WAMC- Minimal experience hours, lots of non-vet activites

[Salzard]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi! I am a first time applicant from PA interested in wildlife/conservation medicine and pathology. I am also interested in research and completing a PhD or Masters while in (combined program) or after vet school.

Applying to: Illinois, Washington, Cornell, Wisconsin, NC State, UC Davis (maybe?)

Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
last 45: 4.0

Any degrees achieved: BS in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Minors in Wildlife science and One Health

Veterinary Experience:
- Shadowed at Banfield as part of their internship program (50hrs)
- Intern at small animal ER with multiple specialists (300 hrs)
- Shadowed at state diagnostic lab (current- hoping for 50 hrs)

Animal Experience:
- Zoo volunteer (300 hrs, highschool)
- Mouse care from lab? (50 hrs)

Research Experience:
- Data analysis for retrospective epidemiology study (200 hrs)
- Presented posters
- Field assistant for salamander surveys (250 hrs)
- Independent project in immunology lab (700 hrs)

Awards/scholarships:
- Library literacy award for poster
- Received grant for research
- 3rd place in entrepreneurship competition (highschool)
- Various merit scholarships for high gpa/financial need

Extracurriculars:
- Pre-Veterinary Club (Fall 2022 to Present)
- Small and Exotic Animals Club (Fall 2022 to Present)
- Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society (Spring 2023 to Present)
- Creative Arts Club (Fall 2023 to Spring 2024)
- Pep Band (Fall 2022 to Present)
- Concert/Campus Band (Fall 2022 to Present)
- Campus Orchestra (Fall 2023 to Present)
- Science Olympiad Volunteer (Fall 2022 to Spring 2023)
- Camp counselor (Spring 2024, Fall 2024)
- Project Nestwatch volunteer

Employment:
- Student Manager at dining hall (over 1300 hours)

Concerns:
I know I have very low animal and veterinary experience hours, but I have high research hours and tons of non-vet experiences. My instate is UPenn, but the high cost and location (Philly) makes it hard for me to feel like it would be worth going there. I also have financial restraints, which heavily limits the schools I can apply to.

 

[pp9]

Hi! I am a first time applicant from PA interested in wildlife/conservation medicine and pathology. I am also interested in research and completing a PhD or Masters while in (combined program) or after vet school.

Applying to: Illinois, Washington, Cornell, Wisconsin, NC State, UC Davis (maybe?)

Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
last 45: 4.0

Any degrees achieved: BS in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Minors in Wildlife science and One Health

Veterinary Experience:
- Shadowed at Banfield as part of their internship program (50hrs)
- Intern at small animal ER with multiple specialists (300 hrs)
- Shadowed at state diagnostic lab (current- hoping for 50 hrs)

Animal Experience:
- Zoo volunteer (300 hrs, highschool)
- Mouse care from lab? (50 hrs)

Research Experience:
- Data analysis for retrospective epidemiology study (200 hrs)
- Presented posters
- Field assistant for salamander surveys (250 hrs)
- Independent project in immunology lab (700 hrs)

Awards/scholarships:
- Library literacy award for poster
- Received grant for research
- 3rd place in entrepreneurship competition (highschool)
- Various merit scholarships for high gpa/financial need

Extracurriculars:
- Pre-Veterinary Club (Fall 2022 to Present)
- Small and Exotic Animals Club (Fall 2022 to Present)
- Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society (Spring 2023 to Present)
- Creative Arts Club (Fall 2023 to Spring 2024)
- Pep Band (Fall 2022 to Present)
- Concert/Campus Band (Fall 2022 to Present)
- Campus Orchestra (Fall 2023 to Present)
- Science Olympiad Volunteer (Fall 2022 to Spring 2023)
- Camp counselor (Spring 2024, Fall 2024)
- Project Nestwatch volunteer

Employment:
- Student Manager at dining hall (over 1300 hours)

Concerns:
I know I have very low animal and veterinary experience hours, but I have high research hours and tons of non-vet experiences. My instate is UPenn, but the high cost and location (Philly) makes it hard for me to feel like it would be worth going there. I also have financial restraints, which heavily limits the schools I can apply to.

I am not as familiar with combined degree admissions specifically, tagging @supershorty @indysadventures (the first two SDNers that come to mind). I'll give my thoughts though!

I think with your academic stats, you will have really good chances for a standard DVM program. You would sail through any academic-based cutoffs. Whether or not you have enough experience/your written portions are good enough to get interviews is much more subjective. Are you able to get more experience hours before applying? I still think you have decent (at least) chances of getting interviews, but the more hours the better.

Who will be writing your LORs? How do you think that's going to go?

With your academic stats, I would also consider expanding your schools to include all the schools that allow residency chances after first year. Ohio, NC State, Washington, UC Davis (apparently, I only recently learned this!), Mizzou I think, and possibly Colorado for combined degree students (always verify residency changeability yourself, though).