Successful Applicant Stats C/O 2014

Veterinary Science Graduate Programs from U. of I.
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nyanko said:
GellaBella, we have a lot in common stats-wise (only I had to settle for MS admissions rather than a PhD because I aimed waaaaaaaaay too high for PhD applications originally). I'm so glad that you got into Penn. 😍

However, I am realllllllly sad that UCDavis rejected you. I was really hoping you'd get an interview here for sure!!
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aww thank you so much! I was hoping I'd get a chance to head out west and meet you but no such luck. I will definitely be on the look out for the pink haired vet student (cause you WILL get in!) when we go to conferences. I'm pretty sure I'm heading to Penn so I'll route for the steelers for you (I think you follow the steelers right?!) ... although I'll have to do it quietly cause my fiance is a rangers fan. haha. I'm routing for you!
 
You know, I was going to post my stats... But I won't. Because I don't want any of my future peers to look at me and see my stats. Academically they're actually worse than GellaBella's - who's really are not bad. This ultimately just another way to compare yourself to everyone else, which does nothing other than make you fret more than you need to.

I do however want to encourage anyone who looking at this post going "OMG! I'll never make it!" to not give up. You CAN make it. You CAN get your dream even if you're not perfect on paper. And for everyone - remember that bookwork is only PART of being a vet and that's never more clear than when you're in your clinical year. Everyone here had to start somewhere!
 
Tobysgirl81 said:
You know, I was going to post my stats... But I won't. Because I don't want any of my future peers to look at me and see my stats. Academically they're actually worse than GellaBella's - who's really are not bad. This ultimately just another way to compare yourself to everyone else, which does nothing other than make you fret more than you need to.

I do however want to encourage anyone who looking at this post going "OMG! I'll never make it!" to not give up. You CAN make it. You CAN get your dream even if you're not perfect on paper. And for everyone - remember that bookwork is only PART of being a vet and that's never more clear than when you're in your clinical year. Everyone here had to start somewhere!
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I know what you mean, but at the same time I have spent the past year I have been on this forum scouring the previous successful applicants threads trying to find some hope that I could get an acceptance with a 2.99 undergrad GPA.

I have to say that I totally commend the people who did so well through undergrad and had such great veterinary experiences, GPAs, GRE scores etc.

But I also feel like maybe my stats will make someone feel better. so many others from previous application cycles who were embarrassed were willing to post their stats and it gave me hope. So I don't mind putting it out there. I know I'm smart, and that I made what adcoms would consider to be poor choices in terms of preferring to spend more time with my friends than getting stellar grades. but like i said, no way would I change that because it made me the person I am and I truly grew as a person while in college and made the best friends ever.

The people who are here who really need the encouragement are the people who DON'T have the perfect GRE/GPAs, Who are non-trads trying to get accepted for the first, second, third, fourth time.

If you don't personally want to share thats fine, but I hope that others will consider posting for the next group who is gearing up to apply. 🙂
 
Tobysgirl81 said:
You know, I was going to post my stats... But I won't. Because I don't want any of my future peers to look at me and see my stats. Academically they're actually worse than GellaBella's - who's really are not bad. This ultimately just another way to compare yourself to everyone else, which does nothing other than make you fret more than you need to.
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That's your personal choice and it's respectable, but the nature of graduate and professional school admissions (and residencies, and job applications and promotions, and taxes, and so on) is such that ultimately each of us is being compared to everyone else.

I just had a conversation today with a member of an admissions committee for a PhD program here at UCD to which I applied (and was put on the "wait list" which is essentially the "will get in if a faculty member particularly wants her and will fund her, but not worth actively recruiting" list) about this sort of thing. It would be nice if the adcom knew what my professors here know - that I am obviously more than capable of doing PhD level work - but there's only so much one can convey in a personal statement and rec letter, and only so much weight one can give to those things before turning to more objective measures like GPA. The fact of the matter is, things like ambition and having a positive attitude and such may be important, but they will only get you so far. You have to have something to make up for it on paper, and that's why I feel like those of us who aren't the perfect applicant should be sharing and helping each other even more. It isn't just that it gives hope; it also gives a bit of an idea as to what sorts of things "make up" for our deficiencies on paper as far as admissions goes. It won't be the same for everyone, of course, but it's great to be able to share ideas, extrapolate and integrate things.

I don't regret my prior indiscretions. If Davis sees fit to accept me this time, I will lay it all out here - hell, I did it once already after my post-mortem. I learned an immeasurable amount from all of my experiences and I had a damn good time doing it, and I won't apologize for it. And if any of my future peers think worse of me for it, well, they aren't peers I want to associate with anyway.

Sorry about the long-windedness, and like I said, I respect your choice not to post, but just saying "you CAN do it" rarely does any good without some story to back it up. 😉
 
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Ooooh Thanks for Posting GellaBella! No need to be embarrassed about your stats - obviously they kicked ass since you've gotten in!

