WAMC - first time applicant

[TaterTot4135]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hello!

I am a first time applicant and I guess would be considered non traditional since I took a gap year after undergrad. I am applying this cycle and wanted to get a better idea of my chances of getting in. I know how competitive it is and am trying to tell myself that it is ok if I do not get in. I have been in vet med for almost 7 years now and am licensed in PA. I am passionate about surgery, and sled dog medicine. My in-state school is UPENN, but I am not set on that one since it is so expensive. The schools I plan on applying to are Ohio State, UPENN, CSU, LMU, Virginia Maryland, WSU, Iowa State, Oregon State, Illinois, and maybe Ross but I really want to stay in the US.

I had a rough first semester of college 4 years ago, where I had multiple C’s and a GPA of 2.22. I busted my butt over the last 4 years and have retaken all of those classes and replaced them with A’s. My overall GPA, science GPA, last 75 GPA, and prereq GPA are estimated to be between 3.6 and 3.8.

Degree: Bachelor and Associates of Science with a veterinary technology major

Vet Experience (approximately 5,000 hours total)

• Vet assistant at small animal GPA during high school and college (maybe 3,000 hours)
• Certified Veterinary Technician at mixed GP clinic (1,500 hours)
• Volunteer vet tech for Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska (100 hours)
• Large animal and equine shadowing (60)
• Shadowed surgery at specialty hospital for 1 day (10 hours)
• Multiple animal labs at school where I was supervised by veterinarian ex. Large animal, small animal, and exotics labs (maybe 100 hours)
• I also have Loop Abroad trip planned for this summer that should give another 100 hours wildlife shadowing

Animal Experience:

• Pet sitting in high school (200 hours)
• Summer 2023 and 2024 internship at Denali National Park Sled Dog Kennels (1,600 hours)
• Wildlife Rescue and Rehab Internship (200 hours)
• Volunteer at Petting Zoo (50 hours)
• Attended vocational school during high school for veterinary assistant program (50 hours handling experience)

Other experiences:

• Division II collegiate swimmer
• Fear Free Certified
• Volunteered at holiday food drive for 2 winters (20 hours)
• Peer Mentor for 2 years during college
• Peer mentor coordinator for 1 semester
• Swim camp summer Counselor
• Student Athlete Advisory Committee member and Officer for 1 year
• Volunteer swim lessons instructor for low income families (100 hours)
• Taught swim lessons in high school
• 4x Deans List
• Graduated Cum Laude
• National Honors Society in high school
• Americorps Member for 2 summer
• Received a Scholar Athlete Award during my senior year of college

Personal Statement: (not written yet but this is what I am planning)

I want to relate my personal statement to my work with sled dogs in Alaska, as this experience was life changing and I think this will help me stand out. I want to talk about how it changed me and relate it to what I want to accomplish as a vet. I hope to continue working with sled dogs and would like to potentially pursue a surgical specialty.

Other Possible essay topics:

• How I overcame my freshman year
• Being a student athlete and how it has shaped me
• Some tough cases that I have seen in vet med and how they have changed my career
• Why I want to make the switch from tech to vet

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!