WAMC c/o 2027 second time applicant low GPA

[nicole98]

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Hi! My name is Nicole and I am a 23 year old female from NC and this is my second time applying. Last year I applied with only about 300 hours of veterinary experience and I had not finished all of my prerequisite classes at that time. This year I am applying to NC state, Arizona, Washington, Missouri, and Illinois.

Cumulative GPA: 3.3
science GPA: 3.3
last 45: 3.5

Any degrees achieved: B.S. Health Sciences

GRE results: not taking

Veterinary Experience:
- About 1700 hours total w/1600 employed as vet assistant in small animal hospital

Animal Experience:
- 150 hours volunteering at humane society
- 500 hours pet sitting (tried to keep number reasonable but this is over an 8 year period)
- *pet ownership - I've had pets my entire life, should I include this for my hours? If so how do I estimate the number?
- *horseback riding in middle/early high school, should I include this far back?

Research Experience:
- 250 hours health science research assistant (course credit)
- 300 hours psychology research assistant (summer program)

Awards/scholarships:
- Dean's list for 5 out of 7 semesters
- 4 year undergraduate academic scholarship
- National Honors Society in high school

Extracurriculars:
- Philanthropy Chair of Kappa Kappa Gamma at my university
- President of DREAM (disability rights, education, activism, mentoring) at my university
- Book Club member at my university
- Member of freshman admissions/recruitment group at my university (basically a pre-student ambassador program)
- Varsity swim team in high school
- Small handmade jewelry business since middle school

Employment:
- Swim instructor & lifeguard (2500 hours)

My experience hours are much better than they were last year, however I am still worried about the diversity of my experience as I have been unable to find anyone in my area that I can shadow in other veterinary fields. I am also still concerned about my GPA as it has not really changed since last cycle. I'm also struggling with my LORs because I graduated a year ago and haven't been able to get in touch with any of my professors and I have plenty of people I can ask from my work (manager, 4 vets, 2 techs) but I don't know if it will make my application look bad to ask so many people from one place.

I know there isn't much time left to add anything to my application, but I still appreciate any/all feedback on how I can improve. Thanks in advance!

 

[aepudvm26]

First off, I would reach out to the previous schools you applied to and see if you can get a review so you can have specific ways your application needs to improve. These are invaluable because as nice as it is to have peers, family, people on SDN etc they are not the selection committee.

A professor (who has had every undergraduate in his lab make it to vet school the past 5ish years) once told me that vet schools look for five core things:
(I take them pretty seriously as this is overall what a large portion of admitted students have on their application.)
International experience (this is iffy after COVID)
Research experience (consistently)
Leadership experience (consistently for a few years)
Veterinary hours (diverse but still showing that you have spent a significant amount of time in a clinic and know what you are getting into)
High GPA
LOR from professors, vets, and professionals

I would not worry about your pet ownership hours too much. I don’t think vet schools care at all honestly. The diversity of your veterinary hours matter more. Include everything from the past 10 years per VMCAS.

I am of the thought that as long as the vets have worked with you closely, and can attest to DIFFERENT aspects of your character that would make you a good vet, then you should absolutely ask them for a LOR. I would also try to ask your research PI/manager for a LOR.

Best of luck

 

[nicole98]

Thank you very much for your advice!