What are my chances?

[Vet1234]

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Thanks for the information.
My veterinary experience is well over 2000 hours at my current small animal practice. I understand my gpa is low but has done nothing but increase in the last year. I have had nothing below a 3.4 in my last 45 hours. I am currently doing my masters in one year and will be finished this May so have been taking about 13-15 hours a semester of just masters classes. Right now my plan is to retake organic 2 to raise that grade since it was a C. I also wanted to retake 2-3 other classes in the fall to remove those Cs and replace them hopefully with an A. I do want to go somewhere in the US, don't see being able to pay off St. George or Ross in the next 20-25 years and the fact of never being able to come home and see family isn't appealing to me with older grandparents not in the best of health.

After my 1st year of applying I did file reviews to see how I could improve. My last 45 gpa was just shy of 3.7 and she told me I was on the low side. It took all of my will to not slap her.

 

[caroline54]

Hey all, first time posting on these forums.
Just want to know everything I can do to better my application. I want to apply this coming cycle, but will probably have to take a couple of years off.

I'm currently a junior undergrad
GPA: currently 3.2, will hopefully be 3.3 after this semester
Science GPA: ~3.15
Last 45: ~3.5

Haven't taken the GRE yet, but took a practice exam and got 155 Q and 160 V (somewhere around there, and I know I can definitely do better when I actually take it because I finished the practice test in less than 2 hours)

Vet Experience:
500+ hrs small animal vet assistant
20 hrs large animal vet assistant
40 hrs equine vet volunteer
60 hrs shadowing 2 different small animal vets

Animal Experience:
40 hrs zoo intern
20 hrs horse rescue volunteer
~7 years working at a horse farm in exchange for lessons (maybe 5,000 hours but honestly no idea)
my whole life of pet ownership? don't know if that counts, but i've seen some people posting it

Other:
I also took a summer college course at Cornell for small animal veterinary science and got an A
I will also be getting 40 hours working with a zoo veterinarian before applying, as well as working as a lab intern (60 hours total)
I am co-president of my schools pre-vet club, going on my 3rd year
I play intramural soccer, 2 years total

I know I'm a very average applicant (below average grade wise) and just want to know what I should do to stand out! Thanks!

 

[that redhead]

Hey all, first time posting on these forums.
Just want to know everything I can do to better my application. I want to apply this coming cycle, but will probably have to take a couple of years off.

I'm currently a junior undergrad
GPA: currently 3.2, will hopefully be 3.3 after this semester
Science GPA: ~3.15
Last 45: ~3.5

Haven't taken the GRE yet, but took a practice exam and got 155 Q and 160 V (somewhere around there, and I know I can definitely do better when I actually take it because I finished the practice test in less than 2 hours)

Vet Experience:
500+ hrs small animal vet assistant
20 hrs large animal vet assistant
40 hrs equine vet volunteer
60 hrs shadowing 2 different small animal vets

Animal Experience:
40 hrs zoo intern
20 hrs horse rescue volunteer
~7 years working at a horse farm in exchange for lessons (maybe 5,000 hours but honestly no idea)
my whole life of pet ownership? don't know if that counts, but i've seen some people posting it

Other:
I also took a summer college course at Cornell for small animal veterinary science and got an A
I will also be getting 40 hours working with a zoo veterinarian before applying, as well as working as a lab intern (60 hours total)
I am co-president of my schools pre-vet club, going on my 3rd year
I play intramural soccer, 2 years total

I know I'm a very average applicant (below average grade wise) and just want to know what I should do to stand out! Thanks!

Welcome to SDN 🙂

If it's financially feasible, I would apply this cycle. Even if rejected, you can get some valuable feedback from file reviews.

My general advice is to apply broadly (especially to schools like Minnesota and KSU that really like last 45 GPA, since yours is solid) and to add as much vet experience as you can before applying without further compromising your grades. You have a good foundation, and it's great that you've managed to get some large animal and equine in there! By spending some more time with those vets you have fewer hours with, you can build more of a rapport and maybe get another vet letter of recommendation.

As for your grades, I would consider re-taking classes (especially pre-reqs) that you got a C in and/or taking some challenging upper level science courses. You can really work with your stronger last 45 GPA - that demonstrates you've matured as a student and been able to handle the course load that an older student takes. If you can ace those upper level sciences, you'll have a good record to argue your case with by showing schools that you can handle the tough classes.

Good luck!

 

[Beagleholly]

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[dovelover]

Hi everyone,

Not sure if this is appropriate for this thread, so apologies in advance if it's not. I'm not applying this year, since I don't think I'm a strong enough candidate for the schools I'm looking at yet, and also for several personal reasons, but I was hoping I could get some feedback about how to improve my chances, especially for particular schools. The schools I'm considering are WSU, Wisconsin, Tufts, Davis, Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado, Oregon, UPenn. In particular, my dream school is Wisconsin (which is OOS for me), and am worried about their emphasis on diversity. Any advice on how to improve my chances, particularly for Wisconsin?


I'm currently a junior, biology major, with most of my prerequisites completed or in progress (I think I just have a comp class, genetics course and physiology course left)
GPA: 3.81
Science GPA is probably pretty similar (~90% of my classes have been science, and then ~5% math, 5% english)

I haven't taken the GRE yet, but I've done pretty well on practice tests.

Vet Experience:
~550 hrs small animal vet assistant (shadow and then paid - ongoing)
3 hrs equine vet assistant (I already talked to the vet I shadowed for these hours, and will be shadowing him this summer)
3 hrs zoo animal (shadowing and talking to the vet)
10 hrs volunteer vet assistant at local shelter (just started a couple of weeks ago, and this is ongoing)

Research Experience:
200 hours - working in a bird lab, in the breeding colony (mostly behavioral research- ongoing)

Animal Experience:
>250 hours hippotherapy volunteer (in classes, and caring for horses, as well as training new volunteers)
I applied for an animal care job in the lab I work at, so should be doing that for the summer as well.
I have several thousand hours of horse experience - riding, caring, training etc
I own dogs, cat, guinea pigs, lizard, fish etc.

Other:
I also took a summer college course at Cornell for small animal veterinary science and got an A (I copied this from the person who posted above - but I also took this, in high school, would this count?)
Secretary/treasurer pre-vet club (this year and next)
For about a year, participated in a biomedical club where we discussed research articles
Mentor for the pre-vet club (advising other pre-vet undergraduates)
Volunteer at a variety of things (so a few ~5 hour things)
Stuff from high school - after school child care intern, volunteered at a thrift shop, more hippotherapy hours, co-president of the zoology club I helped found, varsity swim team 2 years, National Honor Society

Awards:
Creative writing award - best short story
Phi Beta Kappa
Dean's list every quarter + "yearly dean's list"
NSCS
Golden Key International
IB diploma (high school)

One of my problems is I started getting experience end of sophomore year-beginning of junior year only. In my gap year, I'm hoping to diversify my experiences a bit more and just get more hours in general.

Your stats are actually pretty good so far. You've got a solid GPA, which for most schools will give you a bit of wiggle room on the rest of your application. And you've got one solid in depth experience at 550 hours, and you've got research experience, which is a plus. And since both of these are ongoing, they will give you a pretty solid number of hours in 2 areas. And you've started getting experience in equine and shelter med with promise of more hours... assuming you keep these activities up as planned through the summer, you'll actually be a decent applicant already. You may have other reasons for choosing to take a gap year, but I honestly think you could get into vet school this cycle if you kept up your progress, so I wouldn't worry too much about your stats. A summer of even part time vet work would probably put you close (if you include your research hours) to the number of hours I had when I applied (with less diversity than you already have) with a GPA only at around 3.7, and I got into 3 schools. Yes, you have some competitive schools on your list, so you may need to do a bit more if you really want to get into one of those... but you also have some schools on that list that I think you could get into this year, for what it's worth.

