WAMC: 3rd cycle applicant

[EH122000]

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This is my third time applying, and I really want to make it my last! I would appreciate it if anyone could tell me if I'm doing ok or if I'm competitive. Any help or suggestions on how I can improve both in the next 6 months and in the next year is greatly appreciated!! I also would love to know how to get involved in research now that I do not live near a university. I also am aware I need to beef up my extracurriculars so any suggestions on unique things to add to that area are appreciated as well🙂 . "I know I posted something last year, but these are more accurate stats."

Can someone plz help me!!!!


25 F, Third time applying:/

Current Academics:
Cumulative GPA: 3.52
Science GPA: 3.42
Last 45: 3.5
Last 36 (MSU): 3.7

Projected Academics After This Semester of Taking Extra Prereqs at a CC:
Cumulative GPA: 3.61
Science GPA: 3.48
Last 45: 3.71
Last 36 (MSU): 3.93

Degrees:
B.s in Animal Science from Texas A&M University
A.s in Agriculture from Blinn College

Veterinary Experience: 5,281hrs total

• SA GP shadow - 124hrs
• TAMU Teaching Hospital ICU student technician - 1656hrs
• VEG ER for Pets shadow: 54hrs
• SA GP vet assistant - 202hrs
• SA/ER/Exotic hospital vet assistant (current) - 3190hrs
• Equine vet shadowing - 30hrs
• Wildlife vet shadowing in South Africa - 20hrs
• LA vet shadowing in South Africa - 5ish hrs (spent morning doing ultrasounds)

Animal Experience: 1,630 total

• FFA (this is just the hrs i spent raising pigs for 2yrs)(HS) - 960hrs
• Vet med (1 year)(HS) - 50hrs
• Lucky Mutt adoption event - 4hrs
• Doberfest training event - 4hrs
• HLSR Intern
  • Day 1 Breed Row Barn - 8hrs
  • Day 2 Birthing Center - 8hrs
• Equine Boarding Intern - 480hrs
• Cadaver CE Lab - 2hrs
• ANSC 318: Feeds Cannula lab - 3hrs
• ANSC 334: Repro Palpation Lab - 3hrs
• ANSC 404: Animal Behavior labs (we went to diff facilites to judge animal welfare practices) - 16hrs
• ANSC 414: sheep & goat management labs - 30 hrs
• WWC wildlife habitat volunteer - 4hrs
• South Africa Pre-Vet Trip - 38hrs total
  • Day 1: Vaccinating Red Angus - 5hrs
  • Day 2: Sheep vac/castrating/docking...etc - 10hrs
  • Day 7: vaccinating + wool judging - 8hrs
  • Day 9: Palpating heifers - 5hrs
  • Day 10: vet physiotherapy + necropsy - 10hrs
• Pet sitting - 20hrs

Research: 5hrs

• Helped collect samples for wireworm research during my South Africa Trip

Scholarship:

• Barnes & Noble scholarship

Volunteer (non-animal related): 15hrs

• Moody Gardens Education Event - 3hrs
• School supply donation in South Africa - 10hrs ( total of 3 days )
• Buyers breakfast for livestock show - 2hrs

Extracurricular:

• FFA (member hrs only) - 1920hrs
• VWB (member hrs only) - 64hrs
• VWB Trip Officer 2022-2023 - 280hrs (dedicated 1hr a day to officer duties)
• Pre-vet club (1 semester) - 16hrs
• Reading - 2,500hrs (1hr a day for the past 6 years)
• Trivia team w/ coworkers (idk if I should count this, I do trivia once a week at a local bar) - 24hrs

Achievements:

• Presidents' list (1 year)
• Dean's Scholar ( 2 semesters)
• Chancellors scholar (1 semester)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Previously

E

Thread '2nd time applicant, low 45 hour GPA'

Jun 18, 2025

so last year I graduated with my bachelors and animal science from Texas A&M. I applied to three veterinary schools last cycle and got an interview for the royal veterinary college. I only applied to three schools last cycle simply because a lot was going on in my life and my mental health just wasn’t stellar. Since graduating, I have been working as a veterinary assistant add a clinic that both accepts general and emergency cases. I also went to South Africa two weeks ago to study alongside wildlife veterinarians and I’m currently taking some classes out of community college to boost my...

• EH122000
• Replies: 1
• Forum: What are my Chances? WAMC Veterinary

 

[pp9]

Can someone plz help me!!!!

Before I ramble....

what schools are you applying to?
Is Texas still your home state?
Who is writing your LORs?
I'm also interested in your personal statement, but with the prompt changing you have a clean slate going forward and will need to rewrite it anyways.

 

[sabza]

I would definitely not list reading as an extracurricular. To me, that undermines your credibility.

 

[pp9]

Would still like to hear answers to my initial questions but...

