Successful Applicant Stats Class of 2016

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Already know where I am going :) So here goes nothing... Not exactly sure what Penn saw in my that was worthwhile but I am eternally grateful. :love:

APPLICANT STATS
-1st time nontraditional applicant, 28 years old, female, NJ resident
-interested in SA (not sure if I want to specialize or not) and especially shelter medicine
-Applied: Penn, Ohio, Minnesota, Auburn, VMRCVM, Cornell, UC Davis, NCSU, Missouri, Mississippi, Florida, Washington, RVC and UC Dublin (14 total)
-Withdrawn: Auburn, Mississippi, Minnesota, VMRCVM
-Waitlisted: Ohio
-Accepted: Penn, RVC
-Attending: UPENN <3

ACADEMICS
-Undergrad Institution: Syracuse University (BSW) - too embarassed to say, but my cum GPA should leave you with some indication ;)
-Graduate Institution: Florida Atlantic Universty (MSW) - Graduated with 3.8 GPA
-Current Institution: Rutgers University - non matriculating (to complete pre-requesites)
-Cum GPA: 3.34
-Last 45 credit hrs: 3.71
-Science: 3.89
-GRE: 730 Q (77%), 450 V (49%), 4.5 AW (67%)

HONORS AND AWARDS
-Graduated Magna Cum Laude from FAU Graduate program
-Dean's list at Syracuse University for some semesters
-National Scholar's Honor Soceity
-Named Who's Who from Florida Atlantic University
-Many awards from competitive 5K and 10K runs
-Horse riding awards


VETERINARY EXPERIENCE
-1800+ hours - 5 doctor practice in south Florida (veterinary technician)
-1200+ hours - shelter medicine (volunteer veterinary technician)
- 55 hours - equine medicine (volunteer veterinary technician)

ANIMAL EXPERIENCE
- 400+ hours kennel attendant (worked my way up to veterinary technician)
- 25 hours - volunteer at an equine rescue
- 15 hours - broiler chickens (project for Rutgers)
- 120+ hours - equine (took care of a 4 horse barn for a friend for a summer)
- Horse rider and lover since I was 4 (6,000+ hours)
- Equine Assisted Therapy - for my Master's program (part of my internship)

OTHER EMPLOYMENT
- Social Work Intern for Community Counseling practice in South Florida
- Behavioral Health Counselor for the Health Care District in South Florida
- Social Work Intern for a residential children's center (JD kids - that was fun!)
- Relationship Counselor (matchmaker - yeah not proud of this one; seeing as I fail miserably at my own relationships)
- Abercrombie & Fitch - retail (summer job through undergraduate college)

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
- Studied abroad in Australia for a summer
- Traveled to Ireland
- Volunteer camp counselor at a nature center in south Florida (traveled to turtle hospitals, wildlife refuges and toured the Everglades... really a lot of fun for me too!)
- Horse riding all of my life (sometimes competitively, sometimes for pleasure)
- House, Pet and Baby sitting (If it needs to be sat, I sit it)
- Powderpuff football
- Fundraising for the shelter I volunteer at
- Member of a sorority
- Lots and lots of 5K's, 10K's (a runner)
- The Zimmerman MS Bike Ride to Key Largo (150 mile, 2 day bike ride)

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
-1 Veterinarian from the 5 doctor practice in South Florida
-1 Veterinarian from the shelter I volunteer
-1 Organic chemistry professor
-1 Associate Dean at Rutgers
All of these people are the most amazing people I have ever met in my life - and have gotten me through some tough times (true mentors and they inspire me to reach the highest of my potential :oops:)

PERSONAL STATEMENT
I started out with a significant incident in my experience with the 5 doctor practice and how it affected me - explaining the upside and downside of veterinary medcine. I related the incident to other important times in my life (my father suffered a massive stroke which destroyed our family unit). For the most part, my PS was a chronological map of my life indicating how I evolved from the Master's program and to veterinary medicine; and why I want to be a vet.

I had EVERYONE read it (and I am shy about my writing). Most people told me it pulled at heartstrings, but not in a negative way. Not sure if this is the best route only because PS should not be romantic writing. But it worked for a me a bit, while keeping it practical and straight forward (character space was a HUGE problem for a while). Also, I started EARLY and spent many many months writing it.

I can't thank everyone enough for being so supportive and for believing in me - when I didn't believe in myself. I feel SO fortunate for the friends, family, all the doctors that allowed me to follow them around endlessly and the professors that believed in me. And especially thank you to ALLLLLLL of you for listening to the ranting, raving and being so supportive with the first rejection to the first acceptance :love:

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Way to go Oxygen! Penn saw YOU, that's why they wanted you. They were able to see past your early mistakes in college and gave you a chance to show them how bad you want this. Once they saw that, how could they not accept you!

