WAMC c/o 2027

[RSVet]

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I am looking for some perspective on what, if anything, can be done to strengthen my application before the fall. I think the biggest weakness is the lack of hours. It’s been hard to get shadowing hours as I live in an area with low vaccine adoption so many places still aren’t taking volunteers or shadows. Since the pandemic began my freshman year, it’s been a big obstacle. My approach has been to get hours in as many specialties as I can to show that I understand what the field is like. I currently have two part-time jobs and am a full-time student, though.

For reference, I am an IS for Ohio and attend undergrad in OK. I am open as to where to apply. My list right now includes both OSUs, UPenn, Tufts, Illinois, and Cornell. Will probably apply to NC State, even though OOS is a long shot.

Any advice on strengthening my application before the fall or places that might be a good fit would be greatly appreciated!

21/F/Traditional/Ohio

Cumulative GPA: 3.77
Science GPA: 3.6 (I think I calculated this correctly)
Last 45: 3.91 (I think)

Degree: BS in Biology with minors in music and chemistry

GRE: haven’t taken it, but I’m open to it

Veterinary Experience:
~50 hours at small animal, single vet practice
~100 hours as a nurse's assistant at a surgical hospital (we see emergent companion pets, exotic pets, and occasionally wildlife cases).
~40 Hours equine mobile vet shadow
~50 hours of wildlife/conservation medicine shadowing
~40 Hours of large/farm animal vet (cows, sheep, goats, and horses)

480 Hours Wildlife Animal Hospital internship (will occur over the summer; 480 is required minimum for the program).

???
For the fall semester, I have set up an internship for credit at the state aquarium. I will either be working under the lab tech or working under the aquarist. Not sure where to put this right now.

Animal Experience:
150 hours with 4Paws (service animal training)
50 Hours Rainforest Ranger at the Zoo
100 hours Pet Sitting

Research Experience
For the Fall semester, I have set up RA for credit assisting in a professor’s lab with research on amphibian life cycle development research.

Awards/Scholarships:
Deans’ list every semester
Presidential Scholar
Thanks USA Scholarship
Hap-Arnold Scholarship
Folds of Honor Scholarship
Yellow Ribbon Recipient
Academic Scholarship
Phi Beta Kappa
National Honors Society
Band Scholarship

Extracurriculars:
Pre-vet club
Volunteered with local political campaigns (door knocking, letter writing, etc)
Intermural softball
Marching and Concert Band
Indoor percussion, including one season with a professional group

I’m not sure if I should put this here, but I have taken every opportunity to travel including recent trips to the UK and France as well as a quest to visit all 50 states (12 to go!).

Non-Animal Employment:
3 (academic) years with Campus Recreation, last two as a shift supervisor
McDonald's crew member, seasonally
2 Summers Nannying

Edited to add summer and spring break internship placements/expected hours.

 

[zenarcade]

The only thing holding your application back is the lack of vet experience, everything else looks really good. Definitely try to get as many hours in as you can before turning in your application. I'd also recommend using the "explanation statement" portion of VMCAS to explain how the pandemic has precented you from getting more hours.

 

[RSVet]

The only thing holding your application back is the lack of vet experience, everything else looks really good. Definitely try to get as many hours in as you can before turning in your application. I'd also recommend using the "explanation statement" portion of VMCAS to explain how the pandemic has precented you from getting more hours.

Thanks for this! I just got placements for a full-time internship over the summer and a part-time shadowing program over spring break. I will keep this in mind.