What are my chances?

[neocia]

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First time poster, long time lurker 🙂

22, female, IL resident
First time applicant!!! 😀
Applying to: Urbana IL, St. Georges, Western CA, Purdue IN, and Florida
BA from smaller liberal arts school
GPA: 3.80
science GPA: 3.52 (damn chemistry!)

Vet Experience
500 hrs shadowing dog & cat clinic
30 hrs non-profit spay-and-neuter clinic shadowing
30 hrs cat shelter low-cost vet clinic shadowing
50 hrs at exotic animal clinic shadowing
100 hrs traveling with large animal veterinarian on calls
200 hrs pre-vet medical internship at primate rescue

Animal Experience
1,500 hrs kennel technician at dog shelter (staff)
350 hrs volunteering at educational Farm-in-the-Zoo
150 hrs farm animal sanctuary volunteering
400 hrs aquarium volunteering hands-on with marine mammals
Foster shelter animals including dogs, pigeons, chickens, reptiles, rodents, fishes, and other exotics
60 hrs caring for museum display live reptiles and amphibians at my school

Other
Dean's List every semester
President of Pre-Veterinary club at University
Volunteer at a home for children and adults with disabilities teaching art classes (~100 hrs)
Board of directors member for a small farm animal sanctuary
Board of Youth Advisers for farm animal welfare group

Not sure if my vet experience is enough, but still have time to add more.

 

[wildcatj]

First time poster, long time lurker 🙂

22, female, IL resident
First time applicant!!! 😀
Applying to: Urbana IL, St. Georges, Western CA, Purdue IN, and Florida
BA from smaller liberal arts school
GPA: 3.80
science GPA: 3.52 (damn chemistry!)

Taking the GRE later this month

Vet Experience
500 hrs shadowing dog & cat clinic
30 hrs non-profit spay-and-neuter clinic shadowing
30 hrs cat shelter low-cost vet clinic shadowing
50 hrs at exotic animal clinic shadowing
100 hrs traveling with large animal veterinarian on calls
200 hrs pre-vet medical internship at primate rescue

Animal Experience
1,500 hrs kennel technician at dog shelter (staff)
350 hrs volunteering at educational Farm-in-the-Zoo
150 hrs farm animal sanctuary volunteering
400 hrs aquarium volunteering hands-on with marine mammals
Foster shelter animals including dogs, pigeons, chickens, reptiles, rodents, fishes, and other exotics
60 hrs caring for museum display live reptiles and amphibians at my school

Other
Dean's List every semester
President of Pre-Veterinary club at University
Volunteer at a home for children and adults with disabilities teaching art classes (~100 hrs)
Board of directors member for a small farm animal sanctuary
Board of Youth Advisers for farm animal welfare group

Not sure if my vet experience is enough, but still have time to add more.

As long as you do fine on the GRE's I think you have an excellent chance. Even though you don't have a TON of hours, you have plenty and they are varied which really helps at a lot of schools. Florida is going to weigh the GRE really high (50% I think) so keep that in mind. I personally would look at the cost of the schools you're applying to, but that's just my mentality. Overall I think you're in really good shape. I would be surprised if you didn't get in this year.

 

[vetkatie1208]

Hi everyone! I know there's already a few other threads about this but I am new to this site being a first time applicant and all so I'm not really sure how this works! So I took my GRE for the first time two weeks ago and just received my scores, I used books to self study and studied for about a month, a few hours every night.

I received a 157 in verbal which was 73%, a 157 in quantitative which 71% and then a 4.0 in writing which was 49%.
My cumulative GPA is a 3.79 and my science GPA is something around that too I'd say between a 3.7 and 3.8.

I have about 2000 vet experience hours mostly being from small animal practice some shadowing but most working as a tech. I am working on my large animal experience now! I also have tons of research experience and am currently doing my research on a grant from a research scholar program at my school.
I am applying to Florida and Auburn and maybe a few other schools but my main goal is Florida!

So I am just curious what you all think about whether or not I should retake the GRE (there's still plenty of time to retake its just so expensive!)? Also what my chances of getting in on my first try is?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Member Name 123]

22, male, VA resident
Applying to: VMRCVM, Western U, looking for other suggestions
Bio B.S. and taking some graduate classes next fall/winter
GPA: 3.3
science GPA: 3.5
Last 45: 3.6

157, 157, and 4.0 on GRE, retaking next month though

Vet Experience
200 Hrs shadowing private practice
Thinking of doing some shadowing at specialist and large animal, just no time right now

Animal Experience
>1000 hrs working at humane society shelter where exposed to small animals, wildlife, feed animals, and exotics
100 hrs of dog sitting and other various things

Research:
200 hrs research experience with professor at university

Other stuff:
Deans list senior year
Presidential scholar at my university
NCAA Division 1 sports for my 4 years of undergrad (reason why I'm lacking in exp hours)
Good amount of charity work for various organizations

I know GPA and experience is lacking, looking for suggestions for schools that would give me the best shot and my chance of getting into Western.

 

[cloverbug]

25, female, SC res
Applying to: UGA (SC contract), UC Davis, OSU
BA from a small liberal arts school
GPA: 3.7
last 45: 3.9
science GPA: 4.0

GRE: 153 Verbal, 154 Quant (this was my first time, taking again in August)

Vet Experience
450 hrs private zoo intern
350 hrs SA vet tech
50 hrs with SA vet on UGA board
520 hrs volunteer at SA Hospital
400 hrs AZA zoo intern

Animal Experience
30 hrs teaching group classes for dog training
100 hrs private dog/cat training
4,650 hrs dog walker/sitter/trainer for a company
45 hrs volunteer training at shelter
500 hrs park employee at private zoo in HS

Other
25 hrs Botany research
Graduated with Honors from Animal Behavior College
Also have 6+ experiences working in the art field (employment and internships)
HS: Varsity Cheerleading 4 years (Captain 1 year)
HS: Varsity Swimming 2 years
HS: Varsity Soccer 1 year
HS: Band
Chemistry Club 1 year
Poetry Club 3 years
blah, blah, blah.....more stuff mostly art

eLORs
2 SA vets one from each hospital
UGA board vet (who has known me for 15 years)
Head of Animal medical care at private zoo
professor who I did research with and will include me in the paper we are publishing in the fall (but after application period) 🙁

should i expect to apply twice??

The only thing I can really recommend is trying to get some LA vet experience. Otherwise, your GPA looks good and you have a wide range of hours in vet, animal, and community activities too. Do you have any honors or awards, like from your sports stuff? I would definitely add that too.

