WAMC: first time applicant, non-trad, goal of research veterinarian

[cuddlymudpuppy]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello! I am a nontraditional applicant applying 2 years after I got my bachelor’s degree. I’m applying to Auburn (IS), Missouri, Tennessee, and Illinois. Interested in becoming a research animal veterinarian.

Cumulative GPA: 3.81
science GPA: 3.73
last 45: unsure

Any degrees achieved: Bachelor’s in Biology/Ecology

Veterinary Experience:
608 small animal vet assistant
600 animal shelter kennel attendant that also performed veterinary care
629 cared for/handled research mice
40 equine vet shadowing
16 mass spay/neuter mobile clinic shadowing

Animal Experience:
161 fostered dogs and cats
36 animal shelter volunteer

Research Experience:
2700 temperate entomology research, 1 senior thesis, presented work at 3 conferences, 1 publication
400 tropical entomology research, 1 poster presentation
2479 spinal cord injury research on research mice, 2 poster presentations, presented work at 1 conference, 3 publications (just encompasses the bench work, all hours that had to do with handling/using the live animals for research I put in veterinary experience above)

Awards/scholarships:
First author on one publication, co-author on 3 publications
Graduated summa cum laude
Dean’s List 7/8 semesters
Honors College participant
Biology research award
Summer research program awardee/participant (allowed me to perform the tropical entomology research)
Volunteer of the month for my school’s service branch of student government
Academic scholarship
Salutatorian in high school

Extracurriculars:
Co-director of an animal welfare committee at my college, founding member and programming director of undergraduate research club, fundraising officer in a sorority, ecology club member

Volunteer:
20 at my local CASA office
32 volunteering at various organizations (shelters, zoos, rescues) as part of my animal welfare committee work
168 development team intern at a humane society (no direct animal interacting!)
72 annual christmas event for foster children

Employment:
950 head lifeguard

LOR’s
Animal shelter vet from my kennel attendant position (also happens to be my brother :/)
Small animal vet at current job
Entomology research PI
Spinal cord injury research PI
Humane society director

 

[JaynaAli]

In my opinion, your brother should not be a reference.

I think you probably have good chances, but you never know what will happen. It’s good to have some idea of what you might want to pursue, but I’d encourage you to keep an open mind because interests often change during school. But it is good you have some experience in what you’re saying you want to pursue. I do question whether the vet care of mice would fall under research with how VMCAS recommends things be classified, but I’d need to reread current recommendations to know for sure. It may be fine.

 

[pp9]

Family can't (or at minimum, shouldn't) serve as a reference/recommendation. That's standard. I'd get another letter or just scrap that letter entirely since you meet letter requirements without it, it's not worth harming your application over.