The Great Western Wait

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Catnapper

UTK c/o 2013
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15+ Year Member
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I'm tempted to call up and beg/cry for admission--anyone else in this boat? This is going to be the most painful wait ever! :scared:

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I feel ya! I'm waiting for Western and TAMU...I should hear from both at the same time. Three more weeks seems like FOREVER...
 
I wish more schools would release admissions information earlier. These next three weeks are torture. I am not waiting for western. But, I understand. LSU just says mid March. If I dont hear anything by March 15, I think I will cry!🙁
 
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Waiting on TAMU. The OOS people know already (or at least one does) but the in-state people have to wait longer for...whatever reason. I know TAMU just released last semesters grades to the admissions committee about a week ago, so that's part of the hold up...
 
Did you get in anywhere else, clawbeatskin?
 
No, I only applied to 4 schools...rejected from Minnesota and waitlisted at CSU. So technically I'm waiting on 3. 🙂
 
Well I guess we're sort-of in the same boat--I got into the London vet school (RVC), but I REALLY don't want to leave the states (& my cats! --2 of them have been with me for 16 years!). I'm thinking I could make it work, somehow, but I'm still on the fence about that one...Arrrgh! I just want an ANSWER!!! But congrats on the CSU waitlist--I certainly didn't make that cut! If you made their waitlist, SURELY you'll get into at least 1 of the 2 you're waitin' on!
:luck:
 
Geez, weren't the last interviews in January??

Yup...I think they just like watching the undergrads meander around for a few more weeks, ripping their hair out. 😉
 
...and it's all down to Western!!😱 --Another week-n-a-half of sheer agony!! C'mon Western, baby! You KNOW I 😍U!!
 
Catnapper! We can do it! I keep telling myself patience is a virtue 🙄
 
It seems like everyone gets their Western letters on March 17th. From the info I have from 2008, 2009 and 2010 applicants. I'll cross my fingers it comes earlier though!
 
Great -- March 17th is my 3-year anniversary. Either I'll be thrilled to death and walking on air, or I'll be crying on my boyfriend's shoulder while we're out at a romantic dinner... *winces*
 
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Yeah, this could either be the best St. Patty's Day ever, or could convince me I don't have a drop of Irish luck! I'll cross my fingers for you so that you don't have to cry into your anniversary dinner!
:luck:
 
I'll keep my fingers crossed for all of us! C'mon, Western!
 
I was just reading Western's cvm newsletter and it said that out of 304 interviewed, approx 160 were accepted and 108 were put on the waitlist. Since they interviewed about 320 this year, the numbers should be relatively the same. These stats got my hopes up but at the same time I am still terrified that I might be one of the 30-50 people who gets rejected. Initially, I felt very good about my interview. After replaying it in my mind about a thousand times, I am not so confident anymore. I almost want to drive to Western, the morning of the 15h and ask them to hand it to me so that I don't have to wait a minute longer. I am glad we are all in the same boat though. EEk! I can't take this wait. 🙁😱😕:scared:😴:barf:
 
That gives me an idea--all of us LA residents could caravan over to Pomona and storm admissions on the 15th!!😛 --I should probably bring a hanky!:scared:
 
Catnapper, I am so down for that. 😉

Only eight more days...
 
Anyone know if Western uses a point system with their selection? I heard the interview was pass/fail, but is it like some schools where you have a ranking also? I also remember hearing that the Dean makes the final selection, and that diversity is part of the selection, but I'm not sure if how you ranked before the interview has any impact on the selection. Anyone waiting on Western know?
Here's to the luck of the Irish for everyone waiting next week!:luck:
 
I talked to one of the doctors that graduated from Western U and still keeps in very good contact with the dean and she said that the dean does NOT make the final decision. The final decision is made by the ad com just like every other school.

I don't know about the pass/fail interview thing... does that mean if you "fail" you are automatically disqualified? I hope not! =(
 
They specifically told us at the interview that the dean makes the final decision. He's newish though it seems, so maybe that policy is new?
 
I believe you can get three things at their interviews. 'Acceptable' 'Borderline' 'Unacceptable'

And typically acceptable you're in, unacceptable you're not, and borderline (you're just that borderline) and may be in or out.

I believe the dean does look at the list of students before they are accepted and may be the one that chooses some of the borderline applicants.
 
Basically once you get to the interview, they know that you are academically competent. So its basically whether or not your interview goes well. If your interview goes well then they send a list of students to the dean where he hand choses every person based on what he feels will make the class a diverse class. Dr. Nelson is a new dean but hes cool. Shirley Johnston moved up to a higher position. The dean picking is not new. Dr. Johnston chose all the people in my class and I can say its pretty diverse. 28 males and 87 females with all types of people.
 
During my interview they explained that if you get a "pass" on your application/academics then you interview. If you get a second "pass" on your interview you are put into the final pool and then chosen based on diversity. One of the speakers said this in the info session and I heard the same from a current student while I was there.
 
They specifically told us at the interview that the dean makes the final decision. He's newish though it seems, so maybe that policy is new?

hmm.. I'm not sure.. well.. the ears do not lie, so maybe that is a new policy! I must have missed that at the interview for some reason.
 