While diversity is good for any application, in my experience it isn't necessarily essential, unless as you said, a school particularly focuses on it. I can't speak for Wisconsin specifically, but if they do value diversity as you say, I would definitely keep up with the equine and shelter experiences to add some more depth to them. Getting at least a little bit of production animal experience would be good too, but plenty of people enter vet school having never touched a cow. Even just getting a bit of experience at a second small animal hospital (or something like an ER or specialty clinic), to see how different hospitals work, will help add diversity. Alternatively, finding a unique experience that will help your application stand out and give you something interesting to talk about in interviews is always a great idea. I talked about my experience training a skunk at 3 out of 4 of my vet school interviews, and treating a loft of pigeons for a brain parasite came up at all of them, so I can at least say my interviews weren't dull. Of course, having good LoRs, a strong personal statement, and quality essays or interviews also contribute to the total package, so it's important not to forget about those factors.

 

[Rabbit Riot]

Here's a question I've been thinking about: At what point should someone consider his/her self to be a "n0n-traditional" pre-veterinary student? Age? Time away from a formal education program? Going to graduate school before vet school?

When I apply again this fall, I'm wondering if this is how I should start branding myself. I'm 27 and in a graduate program, but I've never been out of the academic bubble (continuous enrollment in college since high school with no long breaks, mostly as a fulltime student), so I've been hesitant to call myself "non-traditional." I also don't have any dependents, nor have I changed my career interest since starting school.

 

[that redhead]

Here's a question I've been thinking about: At what point should someone consider his/her self to be a "n0n-traditional" pre-veterinary student? Age? Time away from a formal education program? Going to graduate school before vet school?

When I apply again this fall, I'm wondering if this is how I should start branding myself. I'm 27 and in a graduate program, but I've never been out of the academic bubble (continuous enrollment in college since high school with no long breaks, mostly as a fulltime student), so I've been hesitant to call myself "non-traditional." I also don't have any dependents, nor have I changed my career interest since starting school.

I think a variety of factors can make someone a non-trad: age is one of them, time away from formal education and/or in the workforce for a good chunk of time, parenthood or military service (which may or may not play into the "time away") and career changer (even still within the traditional educational time frame) are all factors I'd consider.

Obviously there is no "are you a non-traditional applicant" box to tick off on the application; the adcoms decide that kind of thing for themselves based on the above factors. I don't think I'd label yourself as the typical non-traditional applicant from what you've shared, especially since many students seem to be doing a Masters before applying (either after an unsuccessful application or not) but that doesn't mean you can't spin yourself as different with unique experiences, letters, PS, etc. All numbers essentially equal, I assume they'd rather admit the applicant that brings more breadth to the class, and that doesn't always mean age, parenthood, etc - it could mean a unique career goal or set of experiences.

 

[Swongy]

Just a general question: Let's say you have an exceptional GPA and experience, with a mediocre GRE (little less than 75%), would they still consider you?

Just because I don't want to have to take the GRE again 🙁

 

[Ashgirl]

Just a general question: Let's say you have an exceptional GPA and experience, with a mediocre GRE (little less than 75%), would they still consider you?

Just because I don't want to have to take the GRE again 🙁

75 percentile? Is that for all sections? What were your raw scores? If it was 75%, that's not mediocre at all, in fact, that's quite competitive! It does depend on the school though (Some only weigh it as little as 4%, some put heavy emphasis on it). Looking at class statistic on school websites could help you judge where you are in that aspect as well.

 

[Swongy]

Thanks for the fast reply @Ashgirl !

I just took the GRE the send time and I scored 154 V and 159 Q (I haven't gotten the percentiles yet). Cornell emphasizes on it pretty heavily, but I was hoping they would take into account my other qualifications to compensate for a not-so-great GRE score, like experience and GPA.

I just sent an email to admissions to see if they can give me a specific answer- hopefully they respond!

 

[Swongy]

second**

 

[Ashgirl]

Thanks for the fast reply @Ashgirl !

I just took the GRE the send time and I scored 154 V and 159 Q (I haven't gotten the percentiles yet). Cornell emphasizes on it pretty heavily, but I was hoping they would take into account my other qualifications to compensate for a not-so-great GRE score, like experience and GPA.

I just sent an email to admissions to see if they can give me a specific answer- hopefully they respond!

It depends on the rest of your application, but those scores don't look bad to me.. are you applying to Cornell as your IS or OOS school? Have you looked up their recent class averages/statistics?

 

[Swongy]

Here's the rest of my application (had it written somewhere in the forum):


I am a female NYS resident, college graduate. I am traditional in the sense that I have not had previous majors and/or life-changing moments. I am currently taking 2 years off so gain some more experience and work on my GREs.

Just looking for some general input. all advice is greatly valued! attachFull181044

Education:
Undergrad in Biology
cum GPA: 3.87
science GPA: 3.79
last 45 credits GPA: 3.92
GRE: just took them (literally, just came home from the exam- ha!) 150 V, 156 Q, still waiting for the AW. NOW, this is where I am contemplating about taking them again. I've read that most schools, in order to be competitive, require at least a 75% + on the GRE for each section. I haven't received the percentile grades yet, but I am pretty banking on taking them again, just to help me sleep better at night during admissions.

Awards:
Dean's list all four years, every semester

Vet Experience:
- 2300 hours at a small animal clinic as a veterinary assistant. most tasks involved those of a vet tech
- 100+ hours at a mixed animal practice
- 1000 hours at a zoo hospital as a vet tech intern

Research Experience:
- 1000 hours doing some biological research, working with african trypanosomes- involved a lot of mice work and lab techniques
- 400 hours volunteering at a horse farm

Animal Experience:
- 500+ hours working as an animal care taker and educator at a petting zoo
- 800+ hours dog and cat sitting/grooming/walking

Extracurricular:
- secretary and member of animal service club on campus
- member of culinary cuisine club
- volunteer at a park conservancy club


Also, no! Where do you find their stats?

 

[sassypixie_92]

So I just finished my freshmen year and my grades were terrible because honestly i just wasn't studying like I should've

Last semester I got an F and 2 C's in chem and chem lab
This semester i got a D in math and C's in chem and chem lab again

I know I can make the grades I just need to study more!!!
If I pull it together from here on out will my freshmen year grades keep me from getting accepted anywhere?

 

[Ashgirl]

So I just finished my freshmen year and my grades were terrible because honestly i just wasn't studying like I should've

Last semester I got an F and 2 C's in chem and chem lab
This semester i got a D in math and C's in chem and chem lab again

I know I can make the grades I just need to study more!!!
If I pull it together from here on out will my freshmen year grades keep me from getting accepted anywhere?

Well, it depends on the rest of your semesters and how you progress (schools do tend to like an upward trend in grades), and of course the rest of your application. Are these your only grades? You will need to retake any pre-req that was lower than a C, and some schools average them when you do (some take the higher grade so that could be something to look into). When the time comes, you can apply to schools that favor last 45 credits as well, or those that offer grade forgiveness. I'm not going to lie, it will be an upward battle, but if you get extremely good grades from here on out, it's not impossible.

ETA: @Swongy , I haven't been able to look, but if you search through Cornell's website there should be statistics from previous classes on there!

 

[sayabear3]

Thanks for the fast reply @Ashgirl !

I just took the GRE the send time and I scored 154 V and 159 Q (I haven't gotten the percentiles yet). Cornell emphasizes on it pretty heavily, but I was hoping they would take into account my other qualifications to compensate for a not-so-great GRE score, like experience and GPA.

I just sent an email to admissions to see if they can give me a specific answer- hopefully they respond!

For the record, my GRE scores were pretty similar to yours (can't remember exactly) and I got into Cornell (and Ohio State) for c/o 2018 with a good GPA and pretty good experience goi into applications.

