What schools put less emphasis on grades for admission?

[VeganChick]

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Yes, I know, I know...I need to get my grades up. However, right now, they are what they are, so I was wondering what schools place less emphasis on GPA in the admissions process? I know that some schools won't even look at your app if your GPA isn't at a certain benchmark, so I want to avoid those schools and try to apply to ones that might consider overlooking my 2.7.

 

[rachroo]

Hi Veganchick! My GPA is not so hot at a 3.0 😱. While I am applying this application cycle for the first time, I'm doing everything else I can to make up for my past GPA mistakes and I realize it might take me a few trys.

Also, SGU and Ross may not be everyone's first choice but they are an option. I know one Ross vet who is an amazing doctor and has said that although initially Ross wasn't her 1st choice, she's happy that she had an alternative to still become a DVM. She was pleased with her education and said it was a great experience she wouldn't want to take back.

I'd reccommend checking out this thread:
http://more.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=493514
...there are a few people who have applied and been accepted to schools with less than a 3.3 GPA.

Good luck!! 😀

 

[twelvetigers]

A 2.7 is tough. I got an in-state interview at OKSU with a 2.8, but not an acceptance. Work on getting over a 3.0, and have other great things to put in your app... that's my plan, at least. As always, Ross and others are out there offering perfectly good DVMs, and I wouldn't be ashamed to go to any of those schools. As long as you plan on proving yourself worthy in vet school, you can do well anywhere.

Good luck and hang in there!

 

[RazorDoc2010]

While they may have changed their procedure, at least 2 years ago LSU didn't even look at your cumulative, just a couple of specific GPAs if that's helpful.

 

[msmrtrthnyllb]

Minnesota, maybe. I just remember they don't require a supplemental application, which is nice. And once you're granted an interview, they throw out all of your GPA and GRE score information and base your acceptance on your interview. In that sense, it seems like GPA is not an extremely big part.

 

[Moonpaw]

Minnesota, maybe. I just remember they don't require a supplemental application, which is nice. And once you're granted an interview, they throw out all of your GPA and GRE score information and base your acceptance on your interview. In that sense, it seems like GPA is not an extremely big part.

Along those lines, however, is the fact that you still need to make that first GPA/GRE cut. This year, they cut the applicant pool down to 750 based on that alone. Then they ignored it completely and looked at everything else to get the number down to about 240, if I remember correctly, and granted interviews to those people. So if you have a really stellar GRE score, then I think Minnesota's system may work to your advantage.

 

[david594]

UTK seemed to have an interesting GPA policy. It weights it something like 4 different ways so that a bad overall gpa wont destroy your changes if your had a strong last 4 semesters, or good science gpa.

 

[VolunTiger]

While they may have changed their procedure, at least 2 years ago LSU didn't even look at your cumulative, just a couple of specific GPAs if that's helpful.

LSU doesn't use your cumulative GPA in their score calculations, they use your required courses GPA (32% of your entire application score) and your last 45 hours GPA (20% of your entire application score) and then GRE is 18% of your score. I had a 3.7 cumulative GPA (3.62 required, 3.65 last 45) and a 1280 on the GRE and I didn't get into LSU, which is my IS school...but I did get accepted to UTK with those grades and a luckily very good interview.

Hope it helps.

 

[noellehallman]

Does anyone know if any of the other Southern schools besides LSU puts less emphasis on GPA?

 

[LVT2DVM]

know which schools play down lower GRE scores....(D#%^ stupid test)?

 

[twelvetigers]

OKSU isn't as competitive as other schools out there, but there aren't a whole lot of OOS seats available. I'd consider it, though... if you're willing to take the biology GRE. I know the gen GRE scores are a bit lower overall. My scores are competitive there, but average or even a bit below among others in here.

 

[LVT2DVM]

OKSU isn't as competitive as other schools out there, but there aren't a whole lot of OOS seats available. I'd consider it, though... if you're willing to take the biology GRE. I know the gen GRE scores are a bit lower overall. My scores are competitive there, but average or even a bit below among others in here.

Thanks 12tigers, I could just kick myself for not applying there this year since they also contract with DE, but I didnt want to retake the BIO test (scores are older than 4 yrs) and now it looks like I need to retake them anyway for UGA. 🙄 Go figure. Im sure gonna take another look once they post the 2012 class stats.

 

[adOggy07]

Minnesota, maybe. I just remember they don't require a supplemental application, which is nice. And once you're granted an interview, they throw out all of your GPA and GRE score information and base your acceptance on your interview. In that sense, it seems like GPA is not an extremely big part.

Minnesota takes 3 things into consideration (academic wise) when deciding to give applicants interviews: GPA of required courses, last 45 unit GPA, and the GRE. They also take into consideration your experiences and maturity... here's more info: http://www.cvm.umn.edu/cvm/education/prospective/evaluation/home.html

So they don't take into account your overall GPA. So if you did well in those 3 areas, you have a good chance of getting an interview. My overall GPA was not steller either but I had a strong GPA of req courses and the last 45 unit GPA... my GRE was fairly mediocre but I was still offered an interview.

It's still kind of slim chances AFTER you get the interview (as an OOS anyway)... because if I remember correctly, they interviewed about 180 OOS applicants and they ONLY accept 36, and ONLY put another 36 on the waitlist, and everyone else is rejected. I was in the rejected group.... 😛 And the evaluation of the interviewees are based ONLY on the interview and non-subjective portion... personal statement, etc. So grades no longer matter at that point. In my case, I didn't interview as well as I thought I did.

