Successful Applicants Stats - Class of 2022

[SnuggleBubbles]

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Super excited to be making this post! Got my acceptance for my top choice last week, but hadn't gotten around to doing this! I can't wait for fall to come around!

18 yr old Female, Tennessee resident, 2nd time applicant

Applied: UTK, Wisconsin, UGA, LMU, Cornell
Interview Invites: UTK and LMU
Alternate: Wisconsin
Accepted: UTK and LMU
Attending: UTK! No brainer right there! UTK is my dream school!

Overall GPA: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
Last 45 GPA: 4.0

GRE (Q/V/W): 155/152/5.5

Degree: BS Animal Science (May 2017)

Veterinary Experience
Kennel/Vet Assistant: 1457 hours between two small animal clinics
Volunteered/shadowed with an equine vet: 72 hours
Volunteered at a shelter's clinic: 44 hours

Animal Experience
Volunteered at the shelter: 60 hours

Extracurriculars/Awards
Certified Martial Arts Instructor: 3048 hours
President's/Dean's List for all semesters since 2013
Top Collegiate Scholar
2 animal science related scholarships

Non-Animal Employment
Courtesy clerk/cashier/day stocker at grocery store: 540 hours
Undergraduate TA: 270 hours

LORs
Small animal vet
Equine vet
Professor that I TA'd for
Undergraduate advisor

Can't wait to meet all my UTK peeps!

 

[futurerescueDVM]

Wow 18?! That’s impressive. Congrats!

Super excited to be making this post! Got my acceptance for my top choice last week, but hadn't gotten around to doing this! I can't wait for fall to come around!

18 yr old Female, Tennessee resident, 2nd time applicant

Applied: UTK, Wisconsin, UGA, LMU, Cornell
Interview Invites: UTK and LMU
Alternate: Wisconsin
Accepted: UTK and LMU
Attending: UTK! No brainer right there! UTK is my dream school!

Overall GPA: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
Last 45 GPA: 4.0

GRE (Q/V/W): 155/152/5.5

Degree: BS Animal Science (May 2017)

Veterinary Experience
Kennel/Vet Assistant: 1457 hours between two small animal clinics
Volunteered/shadowed with an equine vet: 72 hours
Volunteered at a shelter's clinic: 44 hours

Animal Experience
Volunteered at the shelter: 60 hours

Extracurriculars/Awards
Certified Martial Arts Instructor: 3048 hours
President's/Dean's List for all semesters since 2013
Top Collegiate Scholar
2 animal science related scholarships

Non-Animal Employment
Courtesy clerk/cashier/day stocker at grocery store: 540 hours
Undergraduate TA: 270 hours

LORs
Small animal vet
Equine vet
Professor that I TA'd for
Undergraduate advisor

Can't wait to meet all my UTK peeps!

 

[JustPaws]

Update-

Accepted: Texas A&M! Whoop! 🙂 Thanks to everyone who has been supportive, given me advice, and answered even the silliest of questions!

We will miss you in Michigan, congrats on A&M!!

 

[Vombatidae]

We will miss you in Michigan, congrats on A&M!!

Thanks! I'll still be around virtually. I officially got my MSU email confirming I declined admissions with them. It will go to some other happy student 🙂

Sent from my SM-G920T using SDN mobile

 

[vos]

I don't really feel like typing of everything but I'll put out some hope for the low GPA folks out there!
Accepted to my IS school with abooooout a 3.1-3.2 cumulative 🙂

Lots of experiences and whatnot but it can be done! good luck guys

 

[Zazu95]

23 year old female, Michigan resident, 1st time applicant

I'm so excited to be able to post here after waiting what seems like forever!! Also wanted to give hope to those with lower GPAs and who decided on a vet career late in life (summer before junior year of college lol oops)

Applied: Western, LMU, Georgia, Michigan, Purdue (my undergrad)
Interview Invites: Western and LMU
Outright Denied (lol): Purdue and Michigan
Accepted for Admission: Western, LMU
Waitlisted: Georgia
Attending: LMU!!!! Even if I get into Georgia, I fell in love with LMU's campus, the surrounding areas, brand new facilities, etc 😍 lots of room for my pup to run

Overall GPA: 3.39
Science GPA: 3.5 or 3.6
Last 45: 3.7

GRE (Q/V/W) -- (154/154/3.5)

Degree: B.S. in Animal Sciences with a conc. in Biosciences; Minor in Anthropology

Veterinary Experience
vet assistant S.A. clinic with 3 vets: ~1,000 hours (in 1.5 years, I worked my butt off to get this many hours by the time apps rolled around
Work Experience/Research
-6 month research project involving hands-on mice techniques culminating with a presentation at an undergrad seminar
-around 450 hours at the S.A. clinic as intake/kennel worker
Animal Experience
~50 hours volunteering at various shelters
2 summers as a stable hand for my aunt
1 summer as a farm hand working with hogs and beef
Exotic pet sitting for a few people at school
I also listed a livestock management course I took in college that was a semester of hands-on work with sheep, swine, beef, dairy, poultry, pretty much everything. I had heard conflicting things about whether to list college courses as experience or not, but I did and it turned out okay!
Extracurriculars/Awards
Girl Scout Troop Founder/Leader for 2 years
Meat Science Club (Fundraising Chair)
Meat Science Quiz Bowl Team
Helping Paws Club
Dairy Club
Kappa Delta sorority (holding various leadership positions)
Semester Honors twice
LOR Evaluators
Vet I worked for
Research advisor
Anatomy Professor
Meat Science Club Advisor
Other:
I came out of high school having NO idea what I wanted to do, bounced around some ideas (nurse, teacher, hobo..) while going to a community college where I performed MISERABLY for a year. I'm talking a 2.0 GPA tops. Went to another community college where I got it up a little, maybe like 2.5. Somehow managed to get into Purdue (literally no idea how), still didn't excel and maybe got a 2.8. The summer after sophomore year, working as a farm hand for my ex's family, I decided I wanted to pursue vet med so I got in with a local vet (bless her) and worked my tail off to get my GPA up to a 3.4 by the time apps rolled around (I took summer classes both summers, as well).

Note: I never joined pre-vet clubs because the extensive requirements to be an active member in these clubs weren't possible with my crazy schedule of working and taking a ton of courses to boost my GPA. In the back of my head I still think this hurt me a little in terms of Purdue and MSU considering my app I also only had 1 person read all my essays (my advisor and she did it quickly) so in hindsight I would def. have more than one person read them in case that was a factor too

 

[Tenormik]

I don't really feel like typing of everything but I'll put out some hope for the low GPA folks out there!
Accepted to my IS school with abooooout a 3.1-3.2 cumulative 🙂

Lots of experiences and whatnot but it can be done! good luck guys

True statement here - if you get an interview at VMCVM you have same chance as everyone else. My best friend has a 3.9 GPA and got waitlisted after his interview. We all thought he was going to be easily accepted! - Meaning a high GPA doesn’t guarantee anything just as a comparatively low GPA doesn’t mean you won’t get in.

 

[RowenaRavenclaw]

Honestly, when I was filling out my VMCAS last summer I thought it was hopeless. Here's to give all those with lower GPAs! It is possible I was also late to the Pre-Vet game. I figured out this was my dream at the end of junior year in undergrad.
I was waiting to post on here until I heard back from all the school that I applied to.

23 yr old female, Massachusetts resident, 1st time applicant

Applied: Tufts, Michigan State, University of Illinois, Iowa, Midwestern, Ross
Interview Invites: Tufts, University of Illinois, Midwestern, Ross
Waitlist: Tufts & Iowa
Rejected: Michigan State
Accepted: University of Illinois, Midwestern, Ross
Attending: TBD

Overall GPA: 3.36
Science GPA: 3.19
Last 45 GPA: 3.45

GRE (Q/V/W): 158/154/4.0

Degree: BA in Chemistry with Biology minor (May 2016)

These numbers are all pretty rough FYI

Veterinary Experience
Veterinary Assistant/Technician at SA hospital: probably a little under 3,000 now
Receptionist at SA hospital (may have put this under animal experience on VMCAS): 500

Animal Experience
Kennel Assistant in SA hospital boarding department: 160
Volunteer at local animal shelter: 310
Volunteered at SPCA in New Orleans: 40

Research
Worked in Biochemistry lab characterizing a protein in E.coli: 510

Extracurriculars/Awards
Women in Chemistry club for a year
Volunteered in High School Chemistry classroom for a semester
Volunteer at local nursing home for 4 years
Choral Society for a semester
Fairfield Book Award - HS
Dean's List for two semesters

Non-Animal Employment
Dunkin' Donuts crew member for a summer (actually came up in my Tufts interview )
Receptionist at colleges Admissions office for a summer
Worked in stock room of Gen Chem labs for a summer

LORs
Three small animal vets
Chemistry adviser and P.Chem professor
Biochemistry research adviser

Essay Questions/Personal Statement
I wrote about how I was really scared of fractious cats when I first started working in a small animal hospital, I never owned a cat and had little to no experience with them before my time working there. I also put a lot of emphasis in my essays about preventative care and education. In my essays I used real experiences rather than generalizing which I felt made my essays flow better and made them more interesting, although the character limit was tough this year.

 

[Hippogriffy]

First SDN post and thrilled to be joining the Class of 2022!

