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Looks good for Davis! Get good LORs and hopefully you'll get an interview.
What are my chances?
- Thread starter jtom
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- #prevet #whataremychances #whatshouldido abroad admissions advice advice needed animal science applicant applicant profile application application 2018 application advice application consultant applying applying to vet school average gpa bad gpa chance me chance of acceptance chance of admission chances chances 2017 class of 2022 cumulative gpa deciding discouraged dream dvm experience experience hours failed classes gap year gpa gpa advice grad applicant grades gre help in state in state vs out of state large animal leadership london low gpa low gpa chance new out of state out of state applicant perspecitive post bacc post-grad pre vet pre vet program pre-vet pre-veterinary prevet advice preveterinary repeated course repeated courses ross student svm texas a&m texas applicants undergaduate vet vet acceptance vet advise vet experience vet help vet hours vet med vet school vet school application veteinary veterinarian veterinary veterinary education veterinary experience veterinary school vmcas what are my chances
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As long as your essays have a unique spin, I think you're a shoe-in for Cornell. Write about things you would think they don't care about, such as being a yoga instructor. They eat that up. They LOVE it. Transferable skills, transferable skills, transferable skills.
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Oh gosh thanks for the feedback! Fingers crossed!
Wow thanks so much for the confidence. I don't know about shoe-in, but I'm IS for Cornell so maybe that helps a bit! Great advice - I'll definitely take it into consideration when I start writing my essays. Thank you!
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Hello everyone! Just doing something to fill the anxious void of waiting for interview announcements...
24 Years old, female, Kansas resident
Applied to- Minnesota, Kansas State, Michigan State, Iowa State
Degrees:
B.S. in Wildlife Biology (2017)
About to defend and graduate with M.S. in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences (December 2018)
Cum GPA: 2.79
Science: Ranges from 2.86 to 3.08 depending on the school (its above 3.0 for Michigan)
Pre-req GPA: Ranges from 3.2 to 3.4 depending on the school
Last 45 GPA: 3.31
Vet experience-
large animal- 200 hours
small animal- 630 hours
wildlife/exotics- 120 hours
shelter medicine- 160 hours
Animal Experience-
1000 - Zoo internship, ranch hand at horse ranch, goats for 4h, pet sitting, and herpetological survey participant
extracurricular- KSU marching band, comparative medicine non-profit volunteer, distance running, young life bible study club, pre-vet club
Employment - barista, server at Dennys, National Guard for United States Air Force
research-
2575 hours swine and cattle hindgut microbiology, foodborne illnesses related to veterinary medicine here at KSU CVM over my undergraduate and graduate career
Resulted in three papers and being first author on two of them
Awards - two research awards from Kansas State CVM for my work in swine hindgut microbiology, Sudler Trophy for marching band, activity scholarship for all my extracurricular activities in high school
Letters of Recommendation
Small animal veterinarian I was vet tech for
My research PI who is a distinguished professor and in charge of the whole graduate program
Professor I have taken two veterinary classes with and is a 2nd year teacher here at KSU CVM
GRE: 152 V/ 154 Q/ 5.5 W
Thanks for all the help guys!
24 Years old, female, Kansas resident
Applied to- Minnesota, Kansas State, Michigan State, Iowa State
Degrees:
B.S. in Wildlife Biology (2017)
About to defend and graduate with M.S. in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences (December 2018)
Cum GPA: 2.79
Science: Ranges from 2.86 to 3.08 depending on the school (its above 3.0 for Michigan)
Pre-req GPA: Ranges from 3.2 to 3.4 depending on the school
Last 45 GPA: 3.31
Vet experience-
large animal- 200 hours
small animal- 630 hours
wildlife/exotics- 120 hours
shelter medicine- 160 hours
Animal Experience-
1000 - Zoo internship, ranch hand at horse ranch, goats for 4h, pet sitting, and herpetological survey participant
extracurricular- KSU marching band, comparative medicine non-profit volunteer, distance running, young life bible study club, pre-vet club
Employment - barista, server at Dennys, National Guard for United States Air Force
research-
2575 hours swine and cattle hindgut microbiology, foodborne illnesses related to veterinary medicine here at KSU CVM over my undergraduate and graduate career
Resulted in three papers and being first author on two of them
Awards - two research awards from Kansas State CVM for my work in swine hindgut microbiology, Sudler Trophy for marching band, activity scholarship for all my extracurricular activities in high school
Letters of Recommendation
Small animal veterinarian I was vet tech for
My research PI who is a distinguished professor and in charge of the whole graduate program
Professor I have taken two veterinary classes with and is a 2nd year teacher here at KSU CVM
GRE: 152 V/ 154 Q/ 5.5 W
Thanks for all the help guys!
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What is your GPA for your MS program?
Have you considered Ross or SGU? Your GPA may make it very difficult to get in anywhere, especially in the states
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My GPA for my MS program is around 3.3.
If I need another application cycle, I will probably begin adding island and international schools to the list. I just need to be in country for my Air Force job currently so I only kept in States schools for now.