Your research sounds super interesting (I was kinda bummed out we ran out of time last week and I didn't get to hear about it!). And poo poos on CSU for not counting that as vet experience! How is antibiotic resistance NOT pertinent to vet med!? 😕

Tobysgirl - I'm going to second GellaBella. Of course it's up to you whether you decide to post your stats or not, but trust me, none of your future classmates are going to go "OMG it's that girl who got in with a 2.0 GPA and 400's on her GRE's! Gosh, I hope I don't get stuck working with her!" Plus, unless you've revealed a lot of personal information here and stick out like a sore thumb for whatever reason 🙂hello: me!)... I doubt anyone will figure out who you are. Just take out any revealing info if that's a concern?

And yes, ultimately, it is another way to compare yourself with others. But I disagree that it only makes others fret more. I personally think it's a valuable way for future applicants to strategize their application process. I'm not sure if you looked at the thread from last year, but it didn't seem at all like a gloat fest simply there to make everyone else feel bad. Sure, there are people with spotless stats... but that's not the norm. I know this was an invaluable resource for maaany applicants this cycle. By seeing what other applicants had to do in order to compensate for this and that blemish on their applications, a future applicant can figure out what might be the best way for him/her to strengthen his/her application.
 
nyanko said:
I learned an immeasurable amount from all of my experiences and I had a damn good time doing it, and I won't apologize for it. And if any of my future peers think worse of me for it, well, they aren't peers I want to associate with anyway.

Sorry about the long-windedness, and like I said, I respect your choice not to post, but just saying "you CAN do it" rarely does any good without some story to back it up. 😉
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this is exactly what i think. i also know that my low gpa does not accurately reflect my knowledge. if i wanted to just get straight As in college i easily could have. but i chose to live my life, i had the most amazing time ever and i would not change it. that doesnt mean that i was drunk all the time, i just made a ton of friends and did crazy things (like sky dive) i have no regrets (even if i dont get into vet school this yr). if my peers judge me then i'll be finding another group of friends. and hopefully i'll show up the judgmental people but acing all the exams 😀

I do understand if you dont feel comfortable sharing though. its a hard thing to do. but i wasnt shy about sharing my stats when i got interviews and if im accepted somewhere 🙂xf🙂 i will be sharing for everyone else to know that it is possible to get in with my stats
 
*sigh* I get where you guys are coming from. I know reading this thread made me very anxious as we were getting letters back, so if this helps anyone I'm happy to post it. Just try not to gape too much.

I will say, my undergrad years were difficult at best. I had some craziness happen in my home life, and then I went a little buckwild when I finally left home. I wish I could go back and do it all over again...but I can't. So I had to make up from a couple years of dumbness. I will say, I am glad that I had a few years to mature and get my feet back under me again. I feel much better about my chances IN vet school now than I did before.

2nd time applicant (first time was 2004), 28 years old, Female, VA resident
Applied: VMRCVM, Murdoch University
Accepted: VMRCVM

Degrees: BS Animal Science, UC Davis 2005
AS Veterinary Technology, Cosumnes River College, 2007

Cum GPA @ time of application: 2.99
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.75ish
Science: 3.1 ish
GRE: 580V, 670Q, writing 5.5

Honors and Awards:
- Phi Theta Kappa
- Hasler Scholarship
- Transformation Challenge winner (completely unrelated to vet stuff at all)

Veterinary Experience:
~ 260 hrs volunteer/kennel help Animal and Bird Clinic
~ 2000 hrs Vet assistant at small animal hospital
~ 3000 hrs Getting Tech License
~ 500 hrs Working in Equine Repro Clinic
~ 1000 hrs working as vet tech in Feline only clinic
~ 3000 + hrs working as vet tech at teaching hospital
Interspersed with a variety of large, exotic and small animal volunteer experiences through the years. I knew at a young age I wanted to be a vet, so I got involved very early in volunteering, getting jobs at hospitals, etc.

Animal Experience🙁too many hours to count for most of this)
4H
FFA
Horseback riding (20ish years) - Member of local Eventing association
Worked as a horse trainer and riding instructor on and off for years
Cat Colony at UC Davis - animal care attendant (basically glorified kennel help :laugh: )
Barnyards & Hoofprints Summer Camp instructor
Cleaned horse stalls, exercised horses for years
Equestrian Team at UC Davis
Equine independent internship at UC Davis horse barn
Helping out with equine research
Petsitting for variety of clients(large and small pets)

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- Transformation Challenge participant and mentor
- Horseback riding (I actually think I listed this here, not as animal experience)
- Baking
- Gardening
- Church

Other Work Experience:
- Women's Resource and Research Center at UC Davis as Resource Intern
- Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study - Administrative position
- Receptionist positions at a handful of places

Letters of Rec:
- Surgeon from the teaching hospital
- Clinical instructor from the teaching hospital
- My (and really the whole small animal department's) technician supervisor from the teaching hospital

Personal Statement:
- PM me if anyone applying next year wants a copy! * Just want to ditto this. I had a hard time figuring out what to write, my original ended up being like 2000 characters too long and I wasn't completely satisfied with the revised version. But let me know if you'd like to see it!

I'm very, very excited and overwhelmed that I got in. I keep wanting to buy everyone gifts! I think it helped that a lot of the staff knows me and knows that I am more than my undergrad GPA 🙂
 
Tobysgirl, the only thing I'm gaping at is your stellar amount of animal and veterinary experience 🙂 Congratulations, you're going to vet school!!!
 
