WAMC: First time applicant, non-trad, low clinic hours but extensive animal experience

[kitzsuna]

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Hello! This is my first application cycle after deciding last December to pursue vet med. Graduated undergrad in 2016, been working with animals (mainly exotics/wildlife) since then first in zoos and now research. Hoping to eventually become a board certified avian veterinarian.

Applied to:
Texas A&M (in state)
Ohio State
Virginia-Maryland
North Carolina State
Auburn

Cumulative GPA: 3.88
science GPA: 3.76
last 45: 4.0

Any degrees achieved: Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance, Bachelor of Arts in Biology

Veterinary Experience:
- 2880 hours: Pre-clinical ophthalmology research (rabbits & rodents, monitored/administered anesthesia, performed injections/administered test articles, performed minor surgery and led study performing conjunctival flap surgery)
- 5 hours: working interview for avian and exotic clinic
- 10 hours: job shadow at emergency vet hospital
- 20 hours: job shadow at equine hospital

Animal Experience:
- 117 hours: Petco (part time job)
- 18000 hours: mainly work in zoos as a keeper/ambassador trainer, including both paid and non paid positions. Also volunteered a little with cat and dog rescues in high school but 90% of this is wildlife/exotics

Research Experience:
-currently employed as research associate performing drug discrimination research in rats and locomotor activity studies in mice
-poster presentation at Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2024
-1 semester of snake locomotor research in undergrad
-random other short term research projects in undergrad

Awards/scholarships:
-distinguished university honors and deans list throughout high school and university
-high school band competition awards (best soloist)
-triathlon podium awards
-various monetary scholarships for undergrad, misc. awards and honor societies

Extracurriculars:
-So. Many.
-Band/orchestra groups, sports teams
-currently active in triathlon club
-Phi Mu (social) and Sigma Alpha Iota (music) sororities

Employment:
-Petco (sales)
-Concessions during university to pay for honors classes
-Naturalist (led preschool summer camps at county park)
-volleyball referee



Overall I feel as if I am a competitive applicant, but I am just nervous about my very limited clinic hours since most of my veterinary hours are from research, even if I was under direct supervision of a veterinary ophthalmologist. I am not sure what to expect since this is my first time applying.

Thank you for your time!

 

[pp9]

You still have a Iot veterinary experience and your academics are solid, I think you have really good odds. Clinic hours are ideal for sure, especially since you say you want to go into a field that will typically have you working in a clinic with some notoriously difficult clients (horse owners, bird owners, breeders and nurses are the most notoriously difficult clients imo). With that said, successful applicants without any traditional clinic hours are not unheard of. Think lab animal medicine, zoo med, research like what you've done, etc.

My only other comment is that I would be a bit careful about saying you want to be a boarded avian vet with only 5 hours of experience working with an avian/exotic vet in a traditional setting. Reading the info you've provided, I'm left asking 'Where did becoming an avian vet come from?' It's fine to love birds but an private practice avian vet is not for the weak. Not saying that discussing it in written portions/interviews would cause you to be rejected, but imo you do need at least a reasonable amount of experience to support such specific career goals and 5 hours isn't it. It has the potential to make you come across as if you don't really know what you're getting into, which is where having more clinic hours would help with that. If you didn't discuss it in your essays, that is totally fine and probably your safest option.

Even though you have really good odds, I would still be getting clinic hours right now so you can get more career exposure while you can (it's hard to get that exposure while you're in vet school, ironically).

 

[kitzsuna]

You still have a Iot veterinary experience and your academics are solid, I think you have really good odds. Clinic hours are ideal for sure, especially since you say you want to go into a field that will typically have you working in a clinic with some notoriously difficult clients (horse owners, bird owners, breeders and nurses are the most notoriously difficult clients imo). With that said, successful applicants without any traditional clinic hours are not unheard of. Think lab animal medicine, zoo med, research like what you've done, etc.

My only other comment is that I would be a bit careful about saying you want to be a boarded avian vet with only 5 hours of experience working with an avian/exotic vet in a traditional setting. Reading the info you've provided, I'm left asking 'Where did becoming an avian vet come from?' It's fine to love birds but an private practice avian vet is not for the weak. Not saying that discussing it in written portions/interviews would cause you to be rejected, but imo you do need at least a reasonable amount of experience to support such specific career goals and 5 hours isn't it. It has the potential to make you come across as if you don't really know what you're getting into, which is where having more clinic hours would help with that. If you didn't discuss it in your essays, that is totally fine and probably your safest option.

Even though you have really good odds, I would still be getting clinic hours right now so you can get more career exposure while you can (it's hard to get that exposure while you're in vet school, ironically).

Sorry i wasn’t more clear! A majority of my zoo work was working with free flight ambassador birds, a lot of psittacines but other species as well. My behavioral training experience will be helpful for clients and because i was in education roles, i have excellent communication skills. In addition, my spark experience for my personal statement was when my budgie with PBFD was crashing after a stroke and i had to drive an hour away to get care.

