Female, 2nd application, 35yrs when I matriculate
Applied (08-09): Illinois
Interviews offered: Illinois
Rejected: none
Waitlisted: Illinois
Accepted: Illinois
Undergrad: BS Animal Sciences - Science, Biotech & Pre-VetMed
(10 years at CC then transferred to UIUC to finish BS. [I took off time to get the kids started in their educations.] Individual distance courses at Oregon State, Colorado State, and Iowa State to keep up with academics.)
Overall Cum. GPA: around a 3.0 Scored a 0.0 my first year of undergrad, or it would be closer to a 3.2
Last 45 hours GPA: around a 3.0 (This includes a few goof off courses that I got B-'s in, over the past 2 years.)
GRE: 590V, 730Q, 3.5W (I do much better when I have more time to organize what I write.)
Vet Experience
1800 hours
Two Rural Area Vet Service Trips - Dogs and cats ( I plan on going on a few equine trips as a vet student.)
Poison Control - Dog, cat, mouse, hamster, psittacines, pig, horses, cows, llamas, geckos, etc... You name it.
SA clinic work - Dogs, cats, ferrets,
and Job Shadowing - dog, cat, bird
I had NO LA vet experience at all by my first application, though I did have interaction with DVM's through coursework at school, and trying to do a summer research program until I realized I couldn't afford it. (Yay, Foal and Calf Watch!) In this area, you pretty much have to grow up around here and do a high school work study program, or work for a mixed practice DVM for 6 months to get LA experience.
I didn't mention watching the chiropractic calls that Dr. [Last Name] came in to do while I was volunteering at the rescue, or the floating demonstration that he did on [Horse name] during the rescue's open house.
Animal Experience
Non-pet animal experience
610 hours documented
Equine Rescue once a week - Equine mostly, with the addition of a cow this past 10 months. One of the managers of the rescue is a farrier.
The local humane society - cats, dogs, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas, etc...
Group learning experiences - dairy, equine, swine, ovine
* I've machine and hand milked cows and goats.
* I also did some hand milking for mares after foaling. (long story)
* I've halter trained a colt.
* I've herded, drenched, and dipped sheep.
* I've herded, restrained, injected, and done jugular draws on piglets
Pet experience
I did not put on the VMCAS but did include in the Illinois supplemental under the individual animal experiences.
Grew up down the street from a farm: Horses, dairy cows, ducks, chickens
Raised chickens for scouting projects (Yes, I can candle an egg and tell you what I'm looking at. Dr. Parsons was disappointed that I did not actually take any official credit poultry courses.)
I was an indentured servant for my great-grandma on her farm: goats, geese, ducks, chickens. ...And a few pigs. (Ahh, the memory of a freshly butchered pig on the kitchen table. They knew there was a problem with me, when I wanted to know what the organs were.)
Learned to ride English, umpteen million years ago
Extracurricular/Community Service:
Illinois Leadership Program - Insight
Pre-Vet Club
Study Circles on Race
MANRRS - Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences
Boy Scouts 15 years - 4 as a Leader [Attended BSLT, Worked at a scout reservation, and did yearly maintenance before summer camp started] (Yes, I am female, but there were extenuating circumstances. Besides, it was way more fun than Girl Scouts.)
First Vice President Ashkum District - Calumet Council (Boy Scouts) Communications Officer
-Post [number] Outdoor Adventure
-[City name] and [County name] Police Explorer Post
Girls Scouts 12 yrs - 7 as a scout and another 5 as a Co-leader
Back in the day, in high school
4 yrs Drama, 2.5yrs Debate Team, 1 yr Student Congress, 3yrs Speech Team (Why yes, I do have a secretary voice, thank you.)
Employment
Retail, retail, and more retail, which did not pay very well, but better than working at a vet clinic. I also did two and three jobs along with coursework and wrangling 3 kids. Four, if you count my dh. One of the kids is an Aspie and all three are gifted students.
LORs
2 DVMs - Toxicology
1 Owner of the equine rescue that I volunteer for.
My grades are on the low end, and I accidentally did not use the grade waiver form, this year, which made it worse. 👎 (They counted each and every one of those F's from freshman year. 🙄) I still got an interview and accepted off of the waitlist. I'm one of those students that had a lot of other stuff going on.
So I'm the poster child for keep plugging and you'll get there!
Hope this helps you guys and good luck!
