WAMC- c/o 2026

[chickenpotage]

Hi everyone!

I'm applying for a second time, and would love to get some thoughts/feedback if it's not too much trouble. This past cycle, I applied as out of state to Virginia-Maryland, currently in Spot 16 on their out of state waitlist.

I was not a great student in undergraduate; I was in an abusive relationship that I didn't end until after graduation, and I've spent the past 4 or so years since graduation doing a lot of work on myself and on my grades! My best friend also died while I was in college, which was very hard for me. I want to be a veterinary pathologist, and I am particularly interested in infectious diseases of poultry and cattle. I enjoy a lot of aspects of food animal/production medicine as well, but I do really love the variety of veterinary pathology!

Cumulative GPA: 2.91

Science GPA: 3.1-3.5 depending on which school's prereqs you look at

Last 45: 3.32

Any degrees achieved: I have a B.S. in Poultry Science and a B.S. in Animal Science, with minors in Microbiology and Nutrition.

CASPer Result: Don't know my exact number, but the admissions officer at the school I applied to this past cycle informed me I was in 95th percentile.

SCHOOLS: Virginia-Maryland (applying in-state), Wisconsin, Iowa State, Minnesota


Veterinary Experience (~5500 total):
- My parents are both veterinarians (one large animal, one small animal, both specialists), as well as my aunt and grandmother, so I have quite a bit....
- Working with father in his bovine/small ruminant practice, large emphasis on therio work (1440 hours)
- Working with mother in her small animal general practice (480 hours)
- Working in local small animal general practice from high school (200 hours)
- Working with another local bovine/small ruminant practice (160 hours)
- Working in a feline-only practice as assistant during college (400 hours)
- Working as a ward attendant at the local veterinary teaching hospital during summer break, mix of exotic and small animal experience (420 hours)
- Volunteering with rehab of injured wild turtles under veterinary supervision (110 hours)
- Shadowed in veterinary dermatology clinic (30 hours)
- Shadowed veterinary pathologist at state diagnostic lab (30 hours)
- Worked with mother in her canine rehabilitation practice (100 hours)
- Worked full-time as a poultry research technician under veterinary supervision after graduating college (240 hours)
- Worked full-time as a research technician at a local medical school under veterinary supervision (1800 hours)

Animal Experience (~24,000 total):
Showing dairy heifers in 4-H (2350 hours)
Have owned a leopard gecko for 14 years (6000 hours) (I know some schools don't accept pet ownership hours!)
Worked with sheep and cattle on family farm (3500 hours)
Worked in university poultry research facility for a semester (160 hours)
Managed own petsitting business (4200 hours)
Trained in bovine artificial insemination (24 hours)
Halter-broke and showed heifers from university dairy (100 hours)
Worked at a local dairy farm for a summer break, milked and raised hogs on farm (360 hours)
Worked full-time as a poultry research technician after graduation (960 hours)
Worked full-time as a research technician with mice, NHPs, other research species (1800 hours)

Research Experience:
Worked in an intracellular pathogens research lab, participated in retrospective studies and benchtop assay optimization (1400 hours); 3rd author on one journal publication, 4th author on another journal publication
Assisted with a bovine research study on novel therapeutics for mastitis (50 hours)
Created surveys for epidemiology studies under the supervision of a veterinary epidemiologist (150 hours)

Non-animal Employment (put under experiences):
Captain of Beef Internship Team for state cattlemen's association while in college
Worked as a private tutor for a local family while in college
Worked in customer service as a cashier/shelf stocker while in college
Currently work as a data analyst for a biotech company (have been employed there full-time for past two years)

Extracurriculars (put under experiences):
Vice-President of Agriculture College's Club Council
President of Agriculture College's Club Council
Treasurer of Agriculture College's Club Council
Poultry Science Club Service Chair
Sorority Philanthropy Chair

(I have other leadership roles from high school, but unsure if I should include those since it was over ten years ago?? I'm an old lady!)

