WAMC Davis, Penn, CSU...

[nhoang98]

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Hello! I'm currently in the application process and wanted to get some input on my chances. I'm applying to 9 schools total, but my top choices are Davis, Penn, and CSU. Davis is my top choice and in-state school but I know how hard and competitive it can be for anyone :/

I'm a 21y/o F, B.S. from UC Berkeley, graduated May 2020
Cumulative GPA: 3.79
Last 45 units: 3.75
Science GPA: 3.76
GRE: Quant 164, Verbal 159, Writing 4.5

My weakest area is vet experience. I've worked at one dog/cat hospital as a nurse, totalling ~500 hours. I've only volunteered at one other mixed animal practice (dog/cat/exotics) starting a few weeks ago and I'll probably rack up around ~40 hours. Considering I'm trying to get into equine medicine in the future, this doesn't look too good for me. With covid and CA being a hard-hit state, it's tough luck trying to find equine vets to shadow. I grew up showing horses which is how I arrived at that goal. Regardless, what are y'alls opinion on my chances? Thanks in advance!

Per @batsenecal's reply, unfortunately I'm not hanging around the horse show world now and haven't been in recent years due to being in school, so all I've only tried emailing various equine practices to see if I could shadow. Unfortunately all of them have responded telling me to check back later once Covid hopefully settles

-------- Edit w/ full list of experiences -----
Full non-animal related experiences:
-Tutor for Gen chem -- 2 semesters
-Organic chem lab TA/lab instructor for ~30 students -- 1 summer session
-Lead tutor for ochem at my university's student resource center -- 1 semester
-Research assistant -- 1 semester
-Research assistant at a 2nd lab -- 2 semesters (trained in CT scanning)
***both labs were wildlife/ecology/animal-related but I did not handle live animals.

Animal experience, not vet related:
Showing horses for ~10yrs = countless hours
Giving riding lessons to young children ~30hrs
Volunteer keeper at a primate sanctuary in Vietnam ~15hrs

Vet related experience:
Volunteer at Dog and cat clinic #1 -- 20hrs
Volunteer at Dog and cat clinic #2 -- 100hrs
Veterinary assistant at Dog and cat clinic #2 -- 400hrs, ongoing
Volunteer at a Dog/Cat/Exotics clinic -- 40hrs, ongoing

Letters of Rec:
Organic chem professor -- took 2 classes from him, TA'd and tutored for his classes
Animal communication professor -- took 1 upper div
DVM (practice owner) -- volunteered for got hired as an assistant, known him for ~1 year

 

[battie]

Your objective factors (grades, GRE, etc) are solid for applying in general, so I don't think it would hurt for you to go for it as long as your subjectives (letters, essays, etc) are also solid. Since we're not sure what other experiences you have (work, research, extra-curriculars, etc), make sure to add this information to this post so others like @ajs513 @vetmedhead and @Coopah (you're Davis right?) can give you actual good advice. Overall, we can't give you a "full assessment" without knowing you're whole application picture. Check out some of the other threads to see the format/what else people include.

I grew up showing horses which is how I arrived at that goal

As far as wanting to be an equine vet experience, if you're still hanging around the horse show world, you could potentially contact the vets that act as the vets for various shows in your area about shadowing. This obviously would not be a right now thing, but definitely something to consider if you would have to re-apply. If you bring up wanting to be an equine vet without equine vet experience, you'll have to battle against potential thoughts/questions of why since the perspective of equine vet med from the owner/show perspective is different than the actual vet med perspective.

 

[nhoang98]

Your objective factors (grades, GRE, etc) are solid for applying in general, so I don't think it would hurt for you to go for it as long as your subjectives (letters, essays, etc) are also solid. Since we're not sure what other experiences you have (work, research, extra-curriculars, etc), make sure to add this information to this post so others like @ajs513 @vetmedhead and @Coopah (you're Davis right?) can give you actual good advice. Overall, we can't give you a "full assessment" without knowing you're whole application picture. Check out some of the other threads to see the format/what else people include.



As far as wanting to be an equine vet experience, if you're still hanging around the horse show world, you could potentially contact the vets that act as the vets for various shows in your area about shadowing. This obviously would not be a right now thing, but definitely something to consider if you would have to re-apply. If you bring up wanting to be an equine vet without equine vet experience, you'll have to battle against potential thoughts/questions of why since the perspective of equine vet med from the owner/show perspective is different than the actual vet med perspective.

thanks for the feedback! I'll update my post