WCVM or UCVM C/O 2017

Veterinary Science Graduate Programs from U. of I.
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Wow, where did you hear that? Last year there were 101 I think from BC. I can imagine at least like 150 this year 🙁 I've already met quite a few who are applying. At least 15 from my school I think.
 
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Interesting article. I understand why they might want to recruit more, but I think those students who are dedicated and suited for the program have no trouble finding out about it. I think by recruiting extra hard, they're attracting more people who had never thought about veterinary medicine until seeing their presentations and thought "meh, why not, I'll apply!" That's just how I see it, probably not true though.
 
i think you have a point. Recruiting probably helps those that are still undecided or educates those who want to go into other med-related fields of the opportunities here too. I had a friend that wanted to go to med school and told me that if she didn't get in, she would just come to vet school with me. There were others of that mindset too it seemed. Obviously it's pretty easy to get into, so I'm sure they could have walked right into the class being smart pre-meds and all 🙄:laugh:

Where are our other usual peeps? Probably doing something productive outside of SDN world. 😛
 
I bet they're enjoying all those extra $100 application fees too!

Oh, those pre-med people. It's funny how naive they are.

I've just been sitting at the computer all day, waiting for my final grades to come out. We had a snow day, so nothing else to do. I told myself I'd stay off SDN to keep my mind off the application process and my stress levels low. Look how well that worked out haha

A little rant: I worked so hard this term, and still averaged an A- 🙁 being mediocre sucks. I did get A's in my two most challenging classes (personal victory!) but I doubt that matters.
 
A- average is good! You made the cut last year for interviews, you will this year too! Come March you'll be wishing you had worried more about preparing for your interview now 😉
 
I hope I make the cut again, but finding out that there are 400 applicants this year is scary!

How was your first semester in vet school? Did you enjoy your classes? And how do you like living in Saskatchewan?
 
fishfinn said:
I hope I make the cut again, but finding out that there are 400 applicants this year is scary!

How was your first semester in vet school? Did you enjoy your classes? And how do you like living in Saskatchewan?
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It's been a blast! We had some really awesome labs, and although it's a lot of work, so worth it!

Sask is freezing... Well below freezing... Especially if you're a lower mainlander. Ask for long johns for Christmas 😉
 
LeilaFay said:
It's been a blast! We had some really awesome labs, and although it's a lot of work, so worth it!

Sask is freezing... Well below freezing... Especially if you're a lower mainlander. Ask for long johns for Christmas 😉
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That's great to hear! 😀 And it's that cold? Even though you were in Calgary? Ohhhh man....:scared: I find Calgary cold enough 😛

One of the interviewers at Kansas State tried to tell me that Kansas winters were really cold. I had to try really hard not to bust out laughing. 🙄
 
Escalla said:
That's great to hear! 😀 And it's that cold? Even though you were in Calgary? Ohhhh man....:scared: I find Calgary cold enough 😛

One of the interviewers at Kansas State tried to tell me that Kansas winters were really cold. I had to try really hard not to bust out laughing. 🙄
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Haha!! Too funny!

I think because by now... There would have been a chinook if I was in Calgary!! Here it gets cold... And stays cold. And snows... Then snows some more. The buses still run though! I say it's because there are no hills for them to get stuck on!
 
Hahaha good point! Sounds like having a driveway isn't a good plan if you don't enjoy shovelling. 😉
 
This usual peep (or should I say creep?) has been doing the same... trying to stay away from the forum to keep my stress level down. I guess it doesn't help if you still creep and just don't post...
I'm waiting on final grades too. Pretty happy with how this semester went. I spanked all my classes thoroughly. But the whole point of this year was to do just that. Gotta keep this train rolling through next semester! They'll just HAVE to take me after this, right? 😛
 
fishfinn said:
Oh, those pre-med people. It's funny how naive they are.
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On a side note; I completely agree; hilarious how they think it's some walk in the park to get into vet-med after pre-med... Sure there's less applicants, but there's also less places to go, making it more competitive. And did anyone remind them they have to take an additional chemistry and biology to get into vet-med? Haha.
 
Does anyone know how WCVM and UCVM consider years of study following an undergraduate degree? I'm graduating this year from my undergrad... however I highly doubt I have the GPA to get through this round (which is making me super anxious and worried I will never reach my dreams)! I was looking into going into a masters program or another year as a "special student" in Sciences or Arts... Anyone have any advice?
 
aquatho said:
Does anyone know how WCVM and UCVM consider years of study following an undergraduate degree? I'm graduating this year from my undergrad... however I highly doubt I have the GPA to get through this round (which is making me super anxious and worried I will never reach my dreams)! I was looking into going into a masters program or another year as a "special student" in Sciences or Arts... Anyone have any advice?
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Is this your first time applying?