I guess its time for me to post here as well. I guess i've gone the pretty traditional route, straight out of undergrad. Numbers are definitely my strong point, variety of experience pretty weak.


1st time applicant, 21 years old, male, MD resident
Applied: VMRCVM, glasgow, Edinburgh, UPenn, Missouri, Florida
Interview: VMRCVM, glasgow (not going), Penn, Missouri
Accepted: VMRCVM, Edinburgh, Penn, Missouri

Degree: BA Biology, top tier school

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.84
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.82 (I think)
Science: 3.82ish
GRE: 780Q, 700V writing 4.0

Honors and Awards:
- Lots of Dean's Honors
- Howard Hughes research grant

Veterinary Experience:
~ 220 hours @ Feline clinic
~ 1300 hrs research>> One authorship on a paper published by PNAS
>> spent one year in a biochemistry lab
>> another year working in genetics

I only decided to be a vet spring semester of my junior year (only a few months before applying!)

Animal Experience:
Research on Geoffreys Tamarins at local zoo

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- member of fraternity (various community service activities)
- Study abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Intramural Sports

Letters of Rec:
- vet at feline clinic
-research advisor
-different research advisor

Personal Statement:
- I wrote alot about my research, since it was such a significant portion of the experience in my application. I really tried to convey how it will help me become a successful veterinarian (critical thinking, teamwork, etc.)

I'm incredibly thankful for all of my options, and certainly did not expect to be in this situation, having had such little time to prepare for the application cycle.
 
I have mixed feelings about this thread. I love to see everyones stats because it does make me feel a little bit better knowing that people who have stats similar to mine are getting accepted. It makes me feel like I have a chance. At the same time, since I'm pretty much at the end of my hope for this cycle, it bums me out a little that people who have stats similar to mine are getting accepted and I'm not. It's all good though, maybe next year.
 
Wow, you and me have quite a bit of life overlap, (except that I'm 23 living in FL and you're in Ohio, and I never studied abroad)

Me:
Research at Cleveland Zoo (half of 2009, in fact)
Member of community service frat (here's to ΑΦΩ...)
LoR: research advisors, a vet I'm doing a research project on felines with
PS: lots of research = I would be a good vet
Went to college in Bmore.

you:

DickVetPlease said:
...
Animal Experience:
Research on Geoffreys Tamarins at local zoo

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- member of fraternity (various community service activities)

Letters of Rec:
- vet at feline clinic
-research advisor
-different research advisor

Personal Statement:
- I wrote alot about my research, since it was such a significant portion of the experience in my application. I really tried to convey how it will help me become a successful veterinarian (critical thinking, teamwork, etc.)
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Wow, thats really strange- Especially since I'm from Baltimore, and that research on tamarins was at the Cleveland zoo.

Are you following me? lol
 
DickVetPlease said:
Wow, thats really strange- Especially since I'm from Baltimore, and that research on tamarins was at the Cleveland zoo.

Are you following me? lol
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Damn, we probably know some of the same people...like the graduate students at the zoo.
 
Tobysgirl81, I just want you to know that for as hesitant as you may have been to post your stats, YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO ME. I can not express how much comfort and renewed persistence your post has given me.

In all sincerity, thank you.
 
1st time applicant, 19 years old, female, Maryland resident
Applied: VMRCVM
Interviewed: VMRCVM
Accepted: VMRCVM

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.97
Last 45 credit hrs: Didn't have 45 GPA hours when I applied (AP credits rock)
Science: 4.0 @ time of application
GRE: 590 V, 720 Q, 4.5

Honors and Awards:
-Dean's List
-Member of first place freshmen team: Virginia Tech Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon
-High School Salutatorian and other academic awards
-4-H Horse Bowl state champion

Veterinary Experience:
~285 hours volunteering/working at small animal clinic
-21 hours with equine nutrition resident's research project
~30 hours with my horses' vet

Animal Experience:
-Thousands of hours with 4-H projects/showing/caring for horses, dogs, poultry, and other animals
-Fostering Kittens
-Farm Sitter (horses, sheep, goats, rabbits, poultry, dogs, etc.)
-Horse show registration staff
-Volunteer at college equitation barn
-Animal science classes and other college activities with sheep, swine, and beef cattle
-Swine Club, Poultry Club, Pre-Vet Club, Equestrian Club
-Volunteer in Virginia Tech Meat Science lab

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-Horticulture Club, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
-High School: NHS, Science NHS, It's Academic, Key Club, school and honors Orchestra, County Fair

Letters of Recommendation:
-DVM from the small animal hospital I volunteered/worked last summer
-Animal Science Professor/Advisor
-Horse 4-H Leader for many years
 
So great to see everyone posting here - SDN is on a roll with acceptances! You guys should all be so proud of your accomplishments! Maybe I'll finally post my stuff in here tomorrow after work...when I'm snowed in (again)!
 