My PS was kinda like yours, not in that I had anything that destroyed my family, but I went with the emotional side of vet med. rather than my skills and experiences. I used my PS to show how my wildlife experiences (taking in animals on the brink of death and experiencing the joy of release and the heartache of death or euthanasia) brought me to the realization of why I want to be a vet.
 
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TT and ARC, you two are inspiring... I too am one of the low gpa'ers. My cumulative is not awesome, my science is not great, but my last 45 is super. I'm taking 3 science classes this semester (online) AND working full + part time. I've got my work cut out for me, but I'm determined to post here next year if this cycle doesn't work out for me. ARC- how does CSU feel about applicants moving to CO just to establish residency?? I know some schools frown upon this. Also, TT, did you move to OK to establish residency or are you actually from there??

Sorry that I am not actually contributing to the topic of this thread!!!

Jemappellejane--

I agree! They are an inspiration to me as well. I am also a low gpa'er. My undergrad was not chosen by me or at a time that I wanted (I initially wanted to wait a yr before college). Consequently, youth and stupidity took over. I had a crappy chem teacher in high school and thought I was hopeless. It really shook my self-confidence as I had always done okay in school. The one thing I did like about my undergrad was all the time I got to spend with horses as part of my degree. I had always been entranced with them and it only grew with the more I learned. Unfortunately, I was not wise enough to get that then.

After a near death experience, I decided to go back so I could apply, I chose my school. I knew how hard I would have to work to beat myself. I have worked hard in school and out but have been feeling disheartened lately. Next cycle will be my third application and I feel like I am coming to a crossroads. I am not a spring chicken anymore:shrug: Time for me to get this show on the road.

Seriously, congrats to everyone getting acceptances!
 
Way to go Oxygen! Penn saw YOU, that's why they wanted you. They were able to see past your early mistakes in college and gave you a chance to show them how bad you want this. Once they saw that, how could they not accept you!

My PS was kinda like yours, not in that I had anything that destroyed my family, but I went with the emotional side of vet med. rather than my skills and experiences. I used my PS to show how my wildlife experiences (taking in animals on the brink of death and experiencing the joy of release and the heartache of death or euthanasia) brought me to the realization of why I want to be a vet.

Welcome to Penn Oxyjen. Sounds like you definitely belong to me.


Thanks guys :oops: You rock. xo
 
Sounds like you definitely belong to me.

Congrats oxyjen! But be wary of the creepy old upper classman;)

(for someone like me who doesn't know HP or Lord of the rings very well, Dobby gets confused with that creature muttering about his precious... So that avatar makes it doubly creepy)
 
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LOL i just read it again and noticed it...:roflcopter:
 
I didnt know if I should've bee creeped out or grateful! Hahaha

Glad I wasn't the only one. It's all good SOV...
 
Thanks Hotfillyky! And don't worry about the spring chicken thing...I'm not one either! I forgot to put that in my stats earlier. I'm a 30 y/o female. And it took me 3 times to get in, but being a vet was my dream and I wasn't going to give up that easy! Hang in there and don't get too discouraged...it'll happen for you! :)
 
Way to go Oxygen! Your definitely inspirational :)
 
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Thanks Hotfillyky! And don't worry about the spring chicken thing...I'm not one either! I forgot to put that in my stats earlier. I'm a 30 y/o female. And it took me 3 times to get in, but being a vet was my dream and I wasn't going to give up that easy! Hang in there and don't get too discouraged...it'll happen for you! :)

Awww, thanks lady! I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet...but it is getting tougher to justify. Besides, my doc wouldn't let me:laugh:. BTW,I am 38 YO.
 
I thought you were not supposed to fill this thread with spam. I was reading one of the previous applicants threads and people got snippy if they clicked on the thread and the newest post was not someone's stats.
 
I sent my deposit in yesterday so I can officially include myself here now!

APPLICANT STATS
-4th time nontraditional applicant, 29 years old, female, OH resident
-interested in SA, general practice, maybe ophthalmology or shelter medicine? Or some combination?
-Applied: Ohio State
-Accepted: Ohio State
-Attending: Ohio State

I do want to add this though:
1st time applying, 2003 cycle
Applied: Ohio, Cornell, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Tennessee
Interviewed: None
Rejected: ALL

2nd time applying, 2009 cycle
Applied: Ohio, Tennessee, VMCRVM
Interviewed: None
Rejected: ALL

3rd time applying, 2010 cycle
Applied: Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois
Interviewed: None
Rejected: ALL

ACADEMICS
-Undergrad Institution: The University of Toledo (B.S. in Biology 2004)
-Graduate Institution: The University of Toledo (M.S. in Biology 2006)
-Current Institution: Case Western Reserve University (Non-Degree, taking science classes my undergrad didn't offer) & Cuyahoga Community College (Non-Degree, Re-took an English pre-req to boost my GPA)
-Cum GPA: 3.43
-Last 45 credit hrs: Um, not sure?
-Science: 3.61
-GRE: 540 (V) 570 (Q) 4.5 (W)


HONORS AND AWARDS
- Graduated Cum Laude from UT
- Dean's list at UT
- UT 2000 Scholarship
- 6 PubMed publications and a few poster presentations


VETERINARY EXPERIENCE
- 700+ hours - SA practice (first volunteer, now paid assistant)
- 22 hours - Equine (one week of spring break)
- 25 hours - Farm Animal (took 3 personal days from work for this)
- 15 hours - SA Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine & Ophthalmology
- 10,000+ hours - Research (this is my full-time job for 5+ years, and although neither of my PIs are DVMs, it still counts b/c they are MD or PhD and are considered medical professionals, I asked.)


