WCVM 2014 Applicants

[Ruka]

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Hey! This is for all of us who have applied to the WCVM this year (didnt see any other forum specifically for WCVM students). Are you getting anxious waiting to hear about interviews??? My heart is racing just thinking about it. Its hard when all the US schools are posting their acceptances and we have to wait until ... ugh .... May or June!! 😱

So, I thought it would be a good idea for us to the post any questions on here in addition to updates on when we receive notifications for interviews. Let me know whose out there as well and... Good luck!!

 

[Kylana]

I haven't applied yet, but I'll be applying to WCVM this fall/winter! I do think it is going to be pretty annoying waiting till next summer to find out if I got in or not. Hard to make plans for fall...

Good luck to you!🙂

 

[silymnd]

i just got a phone call yesterday asking me if i wanted to have my interview in sask or bc. im so excited!

 

[Ruka]

Congrats Silymnd! Hopefully Ill be getting a call sometime soon as well! 🙂 Do you know when the date of your interview will be for?

 

[silymnd]

the lady who called asked me if i wanted to interview in sask or bc. they know that im doing my undergrad in ontario, so they wondered if i wanted to stop my sask to do the interview, because the bc interviews cost $150. they were going to book me in for april 23 or 26th if i wanted sask, but since that doesnt work with my schedule (and i'll end up paying more to travel/find a hotel in sask anyway) i said i prefer bc. the lady who called me was very friendly! she said she'll call me back when they start booking for bc interviews. im SO excited. but im worried...because looking at the stats on another forum, i don't have alot of vet experience...

 

[Ruka]

That is exciting!! Im glad they will offer interviews in BC because it would be a lil pricey to fly over to Saskatoon just for a few days. I did want to see the campus though. Ill have to make a decision when the time comes... if it does. Yeah, the stats on other forums are intimidating but they are looking for the whole package right and each school is different. Do you have lots of animal experience? Ill give a quick overview of my stats so you can compare!

I have 3 years volunteer and paid experience in a small and large clinic, two years on an animal research project, and countless animal experience from being raised with small and large animals. My degree is finished with a 3.91 GPA and I was VP/President of my schools Pre-Med club, an active member in Chemistry club, Rodeo Club and I presented results of my research at a National Conference. I also created an annual medical conference that has continued in my absence which illustrates how different medical professionals (from GPs to Chiropractors and Dentists to Animal researchers and Veterinarians) coordinate for public health. Since my graduation, Ive been working on a mobile library in a small rural town, volunteering on the Literacy Task Force, exercise riding two horses, learning natural hoof trim methods for horses, and shadowing an equine massage therapist in addition to a bit of traveling. I have also been given a very talented mare that Ive been working with for the last year so thats fun and time consuming! Wow, when I try to condense it all, it sounds like a lot! haha However, Im a little worried because my vet experience was 3 years ago now and the town Im in does not have a vet so there isnt an opportunity to spend more time in a clinic. Also, I havent been called yet so... :S One of my reference forms was lost in transit to them and Ive had to have it resent. I hope thats why I havent been phoned yet and not that my application isn't what they want!

Out of curiosity, what are your stats? Its nice having someone to chat with who is on the same path! 😀

 

[thnythe]

Good luck guys!

Usually they do the first round interviews at the end of April, and a second round of interviews in June. So even if you don't hear anything soon, you'll still have a chance for a later interview!

 

[silymnd]

Oh my gosh, your stat's are amazing! I have a lot less experience than you... Well I guess in my defense I'm only in 2nd year undergrad and I'm 19!