 

[cloverbug]

First time poster, long time lurker 🙂

22, female, IL resident
First time applicant!!! 😀
Applying to: Urbana IL, St. Georges, Western CA, Purdue IN, and Florida
BA from smaller liberal arts school
GPA: 3.80
science GPA: 3.52 (damn chemistry!)

Taking the GRE later this month

Vet Experience
500 hrs shadowing dog & cat clinic
30 hrs non-profit spay-and-neuter clinic shadowing
30 hrs cat shelter low-cost vet clinic shadowing
50 hrs at exotic animal clinic shadowing
100 hrs traveling with large animal veterinarian on calls
200 hrs pre-vet medical internship at primate rescue

Animal Experience
1,500 hrs kennel technician at dog shelter (staff)
350 hrs volunteering at educational Farm-in-the-Zoo
150 hrs farm animal sanctuary volunteering
400 hrs aquarium volunteering hands-on with marine mammals
Foster shelter animals including dogs, pigeons, chickens, reptiles, rodents, fishes, and other exotics
60 hrs caring for museum display live reptiles and amphibians at my school

Other
Dean's List every semester
President of Pre-Veterinary club at University
Volunteer at a home for children and adults with disabilities teaching art classes (~100 hrs)
Board of directors member for a small farm animal sanctuary
Board of Youth Advisers for farm animal welfare group

Not sure if my vet experience is enough, but still have time to add more.

So jealous of y'all that have the opportunity to get marine experience. Sometimes it sucks to live in the desert lol. Anyway, I think you look pretty good and have a really wide range of experience which is always nice. Good luck on your GRE's and kick some butt.

 

[cloverbug]

Hi everyone! I know there's already a few other threads about this but I am new to this site being a first time applicant and all so I'm not really sure how this works! So I took my GRE for the first time two weeks ago and just received my scores, I used books to self study and studied for about a month, a few hours every night.

I received a 157 in verbal which was 73%, a 157 in quantitative which 71% and then a 4.0 in writing which was 49%.
My cumulative GPA is a 3.79 and my science GPA is something around that too I'd say between a 3.7 and 3.8.

I have about 2000 vet experience hours mostly being from small animal practice some shadowing but most working as a tech. I am working on my large animal experience now! I also have tons of research experience and am currently doing my research on a grant from a research scholar program at my school.
I am applying to Florida and Auburn and maybe a few other schools but my main goal is Florida!

So I am just curious what you all think about whether or not I should retake the GRE (there's still plenty of time to retake its just so expensive!)? Also what my chances of getting in on my first try is?

Thanks a bunch!

I personally wouldn't retake the GRE because I think those scores are pretty decent for most schools. Heck, my scores are lower than that by a couple points and I have no intentions of taking it again. Do you have any community activities or awards? Anything like sports, fine arts, scholarships, making the dean's list, etc? You can go all the way to high school so don't forget to add those.

 

[Crystalight33]

Hi everyone! I know there's already a few other threads about this but I am new to this site being a first time applicant and all so I'm not really sure how this works! So I took my GRE for the first time two weeks ago and just received my scores, I used books to self study and studied for about a month, a few hours every night.

I received a 157 in verbal which was 73%, a 157 in quantitative which 71% and then a 4.0 in writing which was 49%.
My cumulative GPA is a 3.79 and my science GPA is something around that too I'd say between a 3.7 and 3.8.

I have about 2000 vet experience hours mostly being from small animal practice some shadowing but most working as a tech. I am working on my large animal experience now! I also have tons of research experience and am currently doing my research on a grant from a research scholar program at my school.
I am applying to Florida and Auburn and maybe a few other schools but my main goal is Florida!

So I am just curious what you all think about whether or not I should retake the GRE (there's still plenty of time to retake its just so expensive!)? Also what my chances of getting in on my first try is?

Thanks a bunch!

Are you a Florida resident? There is a really great video that talks about Florida's admissions on their website, http://education.vetmed.ufl.edu/admissions/dvm-specifics/dvm-admissions-video/
I believe in-state GRE averages for the class of 2016 were 153 each section and out of state was 155-156 each section, so I think you're pretty good for Florida.

I was accepted to Auburn this past cycle out of state with a similar GPA and a lower quant GRE score, but as always it depends on the applicant pool. Good luck 🙂

 

[sunshinevet]

Cloverbug, see if there are any organisations in your area that make handmade projects for charity or any other good causes - ie crochet blankets for neonatal wards, toys for donation to struggling families, etc.

Then you can have a special interest and do community service 🙂

PS i love crochet 😀

 

[cloverbug]

Cloverbug, see if there are any organisations in your area that make handmade projects for charity or any other good causes - ie crochet blankets for neonatal wards, toys for donation to struggling families, etc.

Then you can have a special interest and do community service 🙂

PS i love crochet 😀

That's actually a really good idea, I never thought of that. Yea, crocheting is a good way to relax and my fiance is always confused when I start pulling out all my work. It's hard to explain to him that I missed a stitch or it isn't looking right so I start over. I find it relaxing no matter what lol. And looks like I can do about one full of shadowing. Is that going to be enough or should I try to see if they'll let me come back?

 

[AURunner]

Degree: Animal Science (Business Minor)
Graduating Spring 2014

GPA: 3.50
Last 45 hrs: 3.39
Science GPA: 3.41
GRE: V 141 Q 156 and 3.5 (didn't study, plan on retaking it soon)

Experience:
-200 hours SA clinic
-70 with cattle
-50 with swine
-25 with raptors
-20 shadowing a vet
-200+ hours of research (Will be close to 400 hours at end of summer)


Other:
-Learned many lab techniques while doing research
-Scholarship Athlete at Div. I University in two sports (track and cross country)
-Team Captain
-National College Athletic Honor Society Chi Alpha Sigma member

I have posted before but my numbers have changed a bit. I need some advice about the GRE I have been studying to take it at the end of the summer. I am extremely nervous about it. What kind of score is good? I feel so clueless

 

[AURunner]

Also how is last 45 hours calculated? If in two semester you have 38 hours can you take the next best 7 hours in the previous semester or do you have to take the whole semester? I get different GPA's each way 3.39 and 3.51

 

[vetkatie1208]

Yeah I have tons of stuff especially in high school! But okay thanks so much that really helped 🙂 good luck to you too!

 

[KCgophervet]

Also how is last 45 hours calculated? If in two semester you have 38 hours can you take the next best 7 hours in the previous semester or do you have to take the whole semester? I get different GPA's each way 3.39 and 3.51

Pretty sure most schools calculate using the entire semester where your 45th credit is in.