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I would say if you can get a glowing rec letter from an academic source it would strengthen your app since you are on the lower GPA side. Vet experience looks great but if the types of animal experiences are all with small animals or something you want to try to diversify and have varied experiences. I would also say a lot of folks don't realize how special volunteer work with people can look on an app. Schools like to know you have compassion and the ability to help other human beings too, because all animals are attached to a human in some way. It helps to show you have social experience with other people (clubs also show this)! Research I think it impressive to most schools because it also sticks out and can show you are well-rounded, but I don't think it is necessary to be successful. I would not say it is a large factor, more of a stand-out factor. GPA is way more important so if you can try to bulk it up these coming semesters that would be prudent.
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I honestly didn't know that this forum was a thing until I frantically started googling for help on the Cornell supplemental responses. Since we are in the wake of anxiously waiting for interview invites, I might as well ask how you think I might stand up against everyone.
I feel so average compared to everyone else I know, and, average for this application is basically a bad thing.
22 year old female, WA resident, senior year of undergrad, traditional student, first time applicant. Interested in Mixed/general small animal practice right now (I can decide more on specialty later if I become interested in it later during clinical years, etc)
GPA Stuff
Major: BS Zoology, Minor: Business Administration. Attending Colorado State University
Cum. GPA: currently 3.77
Science GPA: 3.8
Last 45 GPA: 3.67
GRE
V: 161
Q: 156
W: 5
(Experience hours are estimates, I don't remember what everything was that I input into ymcas)
Veterinary Experience
~400 hours- veterinary assistant at BluePearl (an emergency and specialty hospital)
~30 hours- Job shadowing veterinarians (in high school/middle school)
~40 hours (current experience, so it's continuing)- Volunteer in Oncology Clinic at the CSU Veterinary Hospital
Animal Experience (I'm pretty sure I have more than this but I don't remember every single thing I put down on my application)
300+ hours- doggy daycare technician
~ 50 hours- Canine 4H (I did like two to four months in middle school)
1000ish hours- Raising/training/caring for foals (it was about two years worth of work)
15 hours- caring and whelping of two separate puppy litters
Research Experience
~80 hours doing animal socialization with research animals (it was with the Lab Animal Research team at my university as part of a class)
Extracurricular Activities/Awards
I was part of CSU's pre-vet club for a year (officially) plus one semester (not officially)
I have made deans list for my college 4/6 semesters so far.
I am in the CSU Honor's college
Recreational Softball Player (like on a team with other students for the city)
Intramural Softball
I worked at the library on campus for the first two years of my college career (~15 hours per week)
For the past year until now, I work at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at CSU's VTH (in an administrative position (12 hours per week))
I was a dual sport athlete in high school
Had a bunch of honors from high school including: Valedictorian, NHS member, AP award (For taking 7 or more AP classes)
Plus all of my high school activities they wanted to include (I did way more in high school than I do now, which is sad)
- There are a few more but I really can't remember everything off the top of my head right now -
LOR
1) Emergency Veterinarian I worked with over the summer
2) Lab TA from an Invertebrates class
3) Lab TA from Cell Biology (upper division lab class)
4) Current Supervisor at Flint Animal Cancer Center (She's an administrative manager, essentially)
Schools I'm Applying To:
WSU
CSU
UC Davis
Cornell
Midwestern
Concerns
I know I lack SUPER hardcore on the veterinary contact hours. I know everyone else in the world has a billion veterinary specific contact hours but a lot of it isn't my fault. I spent my high school summers trying to obtain more hours via trying to get a job as a veterinary assistant but no one ever wanted to hire me (until I got hired on at BluePearl this past summer). I also tried contacting one vet, and honestly, I think he assumed I was trying to go to vet tech school? His wording to me was weird and it was like he didn't understand I wanted to become him (He was a mixed-animal veterinarian). My hours is really where I am lacking though, and it really bothers me. I've known that my hours are probably what will be killing me.
My GPA is strong but not excellent. I got a C+ in the second semester of Organic Chem II (This is my absolute worst grade on my transcript). I feel like my GRE scores are fairly strong, but not really sure how I got a 156 on the actual test when I was getting around 160s on the practice ones I took (I think someone above me said something similar as well).
I also know that my eLOR (especially the academic ones) are maybe "weaker" because they're from TA's rather than from professors. BUT, I have a legit reason for that. I had asked a professor I had recently (for a full academic year) and he told me no because he is partially retired and I didn't have any other professors that I took enough or interacted with enough to ask them. Also, I think my TA's were able to get to know a bit better (one of those TA's is now my honors thesis advisor so that's cool)
I just know so many other friends that have so many more hours than I do, or they seem more involved, or their experience is just better. I like to tear myself down for some reason so I've just been making myself more and more nervous.
Anyway, any advice would be mucho helpful!
I feel so average compared to everyone else I know, and, average for this application is basically a bad thing.