1st time applicant, 21 years old, Female, Texas resident
Applied: Western, Kansas, Missouri, UPenn, Minnesota, Glasgow, Edinburgh
Interviewed: Western (declined), Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Glasgow (declined)
Accepted: Missouri, Edinburgh
Waitlisted: Kansas

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.72
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.76
Science: I'm not too sure..I never calculated that
GRE: 520 V, 560 Q, 4.0 (horrible, I know)

Honors and Awards:
-Dean's List/President's List
-Latin Honors, Cum Laude
-Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (I spent the first 1.5 years at community college, then transferred)
-New York Farmers Scholarship
-American Society of Animal Science
-Morrison Award

Veterinary Experience:
-1300 hours, veterinary assistant at a mixed-practice clinic
-200+ hours, undergraduate research in large animal nutrition

Animal Experience:
-120 hours, undergraduate teaching assistant for Animal Nutrition
-100 hours, equine work through a course I took, Equine Biology and Management
-300 hours, Zoo Team volunteer working with children/exotics in an educational setting at the local zoo
-50 hours, Food Animal handling through coursework, Domestic Animal Biology I/Reproduction
-50 hours, worked with sheep and Japanese Quail in Animal Nutrition

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-Phi Theta Kappa
-Pre-Vet Society
-High school: Health Occupation Students of America

Letters of Recommendation:
-Head DVM from the clinic I worked at
-Undergraduate research advisor
-Academic advisor

I went to Cornell for undergrad, majored in Animal Science and was involved with research, three things I definitely think helped me out in the application process because I REALLY don't have the best GRE score
 
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1st time applicant, 22 years old, Female, New York resident

Applied: Auburn, Illinois, Kansas, Tufts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Cornell, Ohio, UPenn, Tennessee, Texas A&M, VMRCVM, Washington, Wisconsin, UPEI, Edinburgh, Glasgow, RVC, Dublin, Ross

Interviewed: Kansas, Tufts, Ohio, UPenn, Auburn (declined), Illinois (declined), Glasgow (declined), RVC (declined), Ross (declined)

Withdrawn:Tennessee, UPEI, Wisconsin
Accepted: Ohio, Kansas, Edinburgh, Dublin
Waiting: Tufts, Michigan, UPenn

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.55
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.85
Science: 3.3-3.4 (depending on what classes are included)
GRE: 600 V, 680 Q, 3.5

Honors and Awards:
-Dean's List (7 semesters out of 9)
-Graduated Cum Laude

Veterinary Experience:
-1600 hours kennel worker/vet tech
-200 hours Exotic experience
-160 hours Tufts Adventures in Veterinary Medicine Program

Animal Experience:
-150 hours at a wolf conservation center
-100 hours as a farm hand

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-TA for Organic Chemistry (4 semesters)
-TA for Intro to Bio (4 semesters)
-200 hours evolutionary research at my college
-3 summers working at a day camp
-Sisterhood Development Chair, Judicial Board Member and Sunshine and Spirit Committee head for Phi Sigma Sigma
-Pre-Vet Society
-Ballroom Dance Association
-Relay for Life Team Leader (4 years)


Letters of Recommendation:
-My Orgo professor that I had and then TA'ed for
-My Bio prefessor that I TA'ed for
-DVM at small animal hospital where I worked
-DVM at exotics clinic
-My boss at my small animal clinic (manager, not DVM) also wrote a short, sweet little blurb

My GPA is average for a vet student, but I also took 20-22 credits every semester (the average at my school is 16), and I had a VERY strong upward trend, with a first semester freshman year GPA of a 2.3.

Also, I realize I applied to a butt-ton of schools, and in hindsight I probably didn't need to. But, to be fair, when I first started applying (and reading this site) I realized I couldn't do this for another cycle, so I decided to give myself the best possible chance...Crazy? Yes. Expensive? YES. Would I do it again? Yes. It made me feel better.
 
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1st time applicant, 25 years old, Virginia Resident
Applied: VMRCVM, Penn, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Colorado, UC Davis, RVC, Illinois
Interviewed: Illinois (Declined), RVC (Declined) VMRCVM, Penn (rescheduled from 2/12 to 2/26), Ohio, VMRCVM, Mississippi
Accepted: VMRCVM, Mississippi, Ohio
Waitlisted: Colorado

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.56
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.51
Science: 3.41
GRE: 660 V, 720 Q, 5.0

Honors and Awards:
-Dean's List
- Golden Key, NSCS
- Community Service Award


Veterinary Experience:
-4000+ hours at SA clinics including over 2000 at a speciality hospital
-100 hours with food animal vet
-100 hours with equine vet

Animal Experience:
-3 years on 2 private research projects with university veterinarian (field and lab)
-400 hours zoo internship with small primates

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-International Refugee Volunteer
-Pre-Vet Society (officer)
-Community youth soccer coach

Letters of Recommendation:
-Head DVM from a large state university (with whom I did research for 3 yrs)
-Owner and head surgeon of a veterinary surgical specialty practice
-board certified surgeon and veterinary school professor
-previous employer (not vet related)