21 yr old female, Texas resident, 1st time applicant

Applied: Texas A&M, Mizzou, Virginia-Maryland, Purdue, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, NCSU
Interview Invites: Texas A&M, Purdue, and Mizzou
Waitlist: Purdue and Oklahoma State
Rejected: Michigan State, Virginia-Maryland, and NCSU
Accepted: Texas A&M and Mizzou
Attending: TBD

Overall GPA: ~3.9
Science GPA: ~3.9
Last 45 GPA: ~3.9

GRE (Q/V/W): 147/147/4.0

Degree: BA in Biology - Pre-Health (2018)

Veterinary Experience
Veterinary assistant (~4,000 hours)

Animal Experience
Dog walker (~50 hours)

Dog Sitting (~1000 hours)

Research
Microbiome

Extracurriculars/Awards
Various sports

Travel

Non-Animal Employment
Hostess

Cocktail waitress

LORs
Small animal vet

Bio professor

Chem professor


Essay Questions/Personal Statement
N/A

 

[Laurbee2021]

Hi everyone! I am a successful applicant from the class of 2021. I started a blog about my veterinary school experiences. Take a look! Here is a post about my Top 10 Tips for getting into veterinary school. Feel free to let me know what you think or give feedback.

My Top Ten Tips for Getting Into Veterinary School

Thanks so much and congratulations to you all!

 

[eeeee723]

Can't believe I get to post here! I'm so excited!!!!!! Congrats everyone!

21 yr old female, Ohio resident, 2nd time applicant

Applied: Ohio State, Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, NC State, UC Davis, Wisconsin, UPenn
Interview Invites: Illinois, Ohio State
Waitlisted: Wisconsin (#147 OOS), Ohio State (#5)
Accepted: Illinois
Attending: TBD ... hoping the waitlist works out for me at Ohio State, but I really liked Illinois also!

Overall GPA: 3.53
Science GPA: 3.41
Last 45 GPA: ~3.85

GRE (Q/V/W): 158 (73%) /156 (69%) /4.5 (82%)

Degree: BS Zoology (May 2017)

Veterinary Experience
Veterinary assistant at small animal ER: 360 hrs (current position so it has increased significantly since application)
Shadowed mixed animal vet (mostly SA): 260 hrs
Shadowed various SA vets: 80 hrs
Shadowed SA/exotic vet in surgery: 25 hrs
Shadowed equine vet/surgeon: 30 hrs

Animal Experience
Pet-sitting: 310 hrs
Columbus Zoo adult volunteer: 40 hrs
Local Humane Society: 12 hrs.
OSU VMC SA ICU volunteer: 13 hrs.
Therapeutic riding facility horse leader and side-walker: 210 hrs.

Research
Worked at a molecular genetics research facility looking at sequential differentiation in zebrafish - 300 hrs.

Extracurriculars/Awards
Buckeye Optimist Club - President/Secretary
OSU Pre-Vet Club member
Intramural sand volleyball (played 3 seasons)
Dean's List 3 semesters
Graduated Cum Laude and with Honors
*I also included all of my extracurriculars from high school*

Non-Animal Employment
- Student Administrative Assistant at OSU Vet Med Center in Department of Clinical Sciences - worked throughout my entire undergrad (3 years)
- After graduation took a temporary staff position as Education Program Coordinator at OSU VMC Department of Clinical Sciences (4 months)
- Front Office Aide at a physical therapy place in HS (1 year)
- Picked green beans at a local produce farm (one summer in HS) **I was actually asked about this in one of my interviews**
- Cleaned an office building (2 years in HS)
- Babysitting (off and on for 9 years)

LORs
Chair of Department of Clinical Sciences (my boss and also a SA Ophthalmologist)
Small animal ER vet I worked with
Small animal general practice vet I shadowed
One of my other bosses from department of clinical sciences (not a vet)

Essay Questions/Personal Statement
Wrote about my interest in the human-animal bond and how it led me to veterinary medicine. I then talked about how my unique work experience in the academia side of veterinary medicine led me to pursue a future position in academia.

*****In case anyone wants to know, the first time I applied I only applied to my IS (Ohio State). GPA - 3.4, Science GPA- 3.35, Last 45 - 3.4. My GRE was the same as above and all of my experiences were the same except I did not have my position as a vet assistant. I was granted an interview, but was denied admission. In my gap year, I got a job as a vet assistant and I took two classes (my GPA had already improved due to my last two semesters of my undergrad and i simply took these classes to fulfill pre-reqs at other schools). My LORS were almost exactly the same people and my personal statement was along the same lines, just formatted differently due to VMCAS changing to three questions.*****

 

[southpaw93]

24 year old female, Rhode Island resident (OOS everywhere 🙁), 1st time applicant

Applied: Tufts, SGU, Ross, LMU, UTK, MSU, Ohio State, Purdue, Oregon, Oklahoma, Midwestern
Straight-up rejected: MSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, Purdue, Tufts, UTK
Waitlisted: Ohio State (#10), Midwestern
Accepted: LMU, Ross, SGU
Attending: LMU!!! 🙂

Overall GPA: 3.26
Science GPA: 3.22
Last 45 GPA: 2.97

GRE (Q/V/W)- 151 / 150 / 4.8
Degree: BS Animal Science from URI (May 2015)

Veterinary Experience
Veterinary Technician (Head surgical technician ATT of application) at a GP for 6yrs - ~7000+hours
Veterinary Technician at a feline sanctuary - ~620 hours
Veterinary technician at a low cost spay/neuter clinic - ~15 hours
State VMA rabies clinic liaison - 82 hours
Intern at a equine specialist - 20 hours

Animal Experience
Farm Hand - 60 hours

Research
None

Extracurriculars/Awards
AVS club member all 4 years
Plan USA volunteer
Masonic youth group member since I was 11 - 2,600+ hours

Non-Animal Employment
Lifeguard for 5 years, cashier at a small market in our area

LORs
Chief of staff - DVM
2 associate DVMs I work for
VP of Textron - Co-founder of the feline sanctuary I work for
Board certified surgeon
Academic advisor

Essay Questions/Personal Statement
I tried to answer the questions in the best way I could explain my low GPA and express my zeal and passion for veterinary medicine.

Honestly, I truly didn’t think I would even have a chance this year. I would say that overall, the reason that I was even given a shot by any of these schools is because of my experience, my letters of recommendation (especially from the VP of Textron) and my leadership skills from my youth groups.

 

[Futureequinedvm]

21 yr old female, FL resident, 1st time applicant

Applied: UF, Auburn, Mississippi, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas A&M, Kansas
Interview Invites: UF, Auburn, Mississippi, Minnesota, Texas A&M, Kansas
Waiting to hear: none
Accepted: UF, Kansas; waitlisted: Auburn, Mississippi, Minnesota, and Oregon
Attending: UF

Overall GPA: 3.59
Science GPA: 3.32?
Last 45 GPA: not sure

GRE (Q/V/W): 154 (55%) /156 (73%) /4.5 (82%)

Degree: BS Biomedical Sciences (May 2018)

Veterinary Experience
Volunteer at large animal clinic that specialized in equines (during the summers for 5yrs): 1000 hours
Volunteer at small animal clinic (during the summers for 5yrs): 600 hours
Volunteer/Vet nurse at a vet clinic in the Cook Islands (abroad for 1 month, lived on site): 300 hours

Animal Experience
not sure exactly what I put (I should have saved a copy of my application)
Equine Rescue Volunteer
Member of the equestrian team and trained/owned/showed horses locally
4-H (with various leadership positions and animals)
FFA (with various leadership positions and animals)




Research
None

Extracurriculars/Awards
Worked part-time all 4 yrs
Program Assistant for campus recreation department (I was in charge of day-to-day operations, hiring/promotions, implementing drills, etc)
Pre-vet society
Alpha Epsilon Delta (national honor society)
Math Tutor
Full ride academic undergrad scholarship
Highest level of Florida Bright Futures scholarship
Academic honor roll
Study abroad in France for the Fall of my sophomore year
Unsung hero award at work for keeping the department running
Vice President of the equestrian team
High school FFA horse judging and vet assisting competing team member
High school algebra I and pre-cal competing team member
*I included non-animal high school involvement too*

Non-Animal Volunteer work
Club activities and tutoring

LORs
2 of the vets at the SA/LA clinic I volunteer at (one was the owner of both clinics and the other was a board certified equine surgeon)
1 science lab professor
2 work supervisors

Essay Questions/Personal Statement
I wrote about my goals as a vet (pertaining to mixed animal with a focus on equines) and how my abroad experience gave me unique perspectives that I can apply to the vet industry (went into how ethics differed and how vets worked around them, vet medicine in underdeveloped countries/areas etc)


I know my GPA is average but I had quite a bit of diverse experience, I had very strong LORs (many interviews even commented on this), and I usually interview well as I had been doing mock vet school interviews since Fall 2016 and am in charge of hiring/interviews at work which gave me an advantage in understanding the process and what separates a great interview from an okay interview.

 

[MOOSEygoosey]

21 yr old Female, New York resident, 1st time applicant

Applied: Cornell, Washington, Edinburgh, Missouri, Oregon, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Virginia-Maryland
Interview Invites: Washington, Edinburgh, Missouri
Waitlisted for Interview: Florida, Ohio, and Virginia-Maryland (ultimately rejected from all 3)
Alternate: Oregon and Georgia
Accepted: Cornell, Washington, Edinburgh, and Missouri
Attending: CORNELL!!!!

