Why is Vet more competitive than MD?

[Overachiever12]

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I was having this discussion with a pre-vet student a couple of days ago. She stated that veterinary school was by far more competitive than allopathic MD admissions (of course, initially, I thought she was ill-informed). I was kind of shocked to find out that she was sort of right. Does anyone have a theory on why this is?

I understand the basic concept: > # of Med schools in comparison to # of Vet schools. From my research, I saw that most pre-vet students take the GRE. To me, I feel like this is the problem. The GRE is so basic, and there will be nearly no separation in scores between any of their qualified applications. That leaves GPA as the only admissions factor. Many pre-medical students decide to not apply or wait to apply due to low MCAT scores, which drive down the number of applicants each year. If medical schools allowed the GRE as well, the number of applicants each year would increase dramatically. Vet schools should create their own exam, maybe a VCAT, that could restrict such fierce competitiveness. (Just my procrastination produced theory)

 

[ZtetNb]

# applicants/# spots does not provide a complete measure of competitiveness. Like I heard someone say before, 16 high school dropouts apply for one job at Burger King, does that mean the job at Burger King is more competitive than med school admissions?

 

[yehhhboiii]

it's not more competitive and it doesn't matter so tell her to drop the inferiority complex

 

[whatever5]

# applicants/# spots does not provide a complete measure of competitiveness. Like I heard someone say before, 16 high school dropouts apply for one job at Burger King, does that mean the job at Burger King is more competitive than med school admissions?

Yes, it does. Just because something is competitive doesn't mean it's prestigious.

 

[ZtetNb]

Yes, it does. Just because something is competitive doesn't mean it's prestigious.

*strawman argument*

Didn't say it was, but you have to account for the qualifications of the competitors.

 

[chillaxbro]

I was told the same thing about dental schools
Something about there not being as many dental schools as medical schools 🙄

 

[tantacles]

*strawman argument*

Didn't say it was, but you have to account for the qualifications of the competitors.

Well, I would say that competitiveness is actually based on the competitors. If those 16 high school dropouts were facing one PhD in food service, well, I would argue that for the PhD, the placement isn't competitive at all. For the dropouts . . . well, I think you get the picture.

 

[BlueLabel]

Oh look, this thread again

 

[PennDippody]

# applicants/# spots does not provide a complete measure of competitiveness. Like I heard someone say before, 16 high school dropouts apply for one job at Burger King, does that mean the job at Burger King is more competitive than med school admissions?

👎 Not a relevant example (nor is it at all likely) and slightly condescending at best.

 

[Barcu]

Sounds like a pointless discussion. Who cares which is more competitive?

 

[MysteryCat]

# of vet schools/seats vs. # of med schools/seats.

# of potential jobs after graduation/general demand.

6 species in 4 years vs. 1

But really, mostly it's just supply and demand. There are just too many struggling vets.

 

[thefritz]

# applicants/# spots does not provide a complete measure of competitiveness. Like I heard someone say before, 16 high school dropouts apply for one job at Burger King, does that mean the job at Burger King is more competitive than med school admissions?

I can pretty much guarantee you that if the med school applicant applied for the job at burger king, he wouldn't get it. The person who needs it and thus won't leave and also has experience will get it. Burger king doesn't care about your GPA. I made this mistake trying to get a retail job in high school (which I never could). competitiveness = number of applicants for number of spots. Hypothetically, if there are 3 people applying for a derm residency with 3 spots, it's not a competitive residency, regardless of what their step 1 score is, which is, after all, all anyone cares about on sdn.

 

[yehhhboiii]

I was told the same thing about dental schools
Something about there not being as many dental schools as medical schools 🙄

lol
that's not what matters
but dental school seems pretty time intensive

 

[Aerus]

You can't compare the number of applicants at face value. The whole premed process is a competition. Account for all the hoops that premeds have to jump through. Many people "lose" the competition before they even apply.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

Lots of health professions like to boast that "looking at the numbers" they're more competitive than med school. For example, clinical psychology PhD programs are more competitive than med school if you only look at the number of people applying per number of open spots.

Of course, this all ignores what an applicant has to do to be competitive, which is what really matters.

 

[TooLove]

I would argue this. It's not a walk in the park to get into either med or vet school. Yes there are many more medical schools as compared to vet schools, but there's also many more physicians than veterinarians.

Mystery cat is right about the supply and demand as well.