 

[Swongy]

@sayabear3 awesome! thanks for the input! 🙂 and congrats!! I know someone who just got in for that class, too! I hope you guys meet, his name is asaf 🙂

and thanks a bunch @Ashgirl !! I'll give it a look! 😀

 

[Beagleholly]

Your stats are actually pretty good so far. You've got a solid GPA, which for most schools will give you a bit of wiggle room on the rest of your application. And you've got one solid in depth experience at 550 hours, and you've got research experience, which is a plus. And since both of these are ongoing, they will give you a pretty solid number of hours in 2 areas. And you've started getting experience in equine and shelter med with promise of more hours... assuming you keep these activities up as planned through the summer, you'll actually be a decent applicant already. You may have other reasons for choosing to take a gap year, but I honestly think you could get into vet school this cycle if you kept up your progress, so I wouldn't worry too much about your stats. A summer of even part time vet work would probably put you close (if you include your research hours) to the number of hours I had when I applied (with less diversity than you already have) with a GPA only at around 3.7, and I got into 3 schools. Yes, you have some competitive schools on your list, so you may need to do a bit more if you really want to get into one of those... but you also have some schools on that list that I think you could get into this year, for what it's worth.

While diversity is good for any application, in my experience it isn't necessarily essential, unless as you said, a school particularly focuses on it. I can't speak for Wisconsin specifically, but if they do value diversity as you say, I would definitely keep up with the equine and shelter experiences to add some more depth to them. Getting at least a little bit of production animal experience would be good too, but plenty of people enter vet school having never touched a cow. Even just getting a bit of experience at a second small animal hospital (or something like an ER or specialty clinic), to see how different hospitals work, will help add diversity. Alternatively, finding a unique experience that will help your application stand out and give you something interesting to talk about in interviews is always a great idea. I talked about my experience training a skunk at 3 out of 4 of my vet school interviews, and treating a loft of pigeons for a brain parasite came up at all of them, so I can at least say my interviews weren't dull. Of course, having good LoRs, a strong personal statement, and quality essays or interviews also contribute to the total package, so it's important not to forget about those factors.

Thank you so much for your answer! I really appreciate the advice.

 

[Rabbit Riot]

So I just finished my freshmen year and my grades were terrible because honestly i just wasn't studying like I should've

Last semester I got an F and 2 C's in chem and chem lab
This semester i got a D in math and C's in chem and chem lab again

I know I can make the grades I just need to study more!!!
If I pull it together from here on out will my freshmen year grades keep me from getting accepted anywhere?

I would look into "freshman forgiveness" policies at your school and consider retaking these classes. My school would replace grades outright if you retook the class within your first year and half. I started off weak my first year in undergrad with lots of C's and didn't try to rectify it. It was a slow climb up the GPA ladder from there. It's really better to try to start strong. A few C's aren't horrible, but if you can fix them now, try.

Hopefully you fare better with the biological sciences. They were always my saving grace when I was battling chemistry.

 

[that redhead]

So I just finished my freshmen year and my grades were terrible because honestly i just wasn't studying like I should've

Last semester I got an F and 2 C's in chem and chem lab
This semester i got a D in math and C's in chem and chem lab again

I know I can make the grades I just need to study more!!!
If I pull it together from here on out will my freshmen year grades keep me from getting accepted anywhere?

You'll need to retake those classes either way, because vet schools won't consider less than a C (and some not even a C-) for pre-requisite courses such as chemistry.

As someone who really struggled academically, I know just how easy it is to tell yourself, "I know I didn't do enough but I'm going to get better next semester!" Optimism and enthusiasm will only go so far; you need a solid, well-detailed game plan on how you're going to improve your study habits, time management and endurance over the semester. That may mean working with a tutor regularly, or visiting a campus learning center to discover how you learn best and changing your current method of study to maximize your efficiency. It may mean finding reliable study buddies, investing in a good planner and making yourself a strict schedule until you get the hang of just how much you need to do. You are looking down a very slippery slope right now, even though it's only freshman year - don't sweet talk yourself into complacency because before you know it you'll be applying to schools and kicking yourself (as I did!)

You may also consider taking a semester off school or taking a lighter courseload (either fewer credits or less science) until you've mastered studying and time management. The good news is, you can absolutely recover and make it to vet school with the proper changes and dedication 🙂

 

[Mrow123]

@Swongy I had a similar GPA to you when I applied this year - 3.89 or something, and my GRE was higher 168 V and 158 Q. My experience, however, was less impressive than yours. I got in to Ohio State and was wait listed at Cornell. I think you will be okay!

 

[Swongy]

Oh wow! Thanks for the advice @Mrow123 ! I feel so much better now 🤣

 

[rockthatscoober]

I feel a little self-indulgent posting this, but I am also a glutton for insight...I just joined the forum today 'cause it's so helpful and I had too many burning questions...
Here are my stats, if anyone wants to give an idea of my chances. In particular, I'm a Texas resident looking to go to A&M if at all possible. Thanks in advance!

23 yr old, non-trad student. I did my undergrad at Arizona State in the honors department (BA: Creative Writing, Spanish minor, Summa cum Laude, 3.88 GPA)
I'm currently a post-bacc doing ALL my science pre-reqs (all I had from undergrad was Bio, Stats, and Calculus)

GPA: currently 4.0, will hopefully stay that way through the end of the year...
Science GPA: 4.0
Last 45: ~3.95

GRE: 167 V, 150 Q (I know, terrible), 5.0 W but I am planning on taking it again later this month to bring that math score up

Vet Experience:
400+ hrs surgery assistant at city animal shelter
I am in the process of finding a place to shadow right now, should have 100-200 hrs by the time the application is due (assuming I can find someone who'll let me in!). Obviously this is my weakest area, but everyone I email is completely unresponsive 🙁

Animal Experience:
20 hrs exotic husbandry
150 hrs animal shelter volunteer
200 hrs pet sitting, grooming, walking, etc (paid)
~1000 hrs horse training and riding as member of collegiate equestrian team and as a job in high school
100 hrs volunteering at therapeutic riding clinic
100 hrs pet ownership (I believe that's the max)
50 hrs field work for mammalian genetics research

Research Experience:
350 hrs on turtle genetics and evolutionary history/phylogenetics - presented at 2 conferences and won a couple awards for this project
400 hrs on bowhead whale population genetics and distribution for the Intl Whaling Committee (paid)
I'm also about to start another project on a rretty big grant from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the impact of nuclear testing on native Nevada species, should be ~300 hrs by the end of it

Other:
Dean's List, National Merit Scholar, Phi Kappa Phi, AISEC International - Africa Region coordinator, and I wrote a thesis for my degree, some of which has been published in small journals, Member of the Texas Society of Mammologists
Study abroad scholarship for Manchester, England
Excellence in Chemistry Award, various other nominal honors
I also worked for a year as a content writer and developer for a company in Texas, after graduating (pretty much what made me realize that I could never have a desk job, lol), in addition to working 30-40 hrs a week throughout my undergrad. I still work while in school, but it's doing research, which I mentioned above.

I know my GRE Q score needs to come up, and I'm doing everything I can to get into a mixed practice clinic to shadow, but it's a challenge. Any other thoughts or ideas, and does anyone have helpful hints on convincing vets to let you shadow/volunteer??

Thanks!!

 

[epivetlove]

Howdy!

I think your stats look great for A&M. GPAs are very important and yours are very high, so that's great! You may be able to make up for your lower Q score with your GPAs, so I wouldn't stress too much if you're not able to retake it. The only thing that stands out to me is your lack of variety in vet experience. A&M loves to see large animal experience, so if you can get at least 50-100 hours before October, you should be set.

As for convincing clinics to let you shadow, there should be several threads about it already. I think it's generally advised to go in person, dress nice, and ask to shadow for a day instead of seeking a longer commitment right away. Are you in Texas or still in Arizona?

 

[rockthatscoober]

Thanks so much for the quick reply @epivetlove ! I am in Houston, Texas now (thank goodness! haha). Going in person is a good idea - honestly I was trying to go the chicken route and avoid face-to-face rejection! Even one or two days of shadowing is worth it, though. Plus it's probably harder to turn down an eager face than an email! I am definitely going to focus on getting large animal vet experience - now to find a ranch in downtown Houston! Haha.