Here it goes:
Volunteered for 300+ hours at two small animal clinics last summer (300 hrs in 4 months is decent right? I basically lived at the clinics for most of the summer...)
Currently walking dogs, socializing teaching rabbits, rats and guinea pigs at Central Animal Facility of Ontario Veterinary College (I'm doing my undergrad at University of Guelph in Ontario)
Horse-riding experience (+tacking, mucking) since 2002
Walked dogs / socialized cats at local SPCA from 2005 to 2007
SOME large animal experience through friend's dairy farm as well as field trips in agriculture class

I have a lot of non-animal community services though:
Volunteered at a hospital and manor 100+ hours
Volunteered at community center running daycare, summer camps, and the teen activity center
Volunteer Ambassador of University of Guelph, running tours

Interests and hobbies include Ultimate Frisbee, music (piano and violin), READING

Do you think it'll "count" if I tell them what I'm doing this summer? I'm working at a vet clinic this summer, and planning to volunteer in Central America for 2 weeks. I'm also looking to volunteer either at a therapeutic riding center for disabled people, or a rehabilitation center for animals (the ones with an indoor pool!)

I'm really worried because last year they only accepted one person with only 2 years of university...

 

[Ruka]

Thanks thnythe! Good to hear Im not out of the running if I dont interview in April!

Silymnd, I think your stats are pretty amazing, too!! Seems like you have touched on a little of everything in the vet world and your non-animal community involvement is just as important in my opinion. Shows that you are well rounded. I wish I could play piano :S haha Growing up all the money and time went into riding horses so I guess I cant complain. 🙂

I think you should definitely tell them your plans for the summer! Im trying to get a working student position at an elite equestrian facility and I plan on telling them that, if and when I get a chance. It shows your determination right? As for only being 2nd year, just go with it! Be happy you got an interview and as long as you knock their socks off with how amazing you are, they wont CARE how many years you have 😀 Just dont go into it thinking you are at a disadvantage. Im worried because Ive now had two years off of school, Im 23 and its taken me this long to work up the nerve to apply. Do you think they might question my dedication to vet med???

Oh ya, my hobbies are riding, riding and riding... hiking, fishing, camping and READING FOR SURE! haha

 

[silymnd]

I don't think anybody can question your dedication! Nobody in their right mind will go through all the bloody requirements and work their arse off in university and get experience when they're not dedicated to what they want to do! You have so much experience with horses. Do you plan on specializing in equine med? Just curious, do you have a "backup plan"? I really hate to have a backup plan because it feels like I'm planning to fail... but my backup is people med and dentistry. Some people think I'm crazy to put people med as "backup" since it's just as hard to get accepted!
Oh and I just found out it's not WCVM's "fault" that there are only 19 seats for BC. It depends on how much our provincial government is willing to subsidize. Ugh, I used to live in Alberta, and if i stayed there, I would have a much better chance with University of Calgary AND WCVM!

 

[Ruka]

Yeah the limited number of seats is tough with BC being one of the most competitive. :S I think the program at UofC is still young though... best to stick with the one thats been at it for a while. I think if I had to do it in 3 years, I wouldnt learn as much and be completely burnt at the end. I plan on spending my summers gaining as much in clinic experience as I possibly can, not spending it in school. So... no worries! Everything happens for a reason.

Definitely hear you on putting Med as your back-up and people looking at you strangely. haha That was what took me so long to apply. Through my first two years, I put vet med first and then explored medicine a bit. After that I kept flipping back and forth between the two and didnt know what would be better for me in the long run. However, vet med won out... it just took a few months outside of school to bring me back to what I really loved. So... my back-up plan is to try and try again for vet med and if it doesnt pan out, perhaps humane med. I dont think having a backup is a bad thing either. It shows that youre considering other options too. The main thing is to find the right career, one that you will be happy with for the next 40-50 years.

Yes, *sigh* I would love to be an equine vet and treat high-performance horses. I know its a little competitive but I think I can do it. What about you?