22 year old female, WA resident, senior year of undergrad, traditional student, first time applicant. Interested in Mixed/general small animal practice right now (I can decide more on specialty later if I become interested in it later during clinical years, etc)
GPA Stuff
Major: BS Zoology, Minor: Business Administration. Attending Colorado State University
Cum. GPA: currently 3.77
Science GPA: 3.8
Last 45 GPA: 3.67
GRE
V: 161
Q: 156
W: 5
(Experience hours are estimates, I don't remember what everything was that I input into ymcas)
Veterinary Experience
~400 hours- veterinary assistant at BluePearl (an emergency and specialty hospital)
~30 hours- Job shadowing veterinarians (in high school/middle school)
~40 hours (current experience, so it's continuing)- Volunteer in Oncology Clinic at the CSU Veterinary Hospital
Animal Experience (I'm pretty sure I have more than this but I don't remember every single thing I put down on my application)
300+ hours- doggy daycare technician
~ 50 hours- Canine 4H (I did like two to four months in middle school)
1000ish hours- Raising/training/caring for foals (it was about two years worth of work)
15 hours- caring and whelping of two separate puppy litters
Research Experience
~80 hours doing animal socialization with research animals (it was with the Lab Animal Research team at my university as part of a class)
Extracurricular Activities/Awards
I was part of CSU's pre-vet club for a year (officially) plus one semester (not officially)
I have made deans list for my college 4/6 semesters so far.
I am in the CSU Honor's college
Recreational Softball Player (like on a team with other students for the city)
Intramural Softball
I worked at the library on campus for the first two years of my college career (~15 hours per week)
For the past year until now, I work at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at CSU's VTH (in an administrative position (12 hours per week))
I was a dual sport athlete in high school
Had a bunch of honors from high school including: Valedictorian, NHS member, AP award (For taking 7 or more AP classes)
Plus all of my high school activities they wanted to include (I did way more in high school than I do now, which is sad)
- There are a few more but I really can't remember everything off the top of my head right now -
LOR
1) Emergency Veterinarian I worked with over the summer
2) Lab TA from an Invertebrates class
3) Lab TA from Cell Biology (upper division lab class)
4) Current Supervisor at Flint Animal Cancer Center (She's an administrative manager, essentially)
Schools I'm Applying To:
WSU
CSU
UC Davis
Cornell
Midwestern
Concerns
I know I lack SUPER hardcore on the veterinary contact hours. I know everyone else in the world has a billion veterinary specific contact hours but a lot of it isn't my fault. I spent my high school summers trying to obtain more hours via trying to get a job as a veterinary assistant but no one ever wanted to hire me (until I got hired on at BluePearl this past summer). I also tried contacting one vet, and honestly, I think he assumed I was trying to go to vet tech school? His wording to me was weird and it was like he didn't understand I wanted to become him (He was a mixed-animal veterinarian). My hours is really where I am lacking though, and it really bothers me. I've known that my hours are probably what will be killing me.
My GPA is strong but not excellent. I got a C+ in the second semester of Organic Chem II (This is my absolute worst grade on my transcript). I feel like my GRE scores are fairly strong, but not really sure how I got a 156 on the actual test when I was getting around 160s on the practice ones I took (I think someone above me said something similar as well).
I also know that my eLOR (especially the academic ones) are maybe "weaker" because they're from TA's rather than from professors. BUT, I have a legit reason for that. I had asked a professor I had recently (for a full academic year) and he told me no because he is partially retired and I didn't have any other professors that I took enough or interacted with enough to ask them. Also, I think my TA's were able to get to know a bit better (one of those TA's is now my honors thesis advisor so that's cool)
I just know so many other friends that have so many more hours than I do, or they seem more involved, or their experience is just better. I like to tear myself down for some reason so I've just been making myself more and more nervous.
Anyway, any advice would be mucho helpful!
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Your stats are really strong, and should be able to carry you pretty far IMO.
I would just say to make sure and look at each schools specific requirements re: LORs because some REQUIRE that one of your LORs is from a professor or academic advisor (I know that Davis is one for sure) and I don’t think that a TA will fit that requirement. I would recommend that you reach out any schools who might have those specific requirements and explain your situation and see if they would be willing to accept your LORs instead of just assuming they will. If you make a case, i feel like they will be more willing to work with you on it vs just looking at your application and deciding that they don’t fit their requirements.
As for lack of experience, I’ve seen a lot of people on this forum get accepted with minimal vet hours. Especially if they have good stats. But I think that your LOR from the vet that you do work with should be amazing.
Edited to add: I gave up a stronger rec from my current boss (who isn’t a DVM) to get a rec from a prof because the schools were very specific in their requirements. So you might have to suck it up and ask a different prof who you don’t know as well for a LOR because that’s what the schools ask for.
I still had my boss write a letter for me, but for many of the schools who required me to choose 3 letters only from DVMs or PhDs only, I had to omit hers.
