WAMC - non-traditional reapplicant

[frankballman]

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Hello all,

I am a 22F who applied to five schools this cycle - rejected from all. My in-state is NCSU. I am looking over my application and trying to find ways to improve for this next cycle. I know I could use more vet/animal hours, but I decided at the end of my college career to pursue veterinary medicine. My GPA is also an issue I think. Any advice would be greatly appreciated - TYIA!

Second-time applicant
Graduated undergrad in 2024
Majors: Biology (BS), English & Comparative Literature (BA)
Minor: Chemistry

Overall GPA: 3.5
Pre-requisite GPA: 3.46
Last 45 GPA: 3.47

Academic honors:
Full-ride, merit-based scholarship to undergraduate institution
Member of the Honors College
Dean’s List 3x (Dean’s List suspended first two semesters due to COVID-19)
Scholarship to study abroad
Graduated Summa Cum Laude (high school)
National Honor Society (high school)

Veterinary Experience:
Small animal: 1,700 hours (employment)
Small animal: 20 hours (shadowing)
Equine: 120 hours (shadowing)
Large animal: 100 hours (shadowing)

Animal experience:
Kennel tech: 100 hours (employment)
Small animal shelter: 100 hours (volunteer)
Pet-sitting: 300 hours

Research experience:
Undergraduate research assistant: 300 hours

Work experience:
Chick-fil-A Team Member: 500 hours
Gift shop cashier: 500 hours
Swim instructor: 100 hours

Internship experience:
Make-A-Wish Program Department: 320 hours
Affordable housing non-profit: 320 hours
Mental health startup: 100 hours

Extracurriculars, college/post-bacc:
Executive board member of student-run non-profit: 1500 hours
Hospital volunteer, pediatrics: 50 hours
Marathon runner: 1000 hours
Book club: 800 hours
Independent research into the modernization of yoga (abroad): 160 hours

Extracurriculars, high school:
Club swimming: 4000 hours
Chorus: 1500 hours
National Charity League: 700 hours
Student Government (Secretary, President): 350 hours

Thank you!

 

[Georgethecat]

Have you asked for file reviews with the schools you applied to? Also, can you make an advising appointment with NCSU since it's your in state option and the most affordable?

Otherwise your stats look good. Your gpa is mid range, not super high but also not low. Keep working on getting varied experience hours and make sure your LOR's are strong.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

No interviews at any of the schools?

Did you go to recruitment events? Connect with SAVMA officers at the schools?

 

[vampyrica]

Where did you apply?

 

[pp9]

This is where it gets hard to make recommendations when we can't possibly know everything - your GPA is average, experience above average, and you have a lot of non-vet things going on which helps make you well rounded. When there aren't any obvious deficiencies/red flags, I suggest a good hard look at your essay and LORs to start. Personally, I wouldn't stress too much about these GPAs just yet. They could be holding you back at certain schools, but they are decent enough that I wouldn't rush into repeating classes. I had similar GPAs and while times have changed, I still don't think repeating classes/getting extra degrees are always worth it.

Send your PS/supplemental essays (if any) to as many people as you can get to read them. LORs are harder because you can't read them, but you should at least reflect on who you chose to write them, if asking them was uncomfortable, if you got the impression that they could have written them the night before, etc.

File reviews too, of course, whenever possible.

 

[jees]

Hey! You look like such a well-rounded applicant! Well done! I would aim to get exotic, wildlife, and/or shelter medicine experiences! The amount of hours you already have in your small and large areas look great - I'd say you are okay to move on to something new! Your GPAs look good, and I wouldn't necessarily tack any decisions onto strictly that, but if you have a couple of really low grades that are drastically weighing you down you could always retake those, but otherwise, I wouldn't worry about your GPA just yet. While I am by no means trying to question your sincerity, the amount of hours you have allotted to certain events under your extracurriculars is raising a few red flags. For example, 1500 hours for the student-run non-profit is a lot. That's about 9 weeks of hours worth away from being a year-long full-time job. That being said, I absolutely believe that you may have committed that much time. Just make sure you are thoroughly explaining the extent of your roles when describing these experiences, so it doesn't raise any red flags to the reviewers. Overall, you look like a great applicant, and I am wishing you the best of luck!! Also way to go double major!!

 

[pp9]

the amount of hours you have allotted to certain events under your extracurriculars is raising a few red flags. For example, 1500 hours for the student-run non-profit is a lot. That's about 9 weeks of hours worth away from being a year-long full-time job.

You're assuming she is claiming 1500 hours per year. She probably did it over 2-3+ years. Not sure if you've been on an e-board, but 1500 hours over 2-4 years is very believable. VMCAS wants your total hours over time, not how many hours you've accumulated in a year (or in the past year).