Undergrad: UVA, graduated in 3 yrs, spent 2 years doing youth work
 
Bored and snowed-in. Might as well get this posting out of the way! 🙂

APPLICANT STATS
-1st time applicant, 22 years old, female, Pennsylvania resident (currently working full-time post graduation)
-Applied: Penn (IS), Mississippi, Missouri, NC State, Wisconsin
-Interviewed: Penn, Missouri, Mississippi (withdrawn)
-Withdrawn: Mississippi (before interview)
-Waitlisted: NC State
-Accepted: Penn, Missouri, Wisconsin
-Attending: Unsure at this time

ACADEMICS
-Undergrad Institution: Penn State! (large school with strong agriculture program)
-Academic Rigor: High (double-major, heavy courseload, member of Honors College)
-Majors: B.S. in Toxicology, B.S. in Animal Science (graduated in May 2009)
-Cum GPA: 3.85
-Last 45 credit hrs: 4.00
-Science: 3.75-ish
-GRE: 690 V (96%), 750 Q (83%), 6.0 W (98%)

HONORS AND AWARDS
-Graduation with honors and with high distinction
-Authorship in Molecular Carcinogenesis for thesis work
-Dean's List for 7 out of 8 semesters
-University scholarships (listed five)
-High school academic scholarships (listed three)
-Top high school student in Agriculture, English, French, and Science departments
-Numerous creative writing awards on national level
-AP Scholar with Distinction

VETERINARY EXPERIENCE
-2500 hours at small-animal general practice hospital (kennel worker and technician)
-750 hours biomedical research using mouse models; investigating colon cancer and the role of PPARB and APC pathway in the disease
-250 hours with dairy, large animal ambulatory, and swine veterinarians at the New Bolton Center
-100 hours with equine and theriogenology veterinarians at the New Bolton Center
-45 hours of cattle AI/reproduction work through university
-10 hours at small-animal emergency hospital
-5 hours with veterinary toxicologist
-5 hours at local zoo

ANIMAL EXPERIENCE
-500 hours high school agriculture classes
-200 hours (estimated) of pet-sitting
-175 hours of equestrian lessons in middle school
-120 hours of pet store employment
-100 hours cattle and horse judging competitions
-40 hours at local zoo

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
-Teaching Assistant for animal science course for 4 semesters
-Summer counselor for PA Governor's School program in 2007
-Penn State THON - member of Springfield House and Finance Overall committee
-Agricultural Sciences Student Council - Vice President
-Pre-Vet Club - Stayover and Symposium committees
-Biomedical Sciences Club - Student Council Representative
-Honors College mentor and recruiter
-Hospital volunteer
-High School: SADD, FFA, Governor's School attendee, theater and drama, teacher aide, sports team manager, CCD instructor, altar server

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
-Lead VMD from small-animal practice (worked for 5+ years as a kennel attendant and technician)
-Animal Science professor (took his class and TA'd for him for 4 semesters)
-Undergraduate honors research advisor (PI of thesis project)

PERSONAL STATEMENT
Used one memorable case from the small-animal hospital where I work to illustrate my reasons for wanting to go into this field (the animals, the science/medicine/challenge/etc., and the people I get to meet and help). I had the idea for it a long time ago, and it came together without too much of a problem. It's always helpful to have multiple people read it - feedback is great and can help put a new perspective on your piece!
 
Ok, some of my stats are particularly embarrassing...hello terrible GRE score! hello almost no LA experience! My decision to be a vet also came late in the game. But I LOVE my small animal tech job, and it has truly given me so many great opportunities and experiences. I can’t believe I got in on the first go around.

First time applicant, 23 years old, from Kansas City, MO
Applied: K-State, Iowa, Missouri
Interviewed: K-State, Iowa, waiting on Missouri interview
Accepted: K-State!

Academic:
Undergrad GPA: 3.98
Last 45 hours: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
Course Rigor: VERY HIGH
GRE: I think it totaled to 1190 for v & q (HORRIBLE, but I’ve always been bad at standardized tests...boards will be fun for me...)
B.S. in 2009 in Macrobiology, minor in History (emphasis on conflict in the M.E. & African History)

Honors:
Deans List every semester
Memorial Scholarship

Veterinary Experience:
--2 years at a urban small animal clinic as vet assistant/tech
--2 years working with a variety of exotics (house pet kind) at said clinic
--Almost NO large animal experience; I spent a few days shadowing---I was pretty tied down with classes and work and now I work full time at the clinic; I definitely wish I put in the time for more

Other Experience
--A LOT OF SERVICE. KC Wildlands, Science Bowls, auction volunteer for a few years, service trips in the country and out, community outreach, tutoring, among other activities of the sort...My university was BIG on service, so it was encouraged
--A LOT of odd jobs throughout school...waitressing, chem TA, campus work study, summer camp counselor

Letters of Rec:
--small animal vet I work for
--advisor throughout college
--my favorite professor, who got her D.V.M from K-State
--2 other professors I loved in school

Personal Statement: I also talked about one case I thought was particularly interesting. It brought up huge ethical issues. It also allowed me to discuss my own community, and how I could impact it. I actually had the pre-med committee read it (we have no pre-vet committee or program at my tiny tiny school!), but they were great with suggestions!
 
