Taking extra prereqs to open the door to more schools?

[HowIMetYourPet]

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Hey guys, so my title explains some of it, but I'm curious to see what you think about this:

I currently have the prereqs for 11 US schools, and 4 international accredited schools....so 15 total.....

I'm debating on taking a few extra classes to fill in pre-reqs for other schools, but I'm wondering if you think its worth it.

If I take an online animal nutrition, and take 2nd semester of biochem and/or biochem lab, it would add 5-6 more US schools + dublin.

This will be my second cycle and I hope it will be my last, so I want to maximize my chances....I don't want to miss a school that might take me because of just one class..... In case you're curious, the schools I have the prereqs for are:

CSU
Cornell
UGA
UoI
Minn
Missou
OhioSU (IS)
UPenn
Tufts
VNRCVM
WS
Wisconsin

Edinburgh, Glasgow, RVC, and StG

Taking nutrition/biochem would open up these schools:
Auburn
Florida
Michigan
NCSU
UTenn
Dublin

Thoughts?
Oh, and if you're curious, my GPA is only a 3.42 with a 3.6last45, and ~5-600hrs vet exp, lplus thousands animal exp
I should also add that I have graduated, and do not have student loans/grants to cover these classes, so they would have to come out of pockent...

 

[DVMDream]

I think you need to seriously ask yourself what schools you are genuinely interested in and what schools you think you have the best shot at attending. You also need to ask yourself what your budget is for applying and include into the having to take any courses if you decide that one of the schools you want to apply to needs another course.

 

[ThreeLeggedDogs]

When I reviewed each school's application criteria and made my list of schools I was interested in and I thought would view my application favorably, they all happened to be schools that would not accept the O-chem series I had taken in undergrad (too few lab units) and/or required additional pre-reqs. It's been expensive and difficult to manage with working full time for me, but if you think you have a better shot at the additional schools (and, of course, you like them) based on how they review applicants, it might be worth it. And it will raise your last 45 GPA if you do well. You can also take out a private student loan to cover the costs.

 

[MooVet]

From a financial standpoint, I think it's a bad idea. 15 schools is a LOT already. That application is going to be hella expensive as it is. Applying through VMCAS for that many schools is already going to cost you $1595. Don't forget that in addition to VMCAS fees most schools have a supplemental application fee that usually runs around $50-100/school . . . so you're already looking at as much $1500 extra after the VMCAS fees. That's a total of over $3,000 and that's not even beginning to consider all the extra little fees like postage, gre score reports, transcripts, the cost of actually traveling to the schools for interviews, etc. That is insane!

Adding another six schools onto that is going to add up very quickly. If you apply to 21 schools, that's $2,195 in VMCAS fees and as much as $2100 in supplemental fees for a whopping total of $4,295 just to apply. Again, this is without considering all those extra little costs that always pile up during an application cycle. This also isn't taking into account the cost of those extra classes you would need to be able to apply to those schools. Do you really want to spend that much on the off chance that one school might accept you? I wouldn't.

There are certainly benefits to casting a wide net but there's no sense in doing it if you're just going to be throwing money away. Applying smart is a much better option. For example, are you certain that you even like all of these schools? Are you willing to spend 4+ years living in any one of these places? I know it's easy to get caught up in the mentality of "I'll go anywhere if I can get accepted" but the reality is that most people have schools or locations that simply aren't a good fit for them. Have you looked at the stats from last year's accepted students for each school? Are you 110% certain that you meet every application requirement for each of these schools? Your gpa is decent but your vet hours are a bit on the low side - have you looked into how much weight each school puts on experience? You'll be much better off if use criteria like these to narrow down your list and apply only to schools where you stand the best chance of being accepted. If you have money to burn I guess there's no harm in applying widely but it really doesn't makes sense to spend thousands extra at schools where you may not even make it past the first round of admissions.

