What are the sections in VMCAS?

[qwpo]

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Could anyone please tell me what are the sections and questions in VMCAS application (especially the essay questions)? the I am going to apply this year and want to start writing essays early. Can those who has applied before help? I will appreciate it very very much

 

[david594]

Are you sure you want AMCAS or the VMCAS?

 

[Pandacinny]

There are lots of sections on VMCAS, but most of them are really straightforward. If you're preparing ahead of time, I suggest getting all of your veterinary, animal, and work experience listed out. Your application will go much more quickly if you already have the dates and hours of your experience together. That way, you aren't stuck going "did I work in that research Lab in 2004 or 2005?"

There's only one essay on VMCAS - your personal statement. Two essays if you write an explanation statement. Some supplemental applications have specific questions, but not all.

 

[Skillet9886]

Like Pandacinny said, there are only the personal and explanation statements. If you're starting early, my advice is to calculate all the hours of experience (veterinary, animal, leadership, honors/awards, etc.) and keep a running resume, and to make a list of reasons you want to be a vet. That way, when you write your personal statement, you have something to go off of, but you don't have to worry about the stylistic elements of the personal statement to write that list.

Also, even though VMCAS doesn't have essays beyond the personal statement and explanation statement, if you choose to write one, keep in mind that many schools have their own supplemental applications, which may or may not include additional essays. It just depends on what schools you plan on applying to.

Ok, that's the end of my unsolicited advice. Since you asked, below is the prompt for the personal statement. [Fair warning for those of you who have bad memories of this ...stop reading now!]

Your personal statement should be written clearly and succinctly – 5000 characters (including spaces) have been allotted for your statement.
Discuss briefly the development of your interest in veterinary medicine. Discuss those activities and unique experiences that have contributed to your preparation for a professional program. Discuss your understanding of the veterinary medical profession, and discuss your career goals and objectives.

 

[qwpo]

Thanks you guys, all the information are very very helpful, thanks!!! I just have one more question about the explanation statement, so just explain why you got low grades like C right? What about B-? it is consider bad? And what else I should explain?

 

[bmichs75DVM]

Your personal statement should be written clearly and succinctly – 5000 characters (including spaces) have been allotted for your statement.

YES!!! My personal statement was about 5280 and I had to cut almost a full paragraph out somewhere. That is hard to do let me tell you.

 

[Skillet9886]

Thanks you guys, all the information are very very helpful, thanks!!! I just have one more question about the explanation statement, so just explain why you got low grades like C right? What about B-? it is consider bad? And what else I should explain?

It's up to you, but I wouldn't. I have a few C's here and there, and I left my explanation statement blank. The only thing that I would have been able to explain was that I suck at organic chemistry. Unless you have a real reason or have an uncharacteristically bad semester or had to withdraw or something like that, I wouldn't explain grades. I would maybe explain like if you don't have a lot of vet experience because you had to take care of siblings and couldn't work, or if you got mono one semester and dropped a few classes. I think most people slip up a bit and get lower grades than they wanted in certain classes, but as far as I saw it when I did my VMCAS, anything that I explained would only draw more attention to those aspects of my application.

Like I said, it's a case-by-case basis, but in September I had a meeting with Dr. Vickroy, the Dean of Students at UF CVM, and one of the things I asked him about was the explanation statement, since I was getting paranoid about leaving an entire section of my application blank. He told me not to worry about it, and that over half of the applications UF gets have blank explanation statements...and a few that the review board wished had been left blank! 😉

 

[twelvetigers]

The only thing that I would have been able to explain was that I suck at organic chemistry.

Amen, sister.

 

[rouxeny]

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