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Yes! Thanks Pomona. I feel a little better now.

Pomona2006 said:
As for JustCats - don't count yourself out just yet! I am sure they poked holes in all of our potential flaws. I know I got a little defensive when I was "asked" (at two different times) "So you don't have small animal experience?" from a SA vet. I told him that I DO have small animal experience but it's in non-profit settings: shelter clinic, spay/neuter clinics, just not in private practice, but that I would be getting private practice experience this semester. ...Is this similar to what you got JustCats?
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They wouldn't have given you an interview if they weren't interested. Maybe you're they're dream candidate and they didn't need to grill you. 🙂

WildZooVet said:
I'm kind of worried know that they really didn't ask me much about my application or my low grades. I also didn't get a lot of rapid fire questions? Why the different format? Do you think it was just different interviewers or are they not really interested in me as a candidate?

I was given the chance to give a closing statement of sorts, but, having missed the orientation I didn't know that was going to be part of it.

Crap! Was my interview a blow off...:scared:
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KittyRex said:
Here's to an SDNer clean sweep!
(Ok, now back to talking aloud to myself in my living room. 😛)
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rotfl -- here's to muttering to myself in the VET SOS office-- luckily no one here minds! :laugh:
 
Thanks guys. You're right. No sense over analyzing. Guess I just have to wait...
 
I know what it's like to over analyze the interview. I've been doing it on a daily basis since my interview Feb. 25, and have come to the conclusion that I'm going to be rejected. I try not to be so pessimistic, but my interview did not feel great to me :/

But they start sending out decisions two weeks from today, so not much longer to wait (still... the longest two weeks EVER).
 
Does anyone know if UCD offers file reviews when all the craziness dies down? The email I received didn't mention anything about it and I couldn't really find anything on their website. I'd really appreciate knowing 🙂
 
LegallyPink said:
Does anyone know if UCD offers file reviews when all the craziness dies down? The email I received didn't mention anything about it and I couldn't really find anything on their website. I'd really appreciate knowing 🙂
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Yes, they do offer reviews if you want one. UC Davis does not offer anything for free, meaning if you want a file review you have to call the office number to ask for one and make an appointment. I did this both times I was rejected, so I hope you don't mind if I give a little unsolicited advice.

The first year I wasn't prepared and the meeting contained some awkward silences. Despite all that, I did receive some really helpful advice pertaining to some stuff I did wrong in my application. For example, I had a LOR from a non-vet related professional and it was considered irrelevant. The second year, I was much more experienced, confident, and I knew where I wanted to go in life and I knew what questions to ask. I also had some decisions to make, and so I came prepared to this meeting and treated it like an interview. I got so much out of that review session, WOW. The difference was amazing.

So, to summarize:

Make an appointment in person, if possible. Dress nice, it shows your professionalism.
Come prepared with specific questions on how to improve your application. What do you hope to receive out of a review session? Knowing the answer to this question will really help prepare you.

Hope this helps! Good luck!
 
shelterURIgirl said:
For example, I had a LOR from a non-vet related professional and it was considered irrelevant.
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Just to calm the people out there who are going, "Oh crap, I had a letter from a non-vet related professional..." I had one of those letters and got in. Not to knock the advice you got, shelterURIgirl, I'm sure it is valid. Just wanted to point out that while maybe they don't view it as ideal, it certainly doesn't mean one won't get it. Everyone breathe!
 
For those that have interviewed already, were you asked if you had any questions at the end of the interview?
 
shelterURIgirl said:
Yes, they do offer reviews if you want one. UC Davis does not offer anything for free, meaning if you want a file review you have to call the office number to ask for one and make an appointment. I did this both times I was rejected, so I hope you don't mind if I give a little unsolicited advice.

The first year I wasn't prepared and the meeting contained some awkward silences. Despite all that, I did receive some really helpful advice pertaining to some stuff I did wrong in my application. For example, I had a LOR from a non-vet related professional and it was considered irrelevant. The second year, I was much more experienced, confident, and I knew where I wanted to go in life and I knew what questions to ask. I also had some decisions to make, and so I came prepared to this meeting and treated it like an interview. I got so much out of that review session, WOW. The difference was amazing.

So, to summarize:

Make an appointment in person, if possible. Dress nice, it shows your professionalism.
Come prepared with specific questions on how to improve your application. What do you hope to receive out of a review session? Knowing the answer to this question will really help prepare you.