1st time applicant, 21 years old, Female, Illinois Resident

Applied: Illinois, Kansas, Penn, Minnesota

Interviewed: Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Penn

Withdrawn😛enn

Accepted: Kansas

Waiting: Illinois, Minnesota (haven't interviewed yet)

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.75
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.7
Science: 3.85
GRE: 480 V, 720 Q, 5.5 A
Course Rigor: VERY HIGH (Private School)

Honors and Awards:
-Dean's List (6 semesters out of 7)
-Who's Who Among American Universities
-Honor Scholarship
-Academic All-Conference (SLIAC)

Veterinary Experience:
-3000 hours Exotic/Small Animal Practice as Doctor's Assistant
-1000 hours Zoo Medicine
- 200 hours Shelter Medicine
- 100 hours Large Animal (equine, swine)

Animal Experience:
-13 years at zoo
-1800 hours as TA for Biology Dept. caring for lab animals
-100 hours welfare league
-500 hours shelter

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-College Volleyball
-College Softball
-President of dorm
-Vice President of 3 different organizations
-Habitat for Humanity
-4 missions trips to various places in the US
-volunteer at several animal welfare leagues
-TA for 2 years
-Student Government (HS and College)



Letters of Recommendation:
-Vet at Exotic/Small Animal practice who also did Zoo Medicine
- Health Professions advisor and professor at college
- Professor at college


Personal Statement:
Discussed a few key experiences that aided my decision for veterinary med. These included my time spent with shelters, zoos, and veterinary practices.

Honestly, I applied to the OOS schools which accepted the most applicants.

I still can't believe I got in.....

😀

Good luck to everyone!
 
zoogirl88 said:
1st time applicant, 21 years old, Female, Illinois Resident

Applied: Illinois, Kansas, Penn, Minnesota

Interviewed: Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Penn

Withdrawn😛enn

Accepted: Kansas

Waiting: Illinois, Minnesota (haven't interviewed yet)

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.75
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.7
Science: 3.85
GRE: 480 V, 720 Q, 5.5 A
Course Rigor: VERY HIGH (Private School)

Honors and Awards:
-Dean's List (6 semesters out of 7)
-Who's Who Among American Universities
-Honor Scholarship
-Academic All-Conference (SLIAC)

Veterinary Experience:
-3000 hours Exotic/Small Animal Practice as Doctor's Assistant
-1000 hours Zoo Medicine
- 200 hours Shelter Medicine
- 100 hours Large Animal (equine, swine)

Animal Experience:
-13 years at zoo
-1800 hours as TA for Biology Dept. caring for lab animals
-100 hours welfare league
-500 hours shelter

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-College Volleyball
-College Softball
-President of dorm
-Vice President of 3 different organizations
-Habitat for Humanity
-4 missions trips to various places in the US
-volunteer at several animal welfare leagues
-TA for 2 years
-Student Government (HS and College)



Letters of Recommendation:
-Vet at Exotic/Small Animal practice who also did Zoo Medicine
- Health Professions advisor and professor at college
- Professor at college


Personal Statement:
Discussed a few key experiences that aided my decision for veterinary med. These included my time spent with shelters, zoos, and veterinary practices.

Honestly, I applied to the OOS schools which accepted the most applicants.

I still can't believe I got in.....

😀

Good luck to everyone!
Click to expand...

You've worked at a zoo since you were 8? Congrats though yayyyyyy!! I'm so happy for you
 
I am a 22 year old male, from NC that will be graduating from my local state school with a B.S. in biology this spring

Applied: NCSU, Minnesota, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Kansas State, Iowa State
Interviewed: Kansas State, Iowa State, Minnesota
Waiting: NCSU, Wisc, Minn, Iowa State
Accepted:Michigan State, Kansas State

Undergrad GPA: ~3.3
Last 45 hours GPA: ~3.9
Science GPA: 3.3-3.6 depending on school
GRE: 1300, Math-730, Verbal-570, Writing-5

Animal Experience:
~75 hours at local humane society
some pet sitting and walking
~20 hours volunteering at local nature preserve

Vet Experience:
300 hours large animal experience riding with a vet
80 hours shadowing a small animal vet
200 hours working in the kennel at my local vet clinic
8 hours spent at an exotic animal practice

Extracurriculars:
Intramural sports, church stuff, tennis, basketball, fishing, snowboarding, hiking

Volunteer stuff:
Volunteering for habitat for humanity, local shelters, some other things in town

Awards: Some Dean's Lists and Chancellor's Lists, academic scholarships

There is hope for anybody out there. Two years into college I had a 2.75 and no vet experience or anything. I transferred schools and in the last year and a half I have taken 78 hours of class (with a 3.9), gotten all of my vet experience over the summer and after class, and am now going to vet school! I think it shows that schools really do look at more than numbers and experience and look at steps you have taken in your life and if you have an understanding of the profession. Luckily my GRE was fairly good.
 
Thanks for posting everyone! I promise I'll post my stats once I hear back from one more school.
 
Luplodw-
I haven't "worked" at a zoo that long..... My dad is actually the director of a zoo in my hometown, and the director and his family are required by the city to LIVE at the zoo.
Yes, I know this sounds crazy, but the house is LITERALLY inside the zoo fence.
So, I have lived there since I was 9. It has been AWESOME.
I have technically volunteered there since I was about 13, but really I am there all hours of the day.