 

[epivetlove]

You shouldn't have too many issues finding someone. There's a ton of large animal practices in and around Houston. If you're able to make the drive once a week, you should contact Brazos Valley Equine Hospital. It's in Navasota. I shadowed there for a semester and you get to see a lot of really cool stuff with horses. 🙂 They have a Shadow Program set up, but it tends to fill up fast.

Good luck! If you have any A&M/TMDSAS-specific questions, feel free to PM me any time.

 

[that redhead]

I feel a little self-indulgent posting this, but I am also a glutton for insight...I just joined the forum today 'cause it's so helpful and I had too many burning questions...
Here are my stats, if anyone wants to give an idea of my chances. In particular, I'm a Texas resident looking to go to A&M if at all possible. Thanks in advance!

23 yr old, non-trad student. I did my undergrad at Arizona State in the honors department (BA: Creative Writing, Spanish minor, Summa cum Laude, 3.88 GPA)
I'm currently a post-bacc doing ALL my science pre-reqs (all I had from undergrad was Bio, Stats, and Calculus)

GPA: currently 4.0, will hopefully stay that way through the end of the year...
Science GPA: 4.0
Last 45: ~3.95

GRE: 167 V, 150 Q (I know, terrible), 5.0 W but I am planning on taking it again later this month to bring that math score up

Vet Experience:
400+ hrs surgery assistant at city animal shelter
I am in the process of finding a place to shadow right now, should have 100-200 hrs by the time the application is due (assuming I can find someone who'll let me in!). Obviously this is my weakest area, but everyone I email is completely unresponsive 🙁

Animal Experience:
20 hrs exotic husbandry
150 hrs animal shelter volunteer
200 hrs pet sitting, grooming, walking, etc (paid)
~1000 hrs horse training and riding as member of collegiate equestrian team and as a job in high school
100 hrs volunteering at therapeutic riding clinic
100 hrs pet ownership (I believe that's the max)
50 hrs field work for mammalian genetics research

Research Experience:
350 hrs on turtle genetics and evolutionary history/phylogenetics - presented at 2 conferences and won a couple awards for this project
400 hrs on bowhead whale population genetics and distribution for the Intl Whaling Committee (paid)
I'm also about to start another project on a rretty big grant from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the impact of nuclear testing on native Nevada species, should be ~300 hrs by the end of it

Other:
Dean's List, National Merit Scholar, Phi Kappa Phi, AISEC International - Africa Region coordinator, and I wrote a thesis for my degree, some of which has been published in small journals, Member of the Texas Society of Mammologists
Study abroad scholarship for Manchester, England
Excellence in Chemistry Award, various other nominal honors
I also worked for a year as a content writer and developer for a company in Texas, after graduating (pretty much what made me realize that I could never have a desk job, lol), in addition to working 30-40 hrs a week throughout my undergrad. I still work while in school, but it's doing research, which I mentioned above.

I know my GRE Q score needs to come up, and I'm doing everything I can to get into a mixed practice clinic to shadow, but it's a challenge. Any other thoughts or ideas, and does anyone have helpful hints on convincing vets to let you shadow/volunteer??

Thanks!!

I'm not sure how your cumulative GPA can be a 4.0 but your last 45 is a 3.95? Schools will take your previous degree's GPA into account in addition to your pre-requisite grades. Assuming you've factored that into account and can continue to do well in your pre-reqs, you seem pretty set grade-wise.

When contacting places for shadowing hours, showing up in person with a resume in hand is the most preferable method. Phone calls and emails are too easy to put aside for another day (most places that I've been to or heard of are far too busy to check email regularly, let alone coordinate a timely response) and while you still may have to follow up with them, it's more likely to get you a response. Fortunately, you've got strong grades and neat research experience to counter-balance lower vet hours 🙂

 

[rockthatscoober]

@epivetlove I just called them and got a spot in the shadowing program starting Thursday! Thank you a million times! I can't believe how helpful that was!! Yay!!!!!

 

[rockthatscoober]

@that redhead Sorry, the current GPA for my post-bacc is a 4.0 (I had a 3.88 overall in undergrad). I should really have said 3.9ish overall and 4.0 last 45 since my last semester of undergrad plus all my postbacc is probably right at 45 hours, and those are all As. I don't know exactly what my GPAs will be because my transcripts are many and long 🙂 but that's my best guess.

 

[KathleenHadds31245]

I'm just wondering whether or not to even apply this year, which saddens me because this has been my dream for as long as I can remember 🙁. I just ended my junior year at University of Michigan, majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. I have tons of good research (worked with a lab animal vet at NIH) and small/large animal experience. However, my cumulative GPA up to this point is only 3.273, and my science GPA would be lower (maybe ~3.0? Depends on the school). My last 45 credit hours GPA is around 3.6. I have most of my prerequisite classes already taken (only need 1 or 2 more -- genetics and maybe anatomy or cell bio). After I take biochem this spring, my GPA would be around 3.26 if I got a B. My gre scores are 159 (quantitative), 154 (verbal), and 4.5 (writing), taken with the new gre. The only grades I have that aren't A's or B's was orgo 2 my freshman year, in which I got a D, but I retook it an got a B-. I also got a C in orgo II lab, and a C+ in intro bio I. All of this was because my dad committed suicide when I was in college, but my science grades were all much better from then on. I am applying to my in-state school (Auburn), Western U in Pomona, CA (since I know they are more likely to take lower GPAs), and 7 other out-of-state schools just in case. Does anyone have any advice? Should I even apply this year? After my senior year, my GPA may be closer to 3.36-3.4 because I won't have many more hard science classes to take, so should I apply after senior year instead of now (the summer after my junior year)?

 

[dovelover]

I'm just wondering whether or not to even apply this year, which saddens me because this has been my dream for as long as I can remember 🙁. I just ended my junior year at University of Michigan, majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. I have tons of good research (worked with a lab animal vet at NIH) and small/large animal experience. However, my cumulative GPA up to this point is only 3.273, and my science GPA would be lower (maybe ~3.0? Depends on the school). My last 45 credit hours GPA is around 3.6. I have most of my prerequisite classes already taken (only need 1 or 2 more -- genetics and maybe anatomy or cell bio). After I take biochem this spring, my GPA would be around 3.26 if I got a B. My gre scores are 159 (quantitative), 154 (verbal), and 4.5 (writing), taken with the new gre. The only grades I have that aren't A's or B's was orgo 2 my freshman year, in which I got a D, but I retook it an got a B-. I also got a C in orgo II lab, and a C+ in intro bio I. All of this was because my dad committed suicide when I was in college, but my science grades were all much better from then on. I am applying to my in-state school (Auburn), Western U in Pomona, CA (since I know they are more likely to take lower GPAs), and 7 other out-of-state schools just in case. Does anyone have any advice? Should I even apply this year? After my senior year, my GPA may be closer to 3.36-3.4 because I won't have many more hard science classes to take, so should I apply after senior year instead of now (the summer after my junior year)?

You're not a hopeless case, so don't get too down on yourself. How many hours of experience do you actually have? Because "tons" means a few hundred to some people and several thousand to others. People on this forum have gotten in with GPAs <3.0, so your situation is not the end of the world. If you are otherwise a well rounded applicant and have a high number of hours with a good level of quality/depth/breadth, you definitely have a chance. I think for you it would be very important to discuss on your application (usually in the explanation statement) the reason why you got those lower grades, as you have a very valid reason (which can also be spun as a source of personal growth or something like that should you feel it's appropriate or necessary). I think it's worth trying this year, at least for a few schools even if you don't want to spend the money going all out and applying to 9 schools. Even if you don't get in, you'll be able to get feedback on your application as to how they think you could improve. Also, applying to schools that focus on last 45 will help you out. For example, at Minnesota they only look at prerequisite GPA (I don't know if this is science only or all prereqs) and last 45, not cumulative. Your last 45 almost squeaks into the middle 50% range of the stats for my class. I've heard Kansas also looks heavily at last 45, but I don't know that for sure.