Thank you for your input! I’ve been struggling getting clinic hours, but the equine hospital has been promising at least.

 

[pp9]

Sorry i wasn’t more clear! A majority of my zoo work was working with free flight ambassador birds, a lot of psittacines but other species as well. My behavioral training experience will be helpful for clients and because i was in education roles, i have excellent communication skills. In addition, my spark experience for my personal statement was when my budgie with PBFD was crashing after a stroke and i had to drive an hour away to get care.

Thank you for your input! I’ve been struggling getting clinic hours, but the equine hospital has been promising at least.

I'm a zoo vet and will just again say that an avian vet seeing pet birds (I'm assuming that's where you'd want to end up) is in a very different world from someone who likes birds/has bird husbandry experience, so that's where being able to back up your career goals can be important. And I don't disagree that an education role is great experience, but it will not prepare you for working with clients in the way that a vet needs to. That is where growing your traditional clinic hours would be ideal should you not get in this cycle.

Doesn't mean you're getting rejected, doesn't mean your career goals are 'wrong' and doesn't mean anything beyond being careful with your wording/phrasing. And knowing/respecting your shortcomings as an applicant (everyone is lacking somewhere, I don't intend for that to be taken personally) and how that may affect your chances, interview, etc.

 

[kitzsuna]

You still have a Iot veterinary experience and your academics are solid, I think you have really good odds. Clinic hours are ideal for sure, especially since you say you want to go into a field that will typically have you working in a clinic with some notoriously difficult clients (horse owners, bird owners, breeders and nurses are the most notoriously difficult clients imo). With that said, successful applicants without any traditional clinic hours are not unheard of. Think lab animal medicine, zoo med, research like what you've done, etc.

My only other comment is that I would be a bit careful about saying you want to be a boarded avian vet with only 5 hours of experience working with an avian/exotic vet in a traditional setting. Reading the info you've provided, I'm left asking 'Where did becoming an avian vet come from?' It's fine to love birds but an private practice avian vet is not for the weak. Not saying that discussing it in written portions/interviews would cause you to be rejected, but imo you do need at least a reasonable amount of experience to support such specific career goals and 5 hours isn't it. It has the potential to make you come across as if you don't really know what you're getting into, which is where having more clinic hours would help with that. If you didn't discuss it in your essays, that is totally fine and probably your safest option.

Even though you have really good odds, I would still be getting clinic hours right now so you can get more career exposure while you can (it's hard to get that exposure while you're in vet school, ironically).

Sorry i wasn’t more clear! A majority of my zoo work was working with free flight ambassador birds, a lot of psittacines but other species as well. My behavioral training experience will be helpful for clients and because i was in education roles, i have excellent communication skills. In addition, my spark experience for my personal statement was when my budgie with PBFD was crashing after a stroke and i had to drive an hour away to get care.

Thank you for your input! I’ve been struggling getting clinic hours, but the equine hospital has been promising

I'm a zoo vet and will just again say that an avian vet seeing pet birds (I'm assuming that's where you'd want to end up) is in a very different world from someone who likes birds/has bird husbandry experience, so that's where being able to back up your career goals can be important. And I don't disagree that an education role is great experience, but it will not prepare you for working with clients in the way that a vet needs to. That is where growing your traditional clinic hours would be ideal should you not get in this cycle.

Doesn't mean you're getting rejected, doesn't mean your career goals are 'wrong' and doesn't mean anything beyond being careful with your wording/phrasing. And knowing/respecting your shortcomings as an applicant (everyone is lacking somewhere, I don't intend for that to be taken personally) and how that may affect your chances, interview, etc.

thank you!

 

[supershorty]

- 2880 hours: Pre-clinical ophthalmology research (rabbits & rodents, monitored/administered anesthesia, performed injections/administered test articles, performed minor surgery and led study performing conjunctival flap surgery)

I'd be cautious with how you classify this, and consider checking with VMCAS and/or individual programs about it. I'm not an adcom member, but this sounds much more like research experience than veterinary experience if it was all part of a study.

 

[indysadventures]

I’d second Shorty’s concern re: your research experience. If not with a vet, it should be classified as research. I think you still have a decent shot, but I think your true vet hours are likely to be low if the above condition is the case. I’d also take a look at your animal experience - unless you were full-time employed for 9 years in that position (which is possible, but just saying), that number will likely raise eyebrows on admission committees. I still think - depending on your descriptive parts of your app - you could have a successful application season.

ETA- I see now that you mention this was under a veterinary ophthalmologist farther down. I still think that you should make sure those hours in animal experience are accurate (if it matters next year). In the meantime, keep getting experience and best of luck!

 

[kitzsuna]

I’d second Shorty’s concern re: your research experience. If not with a vet, it should be classified as research. I think you still have a decent shot, but I think your true vet hours are likely to be low if the above condition is the case. I’d also take a look at your animal experience - unless you were full-time employed for 9 years in that position (which is possible, but just saying), that number will likely raise eyebrows on admission committees. I still think - depending on your descriptive parts of your app - you could have a successful application season.