There used to be a VCAT exam, it was done away with years ago. Some schools will accept MCAT scores but in general they all accept GRE scores and lets face it, who is going to subject themselves to the MCAT when you can take the GRE? Not even the Biology GRE, just the regular one. In general, the GRE isn't weighted as much in the admissions process except for a select few schools.

Yes that leaves GPA, which is indeed important, but there is more of an emphasis on experience than there seems to be for med school apps. I had a horrendous undergrad GPA but 10,000+ hours of experience. I've seen plenty of people with high GPA's, even 4.0 that get rejected because they don't have enough experience hours.

I think essentially it comes down to the fact that they are both competitive, but a person going through on process or the other is going to think that they have it the harder than the other side. In reality, the processes are different enough that many med students would not have been accepted to vet schools and vice versa. They are both competitive in in slightly different ways.

 

[ZtetNb]

I can pretty much guarantee you that if the med school applicant applied for the job at burger king, he wouldn't get it. The person who needs it and thus won't leave and also has experience will get it. Burger king doesn't care about your GPA. I made this mistake trying to get a retail job in high school (which I never could). competitiveness = number of applicants for number of spots. Hypothetically, if there are 3 people applying for a derm residency with 3 spots, it's not a competitive residency, regardless of what their step 1 score is, which is, after all, all anyone cares about on sdn.

Missing the point, I didn't say the premed would get the job. That residency may not be competitive relative to other derm residencies, but getting into derm at all is still competitive because of how much it takes just to get to the point of applying.

I also didn't say anything about prestige, but I guess that's what some people care about when discussing competitiveness. Neither did I say Med or Vet was more competitive, just that we can't infer just from the # of applicants to # of spots.

For the record, I have applied for and didn't get jobs that require far less that med applications, but I also didn't put what little was expected for being qualified for the job.

You can't compare the number of applicants at face value. The whole premed process is a competition. Account for all the hoops that premeds have to jump through. Many people "lose" the competition before they even apply.

Lots of health professions like to boast that "looking at the numbers" they're more competitive than med school. For example, clinical psychology PhD programs are more competitive than med school if you only look at the number of people applying per number of open spots.

Of course, this all ignores what an applicant has to do to be competitive, which is what really matters.

Here you go.

 

[BlueLabel]

You can't compare the number of applicants at face value. The whole premed process is a competition. Account for all the hoops that premeds have to jump through. Many people "lose" the competition before they even apply.

I just kinda glanced at your post and I thought your name was "Anus". I smiled.

Also I agree with you and OCD. There's self-selection going on you have to account for.

 

[MDforMee]

Since I took the GRE without studying and it was higher than a competitive vet school's average, should I mention it in a med school interview if it comes up?

 

[yoyohomieg5432]

Since I took the GRE without studying and it was higher than a competitive vet school's average, should I mention it in a med school interview if it comes up?

why would you brag that you took a test without studying? that shows irresponsibility. and i doubt conversation about vet school would come up? unless you were pre-vet in the past or something

 

[yehhhboiii]

Since I took the GRE without studying and it was higher than a competitive vet school's average, should I mention it in a med school interview if it comes up?

lol that's like printing out your mcat score report and letting it "accidentally" drop out of your folder

with the score highlighted of course

 

[mcloaf]

lol that's like printing out your mcat score report and letting it "accidentally" drop out of your folder

with the score highlighted of course

I just safety pinned my THx printout to my lapel.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

I just safety pinned my THx printout to my lapel.

That's much too subtle, some people will probably never even notice it.

I don't take chances. What I do is wear a dress shirt with my score printed on it to ensure that no one can miss it. I also make sure the interviewer notices it by taking off my suit jacket ("oh man you guys sure do keep it warm in these offices!") while leaning into the interviewer's face. For added effect, I keep copies of all my publications and my honors thesis in my jacket, so that when I take it off they all fall out onto their lap or desk ("oh crap, I'm sorry, those are just my publications. I've got my hands full with this coat, could you do me a favor and pick them up for me?").

 

[circulus vitios]

That's much too subtle, some people will probably never even notice it.

I don't take chances. What I do is wear a dress shirt with my score printed on it to ensure that no one can miss it. I also make sure the interviewer notices it by taking off my suit jacket ("oh man you guys sure do keep it warm in these offices!") while leaning into the interviewer's face. For added effect, I keep copies of all my