 

[misswild0o]

My turn, my turn! So I've been halfway dreading commenting on this and halfway dying to comment on this for the same reasons as everyone else. I'm terrified I'm not competitive enough, and I'm hoping that someone will tell me otherwise. Heeeere goes the next 45 minutes of my life!

Graduated 2013 Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, minor in genetics
GPA 4.0 at both community college and Texas A&M Universtiy
GRE: Verbal 160, Quant 160, Analytical 4.0 (I was so mad about this! I was so choked up on the first essay that I didn't complete it, and then I did really well on the second one, thank goodness!)

I earned my Associate of Arts degree before transferring to TAMU. After my first semester there, I became torn between pre-med and pre-vet. Instead of volunteering those first few months to figure it out, I just studied my butt off. I started volunteering in a hospital a year later and realized pretty quickly that I didn't want anything to do with human medicine. So the second to last semester I took a Biomedical Anatomy class and found myself enamored with the idea of pursuing veterinary medicine. Ever since, I've been volunteering in animal hospitals. That being said, I've only had a year to actively pursue animal and veterinary experience so this is where I am at:

Vet Experience
250+ at a small animal clinic, unpaid
50+ at that same clinic, paid
1,500+ at a mixed animal clinic (small animal and pocket pets), paid
80+ at same mixed animal clinic, unpaid
~30 at an equine hospital (still trying to gain experience here)

Animal Experience
1,000+ house sitting for friends, family, coworkers
~12 hours wildlife experience (still working to gain experience here too)
100 ownership
50+ hours working the kennel shift at the small animal clinic above
50+ hours doing baths at the mixed animal clinic above
70+ hours working with My Service Dog to learn how to train basic obedience and I helped at fundraising events (Mostly did this in high school, with some hours overlapping freshman year)

Employment
I worked several jobs throughout community college: office assistant, server, barista, life guard, after school care counselor
I didn't work the first few semesters at TAMU, but I did work consistently the last two years I was there (I went to TAMU for a total of 3.5 years): assitant curator of the entomological collection, barista, line cook

Extracurricular
Should I put Phi Beta Kappa?
Transfer Camp Counselor for 1 year
Pre Med Society for a semester
Wildlife Society for a semester
1000+ hours crocheting blankets and scarves for friends, family, and sometimes paying customers

I've gotten quite a few scholarships from TAMU, and I spoke at a small Student Symposium while I was in community college, and I made Dean's List a few times

So my main concerns are:
1) That the majority of my experience being acquired over the last year will make me look uncommitted, because I haven't been working towards this the majority of my life aka undergrad. And I don't think the year off from school will look too hot either..
2) That the 6 year period it took me to graduate will look bad. I never failed a course, I withdrew from only one class, but I took a semester "off" before applying to TAMU because I wasn't sure about what I wanted to do. The minor I earned added a semester, and because I chose to be pre-med after getting an associate of arts, I had to catch up on a lot of science courses.
3) I don't have any research experience unless organizing a collection of bugs or a collection of frozen reptilian tissue samples counts. I'm guessing if I didn't come to a conclusion on anything, then it isn't research experience. And I'm no longer a student, so research experience isn't easy to come by.
4) I'm worried my Analytical 4.0 is a little too low, but looking at the Accepted average it seems to be okay.. I worry if I take the GRE again, I'll do worse since I don't have the time to study like I did for the first round.



I'm applying to TAMU, and UPenn, CSU, Tufts, and LSU.. I think.. Unless someone recommends I apply differently. I'm on the fence about applying to OSU, I can't tell what they value in an applicant most, and I don't want spend $1,000 applying to as many schools as possible.

Anyone who reads this and offers a constructive reply, or even an empathetic reply is wonderful and patient and kind and I can't thank you enough!

 

[epivetlove]

Howdy fellow WFSC graduate!

You're going to be fine for Texas A&M, at least up to the interview. Obviously nothing is guaranteed, but I wouldn't sweat it. Academics are the biggest point, which you've pretty much nailed, and no, it's doubtful that it'll look bad that all your vet experience is recent. I think the only thing that looks remotely like a red flag is your lack of extracurriculars. But that doesn't count for a lot in A&M's point system.

Also, unless you just hate A&M or love some of your out of state choices, I'd think long and hard on if you'd attend one of them if you were accepted. I'm sure you're aware of the debt problem and going to A&M will be your best financial decision. I mean, I know most people don't put all their eggs in one basket (I did, though), but you picked some of the most expensive OOS schools to attend, haha!

 

[Ashgirl]

My turn, my turn! So I've been halfway dreading commenting on this and halfway dying to comment on this for the same reasons as everyone else. I'm terrified I'm not competitive enough, and I'm hoping that someone will tell me otherwise. Heeeere goes the next 45 minutes of my life!

Graduated 2013 Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, minor in genetics
GPA 4.0 at both community college and Texas A&M Universtiy
GRE: Verbal 160, Quant 160, Analytical 4.0 (I was so mad about this! I was so choked up on the first essay that I didn't complete it, and then I did really well on the second one, thank goodness!)

I earned my Associate of Arts degree before transferring to TAMU. After my first semester there, I became torn between pre-med and pre-vet. Instead of volunteering those first few months to figure it out, I just studied my butt off. I started volunteering in a hospital a year later and realized pretty quickly that I didn't want anything to do with human medicine. So the second to last semester I took a Biomedical Anatomy class and found myself enamored with the idea of pursuing veterinary medicine. Ever since, I've been volunteering in animal hospitals. That being said, I've only had a year to actively pursue animal and veterinary experience so this is where I am at:

Vet Experience
250+ at a small animal clinic, unpaid
50+ at that same clinic, paid
1,500+ at a mixed animal clinic (small animal and pocket pets), paid
80+ at same mixed animal clinic, unpaid
~30 at an equine hospital (still trying to gain experience here)

Animal Experience
1,000+ house sitting for friends, family, coworkers
~12 hours wildlife experience (still working to gain experience here too)
100 ownership
50+ hours working the kennel shift at the small animal clinic above
50+ hours doing baths at the mixed animal clinic above
70+ hours working with My Service Dog to learn how to train basic obedience and I helped at fundraising events (Mostly did this in high school, with some hours overlapping freshman year)

Employment
I worked several jobs throughout community college: office assistant, server, barista, life guard, after school care counselor
I didn't work the first few semesters at TAMU, but I did work consistently the last two years I was there (I went to TAMU for a total of 3.5 years): assitant curator of the entomological collection, barista, line cook

Extracurricular
Should I put Phi Beta Kappa?
Transfer Camp Counselor for 1 year
Pre Med Society for a semester
Wildlife Society for a semester
1000+ hours crocheting blankets and scarves for friends, family, and sometimes paying customers

I've gotten quite a few scholarships from TAMU, and I spoke at a small Student Symposium while I was in community college, and I made Dean's List a few times

So my main concerns are:
1) That the majority of my experience being acquired over the last year will make me look uncommitted, because I haven't been working towards this the majority of my life aka undergrad. And I don't think the year off from school will look too hot either..
2) That the 6 year period it took me to graduate will look bad. I never failed a course, I withdrew from only one class, but I took a semester "off" before applying to TAMU because I wasn't sure about what I wanted to do. The minor I earned added a semester, and because I chose to be pre-med after getting an associate of arts, I had to catch up on a lot of science courses.
3) I don't have any research experience unless organizing a collection of bugs or a collection of frozen reptilian tissue samples counts. I'm guessing if I didn't come to a conclusion on anything, then it isn't research experience. And I'm no longer a student, so research experience isn't easy to come by.
4) I'm worried my Analytical 4.0 is a little too low, but looking at the Accepted average it seems to be okay.. I worry if I take the GRE again, I'll do worse since I don't have the time to study like I did for the first round.