If there are classes in your pre-reqs that you didn't excel at, you can consider returning as a "special student" and repeating those while filling out your schedule to make a full course load.

I was debating a masters program when I applied last, but for several reasons did not pursue it. One: the school I wanted to attend didn't have any available professors taking on students in a field I was interested in. Two: once I graduated with a masters, where would I be if I didn't get accepted into a DVM program? -> in the exact spot I was in - still without a career in a field I was passionate about.

If it were me: return to school, retake some classes, slay them and get in the following year!

Good luck with whatever decision you make. 🙂
 
aquatho said:
Does anyone know how WCVM and UCVM consider years of study following an undergraduate degree? I'm graduating this year from my undergrad... however I highly doubt I have the GPA to get through this round (which is making me super anxious and worried I will never reach my dreams)! I was looking into going into a masters program or another year as a "special student" in Sciences or Arts... Anyone have any advice?
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That's what I'm doing on advice from the dean of academics, not necessarily to raise my GPA, but to elevate my best full year. If this wasn't something they looked upon as a positive, I doubt they would recommend it (I'm post-bacc as well.) The important thing is to use it as a positive - you're returning to school to either increase your understanding of some important things you didn't quite grasp, or take other courses you were interested in taking but didn't have time for during your degree.
I'm unsure about UCVM, but I imagine it's the same. I think the big thing is to set your sights high, because after a degree, your undergrad GPA doesn't move a lot unless you take a lot of courses and do really well. If you work hard, you will hopefully be able to get there!
 
Thank you Leila and thenuttyclub!

This is my first time applying to UCVM and second time applying to WCVM. I will be graduating with an animal biology degree, but if I don't get into vet school, I'm not 100% sure what to do so I was looking to hear what others have been doing.

Also, does anything know whether the UCVM application deadline (January 10) mean that they need to have the application in the office by Jan 10, or sent into the mail by Jan 10?
 
Escalla said:
That's great to hear! 😀 And it's that cold? Even though you were in Calgary? Ohhhh man....:scared: I find Calgary cold enough 😛

One of the interviewers at Kansas State tried to tell me that Kansas winters were really cold. I had to try really hard not to bust out laughing. 🙄
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Haha! Being a Sask resident all my life I can concur that our winters get pretty fierce. No mountains to block the wind = bad windchills. 🙁 We do have hot summers though...even if they do only last like 3 months...sigh.

Anyways, I got busy over the holidays but would like to add: As for going back to school after completing an undergrad, I think Heather would be a good help if you asked. I was in the same predicament when I convocated this past spring and then didn't get in to vet med. I asked for her opinion on going back to school if that would help improve my application and she takes into account your application and GPA and let's you know her thoughts and what she thinks is best for you.
 
aquatho said:
Thank you Leila and thenuttyclub!

This is my first time applying to UCVM and second time applying to WCVM. I will be graduating with an animal biology degree, but if I don't get into vet school, I'm not 100% sure what to do so I was looking to hear what others have been doing.

Also, does anything know whether the UCVM application deadline (January 10) mean that they need to have the application in the office by Jan 10, or sent into the mail by Jan 10?
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How was your ranking for WCVM?
 
aquatho said:
Thank you Leila and thenuttyclub!

This is my first time applying to UCVM and second time applying to WCVM. I will be graduating with an animal biology degree, but if I don't get into vet school, I'm not 100% sure what to do so I was looking to hear what others have been doing.

Also, does anything know whether the UCVM application deadline (January 10) mean that they need to have the application in the office by Jan 10, or sent into the mail by Jan 10?
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How was your ranking for WCVM?
 
dls116: Thanks for the advice! I will contact Heather and ask her

Leila: I was ranked quite low... definitely was in the lower 50% 🙁 But I'm not giving up on it. If I can't get into WCVM this year, then I'll keep trying and also try UCVM. I'll also do what I can to increase my chances. I highly regret ruining my GPA for my first three years of my undergrad but I'm motivated more than ever to make a come back.
 
Submitted my UCVM app! Which is a record in early submission for me 😛 I normally can't let go of it until the last day. Good luck everyone :luck: Now we get to wait until March!
 
Hi everyone! Hope you all had a good holiday and are ready to get back too it!
Just wondering if anyone else had any difficulties with the "submit by email" tab on the UCVM pdf. I did everything on Friday but nothing seemed to happen when I clicked the button - I've emailed admissions but kind of wondering if this is common?
 