ANIMAL EXPERIENCE
- 6+ hours - shelter volunteer
- 10 hours - behavior experience at dog training classes


OTHER EMPLOYMENT
- Teaching Assistant at UT
- Deli Waitress/Manager in HS and Undergrad


EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
- Biology Graduate Student Association at UT
- Society for Environmental & Biological Sciences at UT (President)
- Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society
- Golden Key Honor Society
- Member of a sorority


LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
- 2 Veterinarians at the SA Clinic
- 1 Research PI (I had nightmares about getting fired for asking for a letter, but he was very supportive!)


PERSONAL STATEMENT
This is where I put in the most work. I actually had a file review with the Assoc. Dean at Ohio State and she told me that while I was a good candidate, I wasn't an excellent candidate. So at her advice, I made my PS more self-reflective, and talked more about why I made the decisions I did, rather than just a "list" of my accomplishments and interests.

I also poured my heart out in my Supplemental. I also tried to answer the question "Why do you want to be a vet?" as "How will a DVM help you to accomplish your life goals?" I don't know how much this had to do with anything, but I spent SO MUCH TIME on making it 110% perfect.

As you can see, my gpa is less than stellar, and I have been through so much rejection, but if this is what you really, truely want DO NOT GIVE UP! I went to every file review, and when I wasn't getting the answers I was looking for, I requested a meeting with the dean of admissions. And while she was very helpful, she was also very honest. But I did everything she recommended and I got in. And when I say everything: I re-took the old GRE for the 4th time 2 weeks before the deadline, I re-took an english pre-req at a comm. college after I already have an MS, I asked for a LOR from my boss which terrified me that I was going to get fired, and I wrote a more self-reflective PS and had everyone I know read it including the vets I was volunteering for.

So, my message is: DON'T GIVE UP! If Vet Med is where your passion lies, find a way to make it happen.
 
I thought you were not supposed to fill this thread with spam. I was reading one of the previous applicants threads and people got snippy if they clicked on the thread and the newest post was not someone's stats.

I think it's a little unreasonable to expect people not to comment on other's stats. And I definitely wouldn't consider it spam...
 
Oh Bunny Girl- Your story is so inspirational! Never give up pre-vetters! Thank you for posting! By the way I don't think your gpa is particularly unstellar, so I am shocked that it took 4 times. Good for you for sticking with it.
 
Oh Bunny Girl- Your story is so inspirational! Never give up pre-vetters! Thank you for posting! By the way I don't think your gpa is particularly unstellar, so I am shocked that it took 4 times. Good for you for sticking with it.

Thanks! The vet I work for was accepted on her 5th try, so she is my inspiration. I think the harder you work for something, the sweeter the victory.
 
I think it's a little unreasonable to expect people not to comment on other's stats. And I definitely wouldn't consider it spam...

I think some people were upset because they would see a new message posted in the thread, check it thinking it was someone`s stats and instead be greeted with several repetitive "Good job!" messages. Spam is probably a poor word, but I did not know what else to call "multiple messages from different people saying the same thing".
 
I think some people were upset because they would see a new message posted in the thread, check it thinking it was someone`s stats and instead be greeted with several repetitive "Good job!" messages. Spam is probably a poor word, but I did not know what else to call "multiple messages from different people saying the same thing".

I feel like that is what makes the vet community better than the med community on sdn. We are supportive of each other and like to congratulate each other instead of freaking out that it is off topic like they do in the pre-med forums.
 
I am just saying it because somebody freaked out in the other threads.
And we have cynics here too. :p.
 
WAHOO OH Bunny Girl, so excited for you and can't wait to be classmates in the fall!
 
Congrats OH Bunny Girl! It's so cool to see multiple round applicants hit success :).

Side Note: congrats on this thread seem appropriate. Discussions about residency or specific questions (see previous page) should really be directed to a more specific thread or PM.
 
Oh Bunny girl CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Your perseverance is so inspirational! :)
 
I only applied to my IS so I'm really relieved I got accepted lol
Applied: Cornell
Accepted: Cornell
Attending: Cornell of course!!