I have gotten to see some pretty cool stuff.....


THANKS for the congrats!! I still can't believe it!!
😀
 
zoogirl88 said:
My dad is actually the director of a zoo in my hometown, and the director and his family are required by the city to LIVE at the zoo.
Yes, I know this sounds crazy, but the house is LITERALLY inside the zoo fence.
So, I have lived there since I was 9. It has been AWESOME.

😀
Click to expand...

Will your parents please adopt me? lol
 
1st time applicant, 19 years old, Female
B.A. in Biology w/ minor in Theater anticipated Spring 2010

Applied: Atlantic Veterinary College (PEI), Tufts, Western, Kansas
Interviews: Atlantic Veterinary College, Western (declined), Kansas
Waiting: Atlantic Veterinary College
Accepted: Kansas!

Cumulative GPA: 3.43
Last 45 credit hrs: ~3.6
Science: ~3.4
GRE: 640 V, 710 Q, 4.5 AW

Honors and Awards:
-6 merit-based scholarships
-Dean’s List
-Random awards for volunteer/animal work

Veterinary Experience:
-8 months as a part-time veterinary assistant (4-vet small animal hospital)
-20 hours shadowing large animal vet
-3 days volunteering at a foreign vet clinic (mixed animal)
-Tufts AVM program

Animal Experience:
-11 years volunteering with Heifer International (mostly L.A. experience)
-1 year volunteering at small AZA-accredited zoo
-12 years working with horses (exhibition horse show team, groom jobs, farm camp staff, USPC, etc.)
-Biology senior thesis involving wildlife behavioral observation
-Independent project on African gray behavior
-2 days assisting with invasive species research under a PhD
-1 night sea turtle patrol

Extracurricular/Community Activities/Employment:
-Theater Performance
-Martial Arts (fencing, light weapons combat, a little bit of kung fu)
-Visual Arts (sculpting, painting, sketching, etc.)
-Hiking, Backpacking, Rock Climbing
-Actively Catholic (church, community service, etc.)
-Sea Kayak Guide
-Biology and Writing Tutor
-Sailing (home-schooled and lived on a sailboat a few times... sometimes in the Caribbean, 9 months in Puerto Rico)

Letters of Recommendation:
-Head DVM at Animal Hospital where I worked
-Academic Advisor (who also directed a few of the plays I was in)
-Farm Steward for Heifer International’s Overlook Farm
-Biology Professor
 
Willowhand, I am interested in the research you did on African Greys.What type of research?? I love those parrots and am currently owned by one of them. 😀
 
zoogirl88 said:
My dad is actually the director of a zoo in my hometown, and the director and his family are required by the city to LIVE at the zoo.
Yes, I know this sounds crazy, but the house is LITERALLY inside the zoo fence.
So, I have lived there since I was 9. It has been AWESOME.
I have technically volunteered there since I was about 13, but really I am there all hours of the day.

I have gotten to see some pretty cool stuff.....
Click to expand...

You know I can kind of relate - I didn't LIVE in a zoo, but I started volunteering in one summer after 6th grade. Then I got a job there. Then I started going to high school there. So I was pretty much in the zoo 24/7 for 5+ years 😀
 
racccjlm said:
You know I can kind of relate - I didn't LIVE in a zoo, but I started volunteering in one summer after 6th grade. Then I got a job there. Then I started going to high school there. So I was pretty much in the zoo 24/7 for 5+ years 😀
Click to expand...

THERE'S A HIGH SCHOOL AT A ZOO!?!?!?!?!? 😱
PEOPLE OTHER THAN STEVE ERWIN'S FAMILY LIVE AT A ZOO!?!?!?😱

I feel so deprived! I've always been envious of people who lived on farms and even hobby mini farms, but this takes it to a whole new level!
 
Racccjlm, this isn't by any chance the Trevor Zoo in NY?
 
racccjlm said:
You know I can kind of relate - I didn't LIVE in a zoo, but I started volunteering in one summer after 6th grade. Then I got a job there. Then I started going to high school there. So I was pretty much in the zoo 24/7 for 5+ years 😀
Click to expand...

ugh I could not be more jealous. I'm going to be like those pageant-moms who tries to live through her children, but instead of beauty contests I'll be sending my kids to school in the zoo.
 
marycatherine said:
ugh I could not be more jealous. I'm going to be like those pageant-moms who tries to live through her children, but instead of beauty contests I'll be sending my kids to school in the zoo.
Click to expand...

And just because this is how life works, they will hate the zoo and want to be business majors. Not that there's anything wrong with kids who will earn a lot of money. 😀
 
cowgirla said:
Just means they can support you in your old age, when you are STILL paying off vet school loans :xf:
Click to expand...

^^^ 🤣

Nope it's not in New York - though I have heard of that one. It is basically a science focus program that's like a "mini" college. Tough material, fab teachers, 100ish students, and gibbons and peacocks constantly interrupting lecture 😀 I went there sophmore-senior years in high school. It was an amazing place - can't say enough good about it!
 
I hope this gives others hope!