So it's true that the final selection of all qualified students is based on diversity. Although there are no in-state seats, doesn't it seem like the majority of students are from California? I know diversity would include gender, but I wonder if they consider geographical diversity. Coming from a state with no vet school, and no longer any out of state seats, I would like to be on a more even playing field for once applying.
I know my group at the interview was all from big colleges in the East. Maybe more people from other states are just starting to apply to Western as it gets accredited. I thought it was a great school.:luck:
 
I believe its out of state and in state are on even playing field. In my class half of us are from California and other half are out of state. Its a good school, but very intense program. Whereas all other 27 vet schools are given lectures and told what to study and are told what books to get, Western doesn't tell us very much. They leave all the learning up to the student, which could be good or bad. Western shows us what happens in the real world after you graduate from vet school from day 1 which can be very frustrating. But, your not alone since your classmates are in the same boat. Plus, on day 2 of starting school, we were put in the anatomy room to start dissecting away our cadavers which I thought was awesome and you get to work with live animals throughout the year. Some of my classmates have already scrubbed up for surgery too.

Good luck with the process! Less than a week to go. I will be rooting for you guys!
 
Awww...thanks, TeddyGrahms! I'm wishin' & hopin' I'll be there on campus with you and the rest of you SDN Western-hopeful peeps next fall!!:luck:
C'mon, Western: You know you want to give us all the big 👍!!!
 
[quote=lteddygrahamsl; Basically once you get to the interview, they know that you are academically competent. So its basically whether or not your interview goes well. If your interview goes well then they send a list of students to the dean where he hand choses every person based on what he feels will make the class a diverse class.

Is GPA/GRE still considered by the dean at this point? Or just diversity?
:luck:
 
Is GPA/GRE still considered by the dean at this point? Or just diversity?
:luck:

No. At interview stage you are considered past that part of the application.
 
Chris, can you please elaborate on the "diversity" issue...what exactly goes into that decision? I realize home state, ethnicity, and gender might, but what about area of interest?
 
Hey everyone, I was browsing through the Western threads from last year, and found this...(posted by twosoakers)

guys....i think there's a way you might be able to find out right now (emphasize MIGHT). they've assigned those of us who've been accepted email accounts at mail.westernu.edu. if you go there, you can type in your first initial and last name: john smith = jsmith. your password will be the last two digits of the year of your birth and the last four digits of your sosh: ex. 782304. if you can log in with that information, you're definitely in. if you can't, it just might be that your log in information is different. thought this might help...

Here's the link to the thread http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=378257&highlight=Western

It didn't work for me, hoping it's still too early.
 
didn't work for me either. I'm sure it's just too early... right?! 🙁
 
Nope--didn't work for me either...hope that doesn't mean...:scared:
 
Ok, I think it's just too early. We shouldn't worry until it actually works for someone. Hang in there, guys! 🙂
 
I'm

losing

my

mind.

AHHHHHHH!

And, to top it all off, I live in Florida. It's going to take years to get my letter.
 
I hear ya.
I just want to know so I can start doing SOMETHING--either sign up for all the classes I'll have to cram in before Western starts up this fall, or start studying to retake the GRE. I'm trying to tell myself that I should just kick back and enjoy the downtime, but...:scared:!!
 
I believe that "diversity" also includes your field of interest as well. I know that if your on the waitlist that they won't rank you. Instead if a person decides to not come to Western, then they go through everyone on the waitlist again to find someone that matches what they are looking for. So I THINK if a large animal person drops out, they will want to replace that student with another large animal person but I'm not quite sure about that.

You guys will be fine. Less than a week to go! You guys can hang in there. I think I got my letter on Saturday March 17 last year so you guys are almost there! GOOD LUCK!!!
 
I remember reading somewhere that one of the goals in choosing students was to try and match the population demographics of california. According to the California census, here are some estimates from 2006: 76.9 % white, 6.7 % black, 1.2% American Indian/Alaska native, 12.4% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 35.9% Hispanic/Latino. Of course I'm sure this can't be true for all groups admitted but I have looked at past stats for the dvm classes and some of those percentages do match.


:scared:😕
 
Wow, Pumpkin. That's some serious research--you should get in based on that!😛
 
I know right? Actually, I need to get a life haha. I hate obsessing over things I can't change.
 
I don't want to study for my midterms...🙁 I will be rooting for you both! Maybe admissions committee reads these things and see how determined catnapper and pumpkin are ;-) I read on their site they are sending letters on the 15th so just 3 more days! You guys/gals can hold on a little bit longer :-D
 
...oh yeah! And good luck on your midterms! :luck:
 
Thanks sweet little TeddyGrahams! You're the best! Now go and study.
 
I remember reading somewhere that one of the goals in choosing students was to try and match the population demographics of california. According to the California census, here are some estimates from 2006: 76.9 % white, 6.7 % black, 1.2% American Indian/Alaska native, 12.4% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 35.9% Hispanic/Latino. Of course I'm sure this can't be true for all groups admitted but I have looked at past stats for the dvm classes and some of those percentages do match.


:scared:😕


Umm I think they shoot for Southern CA demographs also (higher minorities, I am sure). They also take your field of interest, where you grew up etc...
 
At the interview I thought they said they were aiming for the demographics of the United States? Just what I remember, could be wrong.

Good luck guys! I'm pulling for all of us!
 
i'm so worried! :scared: i don't know if i'll make it to the weekend. i'm gonna give myself a heart attack with the stress...
good luck everyone!
 
Since the 15th is a Saturday, do you think letters will be sent earlier or later? Or will someone be in the office to do that on the weekend?
 
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