WAMC - 2nd cycle

[WazooMaster]

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Hello! I wanted to get some feedback regarding my stats for applying this cycle (if I'm competitive) and if there is anything I should be worried about (e.g., no food animal vet experiences)?
FYI: I am intentionally being a bit cryptic to maintain anonymity!

2nd time applicant. OOS everywhere. Interested in pursuing public health, research.

Schools I am applying to:
tOSU
OkSU (Oklahoma)
UGA
NCSU
UTCVM
WSU

Rejected from every school I applied to first cycle.


Cumulative GPA: 3.83
science GPA: 3.93
last 45: 3.85

Any degrees achieved
Animal Science

Veterinary Experience: 4000+ hours
-Equine - 1000 hours
-Small Animal (GP, emergency, surgery specialty) -2000 hours
-Exotics - 200 hours
-Lab animal - 20 hours (shadowing)

Animal Experience: 500 hours
-Large animal - 100 hours
-Farm animal - 70 hours
-Small animal - 200 hours
-Exotics - 50 hours

Research Experience: 1000+ hours
-Infectious diseases/molecular biology - 1000+ hours
-Reproductive histology - 500 hours
-Inorganic chemistry - 30 hours

Awards/scholarships/certificates:
-A lot

Extracurriculars:
-Leadership in various clubs
-The FFA
-Red Cross volunteer

Employment:
-Retail - over the summer in both high school and summer during college
-Biology lab technician - 500 hours


I am mostly concerned about my lack of large/food animal veterinary experience as I am interested in pursuing public health. Does my school list make sense? Any other school I should add?

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[pp9]

If this were your first cycle, I'd tell you that you'd be fine/don't worry. Have you followed up with any of the schools from your first cycle to see if they do file reviews? Did you get any interviews? I don't think you have any issues with your academic stats (though they are probably average for OOS at some schools? the numbers are getting very high), and you have good experience. Very few people have food animal hours so I don't think that would have held you back in light of what you already bring to the table.

So that leaves us with the more subjective portions - essay(s)/PS, LORs, interviews if you had any. On paper you are competitive but without seeing your whole packet, I couldn't tell you what may have been the problem.

Your school list is fine, with your academic stats you don't necessarily need pick and choose schools based on which GPAs they care about. You could always add more but that would be up to you.

 

[WazooMaster]

If this were your first cycle, I'd tell you that you'd be fine/don't worry. Have you followed up with any of the schools from your first cycle to see if they do file reviews? Did you get any interviews? I don't think you have any issues with your academic stats (though they are probably average for OOS at some schools? the numbers are getting very high), and you have good experience. Very few people have food animal hours so I don't think that would have held you back in light of what you already bring to the table.

So that leaves us with the more subjective portions - essay(s)/PS, LORs, interviews if you had any. On paper you are competitive but without seeing your whole packet, I couldn't tell you what may have been the problem.

Your school list is fine, with your academic stats you don't necessarily need pick and choose schools based on which GPAs they care about. You could always add more but that would be up to you.

Thank you for your feedback!

I think it came down to LORs and really crappy essays/rushing my app. I first applied two cycles ago, so I’ve had a lot of time to explore the field and (hopefully) mature as a candidate.

 

[pp9]

Thank you for your feedback!

I think it came down to LORs and really crappy essays/rushing my app. I first applied two cycles ago, so I’ve had a lot of time to explore the field and (hopefully) mature as a candidate.

Do you have all new LOR writers, or do your previous ones just know you better now? Do you feel any of your original LORs may have specifically not recommended you to the schools? That's super rare but it happens.

I would say if you also feel that your written components held you back, and you've significantly improved those, your chances should be good?

 

[WazooMaster]

Do you have all new LOR writers, or do your previous ones just know you better now? Do you feel any of your original LORs may have specifically not recommended you to the schools? That's super rare but it happens.

I would say if you also feel that your written components held you back, and you've significantly improved those, your chances should be good?

Yes, all new LORs! I really focused on relationship building. And one of my recommenders/letters helped me a LOT with writing, so I feel pretty confident in that aspect. Time will tell.

Thank you for your input!