Overall GPA: 3.675
Science GPA: 3.63
Last 45 GPA: 3.74

GRE (Q/V/W): 156/158/5.5

Degree: BS Pre-Veterinary Medicine (May 2018)

Veterinary Experience
Shadowed a small animal vet at his practice: 160 hours
Surgical Intern: 72 hours
Shadowed an equine vet (mostly reproduction work): 225 hours
Artificial Insemination Course: 20 hours
Worked at a small animal hospital: 112 hours
House-call vet: 3750 hours
Rehabilitation work: 100 hours
Shadowing a small animal vet: 3750 hours

Animal Experience
Working with animals at my university: 221 hours
TA of animal science course (included being on-call for lambings and farrowings): 117 hours
Zoo Animal Care Intern: 200 hours
Pet sitting, barn work, volunteer work at shelters, and I was a riding instructor: 935 hours

Research
Research Assistant for an Equine Veterinarian: 180 hours
Animal Care Technician/Breeding Program Director: 1875 hours

Extracurriculars/Awards
Writer for our college newspaper: 2 hours (I had just started)
Member of UMass Cares About Cancer: 20 hours
Program Coordinator/Participant in Livestock Show: 80 hours
UMass Animal Science Peer Mentors: 100 hours
Intramural Soccer: 60 hours
Olympic Development Soccer Program: 150 hours
High School Varsity Soccer Team: 675 hours
High School Varsity Track: 1440 hours
Local Soccer Team: 4000 hours
Participant in NESA (agricultural quiz bowl and livestock judging): 280 hours
UMass Pre-Vet Club: 70 hours
NY Science Olympiad: 1400 hours
Violin Player since 2005: 2000 hours
Horseback Riding: 1950 hours
6 scholarships (high school and undergrad)
Captain of my local soccer team
Medals from Science Olympiad
Ribbons from NESA
All of the honor societies (National, Art, English, History)
Sportsmanship Awards in Soccer as well as League Championships
Model Citizen Award
Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator

Non-Animal Employment
Model (Cashier) at Hollister: 1200 hours
Waitress: 1000 hours
Soccer Trainer: 32 hours
Soccer Referee: 775 hours

Volunteer (not animal related)
Girl Scouts, Horse Therapy, Soccer Training, Tutor, Referee, Relay for Life, Toy Drive, etc.: 1,591 hours

LORs
Small animal vet that I shadowed
Professor/Large Animal Veterinarian that I TA'd for
My PI

I just want to give some clarification, my mother is a veterinarian (only a fraction of these hours are spent with her) so that accounts for a little less than half of my veterinary experience. I left some experience out for the sake of space, all in all I had a total of 8,673 hours of veterinary experience (8,195 SA, 140 LA, 238 Equine, 100 zoo, birds, wild animals, pocket pets) and 3,296 hours of non-veterinary experience (160 SA, 286 LA, 755 Equine, 1875 Lab, 220 zoo, birds, wild animals, pocket pets). Good luck everyone 😍

 

[JCT_Future Vet]

27 year old female, North Carolina resident, 2nd time applicant

Applied: SMU, Tuskegee, LSU, University College of Dublin
Straight-up rejected: LSU, University College of Dublin
Waitlisted: N/A
Accepted: SMU, Tuskegee
Attending: Tuskegee!!!

Overall GPA: 3.01
Science GPA: Not sure
Last 45 GPA: Not sure

GRE (Q/V/W)- 145 / 144 / 4.5 (I suck when it comes to standardized testing!!!)
Degree: BS Molecular Biology/ Minor: Business Administration (Meredith College c/o 2013)

Veterinary Experience
Worked full- time for 3.5 years at Creekside Animal Clinic as a Veterinary Nurse
Currently working part- time, 2- 3 Saturdays a month (2 years part- time status on 4/12/2018)

Animal Experience
Large animal ride alongs with Large Animal Veterinarian, Dr. Donald Fuller of Caswell County

Research
"How Do Internal Parasite Loads Affect the Peromyscus leucopus"
"How Does Simulated Rainfall Affect the Atta columbica"

Extracurriculars/Awards
JCBC Youth Advisor
JCBC Children's Church Teacher
JCBC VBS Teacher
JCBC Youth/ Young Adult Choir, Gospel Choir, Praise Team Member
Mebane First Baptist Youth/ Young Adult Choir Member
Voices of Grace Choir Member
Grace Outreach Ministry Youth Advisor
Inspiration Small Group Member

Non-Animal Employment
Human Resources Coordinator for ARCA (2 year anniversary on 4/12/2018)

LORs
Owner/ Veterinarian Creekside Animal Clinic (former Supervisor)
1 Associate Veterinarian (who I used to work with as a Veterinary Nurse)
1 Board Certified Surgeon (DVM- specializes in Orthopedics, used to assist in surgery)
Academic and Research Advisor at Meredith College
Physics Professor

Essay Questions/Personal Statement
I talked about how my experiences abroad, in Costa Rica, my research experience, and my taking Animal Biology and Medical Parasitology courses shaped my interest in the animal sciences. I also spent a great deal of time elaborating on my experiences within the animal hospital, and how that helped me to narrow down my animal science interests to animal care.

 

[toro2013]

28 yr old, Male, Florida Resident, first time applicant, non-traditional
Applied: UF, Minnesota, Michigan St, VMCVM, LSU, Midwestern, K-State, Iowa St, Wash St, UPenn
Interview Invites: UF, Minnesota, Michigan St, Midwestern, K-State (declined interview), Wash St (declined interview)
Rejected: UPenn, UF, VMCVM
Waiting to hear: LSU (OOS Alternate)
Accepted: Midwestern, Iowa State, Michigan State, Minnesota
Attending: Minnesota

Degree: B.S. in Finance at Florida Gulf Coast University
Cumulative GPA: 2.92 (goes to show you there is hope for low GPA Applicants)
Last 45 GPA: 3.81
Science GPA: 3.92

GRE: 150V/153Q/4.0W

Veterinary Experience (5221 hours)
- 486 hours working as a veterinary technician at a general practice clinic (saw exotics/avian as well)
- 2040 hours working as a receptionist at a small animal specialty and 24 hour ER hospital
- 2580 hours working as a veterinary technician assistant at a small animal specialty and 24 hour ER hospital
- 150 hours shadowing/helping an equine veterinarian at an ambulatory equine practice
- 15 hours volunteering at a wildlife hospital at a conservancy

Animal Experience (155 hours)
- 15 hours in a zoo commissary (volunteer)
- 20 hours with a parrot rescue (volunteer)
- 20 hours at a dog show (volunteer)

Leadership/extracurricular:
- 2 years of a historian of a medical club (founding officer)
- 2 years of Pre-Vet Society (general member)
- 2 years of volunteering during the summer for a CEO academy for high school students (40 hours)
- 30 hours volunteering for drug free collier (local drug prevention organization)

Work Experience
- 550 hours as a line cook (local restaurant)
- 836 hours as a line/prep cook (retirement community)
- 5920 hours as a front end supervisor/fax-n-pull associate (Sams Club)
- 600 hours as a dietary server (retirement community)
- 6880 hours as a bank teller (Regions Bank)
- 2120 hours as a licensed financial professional associate (Prudential Financial)
- 600 hours as a personal banker (Comerica Bank)

Honors/Awards:
- 4 x scholarship recipient
- Presidents list (2 Semesters)
- Summer Sales contest winner (Prudential)


Letters of Recommendation:
- Owner/ Board Certified Surgeon at Specialty/ER hospital
- Small Animal veterinarian from Specialty/ER hospital
- Veterinarian from a veterinary practice consulting company
- Equine Veterinarian
- Calculus Professor from FGCU
- Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship/Professor at FGCU

 

[BestinShowBarbie]

I get to post here finally!!!!!
21 yr old female, Missouri resident, 1st time applicant

Applied: Mizzou, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State
Interview Invites: Mizzou, Kansas, (other two do not do interviews)
Waitlisted: Iowa and Missouri (what??)
Accepted: K State and OK State
Attending: 90% sure I'm going to OK State

Overall GPA: 3.96
Science GPA: 3.92
Last 45 GPA: 3.94

GRE (Q/V/W)-- 156 /156 /4

Degree:
BS Biology (December 2017)
Minors in Chemistry and Physical Sciences

Animal Experience
Lots of equine experience growing up doing rodeos and 4-H
Growing up I worked on the family farm with cattle
Competitively handling, breeding, and training dogs for conformation and various sports in multiple venues for the past 4 years
Volunteered the past 4 years at an educational outreach center handling and providing daily care for multiple birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians, and mammal species.

Veterinary Experience
Worked at a small animal multi-doctor practice part time for the past 2 years as a receptionist and assistant.
Shadowed a large animal and food animal vet for about 100 hours
Spent 40 hours volunteering/shadowing in zoo med.

Research
Actually none. Home and work life prevented me from being able to get involved in much research.

Extracurriculars
Student Ambassador (undergrad)
Biology Club
Youth Group Leader
AKKAOA Newsletter Committee

Awards/Honors
Multiple High School and undergrad scholarships
Dean's List multiple semesters
Graduated with academic honors

Non-Animal Employment
Pharmacy Technician- 4 years before and during undergrad

Volunteer
Multiple church related activities
food kitchens
Nature Reach- listed above

LORs
2 small animal vets- shadowed/worked for 2 years
Nature Reach Coordinator- worked for for 4 years
Genetics professor/advisor- known for 4 years
RVT- worked with for 2 years

Essay Questions/Personal Statement
Talked about how my goal is to bring high end care back to my area as that is a need I believe needs filled. I think it was really important that I gave a very specific goal in the essays and then I was able to expand on that in full during the interview. My talking points during interviews were how and why I am going to get to where I am going. It was important that I had shown them I understood the work required to get to where I'm going.

