WAMC 1st time applicant

[maddawg1]

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Hello everybody! Thank you for taking the time to look at this and for all your help. With never applying to vet school before, it's an extremely new and stressful process, and I just want to put fillers out there to determine if my list of schools will give me a shot towards an interview, and hopefully acceptance. My in-state is at UPenn, and I am currently an undergrad at Penn State (Animal Science major, with minors in Livestock Production, Poultry and Avian Sciences, and a certificate in One-Health). I am very interested in mixed animal medicine, with a focus on large animals. The schools I am interested in and meet prereqs for are: UPenn, Virginia Maryland, Iowa, LMU, LSU, tOSU, Rowan, Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas, and possibly some newer schools like Clemson or Arkansas. Decided the schools was difficult because the Orgo I took was only 6 credits, however, included a lab.

Cumulative GPA: 3.71 at PSU, 3.98 at CC (took classes during high school, which includes calc and English prereqs), and currently IP physics at another university online
science GPA: approx 3.46
last 45: approx 3.8 (at PSU)

Any degrees achieved: N/A - Bachelor's in Progress

GRE results: none

Veterinary Experience:
- Vet Assistant ( ~1000 hours): Assisted with restraint, filling meds, taking xrays, cleaning clinic, read fecal samples, ran lab work, etc.
- Vet Tech (not certified; ~1000 hours): Run appointments, draw blood, run labs, call clients, fill medication, assist with surgeries, etc.
- Shadowing a large animal vet ~100 hours

Animal Experience:
- Shelter volunteer: 50 hours
- Pet sitting: 200 hours

Research Experience:
- Undergrad research assistant in poultry science: 100 hours
- New position in avian medicine starting in the fall

Awards/scholarships:
- Highest GPA in the Poultry and Avian Science Minor
- Deans List x5
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor society (at CC)
- Several scholarships through Penn State and other outside organizations

Extracurriculars:
- Pre Vet Club: Merchandise Chair
- Poultry Science Club: PR Chair
- Ag Advocates (student recruitment group for college of ag and helps with campus events): Vice President and Events Chair

Employment:
- Vet assistant and vet tech
- Also lots of volunteer work: Summer camp counselor, helping at local fairs, etc.

Basically, looking for any and all advice and tips on applying strategically. I've gotten lots of advice already, but want to hear from people who I don't personally know. Are there any other schools I should look to add to my list? Thank you so much!

 

[breezywonton]

- Vet Tech (not certified; ~1000 hours): Run appointments, draw blood, run labs, call clients, fill medication, assist with surgeries, etc.

be careful calling yourself a tech if you are not licensed, i know it varies by state but title protection for techs is an emerging issue and calling yourself a tech when you're not might be frowned upon. even if you did vet tech things i would still list it as vet assistant

 

[vampyrica]

be careful calling yourself a tech if you are not licensed, i know it varies by state but title protection for techs is an emerging issue and calling yourself a tech when you're not might be frowned upon. even if you did vet tech things i would still list it as vet assistant

unfortunately i have to disagree on this but not for the reason you think.

i went to penn state for undergrad and worked in pennsylvania as an “unlicensed tech” but i also worked as an assistant had very different responsibilities in both roles. for OP- i would recommend making a note in your description that you were not licensed and being detailed with your responsibilities. that’s what i did at least.

it’s a tricky situation because you want to put what was on your paperwork, but at the same time, it’s important to acknowledge the ongoing issue of license protection and not wanting to contribute to it. tread carefully and worse comes to worse, reach out to the schools and ask what title they’d prefer!

 

[breezywonton]

it’s a tricky situation because you want to put what was on your paperwork, but at the same time, it’s important to acknowledge the ongoing issue of license protection and not wanting to contribute to it. tread carefully and worse comes to worse, reach out to the schools and ask what title they’d prefer!

that makes sense! i didn’t consider the nuance. definitely reach out to schools if you’re unsure especially if it’s a state that has laws around techs. i worked with a vet in Ohio who was on OSUs admissions committee and he said he threw out applications that listed themselves as techs when they didn’t have a license. maybe he was just strict LOL but i think including it in the explanation statement is a good idea, especially if the responsibilities between the two roles were significantly different.