ETA- I see now that you mention this was under a veterinary ophthalmologist farther down. I still think that you should make sure those hours in animal experience are accurate (if it matters next year). In the meantime, keep getting experience and best of luck!

Animal hours are accurate! I worked as a full time zookeeper post-college until I started working with the veterinary ophthalmologist when moving into research

The current job i am in i have classified as research in applications as i do not directly work with a veterinarian anymore.

I’m struggling getting clinical hours - i just cant justify leaving a 55k paycheck for $16-19 an hour in this economy. I’ve reached out for shadowing, but am getting minimal bites which honestly has been really surprising to me.

 

[kitzsuna]

I'd be cautious with how you classify this, and consider checking with VMCAS and/or individual programs about it. I'm not an adcom member, but this sounds much more like research experience than veterinary experience if it was all part of a study.

It was working under direct supervision of a DVM, which is why it is able to count 🙂 thanks! My current role is not under a veterinarian supervision, so i labeled it as research.

 

[kitzsuna]

Going back to this thread: i have an opportunity to possibly take a position as a vet tech for a mobile vaccination station

Pros: SA vet hours, learning hands on, part time weekends so i could keep my full time Job that pays the bills

Cons: shifts are saturday sunday 9-4. i would be working 7 days a week which would kinda suck especially since some of the locations of the clinic have about an hour commute. Im worried about stretching myself too thin again. But theoretically i dont think i would be taking any classes in the spring at least

What are your thoughts? Based on feedback here i’m worried i won’t be admitted because i 1) lack SA hours and 2) lack clinic hours. This position would start to solve those problems if i do need to reapply. Take it and see what happens and worst case scenario if it is too much, quit? They did say they have extremely low turnover which is good, but guilts me into feeling locked in haha

Im leaning towards taking it (if offered) and seeing what happens and just making it work even if my matches will be pretty burnt. But i would like to hear others’ thoughts.

 

[pp9]

Going back to this thread: i have an opportunity to possibly take a position as a vet tech for a mobile vaccination station

Pros: SA vet hours, learning hands on, part time weekends so i could keep my full time Job that pays the bills

Cons: shifts are saturday sunday 9-4. i would be working 7 days a week which would kinda suck especially since some of the locations of the clinic have about an hour commute. Im worried about stretching myself too thin again. But theoretically i dont think i would be taking any classes in the spring at least

What are your thoughts? Based on feedback here i’m worried i won’t be admitted because i 1) lack SA hours and 2) lack clinic hours. This position would start to solve those problems if i do need to reapply. Take it and see what happens and worst case scenario if it is too much, quit? They did say they have extremely low turnover which is good, but guilts me into feeling locked in haha

Im leaning towards taking it (if offered) and seeing what happens and just making it work even if my matches will be pretty burnt. But i would like to hear others’ thoughts.

I'm a firm believer that everyone should have at least one full day off per week. I did 7 days a week during undergrad in my last two years trying to cram experience hours in/pay bills while taking a full credit load and it sucked. I missed out on a lot of experiences with my peers that these days, I wish I didn't miss. Also, the last thing you want to do is totally burn yourself off right before you start vet school (in theory).

How is the current application cycle going for you?

 

[kitzsuna]

I'm a firm believer that everyone should have at least one full day off per week. I did 7 days a week during undergrad in my last two years trying to cram experience hours in/pay bills while taking a full credit load and it sucked. I missed out on a lot of experiences with my peers that these days, I wish I didn't miss. Also, the last thing you want to do is totally burn yourself off right before you start vet school (in theory).

How is the current application cycle going for you?

Yeah, my mom brought up the same concern of burning myself up and then starting school already burnt. Which is a good point.

When i was a baby zookeeper i worked and volunteered 7 days a week and it was fine. Last year i did some pt work with full time, but once i added in classes thats when it became too much. And tbh im old now and being exhausted sucks haha

So far this cycle is ok - no news is good news and i’ve managed to stay relatively stress free since i know not to expect my first communications from my 5 schools until the end of this month. Ngl if i dont get into a&m i will be crushed though 😅

I did receive a SJT invite from VMCVM this morning though which i am taking as a positive, even though they say it doesnt reflect positively or negatively!

 

[pp9]

Yeah, my mom brought up the same concern of burning myself up and then starting school already burnt. Which is a good point.

When i was a baby zookeeper i worked and volunteered 7 days a week and it was fine. Last year i did some pt work with full time, but once i added in classes thats when it became too much. And tbh im old now and being exhausted sucks haha

So far this cycle is ok - no news is good news and i’ve managed to stay relatively stress free since i know not to expect my first communications from my 5 schools until the end of this month. Ngl if i dont get into a&m i will be crushed though 😅

I did receive a SJT invite from VMCVM this morning though which i am taking as a positive, even though they say it doesnt reflect positively or negatively!

I think only you can really decide how much you can take on at the end of the day. I would be hesitant but that's because I'm also old and don't really have that 'hustle' in me anymore lol.