 

[deleted867257]

19 yr old, Female, AZ resident, 1st time applicant

Applied: MWU-Glendale, Ross
Interview Invites: MWU, Ross
Wait-listed: MWU
Accepted: Ross
Attending: **edited** MWU!

Overall GPA: 3.90
Science GPA: 3.88
Last 45 GPA: 3.95

GRE (Q/V/W): 150/155/5

Degree: None! Was working on B.S. Biology minoring in Chemistry.

Veterinary Experience (~8000 hrs)
- 1500 hours vet tech at an AAHA accredited small animal ER/specialty hospital (and counting.)
- 5000 hours CSR/vet asst./vet tech at an AAHA accredited small animal/exotic/wildlife hospital.
- 1000 hours managing vet tech at a mobile, low-cost small/large animal/exotic veterinary clinic (and counting.)
- 330 hours intern at local humane society (community reach out, animal experience, veterinary experience, etc.)
- 240 hours CSR/vet tech at small animal clinic

Animal Experience (~5000 hrs)
- Volunteer for local Humane Society

Extracurricular:
- Hair and Makeup Board Position for my HS Theatre Department for 3 years (~1000hrs)
- Committee member for local SHOW organization

Research:
- None

Non-Animal Employment:
- None

Honors and Awards:
- All attending semesters on Dean's List
- National Honor Society
- President's Volunteer Service Award
- U.S. House of Representatives Award
- Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition
- Heart of: Outstanding Young Leader Award

LOR:
- GP/ER/Exotic Veterinarian/practice owner worked for 3yrs
- GP Senior/Lead Veterinarian worked for <1yr
- GP/ER/Academic Veterinarian worked for 3yrs
- College Biology Prof
- College Environmental Science Prof
- Humane Society volunteer coordinator

Essay Questions/Personal Statement
I mainly talked about wanting to branch the divide in communication between veterinary professionals and clients; and how experience in shelter medicine has prepared me for a variety of clients. I stressed the importance of my interested in research, shelter medicine, and general desire to continue giving back to my community!

 

[LamJams]

19 yr old, Female, AZ resident, 1st time applicant

Applied: MWU-Glendale, Ross
Interview Invites: MWU, Ross
Wait-listed: MWU
Accepted: Ross
Attending: TBD

Overall GPA: 3.90
Science GPA: 3.88
Last 45 GPA: 3.95

GRE (Q/V/W): 150/155/5

Degree: None! Was working on B.S. Biology minoring in Chemistry.

Veterinary Experience (~8000 hrs)
- 1500 hours vet tech at an AAHA accredited small animal ER/specialty hospital (and counting.)
- 5000 hours CSR/vet asst./vet tech at an AAHA accredited small animal/exotic/wildlife hospital.
- 1000 hours managing vet tech at a mobile, low-cost small/large animal/exotic veterinary clinic (and counting.)
- 330 hours intern at local humane society (community reach out, animal experience, veterinary experience, etc.)
- 240 hours CSR/vet tech at small animal clinic

Animal Experience (~5000 hrs)
- Volunteer for local Humane Society

Extracurricular:
- Hair and Makeup Board Position for my HS Theatre Department for 3 years (~1000hrs)
- Committee member for local SHOW organization

Research:
- None

Non-Animal Employment:
- None

Honors and Awards:
- All attending semesters on Dean's List
- National Honor Society
- President's Volunteer Service Award
- U.S. House of Representatives Award
- Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition
- Heart of: Outstanding Young Leader Award

LOR:
- GP/ER/Exotic Veterinarian/practice owner worked for 3yrs
- GP Senior/Lead Veterinarian worked for <1yr
- GP/ER/Academic Veterinarian worked for 3yrs
- College Biology Prof
- College Environmental Science Prof
- Humane Society volunteer coordinator

Essay Questions/Personal Statement
I mainly talked about wanting to branch the divide in communication between veterinary professionals and clients; and how experience in shelter medicine has prepared me for a variety of clients. I stressed the importance of my interested in research, shelter medicine, and general desire to continue giving back to my community!

Those are really amazing experiences on your resume, but how do you manage to do all that especially with 2 years of pre-reqs for vet school? Not to say it is impossible, but according to your hours alone (8000+5000 = 13000) that is 6 1/2 years of full-time 40 hrs/week *52 weeks/year along with 2 years of college?

So you started volunteering at 13 years old full-time? Or did you work 2 jobs @ 80 hours/week for 2 years and worked + school combined full time the past 2 - 3 years? Sorry I am just having trouble grasping how anyone can achieve that while maintain a stellar GPA.

 

[deleted867257]

Those are really amazing experiences on your resume, but how do you manage to do all that especially with 2 years of pre-reqs for vet school? Not to say it is impossible, but according to your hours alone (8000+5000 = 13000) that is 6 1/2 years of full-time 40 hrs/week *52 weeks/year along with 2 years of college?

So you started volunteering at 13 years old full-time? Or did you work 2 jobs @ 80 hours/week for 2 years and worked + school combined full time the past 2 - 3 years? Sorry I am just having trouble grasping how anyone can achieve that while maintain a stellar GPA.

I started gaining volunteering at 12 years old, had an internship over the summer at 15, worked full-time since I was 16. At several points I was volunteering at two places and working at 1, eventually got hired at one so I was working at 2 and volunteering at 1.
A lot of volunteering was including litters of foster puppies I'd have from 6wks - 4 mos old (they would count these as like 24hr volunteering, but we lessened it for the appliation).
At one of my most recent jobs I was/am working close to 70 hours a week, my grades this semester have definitely suffered (I'll be getting a C in Ochem 2). And, lack of extracurriculars reflected on the hours.
I also started college courses while in HS, so that helped cut my overall course load from then until now.
Because of the numbers, I made sure to provide the colleges with the time keeping from all places (but the mobile, no clocking in/out there) and provide with contact information so it could be verified.

 

[Loganisle]

28 yr old, Male, Florida Resident, first time applicant, non-traditional
Applied: UF, Minnesota, Michigan St, VMCVM, LSU, Midwestern, K-State, Iowa St, Wash St, UPenn
Interview Invites: UF, Minnesota, Michigan St, Midwestern, K-State (declined interview), Wash St (declined interview)
Rejected: UPenn, UF, VMCVM
Waiting to hear: LSU (OOS Alternate)
Accepted: Midwestern, Iowa State, Michigan State, Minnesota
Attending: Minnesota

Degree: B.S. in Finance at Florida Gulf Coast University
Cumulative GPA: 2.92 (goes to show you there is hope for low GPA Applicants)
Last 45 GPA: 3.81
Science GPA: 3.92

GRE: 150V/153Q/4.0W

Veterinary Experience (5221 hours)
- 486 hours working as a veterinary technician at a general practice clinic (saw exotics/avian as well)
- 2040 hours working as a receptionist at a small animal specialty and 24 hour ER hospital
- 2580 hours working as a veterinary technician assistant at a small animal specialty and 24 hour ER hospital
- 150 hours shadowing/helping an equine veterinarian at an ambulatory equine practice
- 15 hours volunteering at a wildlife hospital at a conservancy

Animal Experience (155 hours)
- 15 hours in a zoo commissary (volunteer)
- 20 hours with a parrot rescue (volunteer)
- 20 hours at a dog show (volunteer)

Leadership/extracurricular:
- 2 years of a historian of a medical club (founding officer)
- 2 years of Pre-Vet Society (general member)
- 2 years of volunteering during the summer for a CEO academy for high school students (40 hours)
- 30 hours volunteering for drug free collier (local drug prevention organization)

Work Experience
- 550 hours as a line cook (local restaurant)
- 836 hours as a line/prep cook (retirement community)
- 5920 hours as a front end supervisor/fax-n-pull associate (Sams Club)
- 600 hours as a dietary server (retirement community)
- 6880 hours as a bank teller (Regions Bank)
- 2120 hours as a licensed financial professional associate (Prudential Financial)
- 600 hours as a personal banker (Comerica Bank)

Honors/Awards:
- 4 x scholarship recipient
- Presidents list (2 Semesters)
- Summer Sales contest winner (Prudential)


Letters of Recommendation:
- Owner/ Board Certified Surgeon at Specialty/ER hospital
- Small Animal veterinarian from Specialty/ER hospital
- Veterinarian from a veterinary practice consulting company
- Equine Veterinarian
- Calculus Professor from FGCU
- Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship/Professor at FGCU

Did you mind sharing why UF decided not to accept you? Via private message is fine. I'm non-traditional, soon to be military retiree, and UF is my IS. Honestly, already being rooted in Florida, I doubt I'll apply elsewhere... unless I can utilize it to bargain for acceptance at UF. LOL Thanks for sharing and congrats!