I think Kansas also does not look at overall GPA that much... they take a lot of consideration in the last 45 unit GPA also of the applicant... and the fact that take take a high number of OOS students def ups your chances of getting in...

Hope that info helps? GOOD LUCK!

 

[VeganChick]

How about schools that look at the overall GPA rather than the prereqs/last 45 credits? My undergrad grades and master's grades were really good, it's just my prereqs that are ugly.

 

[zpinkpanther]

Hi VeganChick! Like a few others have done, I'd like to suggest that you apply to Ross and/or SGU. I can't tell you much about SGU, so perhaps someone else can fill in on that one, but I'm starting at Ross this fall and my GPA wasn't great, either. Their website says a lot about looking at you as a person as well as at your stats and all that jazz. I know it's not the most prestigious vet school, but at least it's something, right? I've worked with a couple vets who went there (one graduated from there and one transferred to Tennessee after the first year) and they're both excellent doctors. It's kind of a pain that you have to take an extra licensing exam if you go there, but basically I think that you'll get out of it what you put in. Anyway, I hope that helps and good luck! 👍

 

[VeganChick]

I definitely am going to apply to Ross. The extra exam thing doesn't bother me; the only thing that does is the accreditation status. Two of the vets I work with went to Ross and they are fantastic. What is the deal with the accreditation status, do you know?

 

[Hopeful07]

Hi Veganchick,

I'm going to SGU this next fall for Vet School. As far as I know, ROSS and SGU are in the last steps of accredition, but neither of them have scheduled a last visit. I'm not sure how rushed they are to get accrediated, considering that when they do get accredited, a lot of the funding goes to the AVMA. I wouldn't expect accredidation anytime soon. (I could be totally off about this, anyone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

As far as I understand (what my interviewer said) you can take the 3 day ECFVG 6000 dollar test and be licensed in every state. Or you can take the PAVE (which is a few hundred) before you get off the island and be licensed in some states.

It took me a long time to decide which caribbean school I wanted to go to. If you're curious why I picked SGU over ROSS and SMU, you can send me an email and I'd be more then happy to let you know.

Good luck!

 

[lailanni]

Not sure if you'd want to come all the way to Washington, but they won't discard apps with a low GPA right away.

They have a 3 tier system. To my understanding if you make tier 1 you have a fair shot at an interview. More info here http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/prospectiveStudents/AdmissionProcedure.aspx
To make it into tier 1, you have to meet ONE of the following standards

a) overall GPA above 3.5
b) science GPA above 3.7
c) GRE above 75th percentile (includes all 3 sections of the exam)

So if your GRE was good, you'd be in tier 1 and would still have a fair chance. The average accepted GPA is 3.71, so it might be kind of tough. But seems they're willing to look at you even with a lower GPA.

 

[VAgirl]

Not sure if you'd want to come all the way to Washington, but they won't discard apps with a low GPA right away.

They have a 3 tier system. To my understanding if you make tier 1 you have a fair shot at an interview. More info here http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/prospectiveStudents/AdmissionProcedure.aspx
To make it into tier 1, you have to meet ONE of the following standards

a) overall GPA above 3.5
b) science GPA above 3.7
c) GRE above 75th percentile (includes all 3 sections of the exam)

So if your GRE was good, you'd be in tier 1 and would still have a fair chance. The average accepted GPA is 3.71, so it might be kind of tough. But seems they're willing to look at you even with a lower GPA.

LVT2DVM...check out the above post. Looks like with your high GPA but low GREs, Washington state might be a good choice. Has getting to an interview been a problem for you? It seems like an interview could be a good time for you to shine and show your worth as a non-trad. Maybe something to think about and consider applying to Wash?

 

[jeeney]

Hi Veganchick,

I'm going to SGU this next fall for Vet School. As far as I know, ROSS and SGU are in the last steps of accredition, but neither of them have scheduled a last visit. I'm not sure how rushed they are to get accrediated, considering that when they do get accredited, a lot of the funding goes to the AVMA. I wouldn't expect accredidation anytime soon. (I could be totally off about this, anyone can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

As far as I understand (what my interviewer said) you can take the 3 day ECFVG 6000 dollar test and be licensed in every state. Or you can take the PAVE (which is a few hundred) before you get off the island and be licensed in some states.

It took me a long time to decide which caribbean school I wanted to go to. If you're curious why I picked SGU over ROSS and SMU, you can send me an email and I'd be more then happy to let you know.

Good luck!

Hi Hopeful07,

I'm curious as to why you picked SGU over ross and SMU..🙂 Its been over a month and i still haven't even heard from SGU since my interview *sigh* 🙁

Jenny

 

[LVT2DVM]

Hi Hopeful07,

I'm curious as to why you picked SGU over ross and SMU..🙂 Its been over a month and i still haven't even heard from SGU since my interview *sigh* 🙁

Jenny

Jenny did they give you expected notification date? Seems like they should have contacted you by now. You may want to call, maybe something got lost in the shuffle. SMU sent me an email a week after my interview.

 

[Hopeful07]

Jenny, you should definately call SGU. I interviewed in the beginning of May and heard back on June 2nd.

And check your pm's, I e-mailed you the reasons I picked SGU over Ross and SMU. They're all great schools though.

Hi Hopeful07,

I'm curious as to why you picked SGU over ross and SMU..🙂 Its been over a month and i still haven't even heard from SGU since my interview *sigh* 🙁

Jenny

 

[Mellobunnie]

Hi Hopeful07,

Could you please also fill me in on why you made the choice that you did? I was torn between SGU and SMU~

Thanks!