GPA: 3.87, Psychology major at Cornell
GRE: 750 math, 740 verbal, skipped the writing (which totally helped my math and verbal because the whole test only took 1 1/2 hrs!)
Hours: 1250, 600 small animal, 200 livestock in India (semester-long internship), 200 research assistant with zebra finches and quail, 150 equine, 60 wildlife health clinic; about 5000 at a horse farm plus 4H, animal shelter (100 hrs), etc

PM me if you have any questions!! Congrats to everyone else and I can't wait to meet all my new classmates!! :)
 
Thanks! The vet I work for was accepted on her 5th try, so she is my inspiration. I think the harder you work for something, the sweeter the victory.

Truly inspirational!! Congrats!!! You deserve it so so much!!
 
OH BunnyGirl you are such an inspiration and I'm so happy you got in! You must be ecstatic!
 
Thanks Squirrels, Corporate, Spoon & Lab Rat! The comaraderie on SDN is amazing! Even though all my paperwork is in the mail, it still doesn't feel real. Once I throw away my GRE flashcards, then it will be real, lol. Oh and once they hire my replacement at work, then it will be really real.

And congrats to Elizabeth22 and all the other c/o 2016ers!
 
Thanks Squirrels, Corporate, Spoon & Lab Rat! The comaraderie on SDN is amazing! Even though all my paperwork is in the mail, it still doesn't feel real. Once I throw away my GRE flashcards, then it will be real, lol. Oh and once they hire my replacement at work, then it will be really real.

And congrats to Elizabeth22 and all the other c/o 2016ers!

seriously OH Bunny Girl, your story is incredibly amazing -- i don't know that i would have had the willpower to apply 4 times! :eek:

congratulations x 1000000000 on getting accepted this year -- your experiences sound awesome and you will make an awesome vet :thumbup: :hardy:
 
Hi non-traditional applicants! I'm very, very non-traditional and wasn't sure how my application would be received. I had really unimpressive stats from undergrad the first time around (C's in Physics, one B, one B- in Orgo, and assorted C's in other random things), but time, and re-taking pre-reqs really does heal some wounds.


1st time applicant, 34 years old, male, NY resident

Applied: Tufts, Penn, Cornell, Illinois, Minnesota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Edinburgh, RVC
Interview: Tufts, Penn, Illinois (declined), Minnesota (declined)
Withdrawn: Wisconsin, Tennessee
Accepted: Tufts, Penn, Cornell, Edinburgh, RVC
Attending: Cornell

Undergrad: Vanderbilt University (biology and art history), post-bacc classes at Hunter College, NYC
Law School(!): University of Michigan

Cum GPA (Including law school): 3.66
Last 45 (all science): 4.0
Science: 3.77
GRE: 700 Q, 740 V, 6 AW

Honors/Awards
Dean's List for every semester of post-bacc, plus 5 semesters of undergrad
Cum laude from law school
Pro Bono award at law firm for 100+ hours of pro bono work per year
Notable achievement award for freshman chemistry and mathematics
Contracts award for highest grade in 1st year contracts class in law school
Honors in legal research and writing
Third author credit in research paper for post-bacc work in research lab

Veterinary Experience
850 hours in small animal clinic as veterinary assistant
160 large animal hours in veterinary clinics in India

Animal Experience
70 hours therapeutic horseback riding organization - tacked up, groomed and led horses
40 hours at farm animal sanctuary cleaning stalls for goats, ducks, etc.

Other employment
12,000 hours as securities attorney in NYC
3.5 years as a software consultant

Other stuff:
-Lots of pro bono work, including two successful political asylum cases for LGBT refugees and representing arts non-profits in NYC.
-Lots of travel, including 2 months in India working with cattle, one year in Seoul teaching English and 3 months working in England as a software consultant
-Running with the NY Road Runners
-One year of cell biology research
-Chamber music choir in undergrad for 3 years

Letters of Recommendation:
-2 Vets from small animal clinic
-1 from partner at law firm
-1 from research professor
-1 from Biochem professor

I have tons of unusual stuff in my background and obviously had to address the career switch. I did a little extended narrative about my childhood desire to be an astronaut and how that desire for adventure and discovery had led me through many different adventures in my life, eventually leading me to veterinary medicine. A bit cheesy, but it worked.

This thread was both helpful and intimidating when I was planning my application strategy. I just want to give some hope to those who are going back for a second (or third) career and have to atone for some early sins. It can be done with lots of work, and vet schools appear to value the life experiences of "mature" students. Good luck to all!
 
Congratulations Bksambo in all of your successes! Good luck in Cornell!
 
Third time applicant, 24 years old, female, Washington resident.

1st time applying 2008 cycle (MI Resident):
Applied: Michigan State, Illinois, Cornell, Washington State
Rejected: everywhere but MSU, where I got waitlisted

didn't apply in 2009 as I was in the midst of my MS degree

2nd time applying 2010 cycle (MI Resident):

Applied: Michigan State, Wisconsin, Washington State
Rejected: everywhere but MSU, where I got waitlisted again
I got into a PhD program at the University of Washington that year and declined that to take my current job and consider applying to vet school again.