I'm applying to TAMU, and UPenn, CSU, Tufts, and LSU.. I think.. Unless someone recommends I apply differently. I'm on the fence about applying to OSU, I can't tell what they value in an applicant most, and I don't want spend $1,000 applying to as many schools as possible.

Anyone who reads this and offers a constructive reply, or even an empathetic reply is wonderful and patient and kind and I can't thank you enough!

Hello there, and welcome to SDN!

Some things to put your mind at ease:

I personally think your academics (GPA and GRE) look awesome! I wouldn't worry too much about the 4.0 writing score, some schools even throw it out or put lower emphasis on it. Your other scores by and large make up for it as well.

Research is something that could boost your application if you have it, though I don't think it necessarily hurts you if you don't have it (especially since the rest of your application looks great).

I don't know... to me taking 6 years to graduate isn't a bad thing. Now if you took 6 years to graduate and had a 2.5 it might be different, but applicants are accepted with varying years taking them to graduate, so I don't think this will hurt you here.

 

[dovelover]

My turn, my turn! So I've been halfway dreading commenting on this and halfway dying to comment on this for the same reasons as everyone else. I'm terrified I'm not competitive enough, and I'm hoping that someone will tell me otherwise. Heeeere goes the next 45 minutes of my life!

Graduated 2013 Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, minor in genetics
GPA 4.0 at both community college and Texas A&M Universtiy
GRE: Verbal 160, Quant 160, Analytical 4.0 (I was so mad about this! I was so choked up on the first essay that I didn't complete it, and then I did really well on the second one, thank goodness!)

I earned my Associate of Arts degree before transferring to TAMU. After my first semester there, I became torn between pre-med and pre-vet. Instead of volunteering those first few months to figure it out, I just studied my butt off. I started volunteering in a hospital a year later and realized pretty quickly that I didn't want anything to do with human medicine. So the second to last semester I took a Biomedical Anatomy class and found myself enamored with the idea of pursuing veterinary medicine. Ever since, I've been volunteering in animal hospitals. That being said, I've only had a year to actively pursue animal and veterinary experience so this is where I am at:

Vet Experience
250+ at a small animal clinic, unpaid
50+ at that same clinic, paid
1,500+ at a mixed animal clinic (small animal and pocket pets), paid
80+ at same mixed animal clinic, unpaid
~30 at an equine hospital (still trying to gain experience here)

Animal Experience
1,000+ house sitting for friends, family, coworkers
~12 hours wildlife experience (still working to gain experience here too)
100 ownership
50+ hours working the kennel shift at the small animal clinic above
50+ hours doing baths at the mixed animal clinic above
70+ hours working with My Service Dog to learn how to train basic obedience and I helped at fundraising events (Mostly did this in high school, with some hours overlapping freshman year)

Employment
I worked several jobs throughout community college: office assistant, server, barista, life guard, after school care counselor
I didn't work the first few semesters at TAMU, but I did work consistently the last two years I was there (I went to TAMU for a total of 3.5 years): assitant curator of the entomological collection, barista, line cook

Extracurricular
Should I put Phi Beta Kappa?
Transfer Camp Counselor for 1 year
Pre Med Society for a semester
Wildlife Society for a semester
1000+ hours crocheting blankets and scarves for friends, family, and sometimes paying customers

I've gotten quite a few scholarships from TAMU, and I spoke at a small Student Symposium while I was in community college, and I made Dean's List a few times

So my main concerns are:
1) That the majority of my experience being acquired over the last year will make me look uncommitted, because I haven't been working towards this the majority of my life aka undergrad. And I don't think the year off from school will look too hot either..
2) That the 6 year period it took me to graduate will look bad. I never failed a course, I withdrew from only one class, but I took a semester "off" before applying to TAMU because I wasn't sure about what I wanted to do. The minor I earned added a semester, and because I chose to be pre-med after getting an associate of arts, I had to catch up on a lot of science courses.
3) I don't have any research experience unless organizing a collection of bugs or a collection of frozen reptilian tissue samples counts. I'm guessing if I didn't come to a conclusion on anything, then it isn't research experience. And I'm no longer a student, so research experience isn't easy to come by.
4) I'm worried my Analytical 4.0 is a little too low, but looking at the Accepted average it seems to be okay.. I worry if I take the GRE again, I'll do worse since I don't have the time to study like I did for the first round.



I'm applying to TAMU, and UPenn, CSU, Tufts, and LSU.. I think.. Unless someone recommends I apply differently. I'm on the fence about applying to OSU, I can't tell what they value in an applicant most, and I don't want spend $1,000 applying to as many schools as possible.

Anyone who reads this and offers a constructive reply, or even an empathetic reply is wonderful and patient and kind and I can't thank you enough!

First of all, I wouldn't worry. You've got an awesome GPA. You've got the numbers in terms of hours. You've got work experience in non vet areas, which I think people often undervalue. And by the way, you can definitely include the time you spent volunteering in a human hospital in the non-animal volunteer section of your application (don't remember what it's called). It shows that you've explored your options as far as careers are concerned, and to be honest, having an understanding of human health care is not such a bad thing for a veterinarian (we are very much the champions of public health these days). Your biggest hurdle to overcome is showing that you are definitely committed the vet med, since you have switched around a bit, and relatively recently made up your mind. That being said, I'm not sure how much of an issue it's going to be when you've got a 4.0...

I wouldn't worry too much about the fact that you got all of your vet hours in such a short period of time. While it's not ideal, almost all of my vet hours came from the 9 months preceding the application deadline, and almost all from the same place. While I didn't get into the more competitive schools I applied for, I still managed to get into 3 schools, and my GPA was only ~3.7. I think your GREs are fine, some schools don't even look at the analytical writing. In fact when I applied 2 years ago pretty much none of them cared about your analytical writing score. May have changed somewhat though.

Probably the biggest issue with your stats is a lack of diversity. Assuming the hours you have so far are high quality (ie, you've learned a lot and got to know the vet, etc.), since you already have a solid number of hours at two small animal clinics, and have the added bonus of one seeing exotics, I'd say the best thing you can do right now is to really up the number of hours at the equine place, or if that isn't possible, find another not small animal field to get some hours in. And make sure you have some solid eLoR writers lined up. And just an fyi, "mixed" generally refers to practices that see both large & small animals, not small animal & pocket pets... just want to make sure you use the appropriate terminology on your application.

 

[beatles1964]

Here's a question I've been thinking about: At what point should someone consider his/her self to be a "n0n-traditional" pre-veterinary student? Age? Time away from a formal education program? Going to graduate school before vet school?

When I apply again this fall, I'm wondering if this is how I should start branding myself. I'm 27 and in a graduate program, but I've never been out of the academic bubble (continuous enrollment in college since high school with no long breaks, mostly as a fulltime student), so I've been hesitant to call myself "non-traditional." I also don't have any dependents, nor have I changed my career interest since starting school.

I agree that a variety of circumstances can in a sense "brand" you as non-traditional (age, career change, 2nd degree, etc), but in my opinion, when I think non-traditional, I think someone who is not entering vet school directly out of undergrad give or take a year or 2.

 

[WildVet18]

I'm just wondering whether or not to even apply this year, which saddens me because this has been my dream for as long as I can remember 🙁. I just ended my junior year at University of Michigan, majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. I have tons of good research (worked with a lab animal vet at NIH) and small/large animal experience. However, my cumulative GPA up to this point is only 3.273, and my science GPA would be lower (maybe ~3.0? Depends on the school). My last 45 credit hours GPA is around 3.6. I have most of my prerequisite classes already taken (only need 1 or 2 more -- genetics and maybe anatomy or cell bio). After I take biochem this spring, my GPA would be around 3.26 if I got a B. My gre scores are 159 (quantitative), 154 (verbal), and 4.5 (writing), taken with the new gre. The only grades I have that aren't A's or B's was orgo 2 my freshman year, in which I got a D, but I retook it an got a B-. I also got a C in orgo II lab, and a C+ in intro bio I. All of this was because my dad committed suicide when I was in college, but my science grades were all much better from then on. I am applying to my in-state school (Auburn), Western U in Pomona, CA (since I know they are more likely to take lower GPAs), and 7 other out-of-state schools just in case. Does anyone have any advice? Should I even apply this year? After my senior year, my GPA may be closer to 3.36-3.4 because I won't have many more hard science classes to take, so should I apply after senior year instead of now (the summer after my junior year)?