Sent from my SM-G930T using SDN mobile

 

[greeneyegal92]

Due to personal concerns (my poor cat 🙁) and my overly anxious personality I hadn't posted my stats/decision yet!! But fyi for those not keeping up with my shenanigans, I've been DYING to post here since I joined SDN in 2015. As you'll see I don't have a perfect GPA or a stellar GRE score. But what I do have is perseverance and the ability to sell myself and my potential. Here is my story:

Female, 25 years old
3rd time applicant
Home state: Illinois

1st application cycle: Total waste of everyone's time including my own. Rejected: Mizzou and LSU

2nd application cycle: U of I, Cornell, Colorado State, NC State, University Minnesota.
Rejected: Cornell, Colorado State, NC State, Minnesota (After interview)
Waitlisted: U of I

3rd application cycle:
Rejected: Ohio State, Mizzou
Waitlisted: Kansas State, Iowa State, Western, LSU, Auburn.
Accepted: Michigan State, U of I, Minnesota
Attending: University of Minnesota

**Disclaimer you should choose the cheapest option but I've waited way too long to not be happy**

Cummulstive GPA: 3.39
Science GPA: 3.18
Last 45 GPA: 3.64

GRE: 152Q/152V, 4.5 written

Vet Experience:
5,040 hours Vet tech at small animal clinic
60 hours-Week long internship at small animal clinic
840 hours-Wildlife Medicine Extern at California Wildlife Center
~600 hours- Shadowing small animal doctors

Animal Experience:
64 hours-Basic horse care at Giant City Stables
1,200 hours- Animal Nutrition Intern Disney's animal Kingdom
507 hours- Pet Care Associate at Petsmart
1,080 hours- Animal Care Intern, Free Agaim Wildlife Shelter
30 hours-Chairty trip to Nashville Humane Society

Research:
1,040 hours- Research Assistant at Disney's Animal Kingdom, regarding iron level deficiencies in captive rhino populations.
96 hours-Data entry volunteer for a fellow student's PHD project
240 hours- Research Rookie program. Worked on a project with inbreeding coefficients in dairy cattle in correlation to milk quality with a faculty mentor.

Other Employment:
Resident Assistsnt
Math Tutor

Extracirulars:
College of Science alumni recruiter, boating safety education certified, AAZAK member of southern Florida, Saluki science Ambassador, Starved rock running club member, math club, D1 cross country, Track & Field, USAG Gymnastics, Cheerleader, ect. Don't want to bore you.

Moral of the story: Apply smart, Apply yourself, and keep applying. If it's truly your passion and you don't see yourself being anything else stick to it! If you have questions feel free to PM me, I promise I'm helpful and supportive 🙂 Thank you to my SDN family who has always supported me you all are the real MVPs!!😍😍

 

[SkiOtter]

Due to personal concerns (my poor cat 🙁) and my overly anxious personality I hadn't posted my stats/decision yet!! But fyi for those not keeping up with my shenanigans, I've been DYING to post here since I joined SDN in 2016. As you'll see I don't have a perfect GPA or a stellar GRE score. But what I do have is perseverance and the ability to sell myself and my potential. Here is my story:

Female, 25 years old
3rd time applicant
Home state: Illinois

1st application cycle: Total waste of everyone's time including my own. Rejected: Mizzou and LSU

2nd application cycle: U of I, Cornell, Colorado State, NC State, University Minnesota.
Rejected: Cornell, Colorado State, NC State, Minnesota (After interview)
Waitlisted: U of I

3rd application cycle:
Rejected: Ohio State, Mizzou
Waitlisted: Kansas State, Iowa State, Western, LSU, Auburn.
Accepted: Michigan State, U of I, Minnesota
Attending: University of Minnesota

**Disclaimer you should choose the cheapest option but I've waited way to long to not be happy**

Cummulstive GPA: 3.39
Science GPA: 3.18
Last 45 GPA: 3.64

GRE: 152Q/152V, 4.5 written

Vet Experience:
5,040 hours Vet tech at small animal clinic
60 hours-Week long internship at small animal clinic
840 hours-Wildlife Medicine Extern at California Wildlife Center
~600 hours- Shadowing small animal doctors

Animal Experience:
64 hours-Basic horse care at Giant City Stables
1,200 hours- Animal Nutrition Intern Disney's animal Kingdom
507 hours- Pet Care Associate at Petsmart
1,080 hours- Animal Care Intern, Free Agaim Wildlife Shelter
30 hours-Chairty trip to Nashville Humane Society

Research:
1,040 hours- Research Assistant at Disney's Animal Kingdom, regarding iron level deficiencies in captive rhino populations.
96 hours-Data entry volunteer for a fellow student's PHD project
240 hours- Research Rookie program. Worked on a project with inbreeding coefficients in dairy cattle in correlation to milk quality with a faculty mentor.

Other Employment:
Resident Assistsnt
Math Tutor

Extracirulars:
College of Science alumni recruiter, boating safety education certified, AAZAK member of southern Florida, Saluki science Ambassador, Starved rock running club member, math club, D1 cross country, Track & Field, USAG Gymnastics, Cheerleader, ect. Don't want to bore you.

Moral of the story: Apply smart, Apply yourself, and keep applying. If it's truly your passion and you don't see yourself being anything else stick to it! If you have questions feel free to PM me, I promise I'm helpful and supportive 🙂 Thank you to my SDN family who has always supported me you all are the real MVPs!!😍😍

YAYAYAYAYYYYYY GREENIE!!!!!! So happy you finally figured out where you’re going!!!!!
SO PROUD OF MY MANATEE

 

[Vet2022-20224]

Due to personal concerns (my poor cat 🙁) and my overly anxious personality I hadn't posted my stats/decision yet!! But fyi for those not keeping up with my shenanigans, I've been DYING to post here since I joined SDN in 2015. As you'll see I don't have a perfect GPA or a stellar GRE score. But what I do have is perseverance and the ability to sell myself and my potential. Here is my story:

Female, 25 years old
3rd time applicant
Home state: Illinois

1st application cycle: Total waste of everyone's time including my own. Rejected: Mizzou and LSU

2nd application cycle: U of I, Cornell, Colorado State, NC State, University Minnesota.
Rejected: Cornell, Colorado State, NC State, Minnesota (After interview)
Waitlisted: U of I

3rd application cycle:
Rejected: Ohio State, Mizzou
Waitlisted: Kansas State, Iowa State, Western, LSU, Auburn.
Accepted: Michigan State, U of I, Minnesota
Attending: University of Minnesota

**Disclaimer you should choose the cheapest option but I've waited way too long to not be happy**

Cummulstive GPA: 3.39
Science GPA: 3.18
Last 45 GPA: 3.64

GRE: 152Q/152V, 4.5 written

Vet Experience:
5,040 hours Vet tech at small animal clinic
60 hours-Week long internship at small animal clinic
840 hours-Wildlife Medicine Extern at California Wildlife Center
~600 hours- Shadowing small animal doctors

Animal Experience:
64 hours-Basic horse care at Giant City Stables
1,200 hours- Animal Nutrition Intern Disney's animal Kingdom
507 hours- Pet Care Associate at Petsmart
1,080 hours- Animal Care Intern, Free Agaim Wildlife Shelter
30 hours-Chairty trip to Nashville Humane Society

Research:
1,040 hours- Research Assistant at Disney's Animal Kingdom, regarding iron level deficiencies in captive rhino populations.
96 hours-Data entry volunteer for a fellow student's PHD project
240 hours- Research Rookie program. Worked on a project with inbreeding coefficients in dairy cattle in correlation to milk quality with a faculty mentor.

Other Employment:
Resident Assistsnt
Math Tutor

Extracirulars:
College of Science alumni recruiter, boating safety education certified, AAZAK member of southern Florida, Saluki science Ambassador, Starved rock running club member, math club, D1 cross country, Track & Field, USAG Gymnastics, Cheerleader, ect. Don't want to bore you.

Moral of the story: Apply smart, Apply yourself, and keep applying. If it's truly your passion and you don't see yourself being anything else stick to it! If you have questions feel free to PM me, I promise I'm helpful and supportive 🙂 Thank you to my SDN family who has always supported me you all are the real MVPs!!😍😍

You have awesome experiences, its crazy it had to take three years for them to see you deserve a spot! What would you say you really changed that third year that gave you an edge over the other two tries? and Congrats!

 

[greeneyegal92]

You have awesome experiences, its crazy it had to take three years for them to see you deserve a spot! What would you say you really changed that third year that gave you an edge over the other two tries? and Congrats!

#1 I applied smarter. So what I don't have the GPA stats to go to UC Davis or Cornell but not all schools value just academics. I took the time to research schools who would value my varied experiences.
#2 I learned how to sell what I am good at. Don't downplay your success and only talk about your shortcomings you end up sounding really negative. Only positive language in your personal essays
#3 Having more experiences with clients I can confidently say I can kill any interview. I like to make everyone feel comfortable by sharing a good laugh and personal stories

**Long story short learned from experience 😉

 

[Southern_Exotic_Vet]

22 yr old female, Georgia resident, 1st time applicant

Applied: Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tuskegee
Interview Invites: Auburn, Mississippi, and Tuskegee (Georgia doesn't do interviews)
Waiting to Hear: Tuskegee
Rejected: Georgia
Waitlisted: Auburn
Accepted: Mississippi
Attending: Mississippi!!!!!!

