VMCAS Questions C/O 2017 (Post your questions here.)

[adams30]

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So, I have a question about the animal experience section.

I used to foster stray kittens with my sister (we live in an urban area that used to have a lot of feral cats). We took in orphan kittens that we found on the streets, raised them for a few weeks, and adopted/gave them away to people. It was never through any type of organization, my sister and I kind of ran it ourselves.

This started back in 2004. And it's been on and off since through 2009. Fortunately we don't have too many feral cats anymore because we were able to get the adults spayed/neutered and adopted out all the young.

Does anyone think it would look weird to have this spanning over the course of 5 years? (it was on and off)

Do you think that the vet schools would see this as "pets" even though they weren't. We raised the cats out of our house and paid for everything on our own.

Sorry if this seems like a silly question but I was just wondering.

 

[irrelephant23]

So, I have a question about the animal experience section.

I used to foster stray kittens with my sister (we live in an urban area that used to have a lot of feral cats). We took in orphan kittens that we found on the streets, raised them for a few weeks, and adopted/gave them away to people. It was never through any type of organization, my sister and I kind of ran it ourselves.

This started back in 2004. And it's been on and off since through 2009. Fortunately we don't have too many feral cats anymore because we were able to get the adults spayed/neutered and adopted out all the young.

Does anyone think it would look weird to have this spanning over the course of 5 years? (it was on and off)

Do you think that the vet schools would see this as "pets" even though they weren't. We raised the cats out of our house and paid for everything on our own.

Sorry if this seems like a silly question but I was just wondering.

No way girlfriend, call it what it is: animal experience. Fostering counts fosho

 

[adams30]

No way girlfriend, call it what it is: animal experience. Fostering counts fosho

That's what I figured! thanks! Hope you are lovin CA (I'm sure you are though)!

 

[irrelephant23]

That's what I figured! thanks! Hope you are lovin CA (I'm sure you are though)!

😍 I am loving CA! It has been raining animals like crazy at the center though. One day we had a wave of 10 pelicans, all with wing fractures. Yesterday it was raining Cooper's hawks. I had a skunk bite me through leather gloves yesterday though 🙁 we had to put him down and submit him for rabies testing. Hope I don't have rabies! Thank goodness I already got the series! But I'll know by tomorrow whether I need titers or not.... Rough!

 

[Lupin21]

😍 I am loving CA! It has been raining animals like crazy at the center though. One day we had a wave of 10 pelicans, all with wing fractures. Yesterday it was raining Cooper's hawks. I had a skunk bite me through leather gloves yesterday though 🙁 we had to put him down and submit him for rabies testing. Hope I don't have rabies! Thank goodness I already got the series! But I'll know by tomorrow whether I need titers or not.... Rough!

Sorry if I missed it, but where did you say you were working at?

 

[irrelephant23]

Sorry if I missed it, but where did you say you were working at?

Sorry! adams and I both work in the wildlife clinic at Univ. of Illinois vet med.. but I'm at California wildlife center at the moment. 😍

Now back to vmcas:

 

[lovinchance]

Another question relating to categorizing experiences....

I'm just finishing an internship at a local zoo where you spend two weeks in each section that houses different species (I.e. week 1-2 worked with barn animals; week 3-4 worked with ponies, macaws, lemurs, peafowl, muntjac, llamas, tamarins; week 5-6 worked with spider monkeys, cockatoos, different macaws, prairie dogs, pythons, tarantulas, alligators) while during the whole 6 weeks giving pony rides and animal talks.

Would you separate that into separate experiences (like 6 weeks equine, 4 weeks avian, 2 weeks farm)? If not, list as one big zoo experience, or how would you categorize it?

Appreciate any feedback! 😀

 

[Lupin21]

Sorry! adams and I both work in the wildlife clinic at Univ. of Illinois vet med.. but I'm at California wildlife center at the moment. 😍

Now back to vmcas:

YAY!! I live in LA and worked there for a year last year Isn't Dr. Tom just amazing !! I was planning on dropping by soon to thank everyone as I have just finished all my school stuff and wanted to say bye to everyone before I take off for OK.