3rd time applying! (Washington resident)
Applied: Washington State, Minnesota, and Tennessee
Rejected: Minnesota
Still waiting: Tennessee, but they apparently didn't get my GRE scores so I'm pretty sure that's out
Interview: Washington State
Accepted: Washington State

Education: University of Michigan -- Cellular and Molecular Biology BS 2009
University of Washington -- Toxicology MS 2011

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.3 ish ? went from UG with semesters to grad school on the quarter system.
Last 45 credit hrs: Dunno, 3.6 ish maybe
Science GPA @ time of application: 3.2 ish ?
GRE: 1420. 760q, 660v, 4.5 writing

Veterinary Experience:

-600 hours working as a vet assistant in a small animal clinic
-700 hours (way more now as I've been working there full time since I applied) at a National Primate Center as a molecular biologist/monkey trainer extraordinaire

Animal Experience:
-50 hours volunteering at a large animal/farm animal rescue

Employment:
-1600 hours (ha, i'm sure it's way more) as a research assistant doing research for my MS
-300 hours as a lab assistant in a clinical biochemical genetics lab
-1000 hours working in a pet store

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-IM softball!
-IM soccer
-Pre-vet club

eLORS:
-1 vet from the SA clinic where I worked
-my MS thesis advisor
-post-doc in the lab where I did my MS
-professor from my grad program

Awards and Honors:

-University honors a few semesters
-Robert C Byrd scholarship recipient


I almost didn't apply this year, but the thought of waiting and having to retake my GRE was awful. I completely changed my personal statement, finally deciding to make it mostly about monkeys since 1. monkeys are awesome and 2. I decided that would make me stand out more than anything else I could write about. I think the single biggest thing I did to succeed this year was to not be a Michigan resident anymore! My non-academic accomplishments don't mean as much there.

And I know this is going to sound crazy to everyone, but there's a possibility I'll try to defer or decline my spot. I love doing research and being the top molecular biologist at my job, and I get to train rhesus macaques when I'm not doing molecular bio. I didn't know a job other than being a vet could fit everything that I love so perfectly. I never thought it would be even possible for me to feel this way... but here I am. I'm definitely freaking out about this at the moment... :eek:
 
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And I know this is going to sound crazy to everyone, but there's a possibility I'll try to defer or decline my spot. I love doing research and being the top molecular biologist at my job, and I get to train rhesus macaques when I'm not doing molecular bio. I didn't know a job other than being a vet could fit everything that I love so perfectly. I never thought it would be even possible for me to feel this way... but here I am. I'm definitely freaking out about this at the moment... :eek:

Princesspeaches, you've got a very inspirational story and I love your honesty. (totally jealous too....I would love to work with monkeys, it seems like completely fascinating work!)
I wish I could say something more than the totally unhelpful go-for-what's-right-for-you but that's all I got. Good luck with your decision! :thumbup:
 
So much success from other non-trads, so good to see :)

Peaches - glad your MS/research focus lead you to something you love! Sounds like a tough decision!
 
Princesspeaches, you've got a very inspirational story and I love your honesty. (totally jealous too....I would love to work with monkeys, it seems like completely fascinating work!)
I wish I could say something more than the totally unhelpful go-for-what's-right-for-you but that's all I got. Good luck with your decision! :thumbup:

So much success from other non-trads, so good to see :)

Peaches - glad your MS/research focus lead you to something you love! Sounds like a tough decision!

Thanks guys :) I'll probably be posting a lot more on SDN as I freak out about the future...
 
Good luck at WSU! Wish MSU would have seen more than just numbers.
 
Congrats everyone :) Great year for non-trads (including myself)... I'm proud of us! :love:
 
for those who aren't sure about vet vs animal vs types of animal experience...

1st time applicant&#8212;FL resident, but went to Michigan State...
Applied: MSU (PAS), UF, NCSU, UCD
Rejected: none thus far
Still waiting: UCD, but going to withdraw
Accepted: all!
Attending: ??? taking suggestions, haha

Education: MSU, Animal Science (Production Medicine)

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.8
no idea about science or last 45 hr GPA, but above 3.5
GRE: 580q, 640v, 4.5 writing (see, you can get in even with a crappy Q score)

Veterinary Experience:

-180 hours mixed animal (mainly large)
-235 hours large (production mainly with equine) animal
-170 hours small (shelter) animal
-70 hours equine surgery

Animal Experience:
-14000+ horse hours (I've had horses and been involved in 4-H since I was 7)
-300 hours with the Misty Morning Hounds (foxhunting club)
-75 hours therapeutic riding center
-760 hours songbird research project
-200 hours production animal research projects (various)
-245 hours my own research project with cattle
-360 hours cattle management research project
total research: 1565 hours. whew.

