WAMC - Previous Low GPA, Currently in Post Bac Program & RVT

[Khaoslucario]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some guidance as a non-traditional applicant wanting to practice mixed animal vet med. This cycle was my first time applying, and I’ve submitted to 7 schools so far. Unfortunately, I’ve received rejections from all but 2, which I’m still waiting to hear from. While I’m not deterred, I want to ensure I’m setting myself up for success moving forward and using my time wisely.

A bit about me:

Education: I graduated with a B.S. in Zoology and a minor in Chemistry in 2019, but my GPA was low. I’m currently finishing a post-baccalaureate A.S. degree in Pre-Vet to help my GPA. However, as a transfer student (CC → UC → back to CC), I have a high unit total. Using the VMCAS GPA calculator, I’ve found that even with 90% A’s in recent science/animal courses and retakes (100% A’s), my overall GPA hasn’t budged much, which has me worried.

Extracurriculars & Leadership:

• At my UC, I served as Secretary, Vice President, and President of the Pre-Vet Club
• I was a dual-sport athlete in track and football during my time at the UC
• I’ve was also actively involved in various clubs, including the Zoology Club, ASL Club, Botany Club, Wrestling Club, and Capoeira Club and did ample volunteer work at shelters, state parks, and around my various communities.
• More recently, I’ve taken on leadership roles in my current CC’s Pre-Vet Club and UMOJA club. In previous semesters I've worked with our agricultural program, gaining hands-on experience with small and large livestock, poultry, and equine studies. I also counsel/mentor students getting ready to transfer to UC/CSU from the CC level
• As a single father, I’ve also made time to volunteer at my daughter’s preschool, contributing to the community enjoying fostering my love for education and mentorship.

Updates for Next Cycle: I’ll be finishing my A.S. degree (with honors), retaking additional courses, completing another directed study in the spring and possibly fall, and further solidifying leadership roles.

Given my circumstances, I’m debating between applying again next cycle with these updates or pivoting to a master’s program to strengthen my GPA (especially with the GRE being a non factor). My main concern is whether my high unit total (and it still growing) limits my ability to improve my undergraduate GPA significantly enough to meet vet school thresholds.

Has anyone faced a similar challenge with GPA or unit concerns? Would completing a master’s make me a stronger candidate, or should I reapply next cycle with my improved application?

Thank you in advance for any insights or advice!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[supershorty]

Moved to WAMC sub forum. OP, we cannot really give good advice without GPA information. Please take a look at the preferred format here: WAMC Forum- Welcome

Once we have more info, we’ll be able to offer better help

 

[Khaoslucario]

Moved to WAMC sub forum. OP, we cannot really give good advice without GPA information. Please take a look at the preferred format here: WAMC Forum- Welcome

Once we have more info, we’ll be able to offer better help

Thank you for fixing my post my apologies I had it on the wrong forum. My GPA post UC was 2.54, currently at my CC the last 45 units has me at a 3.78 (this also for my science GPA at my CC, and not adding the upper division science courses I've taken like Bio Chem recently in which I received an A+) and I will be completing 2 more semester worth of courses minimum.

 

[Khaoslucario]

I’m a non-traditional pre-vet student currently based in Southern California. I grew up navigating challenges as the first in my family to attend college, earning a B.S. in Zoology with a minor in Chemistry. This was my first time applying to veterinary school, and while I’ve received rejections from several schools so far, I’m still waiting on decisions from two more.

I’m particularly interested in schools with strong programs in mixed animal medicine, as my career goal is to work with both companion and large animals before eventually contributing to initiatives I want to develop and strengthen (Onehealth etc.). My interests span emergency medicine, agriculture, research, teaching and I’m currently pursuing an A.S. degree in Pre-Vet medicine to strengthen my GPA.
In addition to my academic pursuits, I work as an RVT at a Emergency Specialty Clinic, volunteer at my daughter’s preschool, and actively involved in leadership roles within pre-vet/vet organizations.