 

[silymnd]

Oh wow, high performance horses! That's like the race tracks right? I don't really know about how competitive it is, but Hong Kong (where I was born) is CRAZY about race horses. There should be plenty of needs there. Have you though of working outside of Canada once you graduate?
I'm still undecided. With dog/cat/small animal clinics we have to deal with *crazy* owners. Large animal clinics I don't have much experience but sounds VERY interesting. Have you read James Herriot's books (like All Creatures Great and Small)? I've bought the whole set from Chapters online and they're at home (in BC). I cannot wait to read them! I'm really interested in traveling worldwide though. I grew up watching reality shows like Doctors Without Borders and I've always wanted to do that. I guess that would be a Global Vets thing right? And that will probably be when I've made some money to pay off student loans!
(I'm constantly refreshing this forum to chat when I should be doing some studying/assignments!)

 

[Ruka]

Haha Sorry I left then!! Had to make dinner. 🙂

Yes, I have been reading James Herriot since I was about 13 years old... hence the early interest in vet med. He's an incredible writer and Im sure you will love his style of writing along with his quirky characters!

Equine med is pretty difficult to get involved with because you have to intern at a university for one to two years after you grad and the internships are limited. Should be fun though.. I would like to work with race horses, eventing and show jumping/ dressage... all those fun ones that take a lifetime to excel in 🙂

You were born in Hong Kong?? Thats neat! How long have you been in Canada? Do you travel much right now?

 

[groff00]

So glad that they do two sets of interviews. I missed an interview by 5 spots last year so I am really hoping to interview this year. I know my marks aren't the greatest so if I don't interview this year I am going to try and improve some of my marks. I have a ton of experience as I have been working at a clinic as a tech assistant for 9 years. I just really really want to get in.

 

[groff00]

I am kinda at the point where this is what I want to do and I will do it even if I have to fight for it.

 

[Ruka]

I think that is a very good place to be at! 🙂 Im sending good vibes to the application team to offer you an interview this year! Sure youll get one with that much experience and they will see that you are committed after applying last year... right?

For curiosity, what is your GPA and what province are you applying from? Id like to know where my marks measure up and if you missed by only 5, it might be a good indicator.

 

[groff00]

I am applying from Alberta and my GPA is probably sitting around 3.3 and I am just shy of 10,000 hours of experience. I have applied the last 3 years and my ranking just keeps climbing. What is your GPA? I interviewed at Calgary last weekend, 3 days after my 4 year old dog passed away under anesthetic so I am not sure how that went. I wish my GPA was a higher but it's not. If I don't get in this year I am going to go back to school and take a couple classes to bring my GPA up a bit. I am very close to numerous vets and specialists in the city and have them to guide me. I find they are all so motivating.

 

[Ruka]

Sounds like you have a ton of experience which Im not surprised with being employed as an AHT for 9 years. Congrats on the interview with Calgary and condolences for your canine friend 🙁 That would be difficult circumstances to interview under.

My GPA is a 3.91, Im from BC and my experience is listed in one of the posts above. Not nearly enough hours as I would like spent in a hospital but I have research and other non-animal experiences to back it up with.

Sounds like you are dedicated and they notice that. Good luck this year! I hope you get an interview! Three years is enough waiting for that part. 🙂

 

[silymnd]

My school (university of Guelph) doesnt do GPAs. We are just given percentages and there's not such thing as scaling... it sucks...

 

[Ruka]

Well my "percentage" would be about 91-95% based on my overall GPA and my prereq GPA is around the same, perhaps a few % higher.

 

[silymnd]

I wonder where the BC interviews are going to take place.

I'm sure all SASK applicants would have received their calls by now! Share your stories please!

 

[thnythe]

Hmm, I'm not sure about B.C., but when I interviewed in Edmonton last year they held them at the ABVMA office so they may do something similar for you.

As for SK residents, I think the first round of interviews are just beginning as the Pre-vet club at the UofS is holding a mock interview night next week.

 

[Ruka]

Hey silymnd! How is the prep for your interview going?? Have you figured out the details yet???

Im still waiting to hear ANYTHING back from them 🙁 Must be patient!