I would definitely not list reading as an extracurricular. To me, that undermines your credibility.

'Undermines credibility' is a strong way of wording it, but I agree that it probably doesn't need to be included. I feel the same way about the trivia team. With that said, I am sure some people out there would disagree and say you should take the opportunity to showcase some personality and I can totally see that too. Plenty of people include things like running marathons (more than just one, I would think), various hobbies, etc.

I would also wonder about being in the pre-vet club for only a single semester. I also can't say that any of these three things would ding you, but just some things that I thought of reading the post initially.

South Africa Pre-Vet Trip - 38hrs total

• Day 1: Vaccinating Red Angus - 5hrs
• Day 2: Sheep vac/castrating/docking...etc - 10hrs
• Day 7: vaccinating + wool judging - 8hrs
• Day 9: Palpating heifers - 5hrs
• Day 10: vet physiotherapy + necropsy - 10hrs

Why is this not listed under 'vet experience?' Was there no vet on this trip?

Current Academics:
Cumulative GPA: 3.52
Science GPA: 3.42
Last 45: 3.5
Last 36 (MSU): 3.7

Projected Academics After This Semester of Taking Extra Prereqs at a CC:
Cumulative GPA: 3.61
Science GPA: 3.48
Last 45: 3.71
Last 36 (MSU): 3.93

I'd still like to know the answers to the first few questions I asked, especially what schools you've been applying to. That said, your academic stats are faaaairly even which makes it harder to pick a school strategically.

It could be that your academics are just not strong enough to keep you in the pool. I looked at your old post and at that time you were a TX resident. A&M puts a considerable amount of weight on academics and their average matriculated student had GPAs in the 3.8ish range. What I don't know is if they do initial GPA cutoffs before deciding who gets further evaluation or what. Texas Tech is a little more vague but they are pretty clear in their intent to accept students primarily with rural backgrounds or the clear intent to practice in those communities post-graduation.

My other thought is that in additional to below average academics, you might just not be standing out enough. I know that's a generic thing to say, but your essay(s) and LORs might not be pushing you up enough? It gets hard when apps are likely 'fine' (although I think your academics could be a slight issue).

 

[HorseObsessed]

Above is probably the best advice, but I'll chime in with my experience: over half of my essays were about extracurricular, volunteer, and research experiences. While these experiences beef up an application to begin with, they can also make your essays shine. These sections look weak for you. I wouldn't even bother including 3 hours of volunteering myself. Consider finding time to make a meaningful contribution to your community through volunteer work and you might find some better essay topics for the "non-vet" essays.

 

[pp9]

I wouldn't even bother including 3 hours of volunteering myself.

I was going to mention this but forgot to! I also would have just left this personally, and did leave out 'micro-experiences' when I was applying myself. I think the inclination is that every bit counts, but it kinda doesn't? Whether or not these ding you, again, is debatable, but they certainly are not meaningful contributions to your application. Kind of similar to people that include high school experiences - sure, you did that, but they kinda don't matter unless you've been doing something since high school and have racked up considerable hours or experience.

 

[HorseObsessed]

I was going to mention this but forgot to! I also would have just left this personally, and did leave out 'micro-experiences' when I was applying myself. I think the inclination is that every bit counts, but it kinda doesn't? Whether or not these ding you, again, is debatable, but they certainly are not meaningful contributions to your application. Kind of similar to people that include high school experiences - sure, you did that, but they kinda don't matter unless you've been doing something since high school and have racked up considerable hours or experience.

I included a few things from high school. I don't think they hurt you but they definitely don't help you. One more thing to add: UF asked me to write an essay about something I did NOT include on my application. This is where leaving out the micro experiences helped me— I got to write about playing poker (something that would have seemed ridiculous to put on my main application).

Someone tell me if this is a good litmus test: If you were asked about the specific experience in an interview, would you have anything meaningful to say? Some of my interviews did ask about specific experiences, the rest definitely required that I reference them.

 

[pp9]

I included a few things from high school. I don't think they hurt you but they definitely don't help you. One more thing to add: UF asked me to write an essay about something I did NOT include on my application. This is where leaving out the micro experiences helped me— I got to write about playing poker (something that would have seemed ridiculous to put on my main application).

Someone tell me if this is a good litmus test: If you were asked about the specific experience in an interview, would you have anything meaningful to say? Some of my interviews did ask about specific experiences, the rest definitely required that I reference them.

I think it's a judgement call. Did I include high school sports on my app? No, because I did not continue those sports through undergrad nor did I feel particularly 'proud' of those activities if that makes sense. I did include employment though, because I had significant employment hours under my belt by the time I got to undergrad and felt that was important to include, even if it wasn't all veterinary employment.

I think whether or not having something meaningful to say could be a great way to filter things.