Volunteer
Coached Girls on the Run
Volunteered coordinating food drives, clothing drives, and lunch hours at the local women's shelter
Volunteered as a "science mentor" on science projects for disadvantaged elementary-age students at a local public school

Awards/scholarships:
- Dean's List for one semester
- Publication in Journal of Clinical Microbiology
- Publication in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
- First Place, Original Research Award from American Dairy Science Association
- High School State Champion in Debate, 2 consecutive years
- High School State Champion in Speech

LORs:
- One from large animal veterinarian I worked with
- One from small animal veterinarian I have worked with since high school
- One from veterinary pathologist I worked under after graduation
- One from current work supervisor
- Two from faculty members/research supervisors at local veterinary school

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[EngrSC]

Overall I think your application looks strong ... just your GPAs holding you back. I was an older non-traditional student with crappy grades from my undergraduate career but applied with a strong last 45 (4.0). Are you able to do a file review with VMCVM even though you're on the waitlist? I would want to know if they recommend taking additional classes or not.

But my initial thought when reading over your post was maybe you're better off applying a 2nd cycle since VMCVM is WAY cheaper as a VA or MD resident! You'll also be competing in a smaller applicant pool, which may work in your favor as well.

My last thought was did you use the VMCAS explanation statement? It sounds like you definitely have extenuating circumstances to warrant it, but you need to write it in a way that says this is what happened but this is how I handled it/what I learned and this is how I'm stronger for it now. I had a handful of people read mine before submitting because I wanted to make sure it was conveying the right message and would definitely recommend you do the same!

Oh, and I did not include experiences from high school (I was 30 at the time I applied) but I don't think it would hurt you to include those things!

 

[chickenpotage]

Overall I think your application looks strong ... just your GPAs holding you back. I was an older non-traditional student with crappy grades from my undergraduate career but applied with a strong last 45 (4.0). Are you able to do a file review with VMCVM even though you're on the waitlist? I would want to know if they recommend taking additional classes or not.

But my initial thought when reading over your post was maybe you're better off applying a 2nd cycle since VMCVM is WAY cheaper as a VA or MD resident! You'll also be competing in a smaller applicant pool, which may work in your favor as well.

My last thought was did you use the VMCAS explanation statement? It sounds like you definitely have extenuating circumstances to warrant it, but you need to write it in a way that says this is what happened but this is how I handled it/what I learned and this is how I'm stronger for it now. I had a handful of people read mine before submitting because I wanted to make sure it was conveying the right message and would definitely recommend you do the same!

Oh, and I did not include experiences from high school (I was 30 at the time I applied) but I don't think it would hurt you to include those things!

I did a file review in mid-March; Shelby was very helpful. She wanted to know if my grades were good in classes last semester and how classes this semester were going- I actually took 13 credits last semester even though I’m working full time, but did pretty well (came out with a 3.7 semester GPA). This semester I am scraping out with a C+ in physics II, but have an A in the graduate-level microbiology course I’m taking. I’m taking a few courses this summer as well which should improve my GPA before submitting the app. Shelby was very positive about my chances of getting in if I apply as a Virginia resident, and also thought my chances will be better this cycle because they will be doing interviews.

I did explain the death of my friend in one of VMCVM’s essay prompts. I’ve been more reticent about explaining how my relationship affected my grades because I am worried it might reflect some weakness on my part? In an ideal world people wouldn’t feel ashamed to discuss these things, but we don’t live in an ideal world. I’ve seen some threads on this site where med school applicants were discouraged from discussing it

 

[EngrSC]

I did explain the death of my friend in one of VMCVM’s essay prompts. I’ve been more reticent about explaining how my relationship affected my grades because I am worried it might reflect some weakness on my part? In an ideal world people wouldn’t feel ashamed to discuss these things, but we don’t leave in an ideal world. I’ve seen some threads on this site where med school applicants were discouraged from discussing it

This is a very reasonable way to feel. I was hesitant about my explanation statement as well because I talked about having anxiety and an eating disorder, both of which could definitely reflect poorly on me. My approach was to start with only a couple sentences of what happened and spend the bulk talking about the things I did to move past it and the things I've done today that show I'm no longer crippled by it (grades, other stressors, etc.). Happy to share it with you if it would be helpful!

 

[chickenpotage]

So sorry for the delayed reply, life was a bit chaotic this week!! I’m going to send you a direct message, I think seeing your explanation would be super helpful!