fauna
Full Member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2023
- Messages
- 129
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- 224
Hi, 23yo F, working on my third application cycle! I am a Florida resident, lived here my whole life but I did do some work in Massachusetts for less than a year but I have since moved back to FL. Finished undergrad in December '23, and now work full-time as a specialty surgery assistant. First cycle-- applied to 9 schools, waitlisted by LSU, rejected by all others with no interview invites. Second cycle-- applied to 12 schools, interviewed LSU and UF (IS) waitlisted by both, rejected everywhere else. Rejected from LSU despite being waitlisted the first time and having a really positive advising session with them between cycles 1 and 2. I think maybe I got alt for an interview at Kansas and Tennessee but don't quite remember bc it never led anywhere lol. This cycle, I will not apply to nearly as many schools. Previously, I thought casting a wide net would help my chances but it's far too expensive. I will definitely apply to UF, LSU, and LMU again, open to applying to 1-2 more if people have good suggestions for me. The dream would be UF and my focus is trying to be a more appealing applicant to them-- awaiting a packet review but it has been a challenge for me to schedule that. I am hesitant about LMU due to cost, location, no teaching hospital but I feel my chances are stronger with them. Forgive me if my descriptions are a bit clunky-- I honestly have not really used the WAMC forums before so I am not sure how in-depth people normally go.
Cumulative GPA: 3.44
science GPA: 3.11
last 45: -can't find rn sorry, prob similar to my cumulative-
Any degrees achieved:
B.S. Cell and Molecular Biology
A.A. Liberal Arts
GRE results: n/a
Veterinary Experience:
from most recent to earliest experiences
- jan 2025-now, >40 hours/week: specialty surgery assistant in FL, functions primarily as a scrub nurse, currently training in anesthesia. many emergency soft tissue cases. 640 hours. would expect to be around 1,200 hours by the time I apply though. compensated
- may 2024-dec 2024, 40hrs/week specialty surgery assistant in MA- again, scrub nurse, more orthopedic cases though, no emergencies really. 1200 hours compensated
- november 2022-april 2024, started part-time, later did full-time GP lead vet assistant 1800 hours compensated
- intermittent over the course of a couple years 2020-2022, shadowed at a small animal GP, 160 hours volunteer
Animal Experience:
- may 2022-august 2022- zoo internship, animal ambassador department, heavy emphasis on enrichment, animal behavior, operant conditioning. 480 hours
- high school years- volunteer at humane society, 120 hours
Research Experience:
limited work assisting in an animal behavior lab studying spiders literally only like 30 hours. i watched tapes of spiders and cleaned their enclosures.
Awards/scholarships:
- merit scholarships
- community service awarded upon graduating HS (don't know if i should leave this on here)
Extracurriculars:
- PRIDE Alliance
- Pre- Vet Society
Employment:
- Starbucks Barista, 1500 hours, part-time during college
- Movie Theater, 1000 hours, part-time during HS, not sure if I should leave this on my app
Concerns: GPA has been the biggest concern this whole time. Still undecided if I need to pursue a Masters or just take some new-to-me science/biomedical undergrad classes or retake some C classes, which would be things like Orgo and Physics. Besides this, as a student, I was just a painfully "B" student when it came to my rigorous science electives. I aced a couple of my science classes but it was mostly B's and that's why my GPA looks the way it does. I have been told that this isn't bad it is just not competitive enough in the sea of applicants. I hope at least that the fact that I majored in cell and molecular bio is a standout, as this was pretty rigorous.
I feel like between cycles 1 and 2 I made an exponential leap in my non-academic portions-- better experience, better LORs, better statements. From cycle 2 to 3, however, it feels like I haven't made enough of a difference other than just continuing to work.
Interviews-- in retrospect, I think I did really well in my UF interview though I was a nervous wreck at the time immediately following it. I am eagerly awaiting my packet review so I can get some answers on if it was my interview that held me back from acceptance or my GPA, which I would find to be more likely. I will admit my LMU interview was trash, I had terrible internet issues and could hardly answer the questions so I was surprised to even get waitlisted.
Cumulative GPA: 3.44
science GPA: 3.11
last 45: -can't find rn sorry, prob similar to my cumulative-
Any degrees achieved:
B.S. Cell and Molecular Biology
A.A. Liberal Arts
GRE results: n/a
Veterinary Experience:
from most recent to earliest experiences
- jan 2025-now, >40 hours/week: specialty surgery assistant in FL, functions primarily as a scrub nurse, currently training in anesthesia. many emergency soft tissue cases. 640 hours. would expect to be around 1,200 hours by the time I apply though. compensated
- may 2024-dec 2024, 40hrs/week specialty surgery assistant in MA- again, scrub nurse, more orthopedic cases though, no emergencies really. 1200 hours compensated
- november 2022-april 2024, started part-time, later did full-time GP lead vet assistant 1800 hours compensated
- intermittent over the course of a couple years 2020-2022, shadowed at a small animal GP, 160 hours volunteer
Animal Experience:
- may 2022-august 2022- zoo internship, animal ambassador department, heavy emphasis on enrichment, animal behavior, operant conditioning. 480 hours
- high school years- volunteer at humane society, 120 hours
Research Experience:
limited work assisting in an animal behavior lab studying spiders literally only like 30 hours. i watched tapes of spiders and cleaned their enclosures.
Awards/scholarships:
- merit scholarships
- community service awarded upon graduating HS (don't know if i should leave this on here)
Extracurriculars:
- PRIDE Alliance
- Pre- Vet Society
Employment:
- Starbucks Barista, 1500 hours, part-time during college
- Movie Theater, 1000 hours, part-time during HS, not sure if I should leave this on my app
Concerns: GPA has been the biggest concern this whole time. Still undecided if I need to pursue a Masters or just take some new-to-me science/biomedical undergrad classes or retake some C classes, which would be things like Orgo and Physics. Besides this, as a student, I was just a painfully "B" student when it came to my rigorous science electives. I aced a couple of my science classes but it was mostly B's and that's why my GPA looks the way it does. I have been told that this isn't bad it is just not competitive enough in the sea of applicants. I hope at least that the fact that I majored in cell and molecular bio is a standout, as this was pretty rigorous.
I feel like between cycles 1 and 2 I made an exponential leap in my non-academic portions-- better experience, better LORs, better statements. From cycle 2 to 3, however, it feels like I haven't made enough of a difference other than just continuing to work.
Interviews-- in retrospect, I think I did really well in my UF interview though I was a nervous wreck at the time immediately following it. I am eagerly awaiting my packet review so I can get some answers on if it was my interview that held me back from acceptance or my GPA, which I would find to be more likely. I will admit my LMU interview was trash, I had terrible internet issues and could hardly answer the questions so I was surprised to even get waitlisted.