I applied to UC Davis, Oregon, Ohio State, Western (CA), Wisconsin, Cornell, Washington

Since i'm a CC → UC → back to CC student my GPA might be a bit complicated and my CC is in a community of schools its a bit split up.
Cumulative GPA: (from VMCAS 2.54 as of sep, 16 2024), on my CC transcripts from 2012-2024: 3.26, from my UC 2015-2019: 2.54
science GPA: current 3.88, don't know the calculation in combination with my UC grades especially with retakes
last 45: 3.78 at my home CC, 3.88 total from all courses taken since 2022 at my CC's+UC upper Divisions

Degrees achieved:
Bachelors Zoology, minor Chemistry
Completing an AS in Pre-Vet medicine in the Spring 2025

GRE results: Will not take unless needed

Veterinary Experience:
- RVT Current 1 year ECC/ICU at an emergency Specialty Hospital
- VA 5 years, Rural Urgent Care 3 years, 2 years ECC/ICU at an Emergency Specialty Hospital
- 3 years Agricultural Classes/Volunteer Small Ruminant, Large Ruminant, Poultry, Equine

Animal Experience: With Veterinary 2019-2024
-2 years Small/Large Ruminant
-3 years Poultry
-1 year Equine
-2 years Wildlife
-2 years Zoo
-3 years Lab Animal/Research
-5 years Small Companion
-6 mo Exotics

Animal Experience: Non Veterinary 2008-2024
+15 years
-5 years Poultry
-2 year Equine
-4 years Wildlife
-1 years Lab Animal/Research
-15 years Small Companion
-3 years Exotics

Research Experience:
At UC volunteered assisting with sample surveys on Pisaster ochraceus and sea star wasting disease (SSWD)
Completed 3 Research projects (on Ariolimax, Sequoia sempervirens, and California darlingtonia)

At CC completed Agi Management research project on sheep as a model species for reproduction studies, included research on Lanolin, and cloning
Directed Study on Exploring Equine Gut Microbiota

Awards/scholarships:
- Full Time Dean's List x2
- Part Time Dean's List
- Spanish American Institute (SAI) Scholarship

Extracurriculars: I can put my past EC's if needed but I'll list the most current
- Pre Vet club (current ranking member: public relations officer)
- UMOJA club
- VCA DRG (AAmbition)
- Parent Volunteer @ Preschool
- Volunteer Student Farm Worker
- Community dog walker for the elderly

Certifications:
Completed:
SVME Certified
CFVP Certified

Working on:
Fear Free Certification
Recover RVT certification
ALAVTN certification

Employment:
- RVT VCA
- VA VCA
- Kennel Manager @ Rural Urgent Care Hospital
-Tutor: Mammalogy
-Student Receptionist
-Home Depot (Garden Department)

My main concern with my application is my GPA. Despite earning mostly A’s in recent coursework and retakes, my high unit total has made it challenging to significantly improve my cumulative undergraduate GPA. I’m worried this will continue to affect my competitiveness, even with strong upward trend in grades, strong extracurriculars, diverse veterinary experience, and excellent letters of recommendation. I’m also unsure if I should focus on retaking more undergrad courses, completing a master’s, or pursuing a combination of both to strengthen my application for future cycles.

 

[SkiOtter]

There are schools that focus on last 45/science GPA rather than cumulative. I know Kansas state is one, but I don’t remember any others off the top of my head. I don’t remember if KSU has any minimum cumulative GPA or not or if it’s *just* science/last 45.
There are also some schools that will ignore any academic history outside of a certain number of years (I know for illinois it’s 6 years) so if none of your prereqs are older and they’re all part of your new stuff or you’re willing to retake them, schools that do that should also be considered. It wasn’t something I needed to do (applied closer to when I was graduating undergrad so it wasn’t something that would’ve been an option), so I’m not sure if the full process to do this or what other schools have this option.