Hope this helps! Good luck!
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Thank you so much! Just one more quick question....I'm in So Cal so I'd be really difficult to get there in person. Do you know if they offer reviews over the phone? Thank you for your advice shelterURIgirl, I REALLLLLY appreciate it!! 🙂
 
LegallyPink said:
Thank you so much! Just one more quick question....I'm in So Cal so I'd be really difficult to get there in person. Do you know if they offer reviews over the phone? Thank you for your advice shelterURIgirl, I REALLLLLY appreciate it!! 🙂
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They will do it over the phone if you are unable to get here. I did mine in person as well and don't have anything really helpful to add beyond what shelterURIgirl said - be prepared with questions, because you'll only get out of it what you put into it (like most things).

Oh, and last year, they wouldn't even let me schedule one until May 1, and scheduled it for early June.
 
starlene45 said:
rotfl -- here's to muttering to myself in the VET SOS office-- luckily no one here minds! :laugh:
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:laugh: Luckily, everyone in the office has probably been through it!
Good luck on Thursday, Starlene! I'll let you know how mine goes today :xf:
 
So, I got my interview today. My interview panel consisted of Dr. Nelson (small animal internist), Dr. Snyder (equine surgeon), and Dr. Rowe (food animal researcher). I was hoping not to get Dr. Snyder because I knew him from an internship I had...and I know he can grill you if he feels like it. But as luck may have it, I got both Dr. Nelson and Dr. Snyder on my panel 😉.
I think Dr. Nelson was not as bad as some of you said, or maybe he just hadn't put on his poker face yet this morning. He did ask most of the questions, tho, because most of my experience is in small animal. I am extremely glad that Dr. Snyder did not grill me on equine medicine. Even though I am also interested in equine medicine, my knowledhe regarding horse health care is limited. Dr. Rowe was very nice, but she frowned at one of my answers, so my heart stopped there for a second XD. I was totally thinking to myself :"oh crap, what did I say?" I hope that did not count negatively against me....
Man, I can't believe this application cycle is over for me! I haven't heard back from U Penn, but by this time it's probably a rejection....
 
winddolphin said:
I think Dr. Nelson was not as bad as some of you said, or maybe he just hadn't put on his poker face yet this morning. He did ask most of the questions, tho, because most of my experience is in small animal.
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Dr. Nelson was one of my interviewers last year and he was very nice. I'm surprised that he projected himself differently at times. I suppose they have their good and bad days too, and are probably more engaged when they can discuss their areas of interest with you.

Anyway, no one should beat themselves up over the interview - for one thing, you can't control it now. For another, no one knows the acceptance algorithm. I know people who thought they had great interviews and did (or didn't) get accepted, and people who actually cried after their interviews but were still accepted.

:luck:
 
Pomona2006 said:
So...how DID it go, KittyRex?
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:laugh: Thanks for asking, Pomona! LOL
Well, I think it went pretty well, but 2 out of my 3 interviewers definitely had their poker faces on. So, it's really hard to say.
I did get drilled a bit, but I was expecting that (and the questions were definitely not unreasonable).

All in all, I can truly say that I did my best, tried my hardest and at this point, it's out of my hands. All I can do is cross my fingers. :xf::xf::xf:
 
I agree...I'm rooting for all of us on here!

Also...just to clarify some information. I spoke to the admissions people while I was there and they told me the following info:

  • March 16 is the last day of interviews (they extended the dates & times offered)
  • After that they admissions committee will lock themselves in a room and make the class (usually takes days)
  • Notifications will be sent on March 23 (I was specifically told that ALL notifications would be sent on March 23, but I'm not sure whether that will be the case since in the past it hasn't been that way)
Did anyone receive this information as well (or different information) while they were at their interview?
 
Pomona2006 said:
  • Notifications will be sent on March 23 (I was specifically told that ALL notifications would be sent on March 23, but I'm not sure whether that will be the case since in the past it hasn't been that way)
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All notifications, including rejections? And will it be a phone call or an email?
 
I was told ALL decisions (accept/reject/wait) will be sent on the 23rd via email...

However, like I said, in the past people on SDN reported acceptances for the first 2-3 days that decisions were emailed out and then the days following that the rejections were received, again via email.

Who knows what it will be this year...I just wanted to report what I had been told and see if anyone got the same or different info.
 
I did not ask. The 23rd would be good. Let's end the suspense so we can get back to our regularly-scheduled programming. 🙂

Pomona2006 said:
I was told ALL decisions (accept/reject/wait) will be sent on the 23rd via email...

However, like I said, in the past people on SDN reported acceptances for the first 2-3 days that decisions were emailed out and then the days following that the rejections were received, again via email.