Their PDFs were always messed up for me. Not saving last year, wouldn't download this year and I couldn't get the email to work either. So I just emailed them with the PDF attached. An advancement to a completely online system would be nice one day haha.
 
I can't even save the information in the form in PDF form to send to them via email... Anyone know why this might be? :/
 
aquatho said:
I can't even save the information in the form in PDF form to send to them via email... Anyone know why this might be? :/
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It depends on the program you're using to view the PDFs. I have Foxit PDF and I didn't have that problem this year.
 
I emailed them and got a reply - I also talked to some other people applying and they said the same thing: email isn't working well, they haven't received many submissions (via email) and as long as you have the hard copy mailed in by the deadline you're fine.
Still peeing my pants over it though! :laugh:
 
Leila: I was ranked quite low... definitely was in the lower 50% But I'm not giving up on it. If I can't get into WCVM this year, then I'll keep trying and also try UCVM. I'll also do what I can to increase my chances. I highly regret ruining my GPA for my first three years of my undergrad but I'm motivated more than ever to make a come back.
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I'm in the same situation - I was on academic probation after my first year 😱
 
Jeez. I just bought *most* of my textbooks for this semester. I can't believe how much they cost, considering 4/5 of my classes are arts! $750 for all the books I need, plus the lab manual and dissection kit for my biology class. I don't remember ever paying that much even for 5 science courses.
Just in case you wanted a non-admissions related rant 😉
 
thenuttyclub said:
Jeez. I just bought *most* of my textbooks for this semester. I can't believe how much they cost, considering 4/5 of my classes are arts! $750 for all the books I need, plus the lab manual and dissection kit for my biology class. I don't remember ever paying that much even for 5 science courses.
Just in case you wanted a non-admissions related rant 😉
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That is crazy! The most I ever spent on books was $550 in my first semester, and that's because I didn't know better and bought all my books brand new. I guess the upside of 4th year is that I haven't had to buy as many books. I do have to buy a ridiculous $150 set of DVDs for this criminology class I'm taking which I am currently sulking over.
 
I spent about 60$ so far on class notes, class handouts and an ebook this semester. I think those days of emptying my wallet over all those biology an chemistry textbooks is finally over for me! 🙂
 
Agreed, I'll have spent close to $67 on a course pack and 2 lab manuals. Hopefully those expensive books have good resale!
 
jmf391 said:
Agreed, I'll have spent close to $67 on a course pack and 2 lab manuals. Hopefully those expensive books have good resale!
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Haha... Oh I wish! Only some of them are worth much, provided the publishers don't produce a new edition. 😛
 

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Haha! So true! "Umm well the 9th is better than the 8th because all the grammatical errors are corrected and it has two extra figures... The 9th also has a shiny cover."
 
jmf391 said:
Haha! So true! "Umm well the 9th is better than the 8th because all the grammatical errors are corrected and it has two extra figures... The 9th also has a shiny cover."
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I literally had a prof say during the first class "...and the cover of the first edition just UGLY."... to be fair, the older edition was like 10 years old and due for an update. And I DID laugh. But that's beyond the point. 😛
 
Canadian graduates have to challenge NAVLE as well ? To obtain licence .
 
What's the general method for converting GPA to percentages? A quick google search turned up this chart. WCVM's website says "average percentage for those admitted ranged from 78 to 86 per cent." I took this to mean you need an average GPA of 2.3-3.1 to get an or get an interview, but that seems way too low.

Also does anyone have any statistics about what grades you need to get in for the BC pool?
 
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UCVM has a GPA conversion scale in their application manual:
http://vet.ucalgary.ca/system/files/Appmanual2013.pdf
I don't imagine the scale varies between UCVM and WCVM greatly. I'm not positive, but the non-academic factors may also play a small role in receiving an interview at times, but it is mainly academic requirements. The applicant pool also changes from year to year, so that also has an effect as well.
 
I think a representative from WCVM told us that students with a ~3.5 or 3.6 are getting the interviews (a year or two ago). Could be remembering that wrong
 
This is what Heather sent me, don't know if this is helpful at all as it certainly wasn't for me.


A+ = 95%
A = 88%
A- = 82%
B+ = 78%
B = 75%
B- = 72%
C+ = 68%
C = 65%
C- = 62%
 
That's so weird, but things make more sense now. Thanks! I guess I'm right on the borderline for an interview. Proceed to stress out for the next few months. AHHH. :<
 
Grr! So much waiting around, not fun. UCVM still hasn't even cashed my cheque :S
 
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