small animal clinic I worked for (this one was more of a mentor to me)
- O-Chem Professor
- Residential Life Supervisor

My personal statement explained a lot about how I decided fairly late in the game that I wanted to go to veterinary school and how I went about making sure that I was confident in that decision. It shows my "transformation" I guess you could say.

 

[stick91]

I know it's meant to be encouraging but I just had to laugh at this statement, because of course it's possible to get accepted with an average or below GPA, otherwise that wouldn't be the average!!

Congratulations. 🙂

Exactly what I told myself when I began applying! Thanks : )

 

[elefante7]

I can hopefully give hope to those who got a late start with vet experience. I have 0 vet experience prior to my sophomore year in college.

1st time applicant, 21, traditional applicant w/ non-traditional major (math), female

Applied: Colorado State, Tufts, Wisconsin, Purdue, Illinois
Interviewed: Tufts, Purdue, Illinois
Rejected w/o interview: Colorado State (though they don't do interviews)
Accepted: Wisconsin, Tufts, Illinois, Purdue 😀
Attending: No clue yet

Undergrad: Graduating in May with a B.S. in math from Purdue

Cum. GPA: 3.89
Science GPA: don't remember but about the same
Last 30 hours GPA: don't remember but a little lower
pre-req GPA: 4.0 though no one asked me that...😛

GRE: 800Q, 600V 4.0A

Vet experienece:
-200 hrs in the Purdue hospital in oncology
-200 hrs at a small animal/small exotics clinic
-400 hrs as the pre-vet fellow at the Seneca Park Zoo (best summer ever)

Animal experience:
-200 hrs working w/ large animals in Honduras
-750 hrs Wolf Park internship
-12 hrs Foal Watch volunteer
-80 hrs volunteering at a therapeutic riding place
-1000 hrs training dogs for search and rescue

Other Employment/Extracurriculars:
-Math tutor
-undergrad research in a genetics lab
-peer mentor
-zoo club officer
-Mortar Board honor society

Awards:
-National Merit Scholar
-Award for performance in research based freshman chem lab
-10 yr 4-H
-math scholarship
-study abroad grant

LORs
For VMCAS: vet from SA/exotics clinic, vet from the zoo, research scientist from the genetics lab
For Tufts (since they were a bit pickier): vet from the zoo, academic advisor, cell bio prof

 

[athane960]

2nd time applicant, 29, nontraditional, female
(Applied to vet school right out of Undergrad, got accepted into Tufts, declined offer and decided to get MPH first and do work in public health field to decide that it was what I really wanted since I wasn’t interested in a clinical career anymore at that point)

Applied: Colorado State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Texas AM, Minnesota, TN, ISU, Virginia
Interviewed: Iowa State, Texas AM (I withdrew application)
Rejected: Wisconsin ( I didn’t fill out supplemental)
Declined Interview Offer: WSU, Purdue, TN, Minnesota, VMRCVM
Accepted: Colorado State, Iowa State (my 2 top choices)
Attending: Iowa State

Undergrad: BS Biology from University of Rhode Island
Graduate: MPH from Yale School of Public Health

Cum. GPA: 3.72
Science GPA: 3.74
Last 45 hours GPA: 3.64
(Yale graded on a P/F so I don’t have GPA for that)

GRE: 570V, 680Q, 4W (I hate writing within a time limit)

Vet experience:
-9,000 hrs working as zoonotic epidemiologist (investigating outbreaks, field surveillance, working with USDA and livestock, vets on rabies prevention, doctors with human cases)
-700 hours doing field Lyme Disease Research in CT and Dengue Research in Puerto Rico
-1500 hours contract employment with Air Force working on Avian Influenza Surveillance Program
-500 hours SA vet assistant

Animal experience:
-1000 hours as Stable Attendant/Barn Manager
-100 hours at Dairy/Beef Farm

Other Extracurriculars:
-Vice President of local Labrador Retriever Rescue
-work with Texas Animal Shelter Coalition (improving local animal shelters)
-work with abused woman’s shelter
-work with Humane Society in disaster preparedness and response


Publications:
Brucellosis exposure in a laboratory setting, animal surveillance models for Francisella tularensis, Reemergance of cutaneous Leishmaniasis

LORs
1 From Regional State Public Health Veterinarian (my boss)
1 from Regional Director of HSUS (more of a professional reference)
1 from another State Public Health Veterinarian (another colleague of my boss)

Just an encouragement to those who maybe aren’t interested in the traditional path of becoming a clinical vet and want to do something else with their vet degree, vet schools are open to this!

 

[Optimistic 13]

.

 

[237397]

I just got my letter today--I'm so excited!

22 y.o. female, 2nd time applicant (the first time was "practice" since I was only a junior...)