Who knows what it will be this year...I just wanted to report what I had been told and see if anyone got the same or different info.
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Looking at past notification time, I guess it basically means if we don't hear from the admissions by Wed the 25th, it's not anything to look forward to hearing.....
My god, I am still beating myself over my interview. I gotta clear my head of all application stuff soon!
 
I was wondering if there was anyone in the same boat as me... I didn't get an interview invite, but I haven't gotten a rejection e-mail either! I just assumed that I didn't get in after the two weeks in Feb passed when they sent out all the interview invites. Now I'm wondering why I haven't gotten my rejection e-mail. Anyone in the same boat??

I hate to do this but I think I'm going to call UCD to see what's up...

Good luck everyone!!!:xf:
 
I would strongly recommend the file review for those of you who do not get in this round. It gives you a good idea of what to focus on in the six months or so before the next application round is due, and the following year when you interview again you can impress the committee with all the ways you've improved your application.
 
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icanhascheezbur said:
I was wondering if there was anyone in the same boat as me... I didn't get an interview invite, but I haven't gotten a rejection e-mail either! I just assumed that I didn't get in after the two weeks in Feb passed when they sent out all the interview invites. Now I'm wondering why I haven't gotten my rejection e-mail. Anyone in the same boat??

I hate to do this but I think I'm going to call UCD to see what's up...

Good luck everyone!!!:xf:
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The first year I applied I was rejected late march. I called early march and asked about it, and the lady told me very apologetically that no more interviews would be going out so yes, I could consider myself very rejected. The second time I received my rejection email while interviews were still going out. I don't know if that helps or not. Sorry!
 
So..... Survived my interview today 😎 I think it went okay, the questions were interesting and some of them a little challenging but I did not find my interviewers overly "tough," in fact they were pretty friendly. I'll post specifics in the interview feedback thread for anyone who is interested... I had Dr. LeFevre (omg his puppy is SO cute), an equine surgeon whose name I have totally forgotten, and Dr. Ina who owns a hospital in San Fran that regularly donates supplies to my volunteer program... I had never met Dr. Ina before so it was a nice surprise, and I got to put a face to his name and get to thank him in person for his contributions to the volunteer group I work with.

I hung out with some first years, everyone was super friendly, I really liked the facility!!!! (Is that a Dale Chihuly (sp?) chandelier in Valley Hall?!) I also sat in on a GI Phys lecture. Overall it was definitely a good day and I came away feeling like I would really like to go to Davis!! They also get props for having a TON of UCDVet Med paraphanelia available to buy on campus haha.

Now the countdown begins, good luck everyone! :luck::xf:
 
starlene45 said:
\I came away feeling like I would really like to go to Davis!!
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Yaay Starlene!
Yep... spending a day with my student host and learning more about the curriculum, amazing profs and extracurriculars pretty much did it for me. In fact, the more I think about it, the more smitten I become 😍
(Cornell, who? :laugh:)

b.t.w. is anyone else going completely mad trying not to think about their interviews/overanalyze answers? I am fine during my super hectic work/school days but as soon as I get home at night...:scared:
I haven't felt like this since we were all waiting for our first interview invites to arrive in the fall!
 
KittyRex said:
b.t.w. is anyone else going completely mad trying not to think about their interviews/overanalyze answers? I am fine during my super hectic work/school days but as soon as I get home at night...:scared:
I haven't felt like this since we were all waiting for our first interview invites to arrive in the fall!
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(raises hand) I am defintely there with you. AND my work is kind of slow these days.....
 
shelterURIgirl said:
Ooohhh. You had 4 people? Lucky! I assume your interview went well?

Good luck!
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I hope so, I am trying not to over analyze and be optimistic!! Davis is my #1 for several reasons, but most importantly for their Shelter Medicine Program.
 
I was told by the receptionist, I believe her name was Kathleen, that sending a thank you e-mail was unnecessary since the interviewers would be very busy making decisions and they would be receiving hundreds of e-mails. She asked me If I said Thank You in the room before leaving, which I did, and she said that was great enough! I don't know, i am still debating on sending a thank you e-mail to all of them. Advice??
 
I also asked Kathleen about sending thank yous and she also told me that it was discouraged. Despite the fact that I am accustomed to always sending thank you's, I did not send thank yous out of respect for what they told me.
 
Pomona2006 said:
I also asked Kathleen about sending thank yous and she also told me that it was discouraged. Despite the fact that I am accustomed to always sending thank you's, I did not send thank yous out of respect for what they told me.
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thank you, most likely i will leave it at that.
 