Last edited:
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I know when I was reading the requirements for eLOR, most just said academic. I believe I saw somewhere in parentheses that it said something like academic sources include professor, TA, and academic advisors. My TA's were both Ph.D candidates (ergo they were graduate teaching assistants, rather than just normal undergrad TA's). But, overall, it's good to hear that you think I am pretty good on paper enough to get somewhere.
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Have you heard back from WA yet?
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Hi everyone,
I've been a lurker for about a year and I'm finally applying this cycle. While I fill myself with anxiety of waiting for interview invites. I thought I'd post here for some opinions. I feel like a really average applicant sadly so please be honest with what you think my chances are.
I'm a 25 year old
Female
underrepresented in the field
nontraditional applicant. MI resident.
Degrees:
B.S. Biology major, Chem minor from Eastern Michigan University 2014
M.S. Molecular/Cellular Bio & Ecology from EMU 2017
Undergrad GPA cum: 3.09
Graduate GPA: 3.86
Last 18 grad GPA: 4.0
Didn't take the GRE (wasn't required for the schools I applied to )
Schools applied to:
Michigan State
Ohio State
Purdue
These are all estimates as I dont remember what I put on my VMCAS exactly
Vet experience:
Small animal/exotics (vet assistant) ~1500 hours
Veterinary assistant internship (small animal) ~200 hours
Shadowing small animal ~50 hours
No large animal vet experience
Animal experience
Vegan farm animal sanctuary large animal & poultry ~ 200 hours
Lab animal experience (Lab Animal Technician at U of Michigan) ~ 1500 hours
Graduate Teaching assistant (madagascar roaches, rats, beetles, slugs, perch) ~200 hours
Dog groomer ~ 1000 hours
Animal Shelter volunteer ~600hours
Field researcher herpetology ~50 hours
Research experience
Master's thesis research on novel epifluorescent microscopy techniques on viral infections (2015-2017) ~1200 hours
Will lead to a publication
Work experience
Novogene Sales Associate (biotech stuff) -current
Lab Animal Technician (rodents, sheep, pigs, rabbits etc)
Vet assistant 1 year
Research Technician (during my master's)
EMU Disability resource center (during masters) - biology tutor
Graduate teaching assistant: Taught intro bio 1 and 2 labs
Pharmacy Tech
Awards & Certificates
Don Brown and Meta Hellwig Graduate Research Award – Eastern Michigan University, April 2017 Grant amount: $4,000
Don Brown and Meta Hellwig Special Study Scholarship – Eastern Michigan University, April 2017 Grant amount: $1,500
Graduate Assistantship – Eastern Michigan University Graduate School (Taught introductory biology I & II courses), September 2015
Pharmacy Technician Certification – Meijer Pharmacy CPhT (2014)
Property and Casualty Producer License – Frosh Insurance Agency (2013)
Education First Opportunity Scholarship – Eastern Michigan University, September 2011. Scholarship amount per semester: $1500
Universal Hagar’s Spiritual Church Gateway Scholarship – First generation graduate, September 2010
Scholarship amount: $2,000
Extracurriculars
CrossFit Athlete
Project Grow volunteer - sharing knowledge and gardening techniques with community growers. Assisted at local plant/seed sales. Grew food for personal use and donated surplus to local Hope Clinic for families in need
Study abroad - Gerace Research Centre, San Salvador, snorkeled for marine life ~100 hours
eXXpedition Outreach - encouragement of female leadership in science, explored issues of plastics pollution in great lakes
Greening citizen seminar - presented at church convention on self sustainability by growing and preserving their own food
Ohio state university- visited Dr. Matt Sullivan’s laboratory to learn CARD-PhageFISH techniques, and for sampling/fixing of infected Pseudoalteromonas
Hope clinic volunteer - local low cost medical clinic
University of Michigan hospital volunteer
Youth Orchestra (clarinet & viola)
Adams Stem Academy - Student mentor and tutor, afterschool activities to encourage the pursuit of STEM
LOR
1) Master's thesis advisor, assistant professor at U of Mich
2) Veterinarian at Banfield (MSU alumni)
3) Professor that I had my Graduate Assistantship under, traveled to San Salvador with her as my study abroad
Concerns
I'm worried about my GPA, I didn't do as well as I would have liked in undergrad because I worked full time. And had some bad circumstances come along. I think with my science GPA is literally at 3.0 exactly. So I'm just hoping that it gets me in the door. Also, I don't have any large animal vet experience. I just didn't have the time to find a LA vet locally. I only applied to 3 schools, which REALLY worries me as my chances are that much lower. I couldnt afford to apply to more schools. Plus I'm average at standardized tests so I knew I didn't want to take the time to improve my pretty bad GRE (taken before my masters).
Since I'm nontraditional, I really want this to be the only cycle I need to apply to ._.
Thanks for your help everyone!
I've been a lurker for about a year and I'm finally applying this cycle. While I fill myself with anxiety of waiting for interview invites. I thought I'd post here for some opinions. I feel like a really average applicant sadly so please be honest with what you think my chances are.
I'm a 25 year old
Female
underrepresented in the field
nontraditional applicant. MI resident.
