Where should I apply next?

[buttersthecat]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Just got rejected from UF (OOS- with a letter of rec from one of their DVM professors) and UGA (IS) during my second application cycle.

Y’all I’m so tired and I’ve only applied twice…my weakness is my low undergraduate GPA 3.1, my strength is my upward trend (3.7 last 45 hours) and master’s degree (thousands of research hours and a publication in progress). I made a 4.0 in graduate school and repeated several undergrad classes where I got Cs. In my application, I mention my physical health problems that caused my low grades in undergrad, my upward trend in grades, and how I overcame this and learned emotional resilience which will help me as a vet. I’ve been working as a full time vet tech for about a year now and I have zoo vet shadowing/volunteer hours, a hoofstock keeper internship, and experience with veterinary field work in Paraguay.

Where should I apply next? I’m caring less and less about applying to cheaper schools, I just want to be a vet! What do y’all think? Thanks in advance!

 

[Nash09]

This might fit better in the WAMC thread? But regardless I actually had similar GPA stats and it was also my second cycle - you can check my post in the Successful Applicants thread for the details!
Successful Applicants C/O 2030

But if you only applied to UF and UGA, I would probably suggest casting a wider net (if you can afford the application fees/COA of the schools if you were to get accepted).
I applied to 9 schools this time and only got 3 interviews. (I have one acceptance so far and waiting to hear from the others.)

I think really looking to see what each school looks at and what they prioritize when selecting candidates is important, and also you want to give yourself as many chances for success as possible.

 

[buttersthecat]

This might fit better in the WAMC thread? But regardless I actually had similar GPA stats and it was also my second cycle - you can check my post in the Successful Applicants thread for the details!
Successful Applicants C/O 2030

But if you only applied to UF and UGA, I would probably suggest casting a wider net (if you can afford the application fees/COA of the schools if you were to get accepted).
I applied to 9 schools this time and only got 3 interviews. (I have one acceptance so far and waiting to hear from the others.)

I think really looking to see what each school looks at and what they prioritize when selecting candidates is important, and also you want to give yourself as many chances for success as

Yes I’m applying to more schools next cycle! I had just finished my masters program and I was so burnt out this last September I only did what I thought were my 2 best chance schools, UGA for IS and UF for the letter of rec from one of their dvm professors 🙃 also considering Ross but tbh very suspicious of their dropout rate and no breaks schedule

 

[pp9]

Just got rejected from UF (OOS- with a letter of rec from one of their DVM professors) and UGA (IS) during my second application cycle.

Y’all I’m so tired and I’ve only applied twice…my weakness is my low undergraduate GPA 3.1, my strength is my upward trend (3.7 last 45 hours) and master’s degree (thousands of research hours and a publication in progress). I made a 4.0 in graduate school and repeated several undergrad classes where I got Cs. In my application, I mention my physical health problems that caused my low grades in undergrad, my upward trend in grades, and how I overcame this and learned emotional resilience which will help me as a vet. I’ve been working as a full time vet tech for about a year now and I have zoo vet shadowing/volunteer hours, a hoofstock keeper internship, and experience with veterinary field work in Paraguay.

Where should I apply next? I’m caring less and less about applying to cheaper schools, I just want to be a vet! What do y’all think? Thanks in advance!

I do think your academics are going to hold you back at a lot of schools. Can you make an updated WAMC so we can see your experience/other info too (I see the 2024 one)?

With what you've said here, your best bet would be to pick schools that focus on last 45 and one other GPA probably...what are your science and preqreq GPA now? If either/both are a 3.5+, definitely pick schools that only look at last 45 and science/prereq. If they are still a 3.2ish, that's also going to be a hurdle for you. Science and prereq GPAs are different - it sounds like you have an advanced science degree with a good GPA so your science GPA might be stronger than your prereq? Prereq GPA would vary slightly between schools but usually not by much.

what I thought were my 2 best chance schools, UGA for IS and UF for the letter of rec from one of their dvm professors 🙃 also considering Ross but tbh very suspicious of their dropout rate and no breaks schedule

And as a side note, having a LOR from faculty at a school doesn't mean much, it seems as if you thought that would be an 'in' for you. UF has really high admitted student statistics that you are really far off from with your cGPA, unfortunately. My guess is that you still got an interview though, which is good! But yeah your app still has to be competitive on its own, an LOR like that should just be the cherry on top.

Ross is certainly an expensive gamble. They do take a certain % of students that, imo, are not academically ready for vet school/had no business being accepted. That contributes to the high rate of dropping/failing out, but it's also just a HUGE culture/lifestyle shift that so many people are not prepared for. Island living is not all fun and games. Those students also end up leaving the program or end up so miserable that it affects their academics. The majority do make it through though, so not trying to be super doom and gloom about it. From the many anecdotes we have from SDN and that I have from personal colleagues that graduated from Ross or SGU, these schools aren't all that invested in how their students do. Not that a state school is going to swoop in to your rescue, but they appear to offer more resources to those struggling. I've heard much better things about SMU but they are not accredited which is another discussion entirely (and a school that requires all private loans).

I’m caring less and less about applying to cheaper schools, I just want to be a vet!

I know it's a frustrating process, but try to keep in mind that foregoing the financial considerations of this endeavor will haunt you longer than rejections will. I would strongly recommend you deeply consider the financial implications of any school. If you don't get into your IS, you're basically locked in to some amount of private loans unless you are coming from a family that can pay your tuition OOP. Private loans follow you for life.