Hi Kathleen! First of all, I'm very sorry to hear about your Dad. I know that people are never sure what/when to list under the "challenges" or "extenuating circumstances" section of application, but I think that death of a parent is a very legitimate situation to write in your application as a reason for low grades. I know people do not want to be seen as making excuses, but the reality is that adcoms are human and they are not looking for "perfect" people to join their vet schools. They are looking for intelligent, inquisitive, driven and mature candidates. They want to have an idea how well you will succeed as a vet student, and how you performed under extreme personal distress is not a good indication of how you are as a student in general, and admissions staff know this! Your last 45 GPA shows that you are a strong student, and the fact that you perservered through a difficult time and stayed in school, brought your grades up, etc., will show how mature and driven you are! So my advice is YES, DEFINITELY APPLY! But make sure to mention why you had those low grades...it would be a good idea to have at least one of your recommenders address this as well! The 'D' was the only grade that you needed to retake for prerequisite purposes, and you have already done that!

So, my advice for improving your application...

- As people have already noticed, look at schools that will replace grades when you retake a class and schools that focus on the last 45. In addition to the ones already mentioned, I think that University of Illinois does this.

-Retake the GRE!!! I know that it's frustrating, but now that you have done it and scored pretty well, you know what to expect. A few hours of studying plus the few hours of testing can really boost your application! I think that your scores are fine (especially the quant), but given your lower GPA, have an unusually high GRE will really help! If you manage to get really great scores, look in to applying to schools that weight GRE more heavily (you can sometimes find this on their websites, or you might have to contact the school directly).

-Consider schools that don't immediately place you in 'Tiers' or 'Ranks' based on your numbers. Although most schools do this to some degree, schools that don't specifically talk about ranking applicants are generally more likely to look at your whole application in detail rather than giving it a more cursory read because of your lower GPA. Also something you might want to consider...Tufts has their own, separate application (not VMCAS) and it has several essay questions that really allows you to explain your unique experiences/circumstances!

-Have you looked at either of the two new vet schools? Now I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about these schools, and it is true that their first classes will be somewhat experimental, but they generally get fewer applicants and allow students to apply/interview early on (at least this cycle they did), so if you can get your app in really early they will have a lot of time to look at you and learn about your specific circumstances.

-Keep getting experience! I don't know your specific hours, but more is always better, especially with a lower GPA! This will also lead to great recs...

-In terms of Western, I went to school ~15 minutes away, so I went to several of their preview days, events, met many students and had students and professors come speak. So just wanted to give you a heads up from my experience...yes, their average accepted GPA is lower than most other US schools, but that doesn't mean it's "easier" to get in to. A large reason why their GPA is lower is that they have a TON of upper division science class pre-reqs...more than any other US school as far as I can tell. In their requirements they actually don't even list a lot of the Gen Bio/Chem classes because they are simply requirements for all of the upper division courses, so it is implied that you have to take them. I (and my pre-vet club) have actually talked to Western admins about how students from a liberal arts school like mine pretty much CANNOT finish all of the prerequisites unless they are Biology majors, and yet they say any major can apply. But anyway, sorry for the tangent...my point for you is MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET IN ALL OF THEIR PREREQUISITE CLASSES, otherwise you are just waisting your money applying. Also if you can apply, definitely take a good look in to their problem-based curriculum style...it is very different from most teaching styles, and while it is great for some people, it really doesn't work for others!

-Finally, just remember the worst that can happen is that you don't get in this cycle. Although that's rough, and it does get expensive, you will be VERY well prepared to apply again the next cycle (after your senior year). This is what happened to me (although I only applied to one school my first time), and the experience that I got with the application, interviews etc., the first time around made me a MUCH better applicant the second time! So their is really no reason to wait until next year. GOOD LUCK 🙂

 

[that redhead]

So my main concerns are:
1) That the majority of my experience being acquired over the last year will make me look uncommitted, because I haven't been working towards this the majority of my life aka undergrad. And I don't think the year off from school will look too hot either..
2) That the 6 year period it took me to graduate will look bad. I never failed a course, I withdrew from only one class, but I took a semester "off" before applying to TAMU because I wasn't sure about what I wanted to do. The minor I earned added a semester, and because I chose to be pre-med after getting an associate of arts, I had to catch up on a lot of science courses.
3) I don't have any research experience unless organizing a collection of bugs or a collection of frozen reptilian tissue samples counts. I'm guessing if I didn't come to a conclusion on anything, then it isn't research experience. And I'm no longer a student, so research experience isn't easy to come by.
4) I'm worried my Analytical 4.0 is a little too low, but looking at the Accepted average it seems to be okay.. I worry if I take the GRE again, I'll do worse since I don't have the time to study like I did for the first round.

1, 2, and 4 are essentially non-issues because the rest of you application is so strong.

As for research, you don't need to have come to a conclusion to count research experience - sample processing, data organization and the like count as "research experience" even if you weren't deeply involved in the scientific process behind it all. If you have experience in a lab, however small, I'd list it.

 

[KathleenHadds31245]

Hi Kathleen! First of all, I'm very sorry to hear about your Dad. I know that people are never sure what/when to list under the "challenges" or "extenuating circumstances" section of application, but I think that death of a parent is a very legitimate situation to write in your application as a reason for low grades. I know people do not want to be seen as making excuses, but the reality is that adcoms are human and they are not looking for "perfect" people to join their vet schools. They are looking for intelligent, inquisitive, driven and mature candidates. They want to have an idea how well you will succeed as a vet student, and how you performed under extreme personal distress is not a good indication of how you are as a student in general, and admissions staff know this! Your last 45 GPA shows that you are a strong student, and the fact that you perservered through a difficult time and stayed in school, brought your grades up, etc., will show how mature and driven you are! So my advice is YES, DEFINITELY APPLY! But make sure to mention why you had those low grades...it would be a good idea to have at least one of your recommenders address this as well! The 'D' was the only grade that you needed to retake for prerequisite purposes, and you have already done that!

So, my advice for improving your application...

- As people have already noticed, look at schools that will replace grades when you retake a class and schools that focus on the last 45. In addition to the ones already mentioned, I think that University of Illinois does this.

-Retake the GRE!!! I know that it's frustrating, but now that you have done it and scored pretty well, you know what to expect. A few hours of studying plus the few hours of testing can really boost your application! I think that your scores are fine (especially the quant), but given your lower GPA, have an unusually high GRE will really help! If you manage to get really great scores, look in to applying to schools that weight GRE more heavily (you can sometimes find this on their websites, or you might have to contact the school directly).

-Consider schools that don't immediately place you in 'Tiers' or 'Ranks' based on your numbers. Although most schools do this to some degree, schools that don't specifically talk about ranking applicants are generally more likely to look at your whole application in detail rather than giving it a more cursory read because of your lower GPA. Also something you might want to consider...Tufts has their own, separate application (not VMCAS) and it has several essay questions that really allows you to explain your unique experiences/circumstances!

-Have you looked at either of the two new vet schools? Now I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about these schools, and it is true that their first classes will be somewhat experimental, but they generally get fewer applicants and allow students to apply/interview early on (at least this cycle they did), so if you can get your app in really early they will have a lot of time to look at you and learn about your specific circumstances.

-Keep getting experience! I don't know your specific hours, but more is always better, especially with a lower GPA! This will also lead to great recs...