 

[silymnd]

hey! i didn't get another call from Elaine yet, so I guess they haven't started calling BC candidates yet. They should call around May. I haven't really been thinking about interview yet. It's exam week.... studying for 5 exams... i HATE organic chem!

 

[groff00]

I haven't heard anything either. Although I know from previous years that my friends from Alberta who have gotten an interview didn't hear anything until May. Fingers crossed!

 

[Ruka]

Oh! Thats good to hear... that we are all waiting in agony together.... haha! Im in the middle of moving myself, my dog, my cat with 5, one week old kittens and my horse to a new place. Even that isnt keeping me from thinking of May... Maybe the new job will.

Glad you have O chem to help distract you silymnd 😛 Dont worry! Its not something you can memorize and Im sure you have a solid grasp on the concepts. That being said, GOOD LUCK! 😀 Drink lots of fluids, get a solid 6 hours of sleep every night and my trick, have a caffeine/sugar boast (aka a chocolate bar!!) right before each exam to give your brain a kickstart (and the happy endorphins from chocolate dont hurt either). Some people argue that you crash in the middle of your exam if you do this, but in my experience, it seems to get me revved up and I dont calm down until about 20 minutes post exam. Then again, Im one of those uni grads that misses taking exams because they are so darn fun!! (Its okay if you want to slap me) 😀

Hope you get a call groff00! 🙂 I have a countdown on my computer to the first week of May haha Are you thinking of interviewing in Alberta or traveling to UofS?

 

[silymnd]

1 down 4 to go!

 

[Eterynix]

Hi, just wondering, silymnd, you said you go to the University of Guelph? How is it there? And how can you still apply for the WCVM if you're in Guelph - is it because you graduated from Alberta and you're still eligible for Westcoast residency?

Also what do you guys think about doing undergrad in UBC as opposed to SFU or other places in BC?

 

[silymnd]

hey Eterynix, yes i'm going to U of Guelph but i'm a BC resident. Guelph just happened to give me the most scholarship so I'm here... You're considered a resident of another province when you live there for 12 months without attending school. I love it here! I guess it's good for me to be away from friends and family so I won't be distracted... If you LOVE animals, nature, being green, this U is for you. Everybody is very environmental here.
UBC is great, a lot of my friends are there. I'm sure SFU science is good too but most people think of UBC first before SFU for science.

 

[Eterynix]

Which program are you in for Guelph? They only gave me the $3000 academic scholarship but I'm not sure if they'll give me anything else... so I guess between UBC and Guelph, they both cost the same. However I DID get into the Honours Biomed program in Guelph..

If you could, would you go to UBC instead?

 

[silymnd]

during 1st semester i thought of transfering to ubc because i was kinda lonely... and i actually applied to transfer and everything, but after 2nd semester i decided not to because i made alot of new friends, and i'm doing very well in guelph (grade wise). i'm sure both schools are just as great, but i know alot of my friends in ubc are getting low marks because it's hard(er?). and since vet school needs good marks, i didn't want to risk getting a lower gpa by transferring to be closer to home/friends. i'm i biological science honours. more freedom than biomed when you get to upper years. it's really no different though, and you can always change majors later. i'm referring to zoology, biomed and animal science program outlines when choosing my courses. i like the freedom.
make sure you take into account travel and housing costs. housing on campus is more expensive than ubc, and you have to add airplane costs and getting to and from airport etc.
but i love it here =))

 

[Eterynix]

Oh, wow, yeah I suspect I will get lonely over there too! =(
Just a quick question, what was your high school average entering Guelph, and how much did it drop by in first year? I hear 1st year is the hardest ever. I'm not sure how I'll fare if I see my 92% go to a 52%..!! >_<

Also on a side note, did you get accepted to UBC again when you transferred?