 

[HowIMetYourPet]

I should clarify, I'm not applying to all of those schools on the list, They are just the schools I have the prereqs for....I know I wont be applying to a few of them. Now that I have given it more thought, I'm going to wait until I get my copy of the VMSAR and go through the schools I'm close on for pre-reqs, and if one/more seem like they may be a good fit, then I will consider taking the extra classes. Right now my list is OSU, UoI, Tufts, SGU, Edinburgh, Glasgow, RVC. My mom wants me to apply to a few more US schools, and the schools on the "close" prereqs list are more desirable than the other schools on my fufilled pre-req list...if that makes sense (I've been GRE studying all day so my brain is a little fried at this point)

Thanks for the input!!! (and no, I don't have money to burn, I'm walking a fine, fine line of how much to spend, vs how wide I can cast my net)

 

[MooVet]

I should clarify, I'm not applying to all of those schools on the list, They are just the schools I have the prereqs for....I know I wont be applying to a few of them. Now that I have given it more thought, I'm going to wait until I get my copy of the VMSAR and go through the schools I'm close on for pre-reqs, and if one/more seem like they may be a good fit, then I will consider taking the extra classes. Right now my list is OSU, UoI, Tufts, SGU, Edinburgh, Glasgow, RVC. My mom wants me to apply to a few more US schools, and the schools on the "close" prereqs list are more desirable than the other schools on my fufilled pre-req list...if that makes sense (I've been GRE studying all day so my brain is a little fried at this point)

Thanks for the input!!! (and no, I don't have money to burn, I'm walking a fine, fine line of how much to spend, vs how wide I can cast my net)

Ah okay that makes more sense. In that case I would say that your best bet is to really research those "close" schools and only take the extra courses if there's one on the list that you feel you really love or have an exceptionally good shot at. Although a nutrition course is a good thing to have regardless!

 

[LetItSnow]

FWIW (not much), I agree with DVMD. Rather than take a bunch of expensive and potentially unnecessary classes, I'd think more about what schools you would be interested in attending, and focus your work on meeting their pre-reqs and going from there.

(How is UMN on your list of 'completed pre-reqs' if you haven't yet taken biochem? I thought that was a requirement here. Heck, I thought it was a requirement everywhere. Guess I'm out of date.)

 

[Frozenshades]

FWIW (not much), I agree with DVMD. Rather than take a bunch of expensive and potentially unnecessary classes, I'd think more about what schools you would be interested in attending, and focus your work on meeting their pre-reqs and going from there.

(How is UMN on your list of 'completed pre-reqs' if you haven't yet taken biochem? I thought that was a requirement here. Heck, I thought it was a requirement everywhere. Guess I'm out of date.)

It definitely is. OP said a second semester of it. I didn't think very many schools require more than one semester of biochem though (I know Texas A&M does), but I guess there must be others.

 

[LetItSnow]

It definitely is. OP said a second semester of it. I didn't think very many schools require more than one semester of biochem though (I know Texas A&M does), but I guess there must be others.

Ahhhh. Ok missed the second semester part.

 

[AE373]

Also, many schools allow you to be finishing up prerequisites in the spring (UF allows nutrition and animal science in the summer)... If there is a school you are really interested in applying to, look in to the time frame of interview/accepted deadlines and you might be able to take school specific prereqs before the deadline... That way if you know you got an interview you can proceed with the course... If not, you can save your money... Just a thought!

 

[Cyndia]

Also, many schools allow you to be finishing up prerequisites in the spring (UF allows nutrition and animal science in the summer)... If there is a school you are really interested in applying to, look in to the time frame of interview/accepted deadlines and you might be able to take school specific prereqs before the deadline... That way if you know you got an interview you can proceed with the course... If not, you can save your money... Just a thought!

Yeah, this is an excellent point! Some schools will allow a certain number of prereqs to be unfinished. Last cycle I really wanted to apply to Florida even though I was missing an extra credit of biochem. Once I found out I was being interviewed, I ended up taking a course online from CSU the spring. Most schools usually give you until the end of spring semester to complete coursework (though florida does allow nutrition and ansci in the summer), but they're reasonable and will sometimes extend for extenuating circumstances - I was actually given permission to finish biochem over the summer since I said I was abroad, but then I ended up finishing it in the spring anyways.