WAMC - 1st Time Applicant

[nicoledoesvetstuff]

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Hi everyone! I am in the middle of my first application cycle and finally worked up the courage to post this, haha. Although I am still waiting for many schools to post decisions, I am trying to get some opinions about my likeliness of securing an acceptance this cycle. In case I do not get an acceptance this cycle, I am curious about what you think I can improve for next cycle and what other schools I could potentially apply to (or what schools I should avoid). I specifically tried to apply to holistic schools (with the exception of Wisconsin, which I decided to take a gamble on because it's closest to where I live-- I probably won't apply there next cycle though if I get rejected this time around).

My goal as of now is to become a research veterinarian (although that could easily change in the future). If it matters at all, I am a first-generation college student.

My primary concerns are my lack of large animal experience and my science GPA. Although I don't think my GPAs are terrible (no grades below a B-), I've seen many applicants with higher GPAs, so I don't think mine are very competitive.

Here is what I have so far. I'll provide updates on this thread as more decisions pour in.

Applied: Illinois (IS), UW-Madison, ISU, CSU, LMU, LIU, Glasgow, KSU, Arizona

Rejections: Glasgow (post-interview), Arizona (pre-interview)

Interview waitlist (soft rejection): KSU

Interview invites: LMU, Glasgow (rejected after interview), LIU

Waiting to hear: Illinois (passed phase 1), UW-Madison, ISU, CSU, LMU (post-interview), LIU (post-interview)

Accepted: None so far


Overall GPA: 3.66

Science GPA: 3.25 (pre-req GPA for ISU is 3.33)

Last 45 GPA: 3.60

All of my grades are A’s and B’s, with my lowest grade being a B- in Orgo 2.


Degree(s): BA double-major in English and biology on the pre-veterinary track with a minor in French - Graduating in May 2025


Veterinary/Animal Experience:

Veterinary/kennel assistant at a clinic for small animals - 960 hours

Spent time shadowing in the veterinary operations department during my research internship with Labcorp - 140 hours

Surgery recovery volunteer at a spay and neuter clinic - 60 hours

Shadowed at a local equine hospital - 25 hours

Shadowed at an emergency vet hospital - 15 hours

Shadowed at a small animal clinic (different from the one I worked at) - 18 hours


Research:

Worked on a research project with mice during my internship with Labcorp - 240 hours


Extracurriculars:

Active member of my sorority

• President (1 year)
• Diversity chair (2 years)
• GAMMA/Risk chair (1 year)
• Alumni chair (1 year)

French club member

• Vice president (1 year)
• Secretary (1 year)

Played alto sax in band all 4 years on scholarship

• 2 years in concert band
• 2 years in symphonic band (top band in the college; does tours every year)
• Private lessons all 4 years; played solos at the annual saxophone festival on campus

Campus ministries

• Leadership team (1 year)
• Active participant/volunteer all 4 years

Pen pal volunteer writer with an imprisoned individual (4 years)


Awards:

Dean’s list for 6 semesters

Big college academic scholarship ( + music scholarship and other smaller scholarships)

Two published papers (although they are unrelated to biology/veterinary field– one is a French/gender studies-related one and the other is my capstone project for my English major that I will be presenting at a regional conference in May after graduation!)

Honorable mention in an annual essay competition at my college with the French/gender studies paper listed above


Non-Animal Employment:

CORE ambassador (front desk person) at my college’s career development center (3 years)


LORs: 5 total

Pre-vet advisor/physiology professor

French professor/advisor for my French minor (I’ve known them for all four years of college)

Two veterinarians who I worked with when working at the animal hospital

My trainer for my research internship


Thank you everyone!! 🙂

 

[nicoledoesvetstuff]

Reviving this thread to share my results and to ask a question...So I'm in a strange situation where I've been waitlisted by 4 schools and rejected everywhere else. Here are the following schools I have been waitlisted from: LMU, Illinois (IS), Iowa (OOS), LIU (bottom half)

So my question is...what do I do? Has anyone been in a similar situation where they've been waitlisted by several schools but accepted by none? I'm really grateful that I at least have a chance, but I also feel very stuck and lost. When should I start reapplying and/or look for gap year jobs? I'm in my last year of college, and this is my first year applying, so I'm just not sure what to do now and what my chances are of getting off of any of those waitlists. Would appreciate any guidance I can receive. Thanks!

 

[supershorty]

Reviving this thread to share my results and to ask a question...So I'm in a strange situation where I've been waitlisted by 4 schools and rejected everywhere else. Here are the following schools I have been waitlisted from: LMU, Illinois (IS), Iowa (OOS), LIU (bottom half)

So my question is...what do I do? Has anyone been in a similar situation where they've been waitlisted by several schools but accepted by none? I'm really grateful that I at least have a chance, but I also feel very stuck and lost. When should I start reapplying and/or look for gap year jobs? I'm in my last year of college, and this is my first year applying, so I'm just not sure what to do now and what my chances are of getting off of any of those waitlists. Would appreciate any guidance I can receive. Thanks!

I would operate on the assumption that you are not going to be starting school in the fall. It’s safer to keep working on your application as if you will for sure be reapplying - then you’re not behind the ball if you do end up needing to reapply.

 

[pp9]

Reviving this thread to share my results and to ask a question...So I'm in a strange situation where I've been waitlisted by 4 schools and rejected everywhere else. Here are the following schools I have been waitlisted from: LMU, Illinois (IS), Iowa (OOS), LIU (bottom half)

So my question is...what do I do? Has anyone been in a similar situation where they've been waitlisted by several schools but accepted by none? I'm really grateful that I at least have a chance, but I also feel very stuck and lost. When should I start reapplying and/or look for gap year jobs? I'm in my last year of college, and this is my first year applying, so I'm just not sure what to do now and what my chances are of getting off of any of those waitlists. Would appreciate any guidance I can receive. Thanks!

Start applying for gap year stuff now. Waitlists move a lot, but there is no guarantee that you'll get called off one. Far better to have to turn down a gap year opportunity/leave it early than to be sitting at home in September wishing you had something figured out.

 

[JaynaAli]

I agree with pp9 and shorty, I’d begin to make plans now and change them should you get good news. I guess my only caveat would be that I’d wait until maybe May 1 or a little later before signing any housing lease, if possible. Or at least make sure it’s one you can get out of for a reasonable fee…you don’t want to be on the hook for months and months of rent should you get in somewhere and need to cancel a lease and move. But you would miss out on opportunities to improve if you wait indefinitely. And even if you do get in, more experience never hurt anyone!

 

[nicoledoesvetstuff]

Got it, thanks for the advice everyone! I will be moving back with my family after graduation for the time being, so I don't have to look for housing just yet. But I will definitely start looking at what I can do to improve my application and looking at gap year opportunities!