Degrees:
B.S. Biology major, Chem minor from Eastern Michigan University 2014
M.S. Molecular/Cellular Bio & Ecology from EMU 2017
Undergrad GPA cum: 3.09
Graduate GPA: 3.86
Last 18 grad GPA: 4.0
Didn't take the GRE (wasn't required for the schools I applied to )
Schools applied to:
Michigan State
Ohio State
Purdue
These are all estimates as I dont remember what I put on my VMCAS exactly
Vet experience:
Small animal/exotics (vet assistant) ~1500 hours
Veterinary assistant internship (small animal) ~200 hours
Shadowing small animal ~50 hours
No large animal vet experience
Animal experience
Vegan farm animal sanctuary large animal & poultry ~ 200 hours
Lab animal experience (Lab Animal Technician at U of Michigan) ~ 1500 hours
Graduate Teaching assistant (madagascar roaches, rats, beetles, slugs, perch) ~200 hours
Dog groomer ~ 1000 hours
Animal Shelter volunteer ~600hours
Field researcher herpetology ~50 hours
Research experience
Master's thesis research on novel epifluorescent microscopy techniques on viral infections (2015-2017) ~1200 hours
Will lead to a publication
Work experience
Novogene Sales Associate (biotech stuff) -current
Lab Animal Technician (rodents, sheep, pigs, rabbits etc)
Vet assistant 1 year
Research Technician (during my master's)
EMU Disability resource center (during masters) - biology tutor
Graduate teaching assistant: Taught intro bio 1 and 2 labs
Pharmacy Tech
Awards & Certificates
Don Brown and Meta Hellwig Graduate Research Award – Eastern Michigan University, April 2017 Grant amount: $4,000
Don Brown and Meta Hellwig Special Study Scholarship – Eastern Michigan University, April 2017 Grant amount: $1,500
Graduate Assistantship – Eastern Michigan University Graduate School (Taught introductory biology I & II courses), September 2015
Pharmacy Technician Certification – Meijer Pharmacy CPhT (2014)
Property and Casualty Producer License – Frosh Insurance Agency (2013)
Education First Opportunity Scholarship – Eastern Michigan University, September 2011. Scholarship amount per semester: $1500
Universal Hagar’s Spiritual Church Gateway Scholarship – First generation graduate, September 2010
Scholarship amount: $2,000
Extracurriculars
CrossFit Athlete
Project Grow volunteer - sharing knowledge and gardening techniques with community growers. Assisted at local plant/seed sales. Grew food for personal use and donated surplus to local Hope Clinic for families in need
Study abroad - Gerace Research Centre, San Salvador, snorkeled for marine life ~100 hours
eXXpedition Outreach - encouragement of female leadership in science, explored issues of plastics pollution in great lakes
Greening citizen seminar - presented at church convention on self sustainability by growing and preserving their own food
Ohio state university- visited Dr. Matt Sullivan’s laboratory to learn CARD-PhageFISH techniques, and for sampling/fixing of infected Pseudoalteromonas
Hope clinic volunteer - local low cost medical clinic
University of Michigan hospital volunteer
Youth Orchestra (clarinet & viola)
Adams Stem Academy - Student mentor and tutor, afterschool activities to encourage the pursuit of STEM
LOR
1) Master's thesis advisor, assistant professor at U of Mich
2) Veterinarian at Banfield (MSU alumni)
3) Professor that I had my Graduate Assistantship under, traveled to San Salvador with her as my study abroad
Concerns
I'm worried about my GPA, I didn't do as well as I would have liked in undergrad because I worked full time. And had some bad circumstances come along. I think with my science GPA is literally at 3.0 exactly. So I'm just hoping that it gets me in the door. Also, I don't have any large animal vet experience. I just didn't have the time to find a LA vet locally. I only applied to 3 schools, which REALLY worries me as my chances are that much lower. I couldnt afford to apply to more schools. Plus I'm average at standardized tests so I knew I didn't want to take the time to improve my pretty bad GRE (taken before my masters).
Since I'm nontraditional, I really want this to be the only cycle I need to apply to ._.
Thanks for your help everyone!
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I haven't. I've been checking my WSU/WIMU portal occasionally but it still looks exactly the same that it did when they received all of my VMCAS things.
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Can I ask why you didn't have extracurriculars listed?
vetschoolapplicant4295
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My mistake, I didn't have a copy of my application on me
Extra curriculars were
Pre-veterinary club 2016-2018
Pre-Veterinary peer mentors 2017-2018
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Message me
I graduated from UMass in May and am currently attending Cornell Vet School 
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Did you list your jobs as a vet assistant/tech under BOTH vet experience and work experience on your actual VMCAS app??