KittyRex said:
Yaay Starlene!
Yep... spending a day with my student host and learning more about the curriculum, amazing profs and extracurriculars pretty much did it for me. In fact, the more I think about it, the more smitten I become 😍
(Cornell, who? :laugh:)

b.t.w. is anyone else going completely mad trying not to think about their interviews/overanalyze answers? I am fine during my super hectic work/school days but as soon as I get home at night...:scared:
I haven't felt like this since we were all waiting for our first interview invites to arrive in the fall!
Click to expand...

I feel the SAME way. I came out of my interview feeling I did okay, but now I keep going over the interview and my answers and am like "Gah! Why the hell did I say that?!"
 
My mom, and yes this is an admission that I still take advice from my mother, says we need to "send out golden energy." To translate, she is encouraging the power of positive thinking.

Ok, here goes....

:biglove::luck::xf:😍:highfive:🙂👍:biglove:
 
I still take advice from my mother...she's a smart lady! Who doesn't?! However, I am split about whether I should be optimistic or not... I mean, if I use positive thinking and I don't get in, that'll be devastating. If I envision being rejected and I get in, it will be the coolest day ever (well, it'll be the coolest either way right?)
 
MsDVM2013 said:
I feel the SAME way. I came out of my interview feeling I did okay, but now I keep going over the interview and my answers and am like "Gah! Why the hell did I say that?!"
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I just had a really long drive home from SF (and before that a really long clinic day that was kinda rough) and I totally picked apart my entire interview during the drive... ooops bad idea for the self-esteem! Hahah with that being said, I do feel like I was genuinely "myself" even if that self is a little random or goofy at times. And the question that I thought was the hardest, I actually think I answered really well. It is totally the little stuff I am beating myself up over!!! So, okay, now I just have to convince myself not to think about it anymore!!!🙄
 
i also survived my interview yesterday. i said some stupid things (or rather didn't know some really obvious answers that i should have!), but i am hoping that i was still able to demonstrate that i really did have knowledge in the areas i claimed to and was just nervous and have been out of the field for awhile. they seemed to understand that, but hopefully i read them correctly 🙂

i got to meet a couple sdners, too! vagirl, thanks again for everything! and shelterurigirl, nice to put a face with a name 🙂 here's to being classmates next year!

ugh, i have a feeling the next week and a half are going to be torture...
 
Hey everyone!

I had my interview today and, thankfully, the infamous Dr Nelson seemed to be in a good mood! I also had two other interviewers and they were pretty happy and joking when I went in there. I think I did alright... they even said "good answer" to my response to the ethical question about cheating during exams. 😱 I left feeling really good but now I am getting paranoid, why did I say that... I should have explained this differently, etc. :scared:

I even got to meet a fellow SDNer in the meeting room prior to the interview! 🙂
 
VAgirl said:
I think you were sitting behind me! Hi! :hello:
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oh!! hi!! *waves at*
i felt kind of like a nerd because, i was kind of secretly excited about GI phys, since i just did that chapter in my pre-requisite physiology class haha. um, and, that lecture hall definitely gets an A+ for comfortable seating and mood lighting!
 
starlene45 said:
oh!! hi!! *waves at*
i felt kind of like a nerd because, i was kind of secretly excited about GI phys, since i just did that chapter in my pre-requisite physiology class haha. um, and, that lecture hall definitely gets an A+ for comfortable seating and mood lighting!
Click to expand...

We're all nerds here. Even the ones that pull off not looking like ones. 🙂
 
incendium04 said:
Hey everyone!

I had my interview today and, thankfully, the infamous Dr Nelson seemed to be in a good mood! I also had two other interviewers and they were pretty happy and joking when I went in there. I think I did alright... they even said "good answer" to my response to the ethical question about cheating during exams. 😱 I left feeling really good but now I am getting paranoid, why did I say that... I should have explained this differently, etc. :scared:

I even got to meet a fellow SDNer in the meeting room prior to the interview! 🙂
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Hi incendium!:hello: I think you did really well, you had them laughing the whole time time- I could hear it from the waiting room ha. BTW awesome camera- SLR? whatever it was, it was like twice your size. Now we all wait it out till Decision Monday...

Anyways, if I wasn't impressed enough with Davis's reputation and program, I am now convinced its the best vet school anywhere. The facilities, faculty and tour (1st year- Emily) were all great. And Davis has to be the greatest vet school hometown- people are friendly, fun, lots of cool pubs, art galleries, bikes everywhere, public transportation is easy, and campus is green and cozy. What a great day.

Oh yeah and a big shout out to Zoe- the class of 2013 puppy mascot.
 
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