 

[silymnd]

I don't remember my high school.... 90 something.... 93? Actually I did really well in first year. 91%. (Guelph has percentages, not a 4 point system). But I do know alot of people in first year who dropped ALOT. Just stay on top of your stuff. I dunno why but it seems that most of the stuff in first year is a repeat of my grade 12. Depends on your highschool I guess... For me, second year is alot harder. Just finished my Organic Chem final........... now THAT'S difficult.
I did get accepted at UBC and SFU when I applied, but I didn't transfer.

 

[Eterynix]

Oh wow that's really good! I know, I've heard people drop from like 90 to 53 in all subjects. =(
Are you on-campus residence? If so which dorm seems to be the best for people who like to study? lol

Also I heard from the admissions officer that it takes only 30 minutes to walk from one end of UoGuelph to the other of the campus. 😳

 

[silymnd]

I lived in South Residence Mountain hall in first year. It was a party hall (every hall is a party hall) and I just went to one party in my whole first year. My room was in the end of the hall so it was pretty quiet most of the time, except when people decide to use the lounge next to me to party. Most (all?) residence halls have a study room but I've never been there. You could always apply for a "study intensive hall" where there are 24 hours quiet hours. In every other dorm, quiet hours are usually between 11pm to 8am on weeknights, and 2pm to 8am weekends. Exam weeks have a 23 hours of quiet. I recommend applying to a "cluster". I lived in a science cluster, where everybody in that area of the dorm is in science (life sciences and physical sciences), as well as your RA (residence assistance) and cluster leader. They run study sessions and can help you with your assignments/labs. But even if you don't attend those, everybody in your area will have the same midterms and exams, so it's "automatically" quiet.
I'd recommend a hall with an attached cafeteria. It's REALLY handy when it's exam week and you just want to run to get a meal, and good when it's -20 degrees outside.
This year I'm living in East Village, but it's only for upper years.
Feel free to ask me anymore questions. If you decide to attend U of G next year, and I'm still here next year (didn't get into WCVM...) I'll be happy to show you around. =))

 

[Eterynix]

Oh wow -20 degrees! I'm terrified of the cold haha i'm a tiny little person. Which makes me think I'm not good enough to become a vet.. a lot of people look at me and automatically go like, "Oh wow, she's a five foot little pipsqueak asian girl, definitely not gonna make it".
If you chose science cluster halls would there still be the option to have a study-intensive hall?
Also how much did you get for UoGuelph in Scholarships that made you go there instead of to UBC?

On a side note, I very much hope you get into the WCVM! Thank you in advance for all your help haha =)

 

[frozen_canadian]

Oh wow -20 degrees! I'm terrified of the cold =)

Oh dear, just wait until you get to Saskatoon. It was close to -50 (with windchill) for weeks last January.....you might have to fatten up before vet school!

 

[silymnd]

Haha don't worry Eterynix, I'm a 5 foot asian girl too... I don't think there are clusters+study intensive...
I got 3000 entrance + 9000 bursary over 4 years (3000 first year, 2000 in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th)

 

[Braki]

So glad I found this thread! I have my interview with WCVM in exactly a week from today and I am super nervous! It is a bit intimidating to read a lot of the replies in here because most people have way more animal experience than I do, since I only have small animal stuff. I'm hoping I'll do well regardless though. I've gotten so excited, I started reading through the academic schedules and 4th year rotations, and even started looking at apartments in Saskatoon to see how much they cost and how easy it would be to find a place that will allow two cats, although I might be jynxing myself by looking at those things so far in advance.

I had my interview with the University of Calgary back in March, and I really wish WCVM held interviews earlier. It's killing me, knowing that UCVM pretty much has their list finalized pending the final transcripts, and them just sitting on it until WCVM is ready.

 

[silymnd]

Good luck on your interview, Braki! I was so excited when i heard about my interview as well that i looked up class schedules on the WCVM website!
We look forward to hearing how your interview went!

 

[Eterynix]

Oh nice, a 9000 bursary =) Was that the major award scholarship? I wasn't aware of the deadlines and couldn't apply for it on time.. sigh..
Do they give you other scholarships when you submit the Financial Need Form?
For houseing, do you know anything about East residence townhouses? Those look very attractive - living with 3 or 4 other girls in one whole townhouse sounds pretty good.