 

[JaynaAli]

I agree with ski. You’ll need to apply smart and do lots of research on schools. I’d make a spreadsheet with what GPAs they look at, their minimums, seats available and average accepted student GPA, and all that. Figure out which schools do grade replacement vs grade averaging of retakes. Know what your GPAs are and make sure you aren’t wasting money by applying to a place with a strict GPA cutoff. A low cumulative GPA will definitely hold you back from some programs, but you should have a better chance at those that want to see a strong last 45 and things like that. You’ll need to apply smart and maybe not be picky about location and other factors if your GPA is on the lower end.

One thing that concerns me a little is that all of your recent success has been at a community college. It may be an excellent school, but in the grand scheme of things, CCs just don’t hold as much weight as a four year university. I know often the courses are just as hard and maybe even have the same faculty as a university, but I would like to see you continue to demonstrate success (aka maintain a high GPA) in some upper division science courses at a university. (No hate to CCs, I have an associate’s degree from a CC myself) Pursuing a masters isn’t bad, but I think you’ll find by reading posts on here that is isn’t a magic pass and it may not be regarded as much as one would hope. If you did pursue a masters, make sure it’s a viable backup plan in case vet med doesn’t work out for you…don’t waste money.

It’s hard to evaluate your vet and animal experience the way you’ve presented it…talking about things by hours is more common for vmcas. But from the looks of things the issue you’ll face is that low cumulative GPA not so much the experience portion.

And I know I said at the beginning of this that you may need to apply broadly and not be picky in order to get an acceptance, but if your career goal is mixed animal medicine, I would also caution you to be aware of the costs at schools. Going OOS gets very expensive and the cheaper OOS programs are very competitive. But mixed animal salaries are definitely lower than small animal and other fields within vet med, so it can be hard to repay a high loan balance, especially with the current unanswered questions about the future of student loan programs and reform. it’s easy for pre-vets to focus on just getting in at any cost, but the cost can literally impact the rest of your life. So be aware of the costs and make sure you realize what you’re getting in to and have a plan. I recommend everyone go to the cheapest school then can, but this is especially true for those wanting to pursue mixed animal medicine.

 

[Cowsrcool]

Hi! So many of the schools you have on your list that you applied to have minimum GPA cutoffs that are 3.0, so your GPA being below that means you were just automatically rejected. Next cycle you should scratch nearly all of those schools and apply smarter! Many schools don’t have those minimums and have more strong consideration towards last 45 as well. I also know Illinois has the option to disregard certain old coursework. Schools I’d recommend looking into:
Illinois (for the grade dropping - not fully sure of the process)
LMU
KSU
Ross
SGU
Iowa State

 

[PixelPenguinz]

I’m curious, how do you have such a high sGPA with a lower cGPA when you’ve completed science degrees? It may be a good idea to double check the math when creating a school list

 

[Khaoslucario]

There are schools that focus on last 45/science GPA rather than cumulative. I know Kansas state is one, but I don’t remember any others off the top of my head. I don’t remember if KSU has any minimum cumulative GPA or not or if it’s *just* science/last 45.
There are also some schools that will ignore any academic history outside of a certain number of years (I know for illinois it’s 6 years) so if none of your prereqs are older and they’re all part of your new stuff or you’re willing to retake them, schools that do that should also be considered. It wasn’t something I needed to do (applied closer to when I was graduating undergrad so it wasn’t something that would’ve been an option), so I’m not sure if the full process to do this or what other schools have this option.

Thank you so much for the information! Hearing from one of my doctors who graduated from Kansas State (and wrote one of my LOR's) I was privy to their admissions focusing on the last 45/science GPA, I considered them for that reason and with their work in rabies research, after this cycle they’re definitely on my radar for the next cycle. Adding more info the main reason I applied to the schools I did this cycle is trifold: they’re either in-state, close to family, or I’ve visited the campus and felt a strong connection. As the primary caregiver for my young daughter, I’m also limited in where I can apply due to certain government policies in some states, which has made me prioritize schools that fit my personal circumstances. Being a person of color also plays a significant role in my decision-making, as I’m looking for environments where I—and my daughter—can feel supported and included.