 

[cadisestrama]

I think that extremely great GRE scores are in the 160's but I think anything in the 150's is good as well? Maybe? I may be wrong... it depends on the schools and your other stats. 🙂

 

[felinelvr44]

That's actually a really good idea, I never thought of that. Yea, crocheting is a good way to relax and my fiance is always confused when I start pulling out all my work. It's hard to explain to him that I missed a stitch or it isn't looking right so I start over. I find it relaxing no matter what lol. And looks like I can do about one full of shadowing. Is that going to be enough or should I try to see if they'll let me come back?

I'd see if you could at least do two days. The LA vet I shadowed with was used to having people ride along for the entire week but I could only do two days due to having a full time job I was taking off of.

 

[felinelvr44]

I think that extremely great GRE scores are in the 160's but I think anything in the 150's is good as well? Maybe? I may be wrong... it depends on the schools and your other stats. 🙂

I've always gone by the percentile more than the number, especially since a 160 verbal and a 160 quantitative score aren't the same thing. A competitive GRE score is at or above the 75th percentile.

http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/gre_guide_table1a.pdf

 

[kakurubird]

I've always gone by the percentile more than the number, especially since a 160 verbal and a 160 quantitative score aren't the same thing. A competitive GRE score is at or above the 75th percentile.

http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/gre_guide_table1a.pdf

thank god the same scores are at least pretty close in percentiles now (83rd vs. 81st isn't hugely different). before though with the old scoring had gotten a little ridiculous and something like a 740 verbal was 99th percentile, but 800 quant was only like 94th percentile. it was silly. i'm a big fan of the new scoring scale just because of the readjustments.

 

[iheartdogs]

thank god the same scores are at least pretty close in percentiles now (83rd vs. 81st isn't hugely different). before though with the old scoring had gotten a little ridiculous and something like a 740 verbal was 99th percentile, but 800 quant was only like 94th percentile. it was silly. i'm a big fan of the new scoring scale just because of the readjustments.

I am a big fan also...scheduled to take the GRE on Wednesday at 8 am, spent ALL day studying today because my father is not with me anymore so I basically entered the freak out study mode today...trying to get better than 152 verbal and 150 math this time and last time couldn't sleep the night before thinking of taking a sleeping pill to make myself sleep

 

[Member Name 123]

22, male, VA resident
Applying to: VMRCVM, Western U, looking for other suggestions
Bio B.S. and taking some graduate classes next fall/winter
GPA: 3.3
science GPA: 3.5
Last 45: 3.6

157, 157, and 4.0 on GRE, retaking next month though

Vet Experience
200 Hrs shadowing private practice
Thinking of doing some shadowing at specialist and large animal, just no time right now

Animal Experience
>1000 hrs working at humane society shelter where exposed to small animals, wildlife, feed animals, and exotics
100 hrs of dog sitting and other various things

Research:
200 hrs research experience with professor at university

Recommendations from Vet, Professor/advisor, shelter manager or another vet

Other stuff:
Deans list senior year
Presidential scholar at my university
NCAA Division 1 sports for my 4 years of undergrad (reason why I'm lacking in exp hours)
Good amount of charity work for various organizations

I know GPA and experience is lacking, looking for suggestions for schools that would give me the best shot and my chance of getting into Western.

 

[cloverbug]

I'd see if you could at least do two days. The LA vet I shadowed with was used to having people ride along for the entire week but I could only do two days due to having a full time job I was taking off of.

I can try to sweet talk them into letting me do 2 days, but I don't know if they'll let me since the form they made me fill out specifically said only 1 day. We'll see I guess.

 

[felinelvr44]

Vet Experience
200 Hrs shadowing private practice
Thinking of doing some shadowing at specialist and large animal, just no time right now

Well right off the bat it looks like you'll need more veterinary hours if you want to apply to VMRCVM. Their website says they require 400-600 hours "working for a veterinarian" so you might want to call/email them and ask about that. I'd highly suggest trying to get some hours in with an equine or large animal vet this summer, especially if you plan to apply this application cycle.

 

[felinelvr44]

I can try to sweet talk them into letting me do 2 days, but I don't know if they'll let me since the form they made me fill out specifically said only 1 day. We'll see I guess.

The worst they can say is no! Push it as hard as you can while being as syrupy sweet as possible 😀

 

[Nurd]

The only thing I can really recommend is trying to get some LA vet experience. Otherwise, your GPA looks good and you have a wide range of hours in vet, animal, and community activities too. Do you have any honors or awards, like from your sports stuff? I would definitely add that too.

My swim team did win a state championship and I received a coaches award in cheerleading. There are some other honors and awards type things that will be added. I am wondering if my zoo experiences count as large animal? We do have some horses at the zoo and many other animals that I would classify as large.

I mean, if a horse counts as a large animal then a rhino must be a large animal, right?

 

[KCgophervet]

I am wondering if my zoo experiences count as large animal? We do have some horses at the zoo and many other animals that I would classify as large.

I mean, if a horse counts as a large animal then a rhino must be a large animal, right?

There's an "exotic/wildlife" category as well 🙂

 

[bdeusebio]

Ok, throwing this out here cause I'm all worried after reading these excellent posts..

I am a first time applicant, and I'm only applying to Western U.
Still really working on the application, haven't figured out a lot of things about it yet, so this is a bit incomplete.

I'd say I'm really outstanding as a student, but my problem is experience. My experience has been good in terms of the things I got to learn, but not NEARLY enough hours or variety. I'm counting on the next few months for a few things like LA work, but it's pretty much all small animal. I got screwed over this summer because I was really led to believe I had a job at either of the two vet clinics I worked at last summer, and then they didn't have a spot, so I was really bummed and can't find ANY vets who will let me hang around much less hire me... so frustrating.

Overall GPA: 3.96
Overall Science: 3.97
Last 45: 3.95

GRE: Just took it so don't know percentiles or writing score yet, but 164V and 161Q
Taking it again in July and I think I can up that Q a little

I have a lot of academic awards, and lots of community service/ band experience back from high school, but not much since in terms of leadership or comm service. I have a few college activities/service to list but nothing great, art is also a big extracurricular thing that I guess is more like a "hobby"... I've done a lot of tutoring jobs and some cool research on arthritis in mice (WHICH I don't think has been published so I can't list in Research..)... It's been hard cause I go to a small school with a good amount of pre-med but I think I'm the only person this year applying to vet school, so no Pre-Vet Club or animal clubs or anything in that vein...

