WAMC - Mid GPA

[Chitalis]

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Cumulative GPA: 3.53
science GPA: 3.3
last 45: 3.15
My science GPA is poor but when I calculate pre-reqs specifically it looks much better, closer to my cGPA or higher. It was my random BIO electives that shot me in the foot. My last 45 is also pretty bad, but my last two semesters improved after I transitioned back from online to in-person.

Any degrees achieved
BSc Biology w. Chem Minor, Graduated Dec 2023
Took a few gap years to get real-world work experience.

GRE results: N/A

Veterinary Experience:
-1350 wildlife
-120 large animal
-610 small animal (shelter medicine)

Animal Experience:
-2790 small animal/shelter medicine
-Equine 660

Research Experience:
None right now, DVM at work said we could find a research project to start together, but we've been stumped for ideas & otherwise busy.

Awards/scholarships:
-Cum Laude
-Dean's list first year

Extracurriculars:
Didn't do much besides a nerdy interest club my freshman year that was disbanded when everything went online. Covid started my freshman year, and things weren't fully in-person again until the end of my junior year. I then graduated a semester early.

Employment:
-Vet Tech at a Wildlife Rescue & Animal Sanctuary - March to present (will keep this job until I'm able to matriculate into a program)
-Foster Coordinator/Vet Tech at an Animal Shelter - 2 years
-Goat cheese vendor -1 year
-McDonald's - 6 months
-Shift Supervisor at Starbucks - 2 years

I'd love to keep working in something similar to my current employment, a wildlife rescue that also takes in large animals and exotics to our animal sanctuary. Otherwise, I'd like to generally work in mixed practice or shelter medicine with a focus on community outreach and filling the need for a DVM in underserved communities. I know some schools value people looking for mixed animal or rural/community.

I'm a Texas resident, so I'm planning to apply to Texas Tech & Texas A&M even if my chances are slim.

For out of state, I've been looking at the following:
Auburn University
Iowa State University
Lincoln Memorial University
Louisiana State University
Michigan State University
Midwestern University
University of Arizona
University of Florida
University of Missouri
Washington State University

 

[pp9]

Aside from your IS schools (I'd always apply to IS schools, regardless of perceived chances), you'll want to be looking at schools that look at pre-req GPA and cGPA since those are your best numbers. I'm not looking at every single school you've listed here, but off the top of my head, Michigan State looks at last 45 and prereq only. Your prereq GPA, which is going to be slightly different for each school, might have to be pretty high (3.7+?) to try and offset the low last 45 imo.

IIRC, Mizzou's OOSers tend to have really high stats, so might not be the best choice. Your chances are never zero, but your academics will likely hold you back at multiple schools. You have good hours, but possibly not enough to stand out considering your academics. If finances are not an issue, it doesn't matter as much, but you'll need to choose your schools wisely.

Are you open to taking a few courses to boost your last 45? I think boosting your last 45 significantly could be really good for you.

I know some schools value people looking for mixed animal or rural/community.

Yes, some do, but career goals don't tend to hold much weight in the admissions process for a variety of reasons. Wanting to do mixed/rural medicine would not be your ticket into school when your academics aren't competitive, unfortunately.

 

[Chitalis]

Aside from your IS schools (I'd always apply to IS schools, regardless of perceived chances), you'll want to be looking at schools that look at pre-req GPA and cGPA since those are your best numbers. I'm not looking at every single school you've listed here, but off the top of my head, Michigan State looks at last 45 and prereq only. Your prereq GPA, which is going to be slightly different for each school, might have to be pretty high (3.7+?) to try and offset the low last 45 imo.

IIRC, Mizzou's OOSers tend to have really high stats, so might not be the best choice. Your chances are never zero, but your academics will likely hold you back at multiple schools. You have good hours, but possibly not enough to stand out considering your academics. If finances are not an issue, it doesn't matter as much, but you'll need to choose your schools wisely.

Are you open to taking a few courses to boost your last 45? I think boosting your last 45 significantly could be really good for you.


Yes, some do, but career goals don't tend to hold much weight in the admissions process for a variety of reasons. Wanting to do mixed/rural medicine would not be your ticket into school when your academics aren't competitive, unfortunately.

Thank you for your advice! I went through and calculated my pre-req GPAs, and they are pretty high. My lowest two are Louisiana at 3.68 and Washington at 3.67; my strongest are Missouri at 4.0 and Arizona at 3.92. It's the odd classes from my chem minor/pre-med track that are dragging down my GPAs.

I reached out to my local community college and browsed their selection of courses. They don't have many high-level or applicable classes. I was looking into their astronomy, comp sci, & foreign languages; things I always wanted to take in undergrad but wasn't able to fit into my schedule/finances. Is it worthwhile to take these introductory courses in unrelated topics to boost the last 45, or is it frowned upon? If I took all the classes that interested me and performed well in them, it could potentially boost my last 45 to a 3.87, cGPA to a 3.62, & science to a 3.44.

Thank you again for your input! I've been digging through forums and reddit posts, but it's hard to find a good consensus or anything that feels directly applicable.

 

[pp9]

Thank you for your advice! I went through and calculated my pre-req GPAs, and they are pretty high. My lowest two are Louisiana at 3.68 and Washington at 3.67; my strongest are Missouri at 4.0 and Arizona at 3.92. It's the odd classes from my chem minor/pre-med track that are dragging down my GPAs.

I reached out to my local community college and browsed their selection of courses. They don't have many high-level or applicable classes. I was looking into their astronomy, comp sci, & foreign languages; things I always wanted to take in undergrad but wasn't able to fit into my schedule/finances. Is it worthwhile to take these introductory courses in unrelated topics to boost the last 45, or is it frowned upon? If I took all the classes that interested me and performed well in them, it could potentially boost my last 45 to a 3.87, cGPA to a 3.62, & science to a 3.44.

Thank you again for your input! I've been digging through forums and reddit posts, but it's hard to find a good consensus or anything that feels directly applicable.

A little bit of yes and no. Last 45 is last 45 regardless of what courses that includes. Some would say it's good strategy to pad your last 45 with 'easier' classes in order to boost that number, that's something I wish I did myself when I was applying (Michigan was my IS). With that said, some schools do take academic rigor into account. When schools say they do that, it's hard to objectively know that is incorporated into your application review. Either way, you'd still have a (hopefully) 4.0 for your last 45, afaik schools don't cherry pick harder courses and make their own last 45. I would talk to the schools and see if they can give you any insight on that to be sure.