1st time applicant, 22 years old, female, MA resident
Applied: Kansas, Tufts, Cornell, Colorado, Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma
Interview: Kansas
Accepted: Kansas
Degree: BS, Animal Science

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.28
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.45
Science: 2.9-3.1 (horrible I know)
GRE: 540Q, 650V writing 5.0

Honors and Awards:
- Dean's List
- Scholastic All Star Athlete

Veterinary Experience:
~ 1000 hours @ SA clinic as Vet. Assistant
~ 2500 hrs working with Camelids

Animal Experience:
~650 hours as a caretaker at the largest alpaca farm in the country.
~600 hours as a groom for Morgan horses

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
- Nunoa Project Peru- raising money for children in Peru, I've been there twice.
-Vice President of the Western Equitation Team
- IHSA Region 1 Ethics Committee
-President of the Polo Team (the horse kind, not the water kind 🙂)
-Livestock Classic Coordinator (student run livestock show put on by our University)
-Varsity Track

Letters of Rec:
- vet at SA Clinic
-Camelid vet
-Owner of the alpaca farm

It definitely can be done with less than mediocre grades and with awesome experiences. Hope this helps some people!
 
1st time applicant, 22 years old, female, California resident
Applied: Colorado State, UC Davis, Minnesota, Kansas State, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Illinois, UPenn, Tufts
Interviews: Kansas State, Iowa State, Tufts, Illinois (declined), UC Davis (declined)
Rejected: Colorado State, Minnesota, Kansas State, UPenn
Accepted: Wisconsin, Iowa State, Tufts
Attending: Wisconsin!!!

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.82
Last 45 credit hrs: 3.61
Science: 3.84
Academic Rigor: High
GRE: 590 V (84%), 750 Q (83%), 5.0 AW (81%)

Honors and Awards:
-Phi Beta Kappa
-2008 B Team Defensive MVP (lacrosse)
-Magna cum laude
-Provost's Honors 9/13 quarters

Veterinary Experience:
-500 hrs working at a small animal clinic
-200 hrs volunteering in the medical center at the shelter
-4 hours equine wet lab

Animal Experience:
-200 hrs volunteering at a wildlife rescue
-300 hrs working at PetsHotel
-130 hrs walking dogs at the shelter

Work Experience:
-960 hrs (3 summers) as a camp counselor

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-3 years on my university's club lacrosse team
-1 semester study abroad
-4 years intramural softball
-Hobbies (art, music, hiking, running)
-High school:
---3 years community service club (president for 1 year)
---4 years JV and Varsity softball
---5 summers of competitive club softball

Letters of Recommendation:
-DVM from clinic where I work
-Medical operations manager at the shelter
-Biology lab professor
-Italian professor
 
Last edited:
haha...
Well my parents probably would adopt you guys if I begged them...
😀

Yeah, I have gotten to do some amazing stuff because of it.....
we raised mountain lions and wolves in our house, we have had people drop off alligators and 15ft burmese pythons on our doorstep, and the list could o on...
and my dad gets invited to all these awesome conferences, some of which he takes me with.
Last year I got to meet Jeff Corwin and Jack Hanna,
Its been pretty cool.


Racccjlm-
your experience is pretty awesome as well!! That HS program sounds like the coolest thing ever!!
Don't you LOVE being in a zoo 24/7!?!?😉
 
zoogirl88 said:
haha...
Yeah, I have gotten to do some amazing stuff because of it.....
we raised mountain lions and wolves in our house, we have had people drop off alligators and 15ft burmese pythons on our doorstep, and the list could o on...
and my dad gets invited to all these awesome conferences, some of which he takes me with.
Last year I got to meet Jeff Corwin and Jack Hanna,
Its been pretty cool.
Click to expand...

:wow: so so so jealous. (I secretly want to raise a fox haha)
 
zoogirl88 and racccjlm- I am SO jealous of BOTH of you! If I could do voodoo, I would voodoo myself into your lives and re-do my high school years in your shoes!
 
twelvetigers said:
I'm not sure that's how voodoo works...
Click to expand...

Maybe she plans to torture the parents until they adopt her?

CONGRATS to everyone posting on this thread!!! 😀 😀 😀 (really really hoping that I'll be on here soon too 🙂 )
 
I'm not well schooled in the art of voodoo
 
nyanko said:
I don't regret my prior indiscretions. If Davis sees fit to accept me this time, I will lay it all out here - hell, I did it once already after my post-mortem. I learned an immeasurable amount from all of my experiences and I had a damn good time doing it, and I won't apologize for it. And if any of my future peers think worse of me for it, well, they aren't peers I want to associate with anyway.

Sorry about the long-windedness, and like I said, I respect your choice not to post, but just saying "you CAN do it" rarely does any good without some story to back it up. 😉
Click to expand...

I absolutely agree.
Reading the stats for people with less than 3.2 gpa gave me the guts to return to academia.
 
zoogirl88 said:
Racccjlm-
your experience is pretty awesome as well!! That HS program sounds like the coolest thing ever!!
Don't you LOVE being in a zoo 24/7!?!?😉
Click to expand...

It was an incredible experience - I will say that much! These days I'm a lot more into wildlife stuff - seeing animals get released, etc. but it was definitely a wonderful way to grow up!
 
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