WAMC - 1st time applicant

[maryjbrn]

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I'm reposting with some updated experiences. I'm most worried about not having lots of hobbies or passions outside of veterinary medicine/unrelated volunteering. Dream school obviously NCSU, interested primarily in small animal and some wildlife.

21F, NC, traditional 1st time applicant applying this next cycle (2026-2027)
Planning to apply to: NCSU, UF, UGA, WSU, UCD, UWM
Possibly: UT, Mizzou, Illinois, Cornell? Unsure.

Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
Last 45: 4.0

Degrees:
Associate’s Degree in Science
Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science - expected May 2027

Veterinary Experience (current): ~4200hrs
- 4000 hours - Veterinary Assistant at Small Animal/Integrative Medicine hospital
- 110 hours - Shadowing canine Spays/Neuters and some soft tissue/ortho surgeries at a dog rescue
- 80 hours - Shadowing at Large Animal Ambulatory Services

Possible:
Shadowing at ER or speciality dental/cardiology
Shadowing exotics at CVM
More hours at dog rescue clinic

Animal Experience: ~900hrs
- 300 hours - Volunteer at dog rescue in puppy care mainly, some outreach events
- 100 hours - Volunteer as equine assistant at horse riding therapy center
- 50 hours - Volunteer in raptor care (owls, raven, hawks) at wildlife center
- 400 hours - Petsitting (dogs/cats)

Possible:
Volunteering at dairy educational unit

Research Experience:
- 2 hours - Retrospective project/data entry for turtle morbidity and mortality with CVM student - possibility for being a published author
- 6 hours - Smooth dogfish health project with CVM aquatic vet - will be first published author

I plan to get many more hours this summer in both of these projects!

Awards/scholarships:
- Dean’s list - all semesters
- President’s list - all semesters at community college
- Magna Cum Laude in high school

Extracurriculars:
- Vice President of Companion Animal Science Club
- Wildlife Rehabbers of NC Symposium Attendee
- Welding Certificate
- Arboretum Educational Outreach Project

Employment:
- 2000 hours - Cashier at grocery store

LOR:
Vet who was practice owner of small animal/holistic practice
Associate vet at small animal/holistic practice
Organic chem professor
Plan to ask CVM aquatic vet I'm doing research with

Let me know if you have any advice!

 

[JaynaAli]

I think all the advice you got in February still applies. I mean kudos for maintaining the 4.0 and adding a few more hours in various experiences and adding some new stuff, that’s great, but with stats like that I’d say your chances of getting in somewhere are pretty high. like everyone talked about previously, I’d prioritize applying to the cheapest places.

 

[breezywonton]

You'd have a great chance at UT but their OOS tuition is up there and you can't establish in state residency.

 

[supershorty]

- 6 hours - Smooth dogfish health project with CVM aquatic vet - will be first published author

Are you undershooting with this estimate pretty significantly or is this in its very early stages?

 

[maryjbrn]

Are you undershooting with this estimate pretty significantly or is this in its very early stages?

Very early stages, went on one field work trip with the dr. and he offered for me to be the lead on a health project (literature review, more trips to collect sharks and obtain samples/measurements, write and be first author), so I already have a few more trips and meetings planned. I've worked with this vet a few times and seen him at a few conferences and such, I love working with him!