 

[irrelephant23]

YAY!! I live in LA and worked there for a year last year Isn't Dr. Tom just amazing !! I was planning on dropping by soon to thank everyone as I have just finished all my school stuff and wanted to say bye to everyone before I take off for OK.

YES! This place is FAN FREAKIN TASTIC! I work long hours (extern) and i want to chop my feet off every night, but I am looooooving this experience! Every hour is worth it. 😀

 

[zanydogz]

Another question relating to categorizing experiences....

I'm just finishing an internship at a local zoo where you spend two weeks in each section that houses different species (I.e. week 1-2 worked with barn animals; week 3-4 worked with ponies, macaws, lemurs, peafowl, muntjac, llamas, tamarins; week 5-6 worked with spider monkeys, cockatoos, different macaws, prairie dogs, pythons, tarantulas, alligators) while during the whole 6 weeks giving pony rides and animal talks.

Would you separate that into separate experiences (like 6 weeks equine, 4 weeks avian, 2 weeks farm)? If not, list as one big zoo experience, or how would you categorize it?

Appreciate any feedback! 😀

I would probably list is as one experience and then describe in the info box. You can say that you spent so-and-so hours or weeks with each department in the zoo and explain it there, just like you have it in your post. Listing it as separate might be a little too much, especially since its all from the same place around the same time.

 

[lovinchance]

That's what I was thinking too! Just wanted to get opinions so thanks for the feedback! 😀

 

[kakurubird]

So, one of the evaluators I'm going to use (had four classes with, including a week-long trip to Costa Rica) is not in the same position she was when I had her as a professor (actually, currently not teaching--just had a baby). For the occupation and institution, etc. spaces when adding her as an evaluator, all I could really put is that information when I had her as a professor. Anybody know if that's the best solution or if there's a more correct answer?

Or should I just call VMCAS hotline? (Any experiences with it?)

 

[hai1983]

So, one of the evaluators I'm going to use (had four classes with, including a week-long trip to Costa Rica) is not in the same position she was when I had her as a professor (actually, currently not teaching--just had a baby). For the occupation and institution, etc. spaces when adding her as an evaluator, all I could really put is that information when I had her as a professor. Anybody know if that's the best solution or if there's a more correct answer?

Or should I just call VMCAS hotline? (Any experiences with it?)

I'd probably do what you wrote above.

I've called VMCAS. They answered my questions, but made it sound like I was a total idiot for having asked in the first place. 😕

 

[kakurubird]

I'm trying to print a copy of my application to a pdf to send to my of my evaluators, but there are gigantic holes of white space that make it take up about 40 pages. Not cool.
I got it once yesterday to show up in the print version as a normal spaced document, but don't know what I did differently.
Any suggestions?


Edit: Nevermind. Just used firefox instead of safari and it worked correctly.

 

[ViaBea]

So, one of the evaluators I'm going to use (had four classes with, including a week-long trip to Costa Rica) is not in the same position she was when I had her as a professor (actually, currently not teaching--just had a baby). For the occupation and institution, etc. spaces when adding her as an evaluator, all I could really put is that information when I had her as a professor. Anybody know if that's the best solution or if there's a more correct answer?

Or should I just call VMCAS hotline? (Any experiences with it?)

I have the same problem. One of my professors that I'm planning on using only temporarily worked for my school because they only needed someone to teach for two semesters, but she now is working somewhere else. So, I wouldn't feel bad about calling as I probably will as well.

 

[kakurubird]

The phone number field for experiences. I know it's not required, but does it look bad to not have it filled out? Should I be putting in phone numbers for what I have? Do I need to try to dig up older ones if I can?

