- Joined
- Jan 24, 2020
- Messages
- 209
- Reaction score
- 288
Hey everybody,
25F, 3rd time applicant… I applied previously in 2019 and 2020, applied to 3-4 schools each time and was rejected. I had a very low undergraduate GPA, got a degree in Biology 2015-2019. My undergraduate GPA was 2.65.. I know, very low. I took 3 semesters post bacc to retake some courses and then Fall 2021 I started my masters degree. I am in my last semester of my masters in cell and molecular biology, of which I have maintained a 4.0 GPA. My cumulative GPA is still relatively low, around 2.9, but I have an amazing academic record the last two-three years. My overall science GPA is about 3.2. I gained some research experience in a lab during my masters degree, something I lacked before. I have about 12,000 vet hours, with 7600 of these hours as a tech (about 4000 of them as a credentialed technician). Most of my experience is in small animal medicine, but this summer I did about 40 hours of shadowing a large animal veterinarian. I have four letters of rec - 2 academic (my masters advisor and a professor from my masters program) and 2 DVM (one ER DVM, one DACVECC). My undergrad GPA was partly due to my mental health - i was struggling with undiagnosed ADHD and anxiety/depression at the time, my academic performance vastly improved once i got a handle on this and I did include that in my explanation statement. I scored into the third quartile on the casper.
Overall VMCAS GPA: 2.91
VMCAS Science GPA: 3.18
graduate science GPA: 4.0
Overall graduate GPA: 4.0
Undergrad GPA: 2.64
Last 45 credits GPA: 3.97
GRE: verbal 157 (76%) quantitative 154 (53%) writing 3.5 (39%)
Casper: 3rd quartile
Vet hours: over 12,000, 4,000 as a CVT in emergency and critical care, previous primary care experience (small animal)
40 hours of job shadowing equine vet
research experience: worked in a lab in my masters degree
School list: University of Arizona, Colorado, Cornell, Davis, Illinois, Iowa, LMU, LIU, MSU, Twin cities, Ross (idk if I can pull Ross off but I applied), virginia-maryland, Western health, and Wisconsin.
To summarize from my last application:
- started and am finishing a masters degree and cell and molecular biology, maintained 4.0 GPA thus far
- retook about 30 credits of undergraduate coursework
- raised GPA from 2.65 to currently 2.91 (it’s so hard to fix even despite quality academic performance)
- have switched from primary care to emergency medicine, have worked an additional 4500 hours as technician
- obtained credentials as a technician (CVT)
- obtained some research experience
- joined my employers diversity and inclusion committee
- was asked to join my hospitals operations committee (to provide suggestions on how to improve patient care)
- volunteered for schools conservation club (estimated 50 hours)
- done some large animal job shadowing as my experience is all in small animal/exotic medicine
I guess i’m just feeling increasingly nervous. I feel like i’ve done so much to improve my application and demonstrate my devotion and abilities, but that doesn’t change numbers. I applied to 14 schools.. kind of a last hoorah if you will. I did admissions counseling with every school that offered it, so that is documented for those schools. I feel so crowded by my own negative thoughts that I guess I thought I might benefit from some outside perspective. Thanks for reading my novel! I would appreciate some honest feedback.
much love,
- girl who’s trying her best
25F, 3rd time applicant… I applied previously in 2019 and 2020, applied to 3-4 schools each time and was rejected. I had a very low undergraduate GPA, got a degree in Biology 2015-2019. My undergraduate GPA was 2.65.. I know, very low. I took 3 semesters post bacc to retake some courses and then Fall 2021 I started my masters degree. I am in my last semester of my masters in cell and molecular biology, of which I have maintained a 4.0 GPA. My cumulative GPA is still relatively low, around 2.9, but I have an amazing academic record the last two-three years. My overall science GPA is about 3.2. I gained some research experience in a lab during my masters degree, something I lacked before. I have about 12,000 vet hours, with 7600 of these hours as a tech (about 4000 of them as a credentialed technician). Most of my experience is in small animal medicine, but this summer I did about 40 hours of shadowing a large animal veterinarian. I have four letters of rec - 2 academic (my masters advisor and a professor from my masters program) and 2 DVM (one ER DVM, one DACVECC). My undergrad GPA was partly due to my mental health - i was struggling with undiagnosed ADHD and anxiety/depression at the time, my academic performance vastly improved once i got a handle on this and I did include that in my explanation statement. I scored into the third quartile on the casper.
Overall VMCAS GPA: 2.91
VMCAS Science GPA: 3.18
graduate science GPA: 4.0
Overall graduate GPA: 4.0
Undergrad GPA: 2.64
Last 45 credits GPA: 3.97
GRE: verbal 157 (76%) quantitative 154 (53%) writing 3.5 (39%)
Casper: 3rd quartile
Vet hours: over 12,000, 4,000 as a CVT in emergency and critical care, previous primary care experience (small animal)
40 hours of job shadowing equine vet
research experience: worked in a lab in my masters degree
School list: University of Arizona, Colorado, Cornell, Davis, Illinois, Iowa, LMU, LIU, MSU, Twin cities, Ross (idk if I can pull Ross off but I applied), virginia-maryland, Western health, and Wisconsin.
To summarize from my last application:
- started and am finishing a masters degree and cell and molecular biology, maintained 4.0 GPA thus far
- retook about 30 credits of undergraduate coursework
- raised GPA from 2.65 to currently 2.91 (it’s so hard to fix even despite quality academic performance)
- have switched from primary care to emergency medicine, have worked an additional 4500 hours as technician
- obtained credentials as a technician (CVT)
- obtained some research experience
- joined my employers diversity and inclusion committee
- was asked to join my hospitals operations committee (to provide suggestions on how to improve patient care)
- volunteered for schools conservation club (estimated 50 hours)
- done some large animal job shadowing as my experience is all in small animal/exotic medicine
I guess i’m just feeling increasingly nervous. I feel like i’ve done so much to improve my application and demonstrate my devotion and abilities, but that doesn’t change numbers. I applied to 14 schools.. kind of a last hoorah if you will. I did admissions counseling with every school that offered it, so that is documented for those schools. I feel so crowded by my own negative thoughts that I guess I thought I might benefit from some outside perspective. Thanks for reading my novel! I would appreciate some honest feedback.
much love,
- girl who’s trying her best
Last edited:
It will absolutely be an uphill battle BUT you have great work to point to to show you can handle the tougher courses. Pair that with other struggles that you have (presumably? Hopefully?) now addressed and I think you can get in.