WAMC Low GPA and Mental Health Struggles

[PlumPoppy]

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I had a rough start with school because of my family's financial difficulties. I have always maintained AT LEAST two jobs at a time during undergrad so that I could pay bills and buy food for myself and sometimes my family. My GPA had had an upward trend, but sort of fell from purely A's in my final semesters of undergrad to B's in post-grad. Since graduating, I have struggled a lot with major depressive disorder because I couldn't find a job during the COVID job market. And the ones I did get weren't covering my living expenses. While I was waiting for a "big-boy job", I finished some pre-reqs but my grades were sub-par (B's and one C+ in physics). I'm so worried I ruined all the progress I made trying to boost my horrible GPA! Also I I had to take a W last semester for it too for personal reasons. Hoping to explain all this in my Explanation Statement without sounding whiny...

24 y/o female, non-traditional, Louisiana resident

Definitely applying: LSU, Oregon, Mizzou, UPenn
Considering applying to?: Kansas, Illinois, UW-Madison, Minnesota, Colorado

Cumulative GPA: 3.33
Science GPA: 3.11 (I think?)
Last 45 Hour GPA: 3.25...had a 3.6 before taking physics 🙁

Degree: B.S., Wildlife Ecology, Minor: Sociology

Veterinary Hours: (1105+ hours)
- Small animal Vet Tech: 1000+ hours
- Overnight ER tech: 100 hours
- Wildlife Sanctuary w/ Vet: 5 hours

Animal Hours: (1153+ hours)
- Necropsy Lab Tech @ vet school: TBD starting soon
- Kennel Tech: 200 hours
- Cat Shelter: 50 hours
- Wildlife Sanctuary: 90 hours
- Raptor Rehab: 8 hours
- Exotic Pet Shelters: 40 hours
- Pet-Setting: 200 hours
- Pilling Sick Personal Pets: 65 hours (Separated because I have had multiple ill pocket pets that needed daily medication for months)
- Personal Pets: 500 hours

Non-Animal Volunteer Experience: (189 hours)
- Hospital/shadowing RNs, CNAs, NTs: 120 hours
- Renovating the local library's YA section and promoting the project: 40 hours
- Various local marathons for a cause: 18 hours
- Shadowing an OBGYN: 6 hours
- Local "get healthy" fair set-up and face-painting: 5 hours

Non-Animal Work
- Lab assistant for agricultural chemistry dept (3 years)
- GIS student worker (1 year)
- Retail/Restaurant (3 years)
- Medical records at vet school (1 year)

Extracurriculars:
- Pre-Vet Club member: 2 years
- Wildlife Club member: 3 years
- Wildlife Club Treasurer: 1 year
- Exotic Animal Club member: 2 years
- PreMed Honor Society: 1 semester
- HS Key Club officer: 1 year
- HS Student Council officer: 1 year
- HS Beta Club member: 2 years

Honors/Awards:
- Dean's List (2 semesters)
- HS AP Scholar Award (2 years)
- HS 3rd Place District English III Exam (1 year)
- HS Highest Average Award in Honors Biology, Art I, and Talented Art IV

Letters of Recommendation:
-Small animal relief vet I've worked with for 1 year
- Supervisor of the state lab I've worked at for 3+ years
- Professor that I've had for multiple classes in undergrad
-Other options: another small animal relief vet I've shadowed, Practice Manager from my last job, future necropsy job connections?

 

[EngrSC]

Why wouldn’t you apply to LSU? Statistically your odds are best at being accepted to your in-state (if you meet the requirements).

I had a low cumulative GPA when I applied to vet school (lower than yours) and used the explanation statement to talk about my struggle with anxiety and some health issues I had. I was nervous about discussing mental health but am glad I did, as I don’t think it hurt me at all. BUT, huge but here, I was able to say X is what happened, Y is what I did about it, and here’s the evidence to support how capable I am at handling my **** now. Vet school adcoms need to have confidence in your ability to manage the stresses of school (and life) and succeed academically for good reason, as vet school is a lot. It challenges even the mentally healthiest and smartest of people. So yes, I think the explanation statement can be helpful but only if you can demonstrate how you’ve handled your hardships.

And save your money and don’t apply to Colorado. They receive a ridiculous number of OOS applicants, so statistically the odds are horrendously not in your favor. I applied with varied experiences like yours and a 4.0 last 45 GPA and don’t think I even made it past the first cut 😆

Also, I would consider schools that review holistically like Western, LMU, and/or Midwestern. Possibly even Ross or St. George’s.

Good luck!

 

[PlumPoppy]

Why wouldn’t you apply to LSU? Statistically your odds are best at being accepted to your in-state (if you meet the requirements).

Yes I feel that I have the best odds to go there, but they're not one of my top choice schools. Probably because I went there for undergrad lol. But honestly I'm just grateful to get into any vet school with my low GPA 😗 I also have to take the GRE to apply there and none of the other schools I'm applying to require it currently.

I had a low cumulative GPA when I applied to vet school (lower than yours) and used the explanation statement to talk about my struggle with anxiety and some health issues I had. I was nervous about discussing mental health but am glad I did, as I don’t think it hurt me at all. BUT, huge but here, I was able to say X is what happened, Y is what I did about it, and here’s the evidence to support how capable I am at handling my **** now.

I'm definitely going that route with my essays. It's super hard talking about myself to begin with and my mental health struggles are even harder haha

Also, I would consider schools that review holistically like Western, LMU, and/or Midwestern. Possibly even Ross or St. George’s.

Thank you for your suggestions! The only reason I was thinking about applying to Colorado is because my dad lives there so I'd at least know someone out there!! But dont want to waste money if I don't have to. I'm honestly really only looking to apply to schools with holistic admissions. I just need a few more pre-reqs for LMU and Midwestern!