Only 600 hours total to report, unless I can count things about my own pets (I've had a number of different SAs, I would have thought your own pets don't count but some people were talking about it)?? More hours are coming in this summer, with some LA, but yeahhh..... Over 400 were Veterinary Experience at two separate small animal clinics. The other 200 were Animal Experience at a local animal shelter and with wildlife for an Ornithology/Herpetology class, which was cool. One vet place had a specialty in pocket pets and pot-bellied pigs, but I never worked on any of them so that's not much variety. I learned how to do a pretty good range of skills, even blood draws, though.

I'll have great letters of recommendation from professors/mentors, but I am really unsure about my vet recommendation since I haven't seen the other vets since last year and I only knew them for a few months, don't even know which to choose, still kinda hoping for a new one for this summer...

Anyways, I'm super nervous because I know how important the experience is, but is it possible that someone with low experience and high academic achievement could be accepted? It seems to me there is a lot of the reverse, where people have been working on farms or at clinics for years and got to do lots of stuff, but had low-ish grades... I was actually kind of surprised that the average admitted GPA was only like a 3.3...

Sorry if this was half rant!! I really appreciate whoever is reading it. Think I'll have a shot at Western, or will they most likely turn me away to get more/varied experience and come back in a year? 🙁

 

[cadisestrama]

Ok, throwing this out here cause I'm all worried after reading these excellent posts..

I am a first time applicant, and I'm only applying to Western U.
Still really working on the application, haven't figured out a lot of things about it yet, so this is a bit incomplete.

I'd say I'm really outstanding as a student, but my problem is experience. My experience has been good in terms of the things I got to learn, but not NEARLY enough hours or variety. I'm counting on the next few months for a few things like LA work, but it's pretty much all small animal. I got screwed over this summer because I was really led to believe I had a job at either of the two vet clinics I worked at last summer, and then they didn't have a spot, so I was really bummed and can't find ANY vets who will let me hang around much less hire me... so frustrating.

Overall GPA: 3.96
Overall Science: 3.97
Last 45: 3.95

GRE: Just took it so don't know percentiles or writing score yet, but 164V and 161Q
Taking it again in July and I think I can up that Q a little

I have a lot of academic awards, and lots of community service/ band experience back from high school, but not much since in terms of leadership or comm service. I have a few college activities/service to list but nothing great, art is also a big extracurricular thing that I guess is more like a "hobby"... I've done a lot of tutoring jobs and some cool research on arthritis in mice (WHICH I don't think has been published so I can't list in Research..)... It's been hard cause I go to a small school with a good amount of pre-med but I think I'm the only person this year applying to vet school, so no Pre-Vet Club or animal clubs or anything in that vein...

Only 600 hours total to report, unless I can count things about my own pets (I've had a number of different SAs, I would have thought your own pets don't count but some people were talking about it)?? More hours are coming in this summer, with some LA, but yeahhh..... Over 400 were Veterinary Experience at two separate small animal clinics. The other 200 were Animal Experience at a local animal shelter and with wildlife for an Ornithology/Herpetology class, which was cool. One vet place had a specialty in pocket pets and pot-bellied pigs, but I never worked on any of them so that's not much variety. I learned how to do a pretty good range of skills, even blood draws, though.

I'll have great letters of recommendation from professors/mentors, but I am really unsure about my vet recommendation since I haven't seen the other vets since last year and I only knew them for a few months, don't even know which to choose, still kinda hoping for a new one for this summer...

Anyways, I'm super nervous because I know how important the experience is, but is it possible that someone with low experience and high academic achievement could be accepted? It seems to me there is a lot of the reverse, where people have been working on farms or at clinics for years and got to do lots of stuff, but had low-ish grades... I was actually kind of surprised that the average admitted GPA was only like a 3.3...

Sorry if this was half rant!! I really appreciate whoever is reading it. Think I'll have a shot at Western, or will they most likely turn me away to get more/varied experience and come back in a year? 🙁

I'm kind of in the same boat (though maybe a little worse off) as you are though my grades aren't NEARLY as great as yours. But I'm getting most of my vet experience this summer (or rather, right now). :\

 

[cs5910]

Ok, throwing this out here cause I'm all worried after reading these excellent posts..

I am a first time applicant, and I'm only applying to Western U.
Still really working on the application, haven't figured out a lot of things about it yet, so this is a bit incomplete.

I'd say I'm really outstanding as a student, but my problem is experience. My experience has been good in terms of the things I got to learn, but not NEARLY enough hours or variety. I'm counting on the next few months for a few things like LA work, but it's pretty much all small animal. I got screwed over this summer because I was really led to believe I had a job at either of the two vet clinics I worked at last summer, and then they didn't have a spot, so I was really bummed and can't find ANY vets who will let me hang around much less hire me... so frustrating.

Overall GPA: 3.96
Overall Science: 3.97
Last 45: 3.95

GRE: Just took it so don't know percentiles or writing score yet, but 164V and 161Q
Taking it again in July and I think I can up that Q a little

I have a lot of academic awards, and lots of community service/ band experience back from high school, but not much since in terms of leadership or comm service. I have a few college activities/service to list but nothing great, art is also a big extracurricular thing that I guess is more like a "hobby"... I've done a lot of tutoring jobs and some cool research on arthritis in mice (WHICH I don't think has been published so I can't list in Research..)... It's been hard cause I go to a small school with a good amount of pre-med but I think I'm the only person this year applying to vet school, so no Pre-Vet Club or animal clubs or anything in that vein...

Only 600 hours total to report, unless I can count things about my own pets (I've had a number of different SAs, I would have thought your own pets don't count but some people were talking about it)?? More hours are coming in this summer, with some LA, but yeahhh..... Over 400 were Veterinary Experience at two separate small animal clinics. The other 200 were Animal Experience at a local animal shelter and with wildlife for an Ornithology/Herpetology class, which was cool. One vet place had a specialty in pocket pets and pot-bellied pigs, but I never worked on any of them so that's not much variety. I learned how to do a pretty good range of skills, even blood draws, though.

I'll have great letters of recommendation from professors/mentors, but I am really unsure about my vet recommendation since I haven't seen the other vets since last year and I only knew them for a few months, don't even know which to choose, still kinda hoping for a new one for this summer...

Anyways, I'm super nervous because I know how important the experience is, but is it possible that someone with low experience and high academic achievement could be accepted? It seems to me there is a lot of the reverse, where people have been working on farms or at clinics for years and got to do lots of stuff, but had low-ish grades... I was actually kind of surprised that the average admitted GPA was only like a 3.3...