Also for residency: Do you obtain residency through working in the summertime (4 months each summer)? I'm confused about this. I emailed Deanna Lundmark and she doesn't even reply to me.

 

[silymnd]

the bursary was from my financial need form. east residence townhouses are only for 2 years and up. yes, residency would be anytime you aren't in school and you have to work. so 3 summers would add up to 12 months.
i just spent 4 days at a friends dairy farm between my exams. i had the BEST time ever!

 

[Braki]

How is everyone preparing for their interviews? I've been going through whatever sample vet interview questions I've been able to find online.

 

[groff00]

Braki when did they contact you about an interview? I am assuming at this point that I didn't get one to WCVM. Are you doing your undergrad at UofC as well? Where are you doing your interview? Alberta or SK?

 

[Braki]

I got a call on March 13, but I missed it so I called Elaine back on March 15 and arranged my interview time. She gave me the option of interviewing in Saskatoon on April 9, or interviewing in Edmonton in the last week of April. I chose Edmonton because the Saskatoon date is a Friday and would've conflicted with classes, whereas I could fit April 26 (the date I chose) nicely between my exams.

Do not give up hope if you haven't gotten a call yet. I have some friends who will probably still get an interview, but they haven't gotten a call yet either. WCVM does hold a second round of interviews in late May. One former classmate of mine didn't get an interview offer from the WCVM until one week before their May interviews. He didn't get in, but he got waitlisted, then accepted, into UCVM.

I am doing my undergrad at the UofC, majoring in Zoology.

 

[silymnd]

good luck on your interview today, Braki!

 

[Braki]

Well, I had my interview.

Honestly, I'm not really sure how well it went. They're just as hard to read as the MMI interviews in Calgary. They were friendly, there were 2 vets from Saskatchewan and 1 from Alberta. They did ask a few hard questions that I did not know how to answer, and had to wing it.

I have no idea how well I did, and no idea if I will get a spot. I just tried to be really confident and hopefully I did well enough.

They also said I'd know in mid-late June, whereas the UofC said they time their results for the first two weeks in June to coincide with WCVM. When I told them this discrepancy, they started laughing.

 

[thnythe]

Last year I heard from UofC on June 15 (it was a Friday) and from WCVM on June 18, so they were pretty close together in responding.

Out of curiosity, do you remember who your interviewers from the college were?

And there were two rounds of interviews, groff, so I wouldn't worry about it at this point. From what I heard, people who were offered a second round interview didn't hear anything until that time.

 

[Braki]

I don't remember their names at all, sorry. I just remember one guy looked a lot like my optometrist and it was weird.

 

[Ruka]

Omgoodness! Been hectic moving and havent been on in forever! Lots has happened I see!

Glad you got an interview and you stayed confident throughout Braki. Thats so exciting! Now you just have to sit back and relax... Im still waiting to hear. Is it just me or do they interview BC residents last??!! Anyway, do you have any tips or advice for those of us who have yet to face the panel?

Hey silymnd, how did the finals go?? Good to hear you spent some time with cows in between studying and writing exams. What do you think of 'em? Learn anything youd like to share? Ive never been to a dairy farm but I have milked a cow once... haha. Have you heard back yet from Elaine?

Just need to gush to you guys because youll appreciate this. I have started a new job as an equine caretaker for a 560 acre private ranch. They do natural horsemanship and will have a trainer here full time for three months. Its so much fun! Im looking forward to learning some Parelli and furthering my barefoot trimming skills. So this is how I am spending my time as I anxiously wait for a phone call. Its nice to be able to work with animals all day and have my dog follow me around. Definitely made the right choice. Even if I dont get accepted, Ill be getting experience and enjoying life!

How about you guys?? What are your plans for the summer/year if not accepted???