WAMC - first time applicant

[wn177]

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Hi! I am a senior in college applying this cycle oos to Ohio, Colorado, Virginia Tech & UGA. No in state school available. Want to go into large animal/mixed animal. Any advice appreciated.

Cumulative GPA: 3.86
science GPA: 3.7
last 45: 3.8

Any degrees achieved: will end with a B.S in Biology

Veterinary Experience:
- (45) equine shadowing
- (280) equine vet assistant
- (35) small animal shadowing
- (230) wildlife & exotic animal vet assistant

Animal Experience:
- (30) wildlife & exotic animal care
- (>300) riding in high school & college
- (170) working at barn during summer of college

Research Experience:
- (>200) hours working as an undergrad researcher in an immunology lab

Awards/scholarships:
- Dean's list all semesters
- Merit scholarship won sophomore year
- Student employee merit scholarship junior year

Extracurriculars:
- Equestrian Club 3 yrs
- Radio Club Exec Member 2 yrs
- Student Advisor 2 yrs
- Writer for student newspaper 2 yrs
- Co-founder & president of pre vet club

Employment:
- Employee at campus library 4 yrs

LOR's
- PI from my lab
- exotics vet
- equine vet
- prof

 

[apoptosis09]

Stats are solid and chances are good. Recommend that your essay emphasizes your interest in large and mixed animal since it's an underserved field.

Can only speak for VMCVM and tOSU but both are good for LA. VMCVM has food animal and equine tracking curriculum. tOSU doesn't do tracks but does have LA electives and a solid equine and LA caseload.

 

[indysadventures]

Agree with Apoptosis that you’ve got a decent shot. Your GPA is competitive, but I’d warn you to maybe reconsider UGA unless you have a really good reason to apply, because they take VERY few OOS applicants and typically accepted students have very high GPAs. Similarly, CSU is also highly competitive for OOS.

All this to say, that if I was applying OOS to four schools, I’d replace CSU and UGA with schools where I had a higher likelihood of being offered a spot. WSU comes to mind and would let you establish residency for in state tuition. Minnesota would probably be worth your time, and they do offer SDSU as a rural medicine program, and have tracking for LA/equine. They do not allow you to establish in-state tuition, though, and they’re quite expensive OOS so I personally would consider this heavily within today’s loan environment.

I’d maybe consider Mizzou (in state tuition possible) or Kansas State, as well, but I’m less familiar with those schools.

In the meantime, I’d focus on maybe getting more experience as your hours are a bit on the low side, but I don’t think you’d see too much trouble due to this as you hit the 500 hour mark.