Sorry if this was half rant!! I really appreciate whoever is reading it. Think I'll have a shot at Western, or will they most likely turn me away to get more/varied experience and come back in a year? 🙁

Bdeusebio, just curious, why only Western U? Your grades/GRE will probably give you a great chance at UC Davis and it would probably be a much cheaper option for you, as Western is probably one of the most expensive schools in the country (I believe it still is). The name of this game is SAVING MONEY. If you read a little deeper into this forum, you will see that the income: debt ratio is horrific for vets, so if you could get into the cheaper state school in CA, you would be much better off in terms of debt when you graduate.

You have all summer to gain experience hours. If you dedicate most of your week to shadowing/volunteering at a clinic, come submission time, you will be able to get enough hours to be competitive in that aspect.

 

[kernel]

Ok, throwing this out here cause I'm all worried after reading these excellent posts..

I am a first time applicant, and I'm only applying to Western U.
Still really working on the application, haven't figured out a lot of things about it yet, so this is a bit incomplete.

I'd say I'm really outstanding as a student, but my problem is experience. My experience has been good in terms of the things I got to learn, but not NEARLY enough hours or variety. I'm counting on the next few months for a few things like LA work, but it's pretty much all small animal. I got screwed over this summer because I was really led to believe I had a job at either of the two vet clinics I worked at last summer, and then they didn't have a spot, so I was really bummed and can't find ANY vets who will let me hang around much less hire me... so frustrating.

Overall GPA: 3.96
Overall Science: 3.97
Last 45: 3.95

GRE: Just took it so don't know percentiles or writing score yet, but 164V and 161Q
Taking it again in July and I think I can up that Q a little

I have a lot of academic awards, and lots of community service/ band experience back from high school, but not much since in terms of leadership or comm service. I have a few college activities/service to list but nothing great, art is also a big extracurricular thing that I guess is more like a "hobby"... I've done a lot of tutoring jobs and some cool research on arthritis in mice (WHICH I don't think has been published so I can't list in Research..)... It's been hard cause I go to a small school with a good amount of pre-med but I think I'm the only person this year applying to vet school, so no Pre-Vet Club or animal clubs or anything in that vein...

Only 600 hours total to report, unless I can count things about my own pets (I've had a number of different SAs, I would have thought your own pets don't count but some people were talking about it)?? More hours are coming in this summer, with some LA, but yeahhh..... Over 400 were Veterinary Experience at two separate small animal clinics. The other 200 were Animal Experience at a local animal shelter and with wildlife for an Ornithology/Herpetology class, which was cool. One vet place had a specialty in pocket pets and pot-bellied pigs, but I never worked on any of them so that's not much variety. I learned how to do a pretty good range of skills, even blood draws, though.

I'll have great letters of recommendation from professors/mentors, but I am really unsure about my vet recommendation since I haven't seen the other vets since last year and I only knew them for a few months, don't even know which to choose, still kinda hoping for a new one for this summer...

Anyways, I'm super nervous because I know how important the experience is, but is it possible that someone with low experience and high academic achievement could be accepted? It seems to me there is a lot of the reverse, where people have been working on farms or at clinics for years and got to do lots of stuff, but had low-ish grades... I was actually kind of surprised that the average admitted GPA was only like a 3.3...

Sorry if this was half rant!! I really appreciate whoever is reading it. Think I'll have a shot at Western, or will they most likely turn me away to get more/varied experience and come back in a year? 🙁

If you work hard at bringing up your hours this summer, I think you'll be in really good shape. Your grades and GRE scores are exemplary. Yes, people get in with *much* lower GPAs than you, but they tend to have thousands of hours and diverse experiences to balance out the equation.

I second cs5910 in wondering about your decision to apply solely to Western. If you're a CA resident, definitely apply to Davis. It's not as if you have anything to hide! Apply broadly, assuming you're interested in going elsewhere. As an OOS applicant, the first things adcoms will notice are your grades and GRE scores. This bodes well for you.

 

[TheComfyCat]

@bdeusebio You can ask your local shelter if you can volunteer in their clinic, especially if you have some previous clinical experience. Most can use the help. Also, do you have pets? I've had good luck asking vets who see my animals to shadow.

I'm in a similar situation concerning the vet LOR. I'm probably going to try to contact the vet I haven't spoken to in a while, AND try to develop a good relationship with a new vet, just in case 😛

 

[wildcatj]

Ok, throwing this out here cause I'm all worried after reading these excellent posts..

I am a first time applicant, and I'm only applying to Western U.
Still really working on the application, haven't figured out a lot of things about it yet, so this is a bit incomplete.

I'd say I'm really outstanding as a student, but my problem is experience. My experience has been good in terms of the things I got to learn, but not NEARLY enough hours or variety. I'm counting on the next few months for a few things like LA work, but it's pretty much all small animal. I got screwed over this summer because I was really led to believe I had a job at either of the two vet clinics I worked at last summer, and then they didn't have a spot, so I was really bummed and can't find ANY vets who will let me hang around much less hire me... so frustrating.

Overall GPA: 3.96
Overall Science: 3.97
Last 45: 3.95

GRE: Just took it so don't know percentiles or writing score yet, but 164V and 161Q
Taking it again in July and I think I can up that Q a little

I have a lot of academic awards, and lots of community service/ band experience back from high school, but not much since in terms of leadership or comm service. I have a few college activities/service to list but nothing great, art is also a big extracurricular thing that I guess is more like a "hobby"... I've done a lot of tutoring jobs and some cool research on arthritis in mice (WHICH I don't think has been published so I can't list in Research..)... It's been hard cause I go to a small school with a good amount of pre-med but I think I'm the only person this year applying to vet school, so no Pre-Vet Club or animal clubs or anything in that vein...

Only 600 hours total to report, unless I can count things about my own pets (I've had a number of different SAs, I would have thought your own pets don't count but some people were talking about it)?? More hours are coming in this summer, with some LA, but yeahhh..... Over 400 were Veterinary Experience at two separate small animal clinics. The other 200 were Animal Experience at a local animal shelter and with wildlife for an Ornithology/Herpetology class, which was cool. One vet place had a specialty in pocket pets and pot-bellied pigs, but I never worked on any of them so that's not much variety. I learned how to do a pretty good range of skills, even blood draws, though.

I'll have great letters of recommendation from professors/mentors, but I am really unsure about my vet recommendation since I haven't seen the other vets since last year and I only knew them for a few months, don't even know which to choose, still kinda hoping for a new one for this summer...