Employment:
-280 hours Biology TA (2yrs)
-145 hours Chemistry TA (1yr)

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-Darwin Day at the MSU Museum
-Honors X2, gifted elementary child mentoring program
-MSU JV Polo team
-Honors College
- 4-H leadership (I held district and state level positions in high school)

eLORS:
-3 vets
-My P.I. for my research project
-My adviser, whom I know well and have had 2 classes with

Awards and Honors:

-Dean's List
-NSF S-STEM scholar
-other scholarships from the school
-Research scholarship
-4-H horseman of the Year

PM if you would like a personal statement example. I really stressed that I want to go into production medicine and how I can to that decision. I've also been told that schools are looking more and more at research experience which really benefited me. The majority of my experience comes from research, which I also stressed.

For those out there who want the animal experience but need to get paid, go forth to research! I didn't have the ability to not have a job at any time (meaning I couldn't find a clinic that would pay me to hang around, haha), so I tried to "kill two birds with one stone", and it works! Good luck!
 
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So excited to be posting here!

About me...
First time applicant, WI resident.
Applied: WI
Accepted: WI!
Attending: Wisconsin!!!

BS in Microbiology from University of Wisconsin 2009
MS in Microbiology from University of Wisconsin- Summer 2012
Cumulative GPA 3.7
Science/ pre-req/ last 45 GPA: 3.6-ish
GRE: 800q, 770v, 5.0 writing

Veterinary Experience (at time of VMCAS):
~700 hours shadowing, then working as a vet assistant at a small animal clinic
~50 hours shadowing pathologists
~50 hours volunteering with ringworm infected kitties at humane society (I put it under vet exp but it's probably closer to animal)
~200 hours research on cardiac birth defects using mouse models
~500 hours working as a microbiologist at a veterinary diagnostics lab (the head of the lab is a vet so I counted it here, I was desperate for hours)
~18 hours shadowing a dairy vet

Animal experience:
~I think I put 6000 hours as a conservative estimate of all the time I have spent with equines, riding, grooming, giving meds, teaching, shoveling manure etc.
~A few hundred hours dog and cat sitting for various people

Work/Volunteer Experience:
~Countless hours in microbiology and engineering research at various labs
~Grader for engineering course
~Waitress at a pub in England, other random jobs
~Lots and lots of biology outreach stuff

Awards and honors:
~NSF GRFP Honorable Mention
~Deans list my freshman and sophomore years
~Undergraduate research awards
~YMCA Volunteer of the Year Award

eLORS:
-My academic advisor for my undergraduate and master's research
-The vet at the small animal clinic
-Two pathologists I shadowed and got to know fairly well
-The head of a microbiology lab where I worked

My personal statement focused on how I decided late int he game to apply to vet school, but once I did I realized it would be the best way to combine my passions for science, animals, and disease research and public health. I want to get a DVM/MPH and work for the government doing infectious disease research, or maybe be a pathologist :)

Basically I got almost all of my experience this past year, working two jobs and volunteering at the humane society while also working on my Master's degree, remodeling our house, and showing my horse. I worked my butt off all spring, summer, and fall without a break but in the end it paid off! And now, once I graduate with my masters, I am taking a loooong overdue vacation :)
 
Just wondering if it would be appropriate for me to post here. I've heard back from all the schools I applied to, but I haven't made a decision yet.
 
Just wondering if it would be appropriate for me to post here. I've heard back from all the schools I applied to, but I haven't made a decision yet.

I don't see why not, you just wouldn't be able to fill in your "attending" yet :D
Congrats on having a choice! :)
 
Female, 26, Wisconsin

Applied: Wisconsin, Auburn, Tennessee, Purdue
Rejected: Purdue (there was a course issue)
Interviewed: Auburn
Accepted: Auburn, Wisconsin
Declined: Tennessee (haven't officially done this yet, but will soon)
Attending: Mostly like.... Wisconsin!


Undergrad: BS, Major in Biology, Minor in Chemistry
cGPA: 3.61
SciGPA: 3.42
Last45 GPA: 3.46

Grad: PhD in Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology (intending to graduate in May 2012), GPA: 3.82

GRE: 610Q, 400V, 4.0W :eek: (Probably one of the worst GREs scores you will see for someone who got accepted... but there's is hope for us who suck as standardize tests)

Veterinary/Scientist experience:
11,000 hours as graduate research assistant working with rhesus macaques... it's a mix of direct scientist and veterinary experience
27 hours shadowing a large animal vet who works with research cows
1200 hours as undergraduate research assistant working with rhesus macaques and their tissues... working directly with scientist
750 hours as vet tech at SA clinic
200 hours volunteering at another SA clinic

Animal experience:
140 hours at local humane society
1120 hours as lab animal tech at pharmaceutical company (worked with rodents, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, cats, cyno macaques)
30 hours at equine farm
750 as kennel tech at SA clinic