I wish I could cast a wider net to include more schools with forgiving or holistic admissions processes, but my situation means I have to be strategic. That said, hearing about options like KSU gives me hope. If anyone knows of of has a list of other schools with similar approaches—like focusing on the last 45/science GPA or valuing recent academic improvements—I’d love to hear about them. Thank you again for sharing this—it’s really helpful!

 

[Khaoslucario]

I agree with ski. You’ll need to apply smart and do lots of research on schools. I’d make a spreadsheet with what GPAs they look at, their minimums, seats available and average accepted student GPA, and all that. Figure out which schools do grade replacement vs grade averaging of retakes. Know what your GPAs are and make sure you aren’t wasting money by applying to a place with a strict GPA cutoff. A low cumulative GPA will definitely hold you back from some programs, but you should have a better chance at those that want to see a strong last 45 and things like that. You’ll need to apply smart and maybe not be picky about location and other factors if your GPA is on the lower end.

One thing that concerns me a little is that all of your recent success has been at a community college. It may be an excellent school, but in the grand scheme of things, CCs just don’t hold as much weight as a four year university. I know often the courses are just as hard and maybe even have the same faculty as a university, but I would like to see you continue to demonstrate success (aka maintain a high GPA) in some upper division science courses at a university. (No hate to CCs, I have an associate’s degree from a CC myself) Pursuing a masters isn’t bad, but I think you’ll find by reading posts on here that is isn’t a magic pass and it may not be regarded as much as one would hope. If you did pursue a masters, make sure it’s a viable backup plan in case vet med doesn’t work out for you…don’t waste money.

It’s hard to evaluate your vet and animal experience the way you’ve presented it…talking about things by hours is more common for vmcas. But from the looks of things the issue you’ll face is that low cumulative GPA not so much the experience portion.

And I know I said at the beginning of this that you may need to apply broadly and not be picky in order to get an acceptance, but if your career goal is mixed animal medicine, I would also caution you to be aware of the costs at schools. Going OOS gets very expensive and the cheaper OOS programs are very competitive. But mixed animal salaries are definitely lower than small animal and other fields within vet med, so it can be hard to repay a high loan balance, especially with the current unanswered questions about the future of student loan programs and reform. it’s easy for pre-vets to focus on just getting in at any cost, but the cost can literally impact the rest of your life. So be aware of the costs and make sure you realize what you’re getting in to and have a plan. I recommend everyone go to the cheapest school then can, but this is especially true for those wanting to pursue mixed animal medicine.

Thank you for the detailed insights and advice—it’s incredibly helpful for me as I plan my next steps. I completely agree that next time I need to apply smarter, and I’ve started researching schools to better understand their GPA requirements, grade replacement/averaging policies, and emphasis on last 45 or science GPAs. I just created a spreadsheet to track these factors ( don't know why I didn't before but great suggestion), and I’ll definitely incorporate that into my planning for the next cycle.

Regarding community college (CC) courses, I understand that at 1st glance CC courses may not carry the same weight as upper-division courses at a four-year university. But the school I am attending has the prestige and courses to mitigate that, its AA program is taylor made for direct transition to vet school (barring those that need a Bachelors), but I get that and I’m already planning to take more challenging upper-division courses after finishing my current program, I already retook Biochem this summer at UC San Diego and received and A+, the only course I am missing of the upper division prerequisites is Genetics (and i'll consider taking cell bio if im applying to Colorado State) to complete with a better grade. I main question comes down to if I should consider a master’s degree before reapplying as viable backup plan.

As for my vet and animal experience, for my current hospital its what I put on the VMCAS was 5522 hrs as of 9/16/24, from my past hospital it was 4640 hrs for my main experiences but has only gone up since then, but like I said I’ve worked in nearly every field of veterinary medicine except shelter medicine (which Im looking to volunteer/work at starting next year) so I agree I don't think my hours/experiences are my chokepoint.