Overall GPA: 3.95
Science GPA: 3.90
Last 45 GPA: 4.00

GRE (Q/V/W): 156/159/3.5

Degree: BS in biology and biblical studies with a minor in chemistry (May 2018)

Veterinary Experience:
1) Volunteer at Chestatee Animal Hospital: 45 hours
2) Volunteer at Toccoa Veterinary Hospital: 555 hours

Animal Experience:
1) Conservation Education Intern at the Greenville Zoo: 200 hours

Research:
1) Authored a review article summarizing the state of knowledge regarding the use of nutritional supplements in canine oncology: 80 hours

Extracurriculars/Awards:
1) SGA Club Officer: 65 hours

Non-Animal Employment:
1) Tutor in science, math, English, and biblical studies: 230 hours

Non-Animal Volunteer:
1) Assistant to the Getaway Coordinator with Special Touch Ministry: 135 hours
2) Leadership Resident with Georgia Student Ministries: 680 hours
3) Volunteer Staff and Team Leader with Georgia Children's Ministries: 880 hours
4) Volunteer with Toccoa Assembly of God Children's Ministries: 5400 hours

LORs:
1) Intern Coordinator
2) Tutor Supervisor
3) Professor and Dean
4) Former Professor and Advisor
5) Current Professor and Advisor
6) Veterinarian

 

[MixedAnimals77]

#1 I applied smarter. So what I don't have the GPA stats to go to UC Davis or Cornell but not all schools value just academics. I took the time to research schools who would value my varied experiences.
#2 I learned how to sell what I am good at. Don't downplay your success and only talk about your shortcomings you end up sounding really negative. Only positive language in your personal essays

For anyone reading through this thread to compare themselves for upcoming applications these 2 things are like the most important pieces to an application imo and greenie said it better than I could've. Apply smart and be positive in your essays. Everyone has experiences, but it's how you present them and play to your strengths that make you a successful applicant-you save application and interview money that way too 😉

 

[Southern_Exotic_Vet]

22 yr old female, Georgia resident, 1st time applicant

Applied: Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tuskegee
Interview Invites: Auburn, Mississippi, and Tuskegee (Georgia doesn't do interviews)
Waiting to Hear: Tuskegee
Rejected: Georgia
Waitlisted: Auburn
Accepted: Mississippi
Attending: Mississippi!!!!!!

Overall GPA: 3.95
Science GPA: 3.90
Last 45 GPA: 4.00

GRE (Q/V/W): 156/159/3.5

Degree: BS in biology and biblical studies with a minor in chemistry (May 2018)

Veterinary Experience:
1) Volunteer at Chestatee Animal Hospital: 45 hours
2) Volunteer at Toccoa Veterinary Hospital: 555 hours

Animal Experience:
1) Conservation Education Intern at the Greenville Zoo: 200 hours

Research:
1) Authored a review article summarizing the state of knowledge regarding the use of nutritional supplements in canine oncology: 80 hours

Extracurriculars/Awards:
1) SGA Club Officer: 65 hours

Non-Animal Employment:
1) Tutor in science, math, English, and biblical studies: 230 hours

Non-Animal Volunteer:
1) Assistant to the Getaway Coordinator with Special Touch Ministry: 135 hours
2) Leadership Resident with Georgia Student Ministries: 680 hours
3) Volunteer Staff and Team Leader with Georgia Children's Ministries: 880 hours
4) Volunteer with Toccoa Assembly of God Children's Ministries: 5400 hours

LORs:
1) Intern Coordinator
2) Tutor Supervisor
3) Professor and Dean
4) Former Professor and Advisor
5) Current Professor and Advisor
6) Veterinarian

This just goes to show that little experience with high GPA can also get you into your dream school!

 

[maria1313]

You guys, my GPA is LOW... my overall GPA from just my undergraduate degree was a 2.7 (YIKES).

Congratulations! That is so exciting! I am applying to all of the same schools as you other than Ross, I am applying to Dublin instead. I am nervous though because I feel the same way that you talked about in your post. Part of me is expecting 4 rejections with no interviews because my GPA is a 3.1. Did they count your cumulative GPA as a 2.7 from undergrad? Or did they look at it as the 3.24 that you talked about? I am really nervous because Edinburgh is my dream school, but it sounds like they may not want me due to my GPA. Sorry for all the questions, just super nervous and I can REALLY relate to what you wrote about!!! Congrats again!

 

[RedLauren]

***** EDITED: I got called off the CSU waitlist and was offered a $10,000 scholarship so I will be turning down my offer to the RVC and accepting CSU! Go ramssssss!!

I AM SO EXCITED TO FINALLY POST ON THIS THREAD! I have been lurking on SDN for years and have been active on it more recently. I am blown away and I never thought I'd actually have the results I did this year. Part of me still thinks my acceptances were sent on accident by mistake but I'm working on that.

25 year old, Texas resident, 2nd time applicant

Applied: Minnesota, Michigan State, RVC, Iowa State, LSU, UC Dublin, Colorado State, Kansas State, St George
Interview Invites: Minnesota, Michigan State, RVC, Colorado State, St George, Kansas State (declined invite)
Waiting to Hear: None
Rejected: UC Dublin
Waitlisted: LSU (#27),
Accepted: Minnesota, Colorado State (called off waitlist 4/23), Michigan State (called off waitlist last week), RVC, Iowa State, St George
Attending: COLORADO STATE!!!

Each school calculated this slightly differently depending on their policy for retaking a class but according to VMCAS:
Overall GPA: 3.02 (THIS IS NOT A TYPO. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. MIRACLES HAPPEN)
Science GPA: 3.97
Last 45 GPA: 3.97

GRE (Q/V/W): 153/163/4.0

Degree: BS in Animal Science, minor in Pre-Veterinary Medicine (May 2017)

Veterinary Experience:
1) Volunteer vet assistant at small zoo / wildlife rehabilitation center on the Caribbean island I lived on as a teenager - 500 hours
2.) Shadow at small animal clinic on that same island - 200 hours
3.) Veterinary technician at three different, busy small animal hospitals - 6,000 hours
4.) Veterinary technician at a mobile veterinary service (small animal) - 550 hours
5.) Veterinary technician for mobile low cost vaccine vet, servicing low-income areas (small animal) - 200 hours
6.) Currently work as a virology technician under a veterinary pathologist at a veterinary diagnostic lab. I started this job after I submitted my application but I talked about my experiences here during my interviews and I believe it helped me be a more well-rounded applicant - 900 hours


Animal Experience:
1) Hands-on large animal experience (cattle, pigs, and horses) from the laboratory portion of my undergraduate animal science classes (animal breeding & genetics, animal reproduction, animal feeds & feeding.. ect) - 150 hours
2.) Growing up with and helping tend to boer goats, swiss brown cattle, and cornish hens on my dad's farm- 500 hours
3.) Volunteering at local animal shelter - 300 hours
4.) Pet sitting and dog walking - 300 hours
5.) Volunteer at local aquarium cleaning tanks and feeding fish - 100 hours

Research:
1) Research aid for my genetics professor in undergrad. Her research was on gene regulation in drosophila and was published. Sorted flies, made fly food, kept logs of crosses - 80 hours

Extracurriculars/Awards:
1.) Officer position in my school's leadership & success club - 1 semester officer, 1 semester member
2.) Active in my school's chapter of Secular Student Alliance - 3 semesters
3.) Deans List / President's Honor Roll for four consecutive long semesters
4.) Awarded Dean's Scholarship for Academic Achievement - 2 semesters
5.) Awarded small grant for academic merit at my community college
6.) PADI Dive Master

Non-Animal Employment:
1) Supplemental Instruction (SI) leader for Biology - 2 semesters
2.) Teaching Assistant for Cellular Biology - 1 semester
3.) Worked for my parents' real estate business. I kept logs of everything they did in QuickBooks and managed work orders and maintenance requests - 2000 hours
4.) Cocktail waitress at a busy bar - 1500 hours


Non-Animal Volunteer:
1) Volunteer at beach clean up organization. I organized and cleaned up my local beach and took part in education and outreach programs for the local kids in my area (again, the island I was on in the Caribbean) - 200 hours

LORs:
1) Small Animal Vet I was a tech under
2.) Professor I was a TA and research aid for
3.) Another small animal vet I was a tech under
4.) Zoo vet I volunteered under in the caribbean

Personal Statement:
Talked about how I initially wanted to make a career of scuba diving, but as I saw my island become a more popular tourist destination I also saw the coral reef deteriorate over time. I became involved with the local marine park org and volunteering at wildlife rehab center / zoo and my interest began from there.


Lots of people ask me why I didn't apply to Texas A&M and the reason is simple - I did not stand a chance. I met with an adviser and went to folder review last year and was told that one of my GPA requirements is too low to meet the minimum requirement, even after repeating every class I got worse than a B in (luckily none of these were math or science courses. I was young and dumb and unmotivated, but I got my act together).

I felt like it was such a long shot applying out of state but I gave it my all and hoped for the best. I cannot stress enough how important strategy is when applying to vet schools. Last year I picked the schools who's location I liked the best and that was SO STUPID. This year I only applied to schools who either do not look at cumulative GPA, don't place much emphasis on it, or count repeated courses as grade replacement. I called up every single vet school and asked them these questions if it wasn't written on their website (if you'd like to see my notes on this then message me). Every school (except the RVC) met these criteria. I applied to the RVC as a crap shoot, not thinking I'd get in and here we are!

This forum has been such a valuable resource for me as I was navigating the application process. I was motivated by your successes and grounded by the reality of how difficult admission into vet school, vet school itself, and life after vet school really is. But regardless of the fact that we're all essentially competing with each other, we still are a community and support each other. Call it "spreading misinformation" if you want, but that is really something special.