Anyways, I'm super nervous because I know how important the experience is, but is it possible that someone with low experience and high academic achievement could be accepted? It seems to me there is a lot of the reverse, where people have been working on farms or at clinics for years and got to do lots of stuff, but had low-ish grades... I was actually kind of surprised that the average admitted GPA was only like a 3.3...

Sorry if this was half rant!! I really appreciate whoever is reading it. Think I'll have a shot at Western, or will they most likely turn me away to get more/varied experience and come back in a year? 🙁

I would say don't waste your time and money retaking the gre. Your scores are great. Even if you think you can do better I still wouldn't bother.

 

[ivory11]

Hi, I am new to this thread and finally am applying to schools this summer/fall. I wanted to get an idea of what others think of my stats:

Cum GPA: 3.6
Science GPA: not sure, haven't calculated but would guess about 3.2
GRE: 1000 (not good, which is one of my worries, but have taken 3 times and do not have time to study or take classes due to working 35-45 hours a week...)
Animal experience: 20,000 (owned horses and shown for most of my life, also includes 4-H (hogs, dairy cattle, horses), worked on several horse farms.
Vet experience: 2400 (includes large(horses, cattle, llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats, hogs) and small animal (cats, dogs) about equal numbers of both) Will be able to add about another 800-1000 hours by the time I would be interviewing.

My downfalls and/or worries... My GRE score is low and my science GPA isn't fantastic, but not horrible. I also had issues with chemistry. I withdrew from the first Gen Chem course, so W is on transcript, but retook and received an A. Then with organic I withdrew twice and retook the first, getting a B. Second organic, I received a D (horrible!!!! ) retook online and received a B+. Those are my biggest concerns...

I was also active in the biology honor society on campus (chairperson, vice president) and spent 1 1/2 years of research work (looking at coyote feces to determine the presence of a protozoan parasite that was causing abortions at a world renown wildlife reserve) in coordination with a vet student who was going to have the paper published.

My letters of recommendation will include 1 vet I have had most of my hours with and another I plan to work with, and an advisor from college whom I did research with.

I also plan on shadowing a vet an a wild animal reserve (giraffes, zebras, rhinos, etc...) for about a month 1-2 days a week and possible reference letter from this vet.

So, the painful part, how slim are my chances?? Im in state applying to OhioSU, and then plan to apply to Mizzou, Iowa, and Minnesota.

I appreciate all of the help and advice!! Thank you 🙂

 

[cloverbug]

Hi, I am new to this thread and finally am applying to schools this summer/fall. I wanted to get an idea of what others think of my stats:

Cum GPA: 3.6
Science GPA: not sure, haven't calculated but would guess about 3.2
GRE: 1000 (not good, which is one of my worries, but have taken 3 times and do not have time to study or take classes due to working 35-45 hours a week...)
Animal experience: 20,000 (owned horses and shown for most of my life, also includes 4-H (hogs, dairy cattle, horses), worked on several horse farms.
Vet experience: 2400 (includes large(horses, cattle, llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats, hogs) and small animal (cats, dogs) about equal numbers of both) Will be able to add about another 800-1000 hours by the time I would be interviewing.

My downfalls and/or worries... My GRE score is low and my science GPA isn't fantastic, but not horrible. I also had issues with chemistry. I withdrew from the first Gen Chem course, so W is on transcript, but retook and received an A. Then with organic I withdrew twice and retook the first, getting a B. Second organic, I received a D (horrible!!!! ) retook online and received a B+. Those are my biggest concerns...

I was also active in the biology honor society on campus (chairperson, vice president) and spent 1 1/2 years of research work (looking at coyote feces to determine the presence of a protozoan parasite that was causing abortions at a world renown wildlife reserve) in coordination with a vet student who was going to have the paper published.

My letters of recommendation will include 1 vet I have had most of my hours with and another I plan to work with, and an advisor from college whom I did research with.

I also plan on shadowing a vet an a wild animal reserve (giraffes, zebras, rhinos, etc...) for about a month 1-2 days a week and possible reference letter from this vet.

So, the painful part, how slim are my chances?? Im in state applying to OhioSU, and then plan to apply to Mizzou, Iowa, and Minnesota.

I appreciate all of the help and advice!! Thank you 🙂

Well, your science GPA and GRE scores aren't great (assuming you got 150 on both) but your overall GPA is decent and right around where mine is too. If you've taken it 3 times, I wouldn't try to take it again unless you really can devote the time to study for it and know for sure you're going to do better. I've taken it twice and barely improved even with more studying so I think I've reached where I'm going to be, and I think you may be in the same situation. I know they're not the biggest fans of retaking classes but you received pretty good grades in the ones you did retake so if there was something going on that caused you to drop out of the classes the first time such as financial struggles or family issues, I'd certainly mention that in the explanation section so they know why that happened. I think your saving grace is the amount of hours you have in experience and the wide range of animals you've encountered. Be sure to note how you came to those numbers because they are so large. You can't include any future hours so focus what you can on the hours until September. Also, don't forget to add any hobbies like instruments you play or sports you participated in in high school and college, and especially add any awards or honors you've received in general and with those hobbies or community activities like Habitat for Humanity for example. All in all, I think you might have a decent chance but I don't know much about how heavily academics are weighed at the schools you're applying to so I would look that up if you can and see if it's worth it.

 

[WolvesDragon55]

I posted earlier but didn't receive any responses so I thought I might try again...

21 year old female, graduating with a BS in Biology, minor in English. I go to a small, highly competitive liberal arts college known for it's science programs.

GPA
Cum: 3.84
Last 45 Hrs: 3.77
Science GPA: 3.77

GRE
160 Verbal
157 Quantitative
4.5 Writing

Vet Experience
450 Equine/mixed large
120 Small animal clinic
60 Emergency clinic
40 Dairy Cattle/Beef Cattle
15 Goat herd (health checks on a dairy goat farm)
3 Exotics (Ocelot, Binturong)

Animal Experience
3000+ working with horses
3000+ working with small animals
~200 working on a farm w/poultry, cows, sheep and swine
200 working with rabbits
100 working with exotic cats (Tigers, Lions, Ocelots, etc.)

Volunteering
SPCA (3 yrs)
Volunteer at a Horse Rescue (1 yr)

Extracurriculars
Marching Band since HS
Symphony Band
President of the pre-vet club (and have completely revamped it)

Research
NONE (except the extensive class/lab projects in all biology classes)

Applying to VMRCVM, Missouri, Wisconsin and possibly Colorado.
VMRCVM is in-state and preferred!