Your point about financial considerations is something I’ve thought a lot about. My ultimate goal is mixed animal practice, and I’m keenly aware of the challenges of repaying student loans with a lower salary. For that reason, this is why I prioritized in-state schools and those close to family for my initial applications. However, I also recognize that I may need to broaden my options while being mindful of costs. Though sadly i'm not being picky for any old reason, like in another response to a post, I have a young daughter so political climate, like new laws being enacted and incoming individuals in governance are the biggest factor because her well-being is top priority, i'll be fine anywhere cause I just need to be in a institution that will teach me what I need and want to learn to be a ethical and competent DVM in the future though being a POC does play a part, but I need to be wary of where I go for her sake. For sure though next cycle I'll look at schools that offer instate tuition after some time being in the state like Michigan State I think does.

Thank you again for the thoughtful feedback—it’s given me a lot to think about as I continue to refine my strategy and ensure I’m presenting the strongest application possible next time.

Any thoughts on doing a grad program or if its even worth my time? Also I read and was told that a masters is evaluated separately from your undergrad GPA, anyone who has completed one was it effective in moving the needle for GPA purposes?

 

[Khaoslucario]

Hi! So many of the schools you have on your list that you applied to have minimum GPA cutoffs that are 3.0, so your GPA being below that means you were just automatically rejected. Next cycle you should scratch nearly all of those schools and apply smarter! Many schools don’t have those minimums and have more strong consideration towards last 45 as well. I also know Illinois has the option to disregard certain old coursework. Schools I’d recommend looking into:
Illinois (for the grade dropping - not fully sure of the process)
LMU
KSU
Ross
SGU
Iowa State

Thank you so much for the helpful feedback! Looking through post on the subforum it seems I hadn’t 100% fully considered the impact of GPA cutoffs at some of the schools I applied to, but your advice makes a lot of sense. After making my post, I spoke with my major's chair, and they informed me that our program has a relationship with SGU and Ross that includes a specialized process if I decide to pursue them after completing my AA. Given that, I’ll definitely be adding them to my list for the next cycle, though I’ll need to do thorough research since they’re international and come with other considerations.

I hadn’t initially looked into LMU or Illinois since I didn’t have a point of contact at those schools or an opportunity to visit their campuses. However, with your suggestion, I’ll make sure to explore them further and see if they’re a good fit for me.

While my GPA will see significant improvement by the next cycle due to the work I’m putting in, I know I’ll need to evaluate how competitive my application becomes under my current plan. Your advice has given me some great direction on how to apply smarter next time, and I appreciate the encouragement to look at schools with more holistic or flexible admission criteria! Any ideas on completing a masters besides the cost and time spent on it juxtaposed with my current GPA situation?

 

[Khaoslucario]

I’m curious, how do you have such a high sGPA with a lower cGPA when you’ve completed science degrees? It may be a good idea to double check the math when creating a school list

I did, like I said my situation is a bit vexing since I have a high unit total and the schools I chose take everything from the start to the time of applying. Because I am making up for doing moderately okay at the beginning of my collegiate career at CC, terrible freshman-early junior at my UC, great my senior year, and stellar at my current CC for post bac. That's 10 years (-2 because of covid) of courses.

My earlier post

Since i'm a CC → UC → back to CC student my GPA might be a bit complicated and my CC is in a community of schools its a bit split up.

Cumulative GPA: (from VMCAS 2.54 as of sep, 16 2024) this is from every course I've taken ever from 2012 to sep 16, 2024, on my CC transcripts from 2012-2024: 3.26, from my UC 2015-2019: 2.54

science GPA: At my CC current 3.88 (since all the courses I've taken in my postbac have only been approved science courses based on this list VMCAS Course Subjects), I don't know the calculation in combination with my UC grades especially with retakes and current finished courses.

last 45: 3.78 at my home CC, 3.88 total from all courses taken since 2022 at my CC's+UC upper divisions courses complete. Most current from courses completed this Fall 2024