Honors:
2 first author published papers, 3 other published papers (not first author)
10 poster/oral presentations at local, national, international meetings
NIH T32 graduate training grant
4 travel awards for meetings
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship: honorable mention
Endocrinology summer research fellow (UG research)
VP and treasurer for UG biology club
treasurer and co-founder for UG pre-vet club
UG honors college scholarship
Principle 2nd violinist for UG orchestra

Activities
Grad seminar, curriculum, and focus group committees
Judge for local science fair
Teacher for seminar on neuroscience and puberty for middle school girls
UG tennis club
UG orchestra
UG biology and pre-vet clubs

Letters of Recommendation:
My PhD thesis advisor
Lab animal vet who I worked with for my graduate research in primates
Lab animal vet who I worked with for my graduate research in primates, as well as the cows involved in research

Interest: laboratory animal veterinary medicine

My personal statement began with me explaining how even though I had veterinary/animal experience from a young age, I didn't figure out that lab animal medicine/research was my niche until towards the end of college. Most of my personal talked about how my veterinary and animal experience during my graduate research have help me realize what an amazing and fulfilling career lab animal medicine is and the skills that I learned in graduate school, which are important for a career as a veterinarian, especially working with research animals.
 
1st time applicant
21 year old, female from Arizona (a state without a veterinary school :()
Applied: Colorado State, Washington State, Oregon State, The Ohio State, U of Illinois, Purdue, U of Wisconsin, NC State
Rejected: none
Interviews: Ohio, Purdue, Illinois (declined)
Accepted: all (minus Illinois)
Attending: Not sure yet, I've got it narrowed down to Colorado, Wisconsin, and NC State based on tuition rates. I'll take input though.

Education:
U of AZ, B.S. Veterinary Science (expected May 2012) with minors in chemistry and creative writing (poetry emphasis)

Cum GPA @ time of application: 3.85 (at UA) 3.88 overall (includes community college)
Science (as calculated by Illinois): 3.84
GRE: 550v, 740q, 4.0 writing (my writing was higher the first time, but the other two were lower)

Veterinary Experience:
-1800 hours small animal (2 different clinics)
-500 research (with a veterinarian)
-50 hours equine

Animal Experience:
-40 hours cattle
-50 hours canine foster organization
-10 hours reptile/amphibian
-10 hours avian
-20 hours porcine
-100 hours pet sitting (all types of animals, including some with medical problems)
-10 hours dolphins
-100 hours rabbits (4-H)
*many of these hours were gained through experiences with my pre-veterinary club*

Employment:
-none (all my employment is considered veterinary experience)

Honors and Awards
-Graduation with Honors
-Graduation Magna Cum Laude
-Campbell Family Scholarship
-Hope I. Jones Scholarship
-Wildcat Excellence Award
-Academic Distinction
-Dean's List
-Dean's List with Distinction
-Betty Udell Marshall Memorial
-Kroger Scholars Award
-H.H. Donkersley Scholarship
-Yuma Sun Scholar - Math
-Presidential Award
-Highest Achieving Student
-Outstanding Achievement
-Academic Letter
-Bonaventure Award
-Exemplary Student
*many of these were received multiple times. As I am just now finishing up my undergrad I went back through high school for some of these*

Extracurricular/Community Activities:
-GoodWill GoodGuides
-Tucson Rodeo Volunteer
-Research of Archaeviruses
-Pre-Veterinary Club (I held three different offices in my four years)
-Educational trip to China
-Academic Decathlon
-Teacher's Aide
-National Honor Society
-Mock Trial
-Big Brothers, Big Sisters
-Health Careers Club
-Odyssey of the Mind
-Taekwondo (I achieved a rank close to black)

eLORS:
-1 clinical veterinarian
-My P.I. (research/academic veterinarian)
-1 professor (prominent plant geneticist)

My personal statement focused on my giving back and educating others. It highlighted an experience that really drove me to the field as well as other experiences that led to my passion of client education. Some of those experiences were veterinary and others involved tutoring.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. I've been getting a lot lately from members of my club.
 
I can't believe I'm finally posting on here!!

3rd time applicant, 23 years old, female, SD resident

1st time applying, 2009 cycle
Applied: Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri
Interviewed: Iowa
Rejected: All

2nd time applying, 2010 cycle
Applied: Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois, Colorado
Interviewed: Iowa
Rejected: All

3rd time applying
Applied: Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado,Washington, Wisconsin, Virginia, Oklahoma, Michigan
Interviewed: Iowa, Virginia (declined)
Withdrew: Virginia, Wisconsin, Oklahoma
Rejected: Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Washington,Michigan
Accepted: Iowa
Attending: Iowa!!