I am pretty worried about getting in. I know nothing is really "stellar" and most of my stats are pretty average-looking to me. Thoughts?

 

[Lupin21]

I posted earlier but didn't receive any responses so I thought I might try again...

21 year old female, graduating with a BS in Biology, minor in English. I go to a small, highly competitive liberal arts college known for it's science programs.

GPA
Cum: 3.84
Last 45 Hrs: 3.77
Science GPA: 3.77

GRE
160 Verbal
157 Quantitative
4.5 Writing

Vet Experience
450 Equine/mixed large
120 Small animal clinic
60 Emergency clinic
40 Dairy Cattle/Beef Cattle
15 Goat herd (health checks on a dairy goat farm)
3 Exotics (Ocelot, Binturong)

Animal Experience
3000+ working with horses
3000+ working with small animals
~200 working on a farm w/poultry, cows, sheep and swine
200 working with rabbits
100 working with exotic cats (Tigers, Lions, Ocelots, etc.)

Volunteering
SPCA (3 yrs)
Volunteer at a Horse Rescue (1 yr)

Extracurriculars
Marching Band since HS
Symphony Band
President of the pre-vet club (and have completely revamped it)

Research
NONE (except the extensive class/lab projects in all biology classes)

Applying to VMRCVM, Missouri, Wisconsin and possibly Colorado.
VMRCVM is in-state and preferred!

I am pretty worried about getting in. I know nothing is really "stellar" and most of my stats are pretty average-looking to me. Thoughts?

Everything looks in order. Really the only suggestion I have is to see what other extracurriculars and unique non-animal related things you can add. They like to see people who are diverse.

You have a strong app otherwise

 

[cs5910]

I posted earlier but didn't receive any responses so I thought I might try again...

21 year old female, graduating with a BS in Biology, minor in English. I go to a small, highly competitive liberal arts college known for it's science programs.

GPA
Cum: 3.84
Last 45 Hrs: 3.77
Science GPA: 3.77

GRE
160 Verbal
157 Quantitative
4.5 Writing

Vet Experience
450 Equine/mixed large
120 Small animal clinic
60 Emergency clinic
40 Dairy Cattle/Beef Cattle
15 Goat herd (health checks on a dairy goat farm)
3 Exotics (Ocelot, Binturong)

Animal Experience
3000+ working with horses
3000+ working with small animals
~200 working on a farm w/poultry, cows, sheep and swine
200 working with rabbits
100 working with exotic cats (Tigers, Lions, Ocelots, etc.)

Volunteering
SPCA (3 yrs)
Volunteer at a Horse Rescue (1 yr)

Extracurriculars
Marching Band since HS
Symphony Band
President of the pre-vet club (and have completely revamped it)

Research
NONE (except the extensive class/lab projects in all biology classes)

Applying to VMRCVM, Missouri, Wisconsin and possibly Colorado.
VMRCVM is in-state and preferred!

I am pretty worried about getting in. I know nothing is really "stellar" and most of my stats are pretty average-looking to me. Thoughts?

Everything looks great! I would probably apply to 2-3 more schools as a safety. Preferably schools that accept a lot of OOS students.

 

[bdeusebio]

I would say don't waste your time and money retaking the gre. Your scores are great. Even if you think you can do better I still wouldn't bother.

Thanks! I scheduled the test back in like January and already paid, and I think refunds are only for half the test fee... that money is nice I guess, but I may just go. It won't be much of a hassle. 😛

 

[cowgirla]

Hi, I am new to this thread and finally am applying to schools this summer/fall. I wanted to get an idea of what others think of my stats:

Cum GPA: 3.6
Science GPA: not sure, haven't calculated but would guess about 3.2
GRE: 1000 (not good, which is one of my worries, but have taken 3 times and do not have time to study or take classes due to working 35-45 hours a week...)
Animal experience: 20,000 (owned horses and shown for most of my life, also includes 4-H (hogs, dairy cattle, horses), worked on several horse farms.
Vet experience: 2400 (includes large(horses, cattle, llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats, hogs) and small animal (cats, dogs) about equal numbers of both) Will be able to add about another 800-1000 hours by the time I would be interviewing.

My downfalls and/or worries... My GRE score is low and my science GPA isn't fantastic, but not horrible. I also had issues with chemistry. I withdrew from the first Gen Chem course, so W is on transcript, but retook and received an A. Then with organic I withdrew twice and retook the first, getting a B. Second organic, I received a D (horrible!!!! ) retook online and received a B+. Those are my biggest concerns...

I was also active in the biology honor society on campus (chairperson, vice president) and spent 1 1/2 years of research work (looking at coyote feces to determine the presence of a protozoan parasite that was causing abortions at a world renown wildlife reserve) in coordination with a vet student who was going to have the paper published.

My letters of recommendation will include 1 vet I have had most of my hours with and another I plan to work with, and an advisor from college whom I did research with.

I also plan on shadowing a vet an a wild animal reserve (giraffes, zebras, rhinos, etc...) for about a month 1-2 days a week and possible reference letter from this vet.

So, the painful part, how slim are my chances?? Im in state applying to OhioSU, and then plan to apply to Mizzou, Iowa, and Minnesota.

I appreciate all of the help and advice!! Thank you 🙂

Was that the old GRE or the new one? I thought most schools were requiring the new GRE now, so I would double check on that if you took the old one

 

[cadisestrama]

i'm pretty sure all schools accept the old or new gre as long as it's taken within 5 years...you can specify on the VMCAS whether it's the old or revised GRE

 

[orca2011]

i'm pretty sure all schools accept the old or new gre as long as it's taken within 5 years...you can specify on the VMCAS whether it's the old or revised GRE

I would check on this. I feel like I recall hearing about a few schools only accepting new scores this past cycle, even if the old test was within 5 years. I might be wrong, but I swear I heard that somewhere.

 

[cadisestrama]

oh you're right. i just looked at the college descriptors page

Uni of Illinois, Louisiana, Purdue, Texas
-all require the new version (or not older than Aug 2011, which is when the revised version was implemented)

these still allow the old version (but not older than 3 or 4 years):

Missouri: older than 3 years
Tuskegee: within 3 years
Uni of Tennessee: not before November 1, 2009

 

[iheartdogs]

I took the GRE last august got 152 verbal and 150 math and was told by UF to get my scores up to at least 60% and 75% would be even better...so I retook it today and got 153 verbal 152 math which is like 56% verbal and 52% math....I studied so much for this time....I don't know what else to do I feel like I have to take it again but how do I improve enough for UF? so frustrated and mad at myself for not doing better

 

[ivory11]

Thank you very much for the help! I am seeing that I have left out several things I would not have even thought of. I will use this information to make the best of what i have to present! Thank you!!