 

[hai1983]

The phone number field for experiences. I know it's not required, but does it look bad to not have it filled out? Should I be putting in phone numbers for what I have? Do I need to try to dig up older ones if I can?

Oooh, good question

 

[Emiloo4]

The phone number field for experiences. I know it's not required, but does it look bad to not have it filled out? Should I be putting in phone numbers for what I have? Do I need to try to dig up older ones if I can?

I found all my old ones on google

 

[SpunkyMaddie]

The phone number field for experiences. I know it's not required, but does it look bad to not have it filled out? Should I be putting in phone numbers for what I have? Do I need to try to dig up older ones if I can?

I didn't fill them all out but I don't know if it looked bad to some of the schools (I think I actually left most of them blank if I remember correctly). I was never asked anything about it from the schools I interviewed at.

 

[orca2011]

The phone number field for experiences. I know it's not required, but does it look bad to not have it filled out? Should I be putting in phone numbers for what I have? Do I need to try to dig up older ones if I can?

I definitely left some blank. I'm not sure if it really matters. I tried to provide numbers for the places I was at a decent amount of time, or had someone they should specifically contact, but for a few places that just wasn't the case. I think it only matters really for like UGA cause they call people, but I think they only call your LORs.

 

[irrelephant23]

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[RetroUnicorn]

I feel like this has been asked before, but I can't seem to find the answer on here...

I took the revised GRE in March 2012 and received my printed scores in the mail. I just checked online to send my GRE scores and saw that my percentiles are about 3-4 points less than what was on the printed sheet sent out in the mail. I called and asked ETS, but the person thought I was making it up. He said they should be the same 😡

Anyone know anything about this? Which one is the true percentile?

 

[Bracco Pointer]

I had a similar problem! I think they revised the percentiles after more tests came in. That's the best I can figure.

 

[hai1983]

I had a similar problem! I think they revised the percentiles after more tests came in. That's the best I can figure.

Me three. Mine was adjusted from the old GRE.

 

[mooshagen]

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Sent from my SCH-I510 using SDN Mobile

 

[equineconstant]

I feel like this has been asked before, but I can't seem to find the answer on here...

I took the revised GRE in March 2012 and received my printed scores in the mail. I just checked online to send my GRE scores and saw that my percentiles are about 3-4 points less than what was on the printed sheet sent out in the mail. I called and asked ETS, but the person thought I was making it up. He said they should be the same 😡

Anyone know anything about this? Which one is the true percentile?

I haven't seen my printed scores (they're home in the US and I'm in Ireland), but if they are different, which one's right?

 

[Bracco Pointer]

I would think the scores online are correct, since they would be (I assume) the most "recent" ones that ETS uses when they send your scores to schools.

 

[Minnerbelle]

Yep the percentile changes as more people take the test. Mine actually went up from the time my original score report came out to 4 yrs later when I applied. The most recent percentile should be the "correct" one to put on your apps

 

[JoAnna423]

Only you can say how bad your 'bad semester' actually was, and how important it is to you to bring up, but ....

.... I'd be cautious about bringing up just one bad semester. Nobody - absolutely nobody - cares about one bad semester with a couple lower-than-normal-for-you grades or something. All you're doing by bringing it up is making an eyebrow go up on some application reader and raising a red flag.

Just something to consider.

Agreed. My boss told me this and then after I did a file review I was told the same thing. I was worried because my first two years I took a low number of hours, like usually 12-13 a semester then the second semester of my freshmen year I only took 7 credits online. VMRCVM said that this was not an issue BUT I am bringing it up only to highlight (and introduce the fact) that I had my kid that semester and that I continued in school while working and being a single mom and blah blah blah. If you can spin your negative into a positive then I would say list it but if it is just ONE bad semester I would not bother...but trust your instincts!

 

[orca2011]

So you guys made me curious about whether or not my GRE percentiles change and holy crap. My V and Q dropped a lot due to the new GRE. Is it really that much easier???

