I am baffled to be posting here lol I really did not think this was going to be my year!!
Age, Gender, State/Country of Residence, Traditional/Non-traditional applicant, # of times you've applied: 28, female, NY, non-trad in career/school -- I studied journalism and environmental studies with a minor in anthrozoology; I wanted to be a naturalist. 2nd time applying(ish)
Applied: Ohio, Tufts, Colorado, and Ross
Interview Invites: Ohio, Tufts, Ross
Waiting to hear:
Accepted: Ohio, Tufts, and Ross
Attending: **Update: Attending Tufts!! but wanted to leave my initial thought process because that matters too
Likely Ohio!! still heavily considering Tufts since I want to live and practice in New England eventually, buuut pretty sold on Ohio's fourth year flexibility and tuition.
Overall GPA: 3.50 at time of application
Science Prerequisite GPA: 3.43!! -- baccalaureate science GPA was 3.11!! I really pulled this up with grad school and my vet tech program
Last 45 GPA: 3.71 at time of application; it's like a 3.89 now but the schools wouldn't know that
GRE (Q/V/W): x (%) / y (%) / z (%) -- lol I can't seem to access my account but it was
not spectacular, something like 31% quant, 80% verbal, 92% writing. I think it was a 307 combined and 312 with writing. I applied to schools that didn't require it.
Degree(s): MS in Environmental Science with a focus on wildlife health. My thesis examined the relationship between epidemiological zoonotic disease reporting to temperature/climate change variables and further used my journalism degree to examine how this was communicated through newspapers in New York State. Super interdisciplinary, very applied One Health. Still working on publication.
BS was Environmental Studies & Journalism with a minor in anthrozoology. Prior majors in anthropology and theatre before switching which are evident on transcript.
AAS in veterinary technology, graduating July 1st. I don't necessarily recommend this route, but it was recommended to me and I don't regret it.
Veterinary Experience:
Experience - (hrs) - 3000+ wildlife, 1000+ small animal (shelter/private practice/corporate practice). maybe ~20 large animal hrs from the shelter clinic. Worked in multiple states, with evident wildlife focus.
Animal Experience:
Experience - (hrs) - 640 from a seasonal internship AZA accredited facility
~20 hours goat sitting for an ecology organization that utilizes herds of goats to eat invasive plants lol
~100 hrs at a clin path lab!! I stuck this here because it seemed like the compromise between veterinary experience and the other options lol. We are 'technically' supervised by veterinarians but I never ever see them. I mostly run cbcs, perform differentials, run urinalysis, make cultures, etc. I don't typically physically touch the animals. Basically I put this here as a wild guess of where to place it, and no one has said anything about it.
Research:
Experience - (hrs)
I think this is what set me apart. Between my Master's research and seasonal field positions -- 3200+ hours
Extracurriculars/Awards:
Experience - (hrs)
- Helped start the women's varsity ice hockey team in high school (seriously -- include
every experience you can think of especially if you were too busy to pursue leadership in clubs in college. I ended up discussing this in my interview, and this experience is 10 years old!)
- Editor in chief high school newspaper
- Environmental columnist in undergrad
- Intramural soccer; recreational ice hockey, fencing, surfing, dance. Probably some other sports I can't remember at the moment.
- I've been a guitarist since high school
- Theatre -- volunteering with youth theatre has been a big part of my life; I've also acted and worked on shows in and after college
- Polish teaching - lol I'm a dual citizen and grew up helping my mom teach Polish at the local Polish school
- ESL teaching
- Web design/social media/graphic design etc for a wildlife organization I am part of
Non-Animal Employment:
Experience - (hrs)
Barista and stage manager at a local coffee shop - ~4 years; total coffee shop experience: 7 years
All paid technical theater experience.
Freelance writer -- side note if you are looking for gigs that pay well you don't necessarily need a specialized degree to freelance write, you can do it from home and make decent cash.
LORs:
Title of recommender (Vet? Manager? Supervisor? Vet tech?)
- Wildlife veterinarian who has mentored me for ~8 years.
- Medical director & veterinary orthopedic surgeon at the shelter clinic I worked at
- Field supervisor for seasonal ecology job
- Grad school advisor
- Clin path professor/externship site supervisor; she is an LVT and holds other degrees and certs
Essay Questions/Personal Statement:
Summary of what you wrote about
I'm literally a writer and had
the worst time trying to write these.
Goals: Mine are very specific and I broke these up and illustrated how they are interconnected:
Veterinary pathologist -- preferably zoological pathologist; wildlife rehab center veterinarian to pay it forward to not only the vet but also the volunteers that helped 'raise' me in the field; teach at a vet school. I explained how I intend to tie my research experience into my work as a veterinarian. I explained how I learn through art (drawing) and at the risk of sounding childish -- wrote how I am enamored with the idea of becoming a wildlife disease detective. I think careful creativity with writing can really make you stand out; remember that simplifying ideas can reflect solid understanding if the technique is utilized correctly.
I highlighted my international experience regarding how veterinarians contribute to society, as well as One Health. This was a risk because it's kind of a buzzword, but since my career genuinely
thoroughly embodies it (wanting to be a One Health researcher and work in epidemiology and pathology and then
write about it ((eg books, articles)) -- things that I am already on my way to doing -- I think it worked)
And then for the last one I wrote about interpersonal skills, and how my classmates and I have helped pull each other through the pandemic. I wanted to highlight that it's a team sport at the end of the day
For the Tufts personal essay, not even kidding, I wrote my essay about Indiana Jones.
For the interviews I honestly thought the leadership questions were the most intimidating but I like to fall back on a quote a friend once told me -- the best way to lead is by example, and I guess that went okay too.
I'm so so baffled I got in this round -- I went from thinking I would apply to see where I stand and get a couple file reviews to better prep for next year and nowww I'm going to start my journey to become a veterinarian. I could cry, man.
**updated to reflect acceptance to Tufts
still stunned
🧡