Academics:
Undergrad: South Dakota State University: B.S. in Animal Science2010
Graduate: South Dakota State University: M.S. in Biological Sciences-Veterinary Microbiology 2012
-Cumulative GPA: depending on how each school calculated it roughly a 3.36
-Last 45: 3.2 (not including graduate work)
-Required Science: (at least how Iowa calculates it): 2.78&#8230;.yep got C's in most of my chemistry classes and a bio class, but felt like it was a waste of time and money to retake them
-GRE: Took it several times&#8230;my Verbal ranged from 440-520, Quantitativefrom 500-630, and writing from a 2.5-4.0&#8230;best total score: 520 (V) 500 (Q) 4.0(W) on the new scoring system that's a 154 (V) 144 (Q) 4.0 (W) (yep I suck atthese types of tests)

Honors & Awards
Numerous Scholarships in College & High School
Honor Roll all 4 years in high school
Dean's list several semesters
National Honor Society
Spanish National Honor Society
4-H Citizenship Award Trip
Outstanding Sr. Horse Member in 4-H
SD All State Orchestra-2 years

Veterinary Experience
-Large Animal: 245 hrs actual shadowing and assisting, I grew upon a farm, so there's a lot of extra that I couldn't "technically" put on my application because I was told observing work on your animals doesn't count (right!)
-Research: 385 hrs I work at the animal research facility on campus, so there were hours I spent assisting veterinarians from the Vet Science department performing surgeries/taking blood, this included sheep, pigs and mice
-Research: 60 hours, this was on a mouse research project with aveterinarian, performing bleeding and glucose testing
-Small Animal: 325 hrs shadowing and assisting an exclusively small animal vet

Animal Experience
-70 hrs at an equine internship primarily with broodmares pre- and post- partum
-520+ hrs at the animal research facility on campus (cleaning poopand feeding primarily, any veterinary related activities I simply split and put under vet experience)
-7800+ hrs on my family farm: with beef cows, horses, sheep and dogs and cats (I originally estimated more hours on my first 2 application cycles but was told it was "unrealistic")
-2000 hrs working with 4-H animals

Employment
-2500 hrs at a research company dealing on the plant side ofmicrobiology, started as a lab tech and am now currently a Research Assistant
-400 hrs at my county extension office one summer
-24 hrs as a judge at the county 4-H dog show for 3 years
-60+ hrs in a parasitology lab on campus, conducted my own project and will be publishing a paper

Extracurricular Activities
4-H- 11 years- I was every kind of officer there was in my club
Piano- 9 years of lessons
Violin- 9 years of lessons, but I have continued to play for another 6 years
High School Orchestra- 4 years
SDSU Civic Symphony- 6 years
SDSU String Ensemble- 5 years
SDSU College Democrats- 3 years (held an office for 1 year)
SDSU Pre-Vet Club- 5 years
SDSU Horse Club- 4 years
Volunteered at Humane Society

Letters of Recommendation
-Veterinarian from SA clinic that I shadowed
-Supervisor from Research Company
-Advisor from Undergrad
-M.S. advisor
-Professor in animal science that I had many classes with
-PI that I assisted on many pig projects at my job

Personal Statement
So I was told I had a decent PS so I never completely scrapped the entire thing between applications, I did have a file review at Iowa last year and was told it had good content but to rearrange some stuff, and especially emphasize the reasons I wanted to do large animal over small animal. I also threw out a whole paragraph where I basically listed all my experiences (they didn't want to read that over againfrom the application) and put in a lot more of what I had learned from my experiences, and what it had taught me about veterinary medicine. For my supplemental (I will just mention for Iowa), for what I would bring to ISU: I went over some of my unique research experience & went more in depth on what I had learned from it, my music, and the fact that I grew up on a small farm, since a lot of applicants now don'thave that experience.

I took the GRE 4 times&#8230;each time I improved on one section, my other section would go down&#8230;can't help it I'm a horrible standardized test taker! I think my PS this time was a lot more about me and what I had learned rather than just basically saying all the reasons I would make a good veterinarian. I think earning my Masters also helped pull me over the edge! I would say each year my interviews got better, I even teared up a bit in my interview this year, but it was fine! I also feel like I really connected to one of my interviewers over of all things&#8230;my puppy! I think that if you can connect on one thing during your interview your stress level goes way down and you are able to think better, and the interviewers can see that. I had the same 3 people write me recommendations for all three years, and last year wastold they were very strong recommendations, this year I added the other three,to add a little more depth to my application for those schools that look atmore than 3. This last summer I shadowed/assisted a large animal vet that in addition to his regular clients spends one day a week at the sale barn on sale day doing inspections and testing, and lots of PGing cows and vaccinating calves, I think that this typeof experience really helped me. For those on your +2 tries, keep going! Keep improving and the schools will seet hat you really are serious about the profession.

PM me if you have any questions!!
 
I love seeing people post their successes :)

... and futurevet7 its great to see your can-do attitude, your another inspiring story.
 
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