WAMC- low GPA, first time applicant

[goldenbear2024]

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Hi! I'm from the Bay Area, CA (21, F) and I am interested in mixed animal, but also ECC, surgery, and cardiology. I decided I wanted to be a vet in junior year of undergrad and was too late to switch majors so I just finished it through. I went to a school known for its grade deflation (especially in the chem department) and I know that is one of the things dragging me down. I applied to Davis (IS), Tufts, Illinois, WSU, OSU, CSU, and Minnesota. So far rejected from the first four, waiting to hear back from others. I was expecting this result seeing all the amazing peoeple on here but am currently taking classes outside of my undergrad university and community college to help my GPA.

I also put in my explanation statement that I left an abusive situation with my parents at age 17 and am queer so faced homophobia as well as racism (non-white, in interracial relationship). I have struggled really badly getting research since it is SO competitive at my school (I've tried everything- advisors, talking to professors and grad students). I actually had gotten a position twice and then been told there was no funding! I am still trying though! Please let me know what else I can do! I feel so worried that I'm going to be in the process for the long run and I'm just getting so emotional through the whole thing. Any kind words would be appreciated.

Cumulative GPA: 3.22
science GPA: 3.1
last 45: 3.1

B.S. in Chemical Biology (T5 University)

Veterinary Experience:
300 hours GP small animal
300 hours in another GP small animal
1200 hours ER small animal
32 hours shadowing exotic vet
60 hours shadowing specialty equine vets
32 hours shadowing large animal vet

Animal Experience:
Hundreds of hours fostering senior dogs and guinea pigs
10 hours exotic animal care internship
16 hours wildlife animal care
50 hours medical volunteer, vaccinating dogs and cats for lower-income communities
60 hours assisting with dog adoption events
20 hours riding horses

Research Experience:
Working on loop abroad online research :/

Awards/scholarships:
High School Honor Roll
Leadership Award through the University
Girl Scout Gold Award + some other ones
RECOVER CPR
Beef Quality Assurance
NASM/CPT
USAW1

Extracurriculars:
Competitive weightlifting for 4 years
Weightlifting coach
Professional Chemistry Fraternity
Just started riding horses!
Guitar classes + performance ensembles
Queer Cal Pals (mentoring incoming queer students)
Climate Reality Project Youth Leader
Girl Scouts (Leader and member roles)
President of two clubs in high school


Employment (Non-Vet):
worked three food service jobs, campaigned for mayor in high school, paid for part of the time working as a coach

 

[battie]

Cumulative GPA: 3.22
science GPA: 3.1
last 45: 3.1

Off the bat, this is what's killing your application. These numbers aren't competitive, potentially even at the new schools. Due to the number of credits you already have, you won't see your cGPA move all that much; your science GPA may also be too stuck as well. You're really going to have to focus on that last 45 and stick that landing. Which then goes into my next point:

I applied to Davis (IS), Tufts, Illinois, WSU, OSU, CSU, and Minnesota.

Why did you choose these schools? Davis is a given as your in state, though it's a bad in state to have considering your numbers. But pretty much the rest of your list was not good as they are either competitive by number of applicants or by preferentially choosing high grade students.

Your school list will need tweaking based on the next 2-3 semesters of classes.

explanation statement

Not touching the topics you wrote about, moreso how it is presented. Big thing about this essay is to make sure you wrote about the solutions you implemented that will help you succeed based on your hardships. You obviously cannot change how people in the past have treated you.


The big thing moving forward is getting that last 45 GPA up as high as possible with focus on science courses. Based on those improvements, you'll make a school list that heavily favors low number of applicants (Tuskegee comes to mind) and schools that favor the last 45 GPA (you'll need to do research on that). Extra focus needs to go into your subjective such as your LORs and essays. They need to be perfect.

Unfortunately, you're not in a position where you can be picky. You're options of where to apply are low and so you'll have to decide where you're willing to apply based on your application and not personal preferences.

I strongly recommend not re-applying in 2025 and waiting until January 2026 at the earliest. That will give you multiple good semesters of new courses to really get your GPAs up.

 

[goldenbear2024]

Off the bat, this is what's killing your application. These numbers aren't competitive, potentially even at the new schools. Due to the number of credits you already have, you won't see your cGPA move all that much; your science GPA may also be too stuck as well. You're really going to have to focus on that last 45 and stick that landing. Which then goes into my next point:

Fortunately, I have a pretty low amount of credits relative to other graduates just because of the few number of classes my major requires (and like no breadths). Will work on the last 45, ty.

Why did you choose these schools? Davis is a given as your in state, though it's a bad in state to have considering your numbers. But pretty much the rest of your list was not good as they are either competitive by number of applicants or by preferentially choosing high grade students.

I applied this year on a whim and chose schools based on where I would feel most safe as a POC queer. Will broaden my search for subsequent rounds.

Your school list will need tweaking based on the next 2-3 semesters of classes.

Not touching the topics you wrote about, moreso how it is presented. Big thing about this essay is to make sure you wrote about the solutions you implemented that will help you succeed based on your hardships. You obviously cannot change how people in the past have treated you.

Oh yeah, that was my explanation statement. My personal statement was about discovering my love for clinical practice when I originally thought I wanted to do research and how that allowed me to connect with my culture and sexuality. For next time, I was thinking about being more specific and talking more about how I want to do emergency along with what you said.

The big thing moving forward is getting that last 45 GPA up as high as possible with focus on science courses. Based on those improvements, you'll make a school list that heavily favors low number of applicants (Tuskegee comes to mind) and schools that favor the last 45 GPA (you'll need to do research on that). Extra focus needs to go into your subjective such as your LORs and essays. They need to be perfect.

Unfortunately, you're not in a position where you can be picky. You're options of where to apply are low and so you'll have to decide where you're willing to apply based on your application and not personal preferences.

I strongly recommend not re-applying in 2025 and waiting until January 2026 at the earliest. That will give you multiple good semesters of new courses to really get your GPAs up.

Thank you so much! I will keep this in mind.