Applied: Kansas State, Iowa State, University of Georgia
Interview: ISU
Accepted: UGA
Rejected w/o Interview: KSU
Waitlisted: ISU

UG Degree: B.S.A., Avian Biology, minor in Spanish, UGA (c/o Dec. '08--it is possible to graduate from UGA in 3.5 years!)
GPA: 3.44 at time of application; 3.47 at graduation
Last 45: 3.53ish?
Science: 2.98ish?
GRE: 570V, 640Q, 4.5W
GRE Biology: 630

Honors and Awards:
- half a dozen scholarships in undergrad and a couple from high school
- Dean's list once or twice

Veterinary Experience:
- 250 hours poultry nutrition research
- 65 hours on my own poultry nutrition research project
- 215 hours poultry endocrinology research
- 20 hours poultry parasitology research (yeah, i'm into poultry 😀)
- 35-hour externship in LA hospital at UGA
- 3600 hours SA hospital in metro Atlanta
- 240 hours exotics hospital in metro Atlanta

Animal Experience
- showed swine, sheep, dairy, horse, and beef at Little I livestock shows in college
- 20 hours volunteering at the GA aquarium
- 80 hours auditing a yearling horse breaking a training course in college

Employment Experience:
- 180 hours (1 summer) helping high school students learn about poultry research
- 50 hours shredding paper for UGA international affairs for a $500 work stipend so i could study abroad

Community Activity and Extracurriculars:
- human medicine study abroad in Peru, volunteering at local clinics in the countryside, shadowing doctors in their various specialties, discovering why i don't want to be a human doctor
- Dawgs After Dark member; set up late-night events several times each year to attempt to encourage students to ride the carousel, eat funnel cake, or jump through the inflated obstacle course instead of go downtown to get drunk
- Hunker Down with Housing volunteer; helped freshmen move into the dorms
- Animal Science Quadrathlon
- founded a student organization for feral cat trap/neuter/return on campus
- FFA/4-H poultry judging
- Pre-Vet Club, Poultry Science Club
- random community service in high school, hobbies, etc.

LORs:
- 1 from a vet at the SA hospital (paper form, so they probably didn't read it)
- 1 from my advisor (i was actually pretty tight with my advisor)
- 1 from the endocrinologist who let me volunteer in her research lab
- 1 from the parasitologist/grad-student who let me volunteer in his lab and who also happened to be a wildlife biologist/vet

i'm going to vet school.

 

[stang21]

First-time applicant, male, 21 y/o MN resident, Biology and Chemistry
Applied: Kansas State, Iowa State, Minnesota, Colorado St., Mississippi St.
Interviewed: KSU, ISU, Minn., MSU
Accepted: KSU, Minn, MSU
Waitlisted: ISU #11
Rejected: CSU
Attending: KSU or Minn

Cum GPA at time of application: 3.86
GRE: 470v, 680q, 4.5

Veterinary Experience Hours
LA: 2000-3000 hours working with vets on cattle
SA/EQ: 50 hours shadowing

Animal Experience
LA: 10,000+ hours working at livestock auction since I was 5 (my dad owns one)
LA: 5000+ hours working on farm
LA: 200 hours milking cows

Honors/Awards
-Academic All-Conference Division 2 Football
-Chemistry student of year
-12 athletic letters in H.S. various all-conference, academic all-state etc.
-Prestigious presentation award thing from American Chem. Society national meeting

Community/Extracurricular
-Independent soil chemistry research (currently being used as model by SD department of natural resources for phosphorus content, published soon)
-college football
-High school sanctioned baseball/softball umpire
-Baseball and football coach
-Chemistry Club

Recommendations
-1 vet I have known my entire life
-independent research advisor
-Biology Advisor

I have a little different credentials than most others and it seems it has worked out pretty good for me.

 

[Ole84]

24 y.o. Male, 1st time applicant

Applied: Western, UC Davis, Colorado, UPenn
Interview: UC Davis, Western
Accepted: Western, (will know about Davis on March 23!!!)
Rejected w/o Interview: Colorado, UPenn
Waitlisted: None

UG Degree: B.S. in Biological Sciences w/ emphasis on Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
GPA: 3.95
Science: 3.95
Graduate Degree (IP): M.S. in Environmental Systems-Geochemistry
GPA: 4.0
GRE: 600V, 690Q, 4.5 AW

Veterinary Experience:
->3000 hours at small animal/exotic hospital
->400 hours at large equine hospital

Research Experience:
-2000 hours designing and conducting geochemistry research
-500 hours as supervising scientist for a group of high acheiving undergraduates conducting research in Yosemite National Park
->2000 hours as a research assistant in a geochemistry lab, with many hours at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory conducting high energy x-ray experiments in environmental chemistry.

Employment Experience:
-Chemistry Teaching Assistant
-Graduate Student Researcher
-Chemsitry tutor (intro, general, organic, physical, environmental)
-Retail
-Veterinary surgical assistant
-Disabled student learning assistant
-Laboratory assistant
Extracurricular:
-Founder of the UC Merced Ski and Snowboard club
-member of the Pre-Health Professional Club
-member of Sigma Xi
LORs
-Vet from the equine clinic
-Primary investigator at the lab. I work in
-Vet from small animal/exotic clinic i worked in

 

[nyanko]

Yay stang21!! I was rooting for you since that one sports thread. 😉

what position do you play?