Can’t really comment on your chances, but if you do have to reapply, next cycle you should also put actual extracurricular activities not related to vetmed, if you have any. Like if you play a sport or if you do literally anything outside vetmed. Generally Adcoms like to see you are a person/have a life outside of vetmed too.
vetschoolapplicant4295
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To be honest I can't remember, I have to get a copy of my VMCA's application. Why, does this help/hurt my chances? It was both work and veterinary related experience
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I’m not sure how it influences your chances but I’m pretty sure the application has the options “vet experience: paid” and “work experience: non-animal related”
vetschoolapplicant4295
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Thanks, I followed whatever I was told to do. So I would've put my technician/ assistant jobs in paid veterinary experience, my animal related experience in animal related experience (not supervised by a veterinarian) and my architectural assistant job in work experience: non animal related.
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I would email VMCAS for a copy of your application so you can review it before any interviews! I asked them for mine and they were super responsive and got it to me within the day. Good luck!
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You can’t double dip is all. It’s either vet or it’s work, whether it’s paid or not. Vet is under the supervision of a vet, work is non-animal related.
vetschoolapplicant4295
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Yeah I definitely didn't double dip! Just forgot the format when writing the post.
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Hi all! C/o 2023 applicant here. Everything in my life the last 4 years has built up to this application cycle, I'm sure you all feel the same!! All I want in my life is to be a marine mammal veterinarian at SeaWorld-big dreams I know!!! I was reading through the Successful applicant stats for the c/o 2022, and there are a variety of trends for acceptances, but sometimes they also seem so random! I was curious though if you guys have any insight on how much weight they put on pre req gpa vs cumulative or science?
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This varies greatly by school.
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Like Skimble said, it varies greatly with the school. Look at the class profiles/admission statistics of the places you have applied and it’ll give you an idea what those schools prioritize.
Bkr0202
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Okay I'm taking the plunge and posting....I've been afraid to because of my fear of rejection but I know I've gotta get over it!
22 y/o Female
New Hampshire resident
Degrees:
BA Psychology May 2017 (Cum GPA: 3.87, Psych GPA: 3.92)
BS Biology May 2019 (Current Cum GPA: 3.89, Current Science GPA: 3.95)
I finished my psych degree and decided to actually pursue vet school which had always been my dream, so I turned around and started a biology degree in Fall 2017
GRE
Q 159 /V 162 /W 4.5
Schools applied to:
Tufts
PEI
Mizzou
Ohio State
Colorado State
Purdue
Vet experience:
Shelter veterinary assistant~ 250hr according to VMCAs, since then I've been working 25hr/week
No large animal veterinary experience
Animal experience
Large Animal - only brief experience through Tufts' AVM program this summer
Lab animal - caretaker for the rat lab at my school for 400ish hours, did research on horseshoe crabs last semester
Small animal - puppy whelping, hand-reared orphaned kittens, certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy
Research experience
All of my animal-based research has been for coursework, but did behavioral/physiological research on horseshoe crabs as well as cognitive (training) studies on rats
Work experience
Dog walker/pet sitter
Writing consultant at our school's writing center
Lab caretaker for the psychology rat lab
Unpaid intern at humane society this summer, turned into a paying vet assistant job that I currently work
Awards & Certificates
President's list every semester of school, 2017 Psychology Senior Award, 2017-2018 Chemistry Student of the Year, 2017 Psych Association 2nd place poster presentation
Extracurriculars
I don't remember what extracurriculars I put in my application but I'm requesting a copy of it to find out!
LOR
1) Veterinarian at my shelter (aka my boss)
2) Veterinarian in my hometown whom I've shadowed many hours and who has indirectly given me a lot of experience with some of my really sick animals growing up
3) Biology academic adviser/adviser for horseshoe crab research/pre-professional adviser at my school (Ph.D)
4) Psychology research adviser (we're still working on a manuscript to send for publication)
I know my academics are the strong part of my application, it's the experience (or lack thereof) that's really concerning me...TIA!!!
22 y/o Female
New Hampshire resident
Degrees:
BA Psychology May 2017 (Cum GPA: 3.87, Psych GPA: 3.92)
BS Biology May 2019 (Current Cum GPA: 3.89, Current Science GPA: 3.95)
I finished my psych degree and decided to actually pursue vet school which had always been my dream, so I turned around and started a biology degree in Fall 2017
GRE
Q 159 /V 162 /W 4.5
Schools applied to:
Tufts
PEI
Mizzou
Ohio State
Colorado State
Purdue
Vet experience:
Shelter veterinary assistant~ 250hr according to VMCAs, since then I've been working 25hr/week
No large animal veterinary experience
Animal experience
Large Animal - only brief experience through Tufts' AVM program this summer
Lab animal - caretaker for the rat lab at my school for 400ish hours, did research on horseshoe crabs last semester
Small animal - puppy whelping, hand-reared orphaned kittens, certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy
Research experience
All of my animal-based research has been for coursework, but did behavioral/physiological research on horseshoe crabs as well as cognitive (training) studies on rats
Work experience
Dog walker/pet sitter
Writing consultant at our school's writing center
Lab caretaker for the psychology rat lab
Unpaid intern at humane society this summer, turned into a paying vet assistant job that I currently work
Awards & Certificates
President's list every semester of school, 2017 Psychology Senior Award, 2017-2018 Chemistry Student of the Year, 2017 Psych Association 2nd place poster presentation
Extracurriculars
I don't remember what extracurriculars I put in my application but I'm requesting a copy of it to find out!
