Age, Gender, State/Country of Residence, Traditional/Non-traditional applicant, # of times you've applied:
27F, GA/USA, non-trad, first-time applicant.
So excited to finally be able to post here. Over 2 years ago, I decided to make the jump from software development into veterinary medicine and I’ve been following these threads ever since.
@EngrSC 's posts were a HUGE motivator for me when I was trying to figure out if this was even possible. There is hope for us non-trad, low-GPA people!!
Applied: UGA (IS), Iowa, CSU, LIU, Midwestern, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, LSU, Tufts, UPenn
Interview Invites: LIU, Ohio, Minnesota, Midwestern
Waiting to hear:
Waitlisted: CSU, LIU (top half), Ohio State (#20)
Rejected: Tufts, LSU, Arizona, Wisconsin, UPenn
Accepted: Midwestern, Minnesota, UGA, Iowa
Attending: Most likely UGA, but waiting to see if any OOS financial aid/scholarships
Overall GPA: 3.17
Science GPA: 3.78
Prerequisite-Only GPA: 3.83 - 3.93 (Depending on school and if they grade replace)
Last 45 GPA: 3.93
Degree(s): Computer Science B.S. 2021 (graduated with a 2.8)
Veterinary Experience:
GP vet assistant (small animal/exotics) - (1700 hrs)
ER scribe (small animal/exotics/wildlife) - (400 hrs)
Animal care at lab hospital (lab animal/primates) - (150 hrs)
Vet assistant volunteer - (100 hrs)
Shadow - Large animal vet (5 hrs)
Animal Experience:
Low-cost vaccine clinic volunteer (200 hrs)
Various shelter volunteering / animal care (300 hrs)
Bird rehab volunteer / animal care (50 hrs)
Research:
Research Coordinator, working with various species of primates (200-300 hrs at time of submission)
Extracurriculars/Awards:
Nominated Student of the Semester by two professors (Spring 2024)
Non-Animal Employment:
Software Development - Worked as a software developer in finance (2000 hrs)
User Experience Intern - Summer tech internship for a large bank (500 hrs)
Small art business owner / traveling artist (250 hrs)
Student assistant for university (600 hrs)
Server (350 hrs)
Barista (45 hrs)
LORs:
DVM - Medical director, GP
DVM - Associate, GP (Same clinic as above)
Professor - Organic Chemistry I
Professor - General Chemistry I & II
Essay Questions/Personal Statement:
Personal Statement: Discussed my nontraditional path going from CS to vet med. I discussed why I picked CS originally, what I learned after working in the field, and how I found vetmed to be a better fit. I talked about challenging situations in vet med that I experienced and acknowledged the harsher realities of the field. I explained why I want to pursue a career in vet med despite all of these things.
Explanation Statement: Talked about growth as a student compared to when I started university almost 10 years ago. I candidly discussed my less-than-stellar background - ADHD, lack of effective coping mechanisms, which eventually led me to academic probation. After that short paragraph, I spent the rest of the essay discussing what I learned from the experience and my current academic/professional abilities. I made sure to back up my statements with evidence. (Note upward trends, any awards/recognition, etc)
Diversity Essays: Talked about my family’s more utilitarian view on animal ownership (cultural differences), why I felt like this field wasn’t for someone like me, and discussed how my unique perspectives will contribute to the field.
(Also shoutout to those who helped edit my personal statement and/or explanation statement for what felt like a gazillion times (in no specific order):
@sheepshepherdess,
@eleanor713,
@happybirdnerd,
@lianguine,
@dboltz,
@Butterflyeffect,
@Cami194,
@vetcowboy. I really could not have done this without you guys helping me with narrative, direction, and grammar. THANK YOU for taking the time out of your busy schedules to offer advice to all of us here.)