 

[kittydr2022]

Can't believe I get to post here! I'm so excited!!!!!! Congrats everyone!

21 yr old female, Ohio resident, 2nd time applicant

Applied: Ohio State, Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, NC State, UC Davis, Wisconsin, UPenn
Interview Invites: Illinois, Ohio State
Waitlisted: Wisconsin (#147 OOS), Ohio State (#5)
Accepted: Illinois
Attending: TBD ... hoping the waitlist works out for me at Ohio State, but I really liked Illinois also!

Overall GPA: 3.53
Science GPA: 3.41
Last 45 GPA: ~3.85

GRE (Q/V/W): 158 (73%) /156 (69%) /4.5 (82%)

Degree: BS Zoology (May 2017)

Veterinary Experience
Veterinary assistant at small animal ER: 360 hrs (current position so it has increased significantly since application)
Shadowed mixed animal vet (mostly SA): 260 hrs
Shadowed various SA vets: 80 hrs
Shadowed SA/exotic vet in surgery: 25 hrs
Shadowed equine vet/surgeon: 30 hrs

Animal Experience
Pet-sitting: 310 hrs
Columbus Zoo adult volunteer: 40 hrs
Local Humane Society: 12 hrs.
OSU VMC SA ICU volunteer: 13 hrs.
Therapeutic riding facility horse leader and side-walker: 210 hrs.

Research
Worked at a molecular genetics research facility looking at sequential differentiation in zebrafish - 300 hrs.

Extracurriculars/Awards
Buckeye Optimist Club - President/Secretary
OSU Pre-Vet Club member
Intramural sand volleyball (played 3 seasons)
Dean's List 3 semesters
Graduated Cum Laude and with Honors
*I also included all of my extracurriculars from high school*

Non-Animal Employment
- Student Administrative Assistant at OSU Vet Med Center in Department of Clinical Sciences - worked throughout my entire undergrad (3 years)
- After graduation took a temporary staff position as Education Program Coordinator at OSU VMC Department of Clinical Sciences (4 months)
- Front Office Aide at a physical therapy place in HS (1 year)
- Picked green beans at a local produce farm (one summer in HS) **I was actually asked about this in one of my interviews**
- Cleaned an office building (2 years in HS)
- Babysitting (off and on for 9 years)

LORs
Chair of Department of Clinical Sciences (my boss and also a SA Ophthalmologist)
Small animal ER vet I worked with
Small animal general practice vet I shadowed
One of my other bosses from department of clinical sciences (not a vet)

Essay Questions/Personal Statement
Wrote about my interest in the human-animal bond and how it led me to veterinary medicine. I then talked about how my unique work experience in the academia side of veterinary medicine led me to pursue a future position in academia.

*****In case anyone wants to know, the first time I applied I only applied to my IS (Ohio State). GPA - 3.4, Science GPA- 3.35, Last 45 - 3.4. My GRE was the same as above and all of my experiences were the same except I did not have my position as a vet assistant. I was granted an interview, but was denied admission. In my gap year, I got a job as a vet assistant and I took two classes (my GPA had already improved due to my last two semesters of my undergrad and i simply took these classes to fulfill pre-reqs at other schools). My LORS were almost exactly the same people and my personal statement was along the same lines, just formatted differently due to VMCAS changing to three questions.*****

Have you heard anything back from Ohio State?? I heard they aren't taking anyone from the waitlist this year. I'm on the waitlist and though I put a deposit down somewhere else I'm hoping Ohio works out for me too. Your'e higher up on the waitlist than I am so was hoping you may have heard from them!

 

[eeeee723]

Have you heard anything back from Ohio State?? I heard they aren't taking anyone from the waitlist this year. I'm on the waitlist and though I put a deposit down somewhere else I'm hoping Ohio works out for me too. Your'e higher up on the waitlist than I am so was hoping you may have heard from them!

I haven't heard anything yet, but I know in previous years it has taken them a couple days after the deadline to start pulling people. I also put my deposit down elsewhere but am holding out to be called! Hopefully it works out for us!

 

[southpaw93]

Have you heard anything back from Ohio State?? I heard they aren't taking anyone from the waitlist this year. I'm on the waitlist and though I put a deposit down somewhere else I'm hoping Ohio works out for me too. Your'e higher up on the waitlist than I am so was hoping you may have heard from them!

Just curious where you heard this information... If that's true I'm going to be heartbroken 🙁

 

[kittydr2022]

A friend of mine is a freshman there this year and heard it from a Student Ambassador ): She said that last year they had too many people put a deposit down so they had some students defer for a year and get their masters degree with the guarantee that they would start the vet program this year. So any open spots that might have gone to the waitlist is now going to them. Idk why they would even send out a waitlist if they planned on doing this the entire time? But she says this student ambassador is a reliable source... I don't want to believe it until I get an email confirming, but I put a deposit down at another school just incase.

 

[SkiOtter]

A friend of mine is a freshman there this year and heard it from a Student Ambassador ): She said that last year they had too many people put a deposit down so they had some students defer for a year and get their masters degree with the guarantee that they would start the vet program this year. So any open spots that might have gone to the waitlist is now going to them. Idk why they would even send out a waitlist if they planned on doing this the entire time? But she says this student ambassador is a reliable source... I don't want to believe it until I get an email confirming, but I put a deposit down at another school just incase.

waitlist spots wouldnt be going to those people. if they were guaranteed a spot, original acceptance spots would have. so there would have been less outright acceptances for the people who interviewed this year because they had X spots already confirmed and allocated to those people doing the masters. so the waitlist would still be used if people who were outright accepted, but were not part of the masters program group, declined.

if they overaccepted last year by that much, they may have decreased the number of initial acceptances to ensure they dont have that happen again. illinois had to do that last year when they overaccepted co 2020 by like 50 people or something.

 

[kittydr2022]

That was my initial thought, but my friend seemed pretty convinced by what she heard, so I just wanted to reach out and see if anyone else has heard something similar! I'm hoping what she said is wrong ahaha

 

[SkiOtter]

That was my initial thought, but my friend seemed pretty convinced by what she heard, so I just wanted to reach out and see if anyone else has heard something similar! I'm hoping what she said is wrong ahaha

i highly doubt they would give "any open spots that might have gone to the waitlist" to them if they were guaranteed admission. theyd already be part of the class before interviews started so thered just be X number of seats left to give out for initial acceptances and they might actually give out less than the percentage they usually overaccept by, specifically to avoid this happening in the future.

 

[southpaw93]

waitlist spots wouldnt be going to those people. if they were guaranteed a spot, original acceptance spots would have. so there would have been less outright acceptances for the people who interviewed this year because they had X spots already confirmed and allocated to those people doing the masters. so the waitlist would still be used if people who were outright accepted, but were not part of the masters program group, declined.

if they overaccepted last year by that much, they may have decreased the number of initial acceptances to ensure they dont have that happen again. illinois had to do that last year when they overaccepted co 2020 by like 50 people or something.

From looking at other threads - this happened at Ohio state two years ago and last year they pulled up to #30+ off the waitlist.

 

[ziggyandjazzy]

Due to personal concerns (my poor cat 🙁) and my overly anxious personality I hadn't posted my stats/decision yet!! But fyi for those not keeping up with my shenanigans, I've been DYING to post here since I joined SDN in 2015. As you'll see I don't have a perfect GPA or a stellar GRE score. But what I do have is perseverance and the ability to sell myself and my potential. Here is my story:

Female, 25 years old
3rd time applicant
Home state: Illinois

1st application cycle: Total waste of everyone's time including my own. Rejected: Mizzou and LSU

2nd application cycle: U of I, Cornell, Colorado State, NC State, University Minnesota.
Rejected: Cornell, Colorado State, NC State, Minnesota (After interview)
Waitlisted: U of I

3rd application cycle:
Rejected: Ohio State, Mizzou
Waitlisted: Kansas State, Iowa State, Western, LSU, Auburn.
Accepted: Michigan State, U of I, Minnesota
Attending: University of Minnesota

**Disclaimer you should choose the cheapest option but I've waited way too long to not be happy**

Cummulstive GPA: 3.39
Science GPA: 3.18
Last 45 GPA: 3.64

GRE: 152Q/152V, 4.5 written

Vet Experience:
5,040 hours Vet tech at small animal clinic
60 hours-Week long internship at small animal clinic
840 hours-Wildlife Medicine Extern at California Wildlife Center
~600 hours- Shadowing small animal doctors

Animal Experience:
64 hours-Basic horse care at Giant City Stables
1,200 hours- Animal Nutrition Intern Disney's animal Kingdom
507 hours- Pet Care Associate at Petsmart
1,080 hours- Animal Care Intern, Free Agaim Wildlife Shelter
30 hours-Chairty trip to Nashville Humane Society

Research:
1,040 hours- Research Assistant at Disney's Animal Kingdom, regarding iron level deficiencies in captive rhino populations.
96 hours-Data entry volunteer for a fellow student's PHD project
240 hours- Research Rookie program. Worked on a project with inbreeding coefficients in dairy cattle in correlation to milk quality with a faculty mentor.

Other Employment:
Resident Assistsnt
Math Tutor

Extracirulars:
College of Science alumni recruiter, boating safety education certified, AAZAK member of southern Florida, Saluki science Ambassador, Starved rock running club member, math club, D1 cross country, Track & Field, USAG Gymnastics, Cheerleader, ect. Don't want to bore you.