LOR
1) Veterinarian at my shelter (aka my boss)
2) Veterinarian in my hometown whom I've shadowed many hours and who has indirectly given me a lot of experience with some of my really sick animals growing up
3) Biology academic adviser/adviser for horseshoe crab research/pre-professional adviser at my school (Ph.D)
4) Psychology research adviser (we're still working on a manuscript to send for publication)
I know my academics are the strong part of my application, it's the experience (or lack thereof) that's really concerning me...TIA!!!
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Did you not put your shadowing on your VMCAS???? Or did you just forget to list it here??
Bkr0202
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Yes I did put it on there!! Sorry I totally forgot to post it here, I've got shadowing hours with a couple of GPs, an ophthalmologist and an internal medicine specialist
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Oh thank Jesus I thought maybe you left it off or something because some people think they’re only supposed to put things on there from after high school when they actually want it allll
Bkr0202
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haha nope I did put it on there, I talked to like three different vets about it because I figured I should put it in the application but I wasn't sure where it would fit but we're all good
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I think you have a great shot at Mizzou thought I can't really comment on the others. I got in with stats similar to yours but around 600 vet hours (idk what you have now).
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Would a south asian, male applicant be considered a URM at veterinary schools?
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I think Asian no but male yes.
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I think South Asian males are an under-represented minority in veterinary schools, but there is (to my knowledge) no special consideration for URMs in the vet school admission process, at least not in the way there is in med school admissions (although I'm not super familiar with that, so I could be mistaken).
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I disagree based on Ohio State's yearly pdf release that reads (this year): "115 of our students are from underrepresented groups in veterinary medicine, which includes male, race and 70% ethnic diversity and first generation college students". This is obviously just one school, but that's where my rationale comes from. Definitely just my interpretation, but regardless I do think males are considered a minority in this context.
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That sentence doesn't even make sense. I've read it like 5 times and I still don't understand what they are trying to say. If Ohio state is attempting to say that males are an underrepresented group, that is honestly laughable, sad, and honestly upsetting to me. Grouping males in with other identities such as POC and first gen students is ridiculous. Males may be a mathematical minority, but they are in no way a social minority. There is a big difference. Being male doesn't and shouldn't be an advantage to get into vet school. Full stop.
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Yikes it looks like 17% of applicants to Ohio state last year were male but 26% of their incoming class is. That is a big red flag to me that their admissions process may have bias. I wonder if the differences are significant (it seems so but idk).
(it is good their % is higher for racial and ethnic diversity tho)
(it is good their % is higher for racial and ethnic diversity tho)
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The Ohio State message says "underrepresented in veterinary medicine." Males are an underrepresented group in veterinary medicine nowadays. Yes, in the past, it was a male dominated career but it no longer is. I wouldn't say that it's laughable that they say that male students are underrepresented in veterinary medicine now, because they are.
Honestly, none of your identity traits that you cannot change should be a factor in whether or not you are admitted into veterinary school. Your gender/sex, race/nationality/ethnicity, or other permanent identity should not play a factor in whether or not you are considered competitive and able to succeed as a veterinary student.
I, personally, am a first-generation, biracial female, but I don't choose to play up those identities because, quite frankly, they shouldn't matter. My skin color, gender, and the fact that my parents didn't attend college aren't the reasons why I am pursuing a veterinary degree, and they definitely aren't the reasons I believe I could succeed in veterinary school.
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I think some schools do. Texas A&M at least considers some form of economic and social hardship that can be tied to minority applicants. According to their website, “Texas law requires that socioeconomic factors also be considered. This includes factors such as whether or not the applicant was the first in his or her family to attend college, whether English was the primary language spoken at home, if the applicant had to work to support the family while in high school or was responsible for the care of a sibling. The points assigned for these factors account for less than three percent of the total 300 points.”
North Carolina holistically reviews diversity as part of their admission process. According to their website, “Diversity, i.e., those unique attributes that a prospective veterinary medical student contributes to the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine or to the veterinary medical profession, is an important consideration during the selection of prospective veterinary medical students. Examples of those unique attributes include, but are not limited to (alphabetical order): Career interest in area with national shortage, Graduate school course work and graduate degrees (master and doctorate-level), North Carolina residency (3 or more years duration), Other career and/or life experiences, Personal/economic hardship, Under-represented minority group, and Under-represented North Carolina counties.”
Again, it depends on the school.
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I was more interested in the process itself and if it offered any competitive advantage in the admissions process like it might in the medical school application process. From the demographic of a veterinary school class, it would seem to me that being a male and being non-caucasian would add diversity to the school, and therefore I wasn't sure if it offered any advantage!