When I first took the tests, I was at a 75% for V, 63% for Q and a 84% for writing. Now they're a 69%, a 52% and a 92% respectively. I wonder if my scores were converted last year for some schools and if that had an impact at all. Cause honestly, those are huge drops to me. It obviously doesn't matter now, but it's still kind of upsetting and I guess something you guys should be aware of if you end up having to repeat application cycles.

 

[equineconstant]

My percentiles seem to have dropped as well, especially for quant. Less than 80% below now, according to the online scores...but I still don't want to retake it... 🙁

 

[orca2011]

My percentiles seem to have dropped as well, especially for quant. Less than 80% below now, according to the online scores...but I still don't want to retake it... 🙁

I've heard to shoot for the 75% percentile, so I think if you fall around there, you're good. It's just interesting to see how much my scores have dropped since the new test has been implemented it. And my comment meant to be in a way, that if you have to reapply (which I hope no one does) that it might be a good idea to take the test again since they seem to change by year.

 

[aka1106]

Hey I am working on imputing classes from my transcript and am not sure how to classify some of them. I took several classes in Wildlife Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, I am not sure if these should be classified under Biology, Animal Science, Physiology, or Other, the course work for these classes could place it in several categories.
Thanks

 

[wildcatj]

Hey I am working on imputing classes from my transcript and am not sure how to classify some of them. I took several classes in Wildlife Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, I am not sure if these should be classified under Biology, Animal Science, Physiology, or Other, the course work for these classes could place it in several categories.
Thanks

I put all my wildlife classes under biology.

 

[zanydogz]

Hey I am working on imputing classes from my transcript and am not sure how to classify some of them. I took several classes in Wildlife Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, I am not sure if these should be classified under Biology, Animal Science, Physiology, or Other, the course work for these classes could place it in several categories.
Thanks

What department offered these courses? One of my courses, for example, was vertebrate physiology and since the bio department offered it, I listed the course under Biology.

 

[capirinha]

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[Trilt]

How do I list a no credit course?

During a study abroad trip, I took a course in the local language and it was far too difficult for me and the school wouldn't let me drop the class and basically told me it was my own risk to attempt the class in the language.... So my home university back in the states told me not to worry and to just take the class as "credit/no credit" so it wont negatively affect my gpa to have a low grade on my transcript for such a meaningless course.

There is a "fail - pass/fail" option, a "credit" (but no "no credit"?!) and a "no grade" option... but none of those really fit. On my transcripts its listed exactly as "NC - no credit". Any thoughts? Should I even list it since it didn't count towards anything in the end and was just a waste of my money and time?


EDIT: I am actually too worried to mess anything up so I am emailing vmcas directly haha, we'll see what they say......

Sounds sort of like an audit - do you have that option? Otherwise no grade seems to fit the best out of the bunch. If you aren't using your whole explanation statement for something else, you could put a very short note about it there if you really think it is something worthy of explaining.

 

[irrelephant23]

For descriptions of duties, are you guys just listing yours or putting them in full sentences? I'm a grammar freak, and I want to put them in full sentences, but I don't know if all the extra words will be annoying to adcoms trying to read for my duties.

Example:

As a research assistant, I provided general animal care such as blah blah blah as well as blah blah blah with ___ animals blah blah

OR

blah blah blah; blah blah blah with ___ animals; blah blah blah

What do you guys think?

 

[wildcatj]

For descriptions of duties, are you guys just listing yours or putting them in full sentences? I'm a grammar freak, and I want to put them in full sentences, but I don't know if all the extra words will be annoying to adcoms trying to read for my duties.

Example:

As a research assistant, I provided general animal care such as blah blah blah as well as blah blah blah with ___ animals blah blah

OR

blah blah blah; blah blah blah with ___ animals; blah blah blah

What do you guys think?

I probably would bullet just because you have such a small character limit.

 

[irrelephant23]

I probably would bullet just because you have such a small character limit.

