Hi, Panda,
Good for you for looking to better yourself.
🙂 I think by far the best thing is to do one of those post-mortem application analysis meetings with the admissions people. They'll give you an idea of what will best improve your application next year (a Master's program, more or varied clinical experience, re-taking the GRE's, etc).
I will say that VMRCVM tends to have a more objective/numbers-based admissions policy. They rejected me twice (and I went there for undergrad). Also told my friend she would "never be a doctor" and to find an alternate career...and she graduated salutatorian from KSUCVM last year and is doing her internship at CSU this year. (one of the most competitive internships in the country). The counterpoint to THAT story is that I believe the admissions person has changed!
🙂 Hopefully they're not as closed-minded as they were back then.
Bottom line is to not get discouraged if VMRCVM is the only place you're applying. Other schools take a more holistic view towards their applicants. I had extenuating circumstances surrounding my low undergrad GPA, and Tech never granted me an interview to find out why when everything else about my application was so stellar (this was in the days before the "explanation statement" was available on VMCAS). If you can afford to consider going out of state, I'd extend your application pool and increase your chances at getting accepted.
Not meaning to bash Tech or anything, but more to give you hope!
🙂
I have a friend who graduated last year and she is AWESOME and loved her time at Tech. Low-GPA'er when she applied, but got in her third time. So who knows??
If you mean "other suggestions" such as ways to invest emotional energy/deal with the disappoint and waiting, that's something else and I can hopefully help you with that, too--let me know if I misunderstood.
Best of luck in the future regardless!!!