 

[ivory11]

Was that the old GRE or the new one? I thought most schools were requiring the new GRE now, so I would double check on that if you took the old one

I took the old GRE, which is why LSU was eliminated from my list of schools. I believe they were the only one on my list that did not accept the older GRE. Thank you though!

 

[Museum Nerd]

Ok, throwing this out here cause I'm all worried after reading these excellent posts..

I am a first time applicant, and I'm only applying to Western U.
Still really working on the application, haven't figured out a lot of things about it yet, so this is a bit incomplete.

I'd say I'm really outstanding as a student, but my problem is experience. My experience has been good in terms of the things I got to learn, but not NEARLY enough hours or variety. I'm counting on the next few months for a few things like LA work, but it's pretty much all small animal. I got screwed over this summer because I was really led to believe I had a job at either of the two vet clinics I worked at last summer, and then they didn't have a spot, so I was really bummed and can't find ANY vets who will let me hang around much less hire me... so frustrating.

Overall GPA: 3.96
Overall Science: 3.97
Last 45: 3.95

GRE: Just took it so don't know percentiles or writing score yet, but 164V and 161Q
Taking it again in July and I think I can up that Q a little

I have a lot of academic awards, and lots of community service/ band experience back from high school, but not much since in terms of leadership or comm service. I have a few college activities/service to list but nothing great, art is also a big extracurricular thing that I guess is more like a "hobby"... I've done a lot of tutoring jobs and some cool research on arthritis in mice (WHICH I don't think has been published so I can't list in Research..)... It's been hard cause I go to a small school with a good amount of pre-med but I think I'm the only person this year applying to vet school, so no Pre-Vet Club or animal clubs or anything in that vein...

Only 600 hours total to report, unless I can count things about my own pets (I've had a number of different SAs, I would have thought your own pets don't count but some people were talking about it)?? More hours are coming in this summer, with some LA, but yeahhh..... Over 400 were Veterinary Experience at two separate small animal clinics. The other 200 were Animal Experience at a local animal shelter and with wildlife for an Ornithology/Herpetology class, which was cool. One vet place had a specialty in pocket pets and pot-bellied pigs, but I never worked on any of them so that's not much variety. I learned how to do a pretty good range of skills, even blood draws, though.

I'll have great letters of recommendation from professors/mentors, but I am really unsure about my vet recommendation since I haven't seen the other vets since last year and I only knew them for a few months, don't even know which to choose, still kinda hoping for a new one for this summer...

Anyways, I'm super nervous because I know how important the experience is, but is it possible that someone with low experience and high academic achievement could be accepted? It seems to me there is a lot of the reverse, where people have been working on farms or at clinics for years and got to do lots of stuff, but had low-ish grades... I was actually kind of surprised that the average admitted GPA was only like a 3.3...

Sorry if this was half rant!! I really appreciate whoever is reading it. Think I'll have a shot at Western, or will they most likely turn me away to get more/varied experience and come back in a year? 🙁

why do you think you cant count your research just becasue it has not been published? Unless that is new to VMCAS this year if you did the research you can still list it.

 

[felinelvr44]

why do you think you cant count your research just becasue it has not been published? Unless that is new to VMCAS this year if you did the research you can still list it.

This is something that was changed for the VMCAS application this year.

 

[AuburnVet]

Degree: Animal Science (Business Minor)
Graduating Spring 2014

GPA: 3.50
Last 45 hrs: 3.39
Science GPA: 3.41
GRE: V 141 Q 156 and 3.5 (didn’t study, plan on retaking it soon)

Experience:
-200 hours SA clinic
-70 with cattle
-50 with swine
-25 with raptors
-20 shadowing a vet
-200+ hours of research (Will be close to 400 hours at end of summer)


Other:
-Learned many lab techniques while doing research
-Scholarship Athlete at Div. I University in two sports (track and cross country)
-Team Captain
-National College Athletic Honor Society Chi Alpha Sigma member

I have posted before but my numbers have changed a bit. I need some advice about the GRE I have been studying to take it at the end of the summer. I am extremely nervous about it. What kind of score is good? I feel so clueless

Where do you plan on applying?

 

[bdeusebio]

why do you think you cant count your research just becasue it has not been published? Unless that is new to VMCAS this year if you did the research you can still list it.

Yeah... I mean it will still be there under Animal Experience. I may talk about it in my PS too. But it bothers me that I have to check "I DON'T HAVE ANY RESEARCH EXPERIENCE" 😛

 

[cadisestrama]

Yeah... I mean it will still be there under Animal Experience. I may talk about it in my PS too. But it bothers me that I have to check "I DON'T HAVE ANY RESEARCH EXPERIENCE" 😛

Um. there was a thread a couple days ago by Lab Vet and actually VMCAS changed their mind again and you can still put it under research exp even if you don't have a publication

 

[1103]

Hey Everyone:
I am wondering if anyone has gotten in somewhere with similar stats...
I have a 4 year degree in Business Administration from 2003. My grades were not good and will be calculated in most schools. It is only 3.0. I spent 10 years working in business but struggled with alcoholism so I struggled with keeping employment. I am now 4 years sober and completely turned my life around...Here are my stats...
Cum GPA (including schools from 10 years ago): 2.95
Last 45: 3.32
Science GPA: depends on school but about 3.1 to 3.4

Things I have had to overcome: alcoholism (2 DWI's only misdemeanor), and ADD.

Experience Outside of Animal:
Tons and Tons of volunteer experience in and outside of animal experience
Mission Trip to Mexico 1997-1998
Boys and Girls club, tutor mentor program
Sunday School teacher
Lived 1 month in Mexico studying spanish

Animal Experience:
Wildlife center Volunteer
Zoo internship, elephant string
Therapeutic horse center for Children with disabilities
Rode with a bovine vet for a semester
Equestrian center intern
Volunteer research in Costa Rica for 6 weeks + spanish program
Biology class in South Africa with school (J term)
Led alcoholism support group

Vet experience:
Bovine vet
Worked at an emergency clinic as a client service rep
Banfield as a vet tech
intern at a equine small animal clinic
about 1040 hrs (just vet)

Have a horse, african grey and 2 dogs.
Activities:
Riding (Gymkhana)
sports in high school
Dance captain
What else: 17-18 credits/semester + volunteer or work most semesters
All semesters took summer classes
Pet sitting business owner
Ok that's a lot to read but I really need your input!!!!
Thank-You!