WAMC - 1st Time: Average Grades, Low Experience, Reality Check

[naivevetstudent]

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I am currently entering my senior year, with my undergrad degree in Integrative Animal Biology from the University of South Florida. I am a 21 year old Hispanic (Mexican/Puerto Rican) male & Florida native. I am mainly interested in UF, but have looked at OOS options and am currently considering Michigan, Tuskegee, Oklahoma, Oregon, etc. I don't think I will realistically get into any of them due to an only average GPA, low science GPA, and low experience, and I suppose this is more for a reality check/advice than anything. Please be realistic in your criticism and if you have any advice I am glad to hear it, no opinions are too harsh/outlandish. I will not give up even if it takes a few tries. 🙂

Cumulative GPA: 3.52
science GPA: 3.18
last 45: 3.55

Any degrees achieved
N/A, completing my bachelors in Spring 2023.

GRE results: Q/V/W
N/A, have not taken, likely not to take.

Veterinary Experience: 400 hours by August.
- Worked in GP as a Vet Assistant for 400 hours by August, currently at 300 but waiting to gather more. This was my first and only clinical experience in part due to COVID and my foolish decision to serve as an RA on campus, which only lets you do outside work of 8 hours per week on the contract. Probably my biggest regret. I am currently applying to begin a position as a vet assistant at BluePearl in August. Getting my results next week.

Animal Experience: 100 hours.
- Volunteered at my local Humane Society for 100 hours since high school.

Research Experience:
N/A

Awards/scholarships:
- Undergrad Bright Futures
- Undergrad USF Scholarships for Academic Success

Extracurriculars:
- Was a member of the pre-veterinary society on campus.
- Created/hosted events for student wellbeing/academics on my own time while an RA.

Employment:
- 400 hours of GP as a Vet Assistant
- 3 Years of Real Estate Experience (Worked as a paid research intern, unrelated to anything but needed the money at the time.)
- 1 Year as a Resident Assistant at the University of South Florida (Helped with my people skills, which has helped in GP as I occasionally fill receptionist shifts.)

I'm just aware and sort-of coming to the realization that I haven't done anything. A large part of it was due to COVID and living with a disabled sister who is immunocompromised, so leaving the house was a high risk and I basically stayed home even taking a job online. I know that so many other applicants will have those same circumstances and have accomplished much more, with better grades, so there is no reason I couldn't have and I do at least take accountability for that. Truthfully, I am unsure if I should even apply in August/September or if I should just save my money and bolster my experiences by next year. What schools should I even look at? UF seems like a far-fetched dream at this point.

I appreciate any and all input. Thank you.

 

[honeypot999]

In my opinion, a low science gpa and basically no veterinary experience (400 is very very low) is making you a non competitive option to schools. The last 45 and your cGPA are average but there’s nothing that makes you stand out as an applicant. I understand the harsh impact of COVID-19 on your ability to get those hours. I don’t think it’s necessarily a waste to apply, but I would be picky in what I select because you have low hours compared to others.

 

[naivevetstudent]

In my opinion, a low science gpa and basically no veterinary experience (400 is very very low) is making you a non competitive option to schools. The last 45 and your cGPA are average but there’s nothing that makes you stand out as an applicant. I understand the harsh impact of COVID-19 on your ability to get those hours. I don’t think it’s necessarily a waste to apply, but I would be picky in what I select because you have low hours compared to others.

Thank you for your input. My plan as of now is to essentially consider myself as rejected, and really buckle down this last year to vary my experience and bolster my science GPA (as much as one realistically can in one year) and just hope for a better chance next year. Is there anything I should look for when applying? I've looked at admitted class statistics as well as prereqs, but it seems like those don't always tell the full story and some schools seem like they might be a bit more lax, when in reality they aren't.

 

[honeypot999]

There’s two types of schools holistic or gpa driven. Holistic take into more of the applicant like experience and a little less gpa focused. An example is Michigan. GPA driven focus more on the gpa like Cornell. It depends on which ones you think you’ll be likely to attend.

Also pay attention to which require the GRE still. OK and Ross do.

 

[katiemcat]

I would try and get your science GPA higher by taking some additional high level sciences or retaking classes. As someone pointed out that may get you cut from schools with GPA cutoffs (including UF.)

 

[naivevetstudent]

I would try and get your science GPA higher by taking some additional high level sciences or retaking classes. As someone pointed out that may get you cut from schools with GPA cutoffs (including UF.)

Thank you for the advice! That's the plan right now, my next two semesters will be almost only science classes to complete my degree. (I also sadly had P/F grading for one semester, Spring 2020 due to COVID, and will retake those for a letter grade. I did good in all but only have an S on my transcript sadly.)

I know the GPA cutoff for UF is 3.0 for all 3 GPA's, so I'm going to try and steer as far as possible (in a good way) from that.

I truly feel next year I will have a much better application, but I'm also terrified knowing my first time application should be what counts.

Thank you!

 

[katiemcat]

Thank you for the advice! That's the plan right now, my next two semesters will be almost only science classes to complete my degree. (I also sadly had P/F grading for one semester, Spring 2020 due to COVID, and will retake those for a letter grade. I did good in all but only have an S on my transcript sadly.)

I know the GPA cutoff for UF is 3.0 for all 3 GPA's, so I'm going to try and steer as far as possible (in a good way) from that.

I truly feel next year I will have a much better application, but I'm also terrified knowing my first time application should be what counts.

Thank you!

Their GPA cutoff to look at applications has been around 3.5 the past two years. I would still apply, but work on getting it up in case you don’t get in. I didn’t get in my first time, but I did the second. You can do it! Just keep improving your application.

Edit: I’m not sure what their cutoff for science has been but that was the reason I was given for not getting in my first cycle.

 

[naivevetstudent]

Their GPA cutoff to look at applications has been around 3.5 the past two years. I would still apply, but work on getting it up in case you don’t get in. I didn’t get in my first time, but I did the second. You can do it! Just keep improving your application.

Edit: I’m not sure what their cutoff for science has been but that was the reason I was given for not getting in my first cycle.

Oh that makes sense, I was just going off of their website but I imagine it wouldn't tell the full story. I'll keep that in mind. I'm still going to apply for sure, but I'll keep working on myself as a candidate under the assumption that I won't get in.

Once again, thanks for your advice!

 

[katiemcat]

Oh that makes sense, I was just going off of their website but I imagine it wouldn't tell the full story. I'll keep that in mind. I'm still going to apply for sure, but I'll keep working on myself as a candidate under the assumption that I won't get in.

Once again, thanks for your advice!

Ya schools usually only list the minimum to APPLY not for your application to be looked at :/ UF has been cutting by GPA first (I’ve heard if you’re under the mean GPA of everyone who has applied you get cut but I can’t say this for a fact.) Which is why it is important to look at accepted students stats for the previous years. Of course, let me know if you ever need anything! Hope to see you next year 🙂