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Oregon State also takes it into account: "The Admissions Committee and faculty recognize the value of a diverse student body. Applicants from diverse backgrounds may bring unique perspectives and enrich the veterinary educational experience as well as the profession. Therefore, the Admissions Committee seeks to accept applicants from a variety of ethnic, educational or social backgrounds that may be underrepresented in the veterinary profession. Each applicant is evaluated in terms of his/her stated background and professional goals in light of current and projected future needs of the veterinary profession. The Admissions Committee is wholly committed to the non-discrimination policy of Oregon State University in all of its admissions procedures."
PREACH, GIRL
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Hello! I'm just asking for some advice.
I recently heard back from Texas AM (rejected from it, they sent it through snailmail) and didn't realize it, but my science GPA was a lot lower than what I calculated. I went back and did it for what feels like the 20th time ever, only to realize I was adding some classes that didn't count towards the science GPA.
I'm sitting at a 2.73 for my science GPA. My last 45 is (3.1) and my normal GPA is sitting at a 3.06
I had some really rough semesters (I'm counting 9C's, a D, and an F) that is really throwing me off now. I've retaken the classes with a D and an F and gotten B's in return.
Is there anyway to raise a science GPA? I'm supposed to graduate this May and there's no way for me to really postpone that to go back and retake classes due to life situations (It's really difficult to explain but the main breadwinner in my family is going to jail and thus living in the community I am currently in/going to school in is not a good idea so I would have to transfer schools/towns). I was thinking about getting my Masters in my degree to see if that would help.
I feel like I'm just going to get rejected from all the vets schools I applied to now, so I'm trying to fix my application. I'm already planning on retaking my GREs as they weren't as high was I wanted them (I wanted them near 160 or above and I got 149 for the math and 156 for the English with a 5.0 in the writing).
I was going to make my own separate thread but then saw this so yeah.
I recently heard back from Texas AM (rejected from it, they sent it through snailmail) and didn't realize it, but my science GPA was a lot lower than what I calculated. I went back and did it for what feels like the 20th time ever, only to realize I was adding some classes that didn't count towards the science GPA.
I'm sitting at a 2.73 for my science GPA. My last 45 is (3.1) and my normal GPA is sitting at a 3.06
I had some really rough semesters (I'm counting 9C's, a D, and an F) that is really throwing me off now. I've retaken the classes with a D and an F and gotten B's in return.
Is there anyway to raise a science GPA? I'm supposed to graduate this May and there's no way for me to really postpone that to go back and retake classes due to life situations (It's really difficult to explain but the main breadwinner in my family is going to jail and thus living in the community I am currently in/going to school in is not a good idea so I would have to transfer schools/towns). I was thinking about getting my Masters in my degree to see if that would help.
I feel like I'm just going to get rejected from all the vets schools I applied to now, so I'm trying to fix my application. I'm already planning on retaking my GREs as they weren't as high was I wanted them (I wanted them near 160 or above and I got 149 for the math and 156 for the English with a 5.0 in the writing).
I was going to make my own separate thread but then saw this so yeah.
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Being a male and non-caucasian would definitely add to the diversity of the class, but I'm not sure it would give you a competitive advantage. Your grades, GRE score(s), and quality of veterinary experience would determine how competitive you are relative to the applicant pool. I don't think your gender or race would be the deal-breaker between you and a caucasian, female applicant with similar GPAs . That would be straight-up discrimination.
If you are interested in the process itself, then research the schools you plan to apply to. Some schools like UC-Davis view non-resident applicants quantitatively. Other schools (Iowa state, NCSU) view all applicants holistically (i.e. you are worth more than your grades) and may take your gender/race/other identities into consideration. I know Oregon and Cornell have a disadvantaged statement you can fill out in their secondary applications like some med schools. Virginia-MD and I think Wisconsin both require a 4,000 character essay about diversity. You could write how your identities influenced your actions and how it would contribute to the learning experience of others. I'm first-generation, female, and part of a URM group in vetmed. That's what I did.
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You don’t have to retake classes at the same university you originally took them at, if that helps. If you graduate and then take stuff at a new school as a non degree seeking student, it should still count as a retake.
Some schools factor in retakes in addition to the original grade and some replace the grade entirely with the new one.
Some people do masters programs to raise their science gpa, which doing well in one could show to schools that you can handle lots of upper level sciences.
You should also 100% do file reviews at any school you applied to and see what they want you to improve on. They may tell you which they’d prefer, retaking classes or a masters program.
Some schools factor in retakes in addition to the original grade and some replace the grade entirely with the new one.
Some people do masters programs to raise their science gpa, which doing well in one could show to schools that you can handle lots of upper level sciences.
You should also 100% do file reviews at any school you applied to and see what they want you to improve on. They may tell you which they’d prefer, retaking classes or a masters program.
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Just curious, how do you go about asking for file reviews, what’s the appropriate way and when?
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Generally email them and ask if you can do one. Some schools won’t do them until after they’ve sent out all their decisions but others will. Some schools it’ll be a phone call and you’ll set up a time to do it and some will just email you back their suggestions.
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