Moral of the story: Apply smart, Apply yourself, and keep applying. If it's truly your passion and you don't see yourself being anything else stick to it! If you have questions feel free to PM me, I promise I'm helpful and supportive 🙂 Thank you to my SDN family who has always supported me you all are the real MVPs!!😍😍

Wait I'm confused by your disclaimer. Wouldn't U of I be cheaper for you as IS than Minnesota?

 

[SkiOtter]

Wait I'm confused by your disclaimer. Wouldn't U of I be cheaper for you as IS than Minnesota?

If your SO establishes residency and you get married you get IS tuition 😉

 

[SkiOtter]

From looking at other threads - this happened at Ohio state two years ago and last year they pulled up to #30+ off the waitlist.

they most likely sent out less offers initially and waitlisted more people so that when April rolled around they found out they had a decent amount of space and could pull from the waitlist. This is what happened last year at Illinois. For 2020 they overaccepted, had 20 people defer I think, and then for 2021 they didn’t accept as many initially as they usually do and waitlisted more and pulled a bunch from the waitlist close to/after the deadline to make sure they weren’t going to end up with a class of 180 instead of like 130. Im assuming Ohio state did the same this year. X number of spots went to the deferred people, Y number of spots left that they accepted people into and possibly overaccepted a smidge anticipating some people would drop and they’d be fine, and then pull people from the waitlist if Z number of people ended up declining their acceptances to bring the class up to their desired total.

 

[greeneyegal92]

Wait I'm confused by your disclaimer. Wouldn't U of I be cheaper for you as IS than Minnesota?

That's what my disclaimer is for, for most I'd always say cheapest is best!! But I went against my own advice for personal reasons. Not something I'd like to share on open forum but point being have a real good reason not to pick cheapest 😉

 

[vetcetera]

Congratulations! That is so exciting! I am applying to all of the same schools as you other than Ross, I am applying to Dublin instead. I am nervous though because I feel the same way that you talked about in your post. Part of me is expecting 4 rejections with no interviews because my GPA is a 3.1. Did they count your cumulative GPA as a 2.7 from undergrad? Or did they look at it as the 3.24 that you talked about? I am really nervous because Edinburgh is my dream school, but it sounds like they may not want me due to my GPA. Sorry for all the questions, just super nervous and I can REALLY relate to what you wrote about!!! Congrats again!

Thanks!!!!! I'm really excited to finally be going to vet school! I'll be honest, I'm not 100% sure how each school calculated my cumulative GPA, I did a tech program for two years after I graduated and got all As, so if they counted those then it would certainly be higher, but most schools are a little snooty about community college credits so they may not have... Edinburgh did say that they rejected me because my gpa was below the cut off, but I got in to RVC and Glasgow, and my gpa was certainly below their cut-offs as well.

I guess what I'm saying is don't give up! Be smart about applying, get lots of experience doing things in a veterinary setting (go beyond just shadowing to help those experiences stand out), be realistic about how selective schools are, but always remember not all hope is lost!!!! You could also take some advanced biology or veterinary sciences courses to help pad that science gpa- just make sure you get an A! CSU has some great online options. DISCLAIMER: I'm not a pre-vet advisor, these are my personal experiences, you should contact schools directly for application specifics, etc. etc. - but also if I had listened to my official pre-vet advisor and given up entirely I wouldn't be going to vet school right now, just saying... Good Luck!!!!!! You've got this 🙂

 

[maria1313]

Thanks!!!!! I'm really excited to finally be going to vet school! I'll be honest, I'm not 100% sure how each school calculated my cumulative GPA, I did a tech program for two years after I graduated and got all As, so if they counted those then it would certainly be higher, but most schools are a little snooty about community college credits so they may not have... Edinburgh did say that they rejected me because my gpa was below the cut off, but I got in to RVC and Glasgow, and my gpa was certainly below their cut-offs as well.

I guess what I'm saying is don't give up! Be smart about applying, get lots of experience doing things in a veterinary setting (go beyond just shadowing to help those experiences stand out), be realistic about how selective schools are, but always remember not all hope is lost!!!! You could also take some advanced biology or veterinary sciences courses to help pad that science gpa- just make sure you get an A! CSU has some great online options. DISCLAIMER: I'm not a pre-vet advisor, these are my personal experiences, you should contact schools directly for application specifics, etc. etc. - but also if I had listened to my official pre-vet advisor and given up entirely I wouldn't be going to vet school right now, just saying... Good Luck!!!!!! You've got this 🙂

Thank you so much!! 🙂 I guess my main concern is my science gpa and I'm only taking one more class this semester that would boost it. My pre vet advisor told me that all of my animal science courses will go towards my science gpa. You may not know the answer to this, but do the UK schools look at your full science gpa with animal science courses included? Or just the science required course gpa? If they look at my total science gpa with animal science involved I'll have a WAY better shot. Thank you!!

 

[SkiOtter]

I did a tech program for two years after I graduated and got all As, so if they counted those then it would certainly be higher, but most schools are a little snooty about community college credits so they may not have...

Not sure if they’re snooty about community college credits in general, but they maybe just didn’t count some of the tech classes. I know most schools won’t count tech classes for meeting a lot of the prereq classes though.

 

[vetcetera]

Thank you so much!! 🙂 I guess my main concern is my science gpa and I'm only taking one more class this semester that would boost it. My pre vet advisor told me that all of my animal science courses will go towards my science gpa. You may not know the answer to this, but do the UK schools look at your full science gpa with animal science courses included? Or just the science required course gpa? If they look at my total science gpa with animal science involved I'll have a WAY better shot. Thank you!!

I’m not sure- that would be a good question for the admissions staff at each school. RVC responds pretty quickly to questions, and Joyce Wason at Glasgow is wonderful- she was so helpful to me during the whole admissions process. I would shoot them an email and see, they can probably provide you with a good idea of how they calculate and weigh GPAs they use for your file.

 

[vetcetera]

Not sure if they’re snooty about community college credits in general, but they maybe just didn’t count some of the tech classes. I know most schools won’t count tech classes for meeting a lot of the prereq classes though.

Yeah I certainly wouldn’t count on any classes taken as a part of a tech program to count for prereqs, though there are some that may count for some schools, asking before applying would be very important though!! I had completed all of the required classes before tech school during my undergrad, I just hadn’t done particularly well in them. I’m just not sure how vet schools factor in vet tech classes, or community college classes in general, for various GPAs or how they weigh them- that would be interesting to see though!

 

[coolkorbin]

Yeah I certainly wouldn’t count on any classes taken as a part of a tech program to count for prereqs, though there are some that may count for some schools, asking before applying would be very important though!! I had completed all of the required classes before tech school during my undergrad, I just hadn’t done particularly well in them. I’m just not sure how vet schools factor in vet tech classes, or community college classes in general, for various GPAs or how they weigh them- that would be interesting to see though!

They should definitely count in cumulative GPA and probably last 45 GPA if those were the most recent classes that you took.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using SDN mobile

 

[genome1622]

23 yr old female, Iowa resident, 1st time applicant

Applied: Iowa State*
Interview Invites: ISU didn't do interviews this cycle.
Waiting to Hear: N/A
Rejected: N/A
Waitlisted: N/A
Accepted: Iowa State*
Attending: Iowa State*!!!!!!

*I would not recommend putting all of your eggs into one basket. It just happened to work out for me. My S/O is already a VM1 at ISU CVM, so I had little choice (plus I was able to establish residency). I took a year off after undergrad to do research and decide if I wanted to do a professional degree or a graduate degree, I decided professional (but still might add a master's or something). I my "gap year" to improve some of my grades and finish the prerequisites. I was caught a bit off-guard when they didn't do interviews this year so I was nervously waiting for almost 6 months to hear that I was accepted.

My GPA wasn't the greatest, but I think my strongest area was my research and probably letter from my PI who is a graduate of ISU CVM.

Overall GPA: 3.61
Science GPA: 3.46
Last 45 GPA: 3.78

GRE (Q/V/W): 155/156/4.00

Degree: BS in Genetics and BS in Journalism (2016)

Veterinary Experience:
1) Mixed animal practice shadow: 24 hours

Animal Experience:
1) Shelter: 88

Research:
1) Research assistant: 1920 (note this includes the year off that I took between applying and graduating)
2) Research undergraduate assistant: 780

Extracurriculars/Awards:
1) Campus magazine Editor-in-Chief: 420
2) Ultimate Frisbee Club player: 672

Non-Animal Employment:
1) Camp counselor: 620

Non-Animal Volunteer:
1) Animal shelter volunteer coordinator: 60 (at the time of application)


LORs:
1) Animal Shelter Director
2) Journalism Professor/Advisor
3) Mixed animal practice owner
4) PI of current lab (has PhD and DVM)

 

[maria1313]

I’m not sure- that would be a good question for the admissions staff at each school. RVC responds pretty quickly to questions, and Joyce Wason at Glasgow is wonderful- she was so helpful to me during the whole admissions process. I would shoot them an email and see, they can probably provide you with a good idea of how they calculate and weigh GPAs they use for your file.

Okay I will definitely email them then!

I’m not sure- that would be a good question for the admissions staff at each school. RVC responds pretty quickly to questions, and Joyce Wason at Glasgow is wonderful- she was so helpful to me during the whole admissions process. I would shoot them an email and see, they can probably provide you with a good idea of how they calculate and weigh GPAs they use for your file.

I will definitely email them then! Thank you!