Thanks for the quick response! Bullets it is! 😀

 

[orcagirl]

For descriptions of duties, are you guys just listing yours or putting them in full sentences? I'm a grammar freak, and I want to put them in full sentences, but I don't know if all the extra words will be annoying to adcoms trying to read for my duties.

Example:

As a research assistant, I provided general animal care such as blah blah blah as well as blah blah blah with ___ animals blah blah

OR

blah blah blah; blah blah blah with ___ animals; blah blah blah

What do you guys think?

When I filled it out my advisor told me to use sentences and colons. It was like: I work part time at such and such a clinic with # of drs (month abbr. year - month abbr. year). Duties included: 1. blah blah blah; 2. blah blah blah; 3. blah blah blah, etc.

 

[Roshan3510]

Couple of questions I have been receiving alot of mixed answers about, wanted to get all of your opinions:

1. graduate student GPAs - I just finished my Masters and I have emailed each school I am interested in applying too and they have assured me these grades will be my last 45 credit hours and also seen in my overall GPA. BUT when listing your GPA on VMCAS (since you only get 1 spot to do that and it says primary institution) do you combine your undergrad and grad GPAs or just make it undergrad? My graduate GPA will definitely raise this value ALOT and I want to know how to average, include, somehow calculate my overall undergrad and grad GPA or if that is even possible? If not, I guess I will be listing my undergrad GPA in the spot on VMCAS and using the explanation statement to list a combined one.......what is the protocol on grad students, ah!

2. listing GRE scores - I took them 2 years ago and once more after this in which my score was a tad lower in my most recent attempt. Should we list all attempts on VMCAS (yes they will be getting official ETC reports) or just the main one to look at just in case? Also if we took the OLD formatted GRE, should we list the scores as we received them in the past or should we convert them?

whew.

 

[VMCAS001]

1) Do not combine, average, or otherwise tamper with your GPA: List your undergraduate GPA in the application, and list the Graduate GPA in the explanation statement. Again, do not combine or average them.

2) List the test scores as you received them.. do not convert them.

 

[catlady816]

For those of you whose percentile rankings dropped since last year, are you retaking them?

 

[runnervet356]

Do you guys know how to classify or count AP classes that gave you college credit on the coursework page? IF we need to? Thanks!

 

[hai1983]

Do you guys know how to classify or count AP classes that gave you college credit on the coursework page? IF we need to? Thanks!

I listed mine as "CR" (credit) or "NG" (no grade) depending. Two of my AP classes got me credit, one was good only for placement into an upper level class (that's the NG). Since they're on my transcript (and especially since one is calculus!) I did include them.

 

[equineconstant]

Do you guys know how to classify or count AP classes that gave you college credit on the coursework page? IF we need to? Thanks!

I got credit for mine, but I listed them as NG (no grade). I think that was what it said in the instructions? Although I may be misremembering, I did the coursework part a while ago.

 

[hai1983]

I got credit for mine, but I listed them as NG (no grade). I think that was what it said in the instructions? Although I may be misremembering, I did the coursework part a while ago.

I went back and double checked. You are correct.

"AP COURSES- You will need to list the AP courses in the coursework section under the first semester of your freshman year where the credits first transferred to. Select “No Grade” and list it as “Advanced Placement” under classification description."

 

[equineconstant]

I went back and double checked. You are correct.

"AP COURSES- You will need to list the AP courses in the coursework section under the first semester of your freshman year where the credits first transferred to. Select “No Grade” and list it as “Advanced Placement” under classification description."

Yeah! I can follow directions! 👍

 

[hai1983]

Yeah! I can follow directions! 👍

Good job! 👍

I think my confusion was that it says to copy everything exactly as it appears on the transcript, and on the transcript my AP credits are "CR." I don't think I'd actually read the instructions as they pertained to AP classes. Whoopsies. It's fixed now. I can almost follow directions, too.