-In terms of Western, I went to school ~15 minutes away, so I went to several of their preview days, events, met many students and had students and professors come speak. So just wanted to give you a heads up from my experience...yes, their average accepted GPA is lower than most other US schools, but that doesn't mean it's "easier" to get in to. A large reason why their GPA is lower is that they have a TON of upper division science class pre-reqs...more than any other US school as far as I can tell. In their requirements they actually don't even list a lot of the Gen Bio/Chem classes because they are simply requirements for all of the upper division courses, so it is implied that you have to take them. I (and my pre-vet club) have actually talked to Western admins about how students from a liberal arts school like mine pretty much CANNOT finish all of the prerequisites unless they are Biology majors, and yet they say any major can apply. But anyway, sorry for the tangent...my point for you is MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET IN ALL OF THEIR PREREQUISITE CLASSES, otherwise you are just waisting your money applying. Also if you can apply, definitely take a good look in to their problem-based curriculum style...it is very different from most teaching styles, and while it is great for some people, it really doesn't work for others!

-Finally, just remember the worst that can happen is that you don't get in this cycle. Although that's rough, and it does get expensive, you will be VERY well prepared to apply again the next cycle (after your senior year). This is what happened to me (although I only applied to one school my first time), and the experience that I got with the application, interviews etc., the first time around made me a MUCH better applicant the second time! So their is really no reason to wait until next year. GOOD LUCK 🙂

Thank you so much for the response! Do you have any advice on where to apply that would focus on last 45 gpa more or would play to my strengths? I think besides Western and Auburn I'm applying to UPenn, UC Davis, Michigan State, Ohio State, Florida, and Illinois. I was going to apply to NC State until I heard they cut any out of state students below a 3.4. 🙁 Does Minnesota focus on your last 45 credit hours? Or VMRCVM? I have looked at Western's prerequisites and I do have most of them already taken. 🙂 The only thing I still have to take is one "upper level bio," probably anatomy or something, with lab, which I would take senior year second semester. I thought my animal physiology class with lab would count, but Western also has a physiology requirement and apparently you can't use one class to fulfill two prerequisites (even though they list my physiology class from my particular school as being an upper level bio). I have also looked at the two new vet schools and although I don't really like their locations, I'm debating whether or not to apply. I have a hard time being happy in places that are isolated without a lot of activity or city-life surrounding it (which is why I wasn't going to apply to places like Kansas), but I'm thinking I should suck it up if I want to get into any vet school at all. I actually visited Auburn and didn't find it as pleasing as Western or OSU because it's so isolated, but I feel like I have to apply there because it's my in-state and, because of my low stats, I'd obviously be lucky to get in anywhere at all.

 

[that redhead]

Thank you so much for the response! Do you have any advice on where to apply that would focus on last 45 gpa more or would play to my strengths? I think besides Western and Auburn I'm applying to UPenn, UC Davis, Michigan State, Ohio State, Florida, and Illinois. I was going to apply to NC State until I heard they cut any out of state students below a 3.4. 🙁 Does Minnesota focus on your last 45 credit hours? Or VMRCVM? I have looked at Western's prerequisites and I do have most of them already taken. 🙂 The only thing I still have to take is one "upper level bio," probably anatomy or something, with lab, which I would take senior year second semester. I thought my animal physiology class with lab would count, but Western also has a physiology requirement and apparently you can't use one class to fulfill two prerequisites (even though they list my physiology class from my particular school as being an upper level bio). I have also looked at the two new vet schools and although I don't really like their locations, I'm debating whether or not to apply. I have a hard time being happy in places that are isolated without a lot of activity or city-life surrounding it (which is why I wasn't going to apply to places like Kansas), but I'm thinking I should suck it up if I want to get into any vet school at all. I actually visited Auburn and didn't find it as pleasing as Western or OSU because it's so isolated, but I feel like I have to apply there because it's my in-state and, because of my low stats, I'd obviously be lucky to get in anywhere at all.

Minnesota and KSU are two that come to mind that like last 45. VMRCVM is heavy on grades and UC Davis takes very few OOS students so I'd avoid them. I'd keep Illinois and add in KSU and Minn 🙂

 

[dovelover]

Does Minnesota focus on your last 45 credit hours?

Yes. Minnesota looks at last 45 and prequisite GPAs, and does not look at cumulative.

I have also looked at the two new vet schools and although I don't really like their locations, I'm debating whether or not to apply. I have a hard time being happy in places that are isolated without a lot of activity or city-life surrounding it (which is why I wasn't going to apply to places like Kansas), but I'm thinking I should suck it up if I want to get into any vet school at all. I actually visited Auburn and didn't find it as pleasing as Western or OSU because it's so isolated, but I feel like I have to apply there because it's my in-state and, because of my low stats, I'd obviously be lucky to get in anywhere at all.

My advice, don't apply somewhere if you think you'll be miserable there. Vet school is hard enough without being miserable. However, it is good to keep in mind that you won't necessarily have a lot of free time on your hands. And I wouldn't necessarily rule any school out based on location without visiting-sometimes you can be pleasantly (or unpleasantly) surprised. I'd definitely add Minnesota to your list if I were you, they take almost 50% of their class as OOS, look at last 45 instead of cumulative, and we're right in the midst of two cities. Never a shortage of things to do if that's what you're into for fun (but also lots of access to the outdoors and nature, if your prefer a mix).

 

[Gwenevre]

Okay, because I'm not sure where else to put this. I'm getting my grades back for this spring semester and I got a C+ in my Physics II course. Should I be freaking out as much as I am? Should I re-take it? My other 4 classes so far I have received As in, and I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I retake the course if I'll do well enough to bring that up to a B (average between the courses)

Advice?

 

[dogluver1994]

Okay, because I'm not sure where else to put this. I'm getting my grades back for this spring semester and I got a C+ in my Physics II course. Should I be freaking out as much as I am? Should I re-take it? My other 4 classes so far I have received As in, and I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I retake the course if I'll do well enough to bring that up to a B (average between the courses)

Advice?

My $0.02: don't retake it. Especially if you're not sure that you'd be able to do better retaking it. Just try and do better on the pre-reqs you have left. As long as your other grades are good you should be okay. However, I'm still a pre-vet so I don't know for sure, but this is the advise I've heard from veterinarians who made it with a few C's and B's.

 

[JaynaAli]

Okay, because I'm not sure where else to put this. I'm getting my grades back for this spring semester and I got a C+ in my Physics II course. Should I be freaking out as much as I am? Should I re-take it? My other 4 classes so far I have received As in, and I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I retake the course if I'll do well enough to bring that up to a B (average between the courses)

Advice?

I wouldn't bother., especially if you aren't sure sure you can raise it. Seems like a waste of time and money to me. If your other grades are strong it won't matter that much to have one C+. Lots of people get in with Cs...as long as it's just a couple you're fine. Personally I had mostly Bs in upper level science prereqs and a C in biochem (maybe one other C...I can't remember now) and managed to get in a couple years ago.

 

[brightimpressio]

Okay, because I'm not sure where else to put this. I'm getting my grades back for this spring semester and I got a C+ in my Physics II course. Should I be freaking out as much as I am? Should I re-take it? My other 4 classes so far I have received As in, and I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I retake the course if I'll do well enough to bring that up to a B (average between the courses)

Advice?

I'm one of those people that got in with 2 C's. I second (or third?) what everyone else is saying - if everything else looks pretty good, don't worry about it! 🙂

 

[Gwenevre]

Even if it's one of my pre-reqs?

 

[orca2011]

Even if it's one of my pre-reqs?

Even if it's a prerequisite. I had a C in orgo and got into several schools. Even had two W's.

 

[JaynaAli]

Even if it's one of my pre-reqs?

Yep.

 

[NStarz]

Even if it's one of my pre-reqs?

I actually got in with a D+ on my application (retook and got an A-, but still). And a couple of C+ and like 5 W's (illness). I wouldn't worry too much 🙂 As long as the rest of your application is strong, they probably won't give it a second thought.

 

[Gwenevre]

Thanks you guys! That definitely puts my mind at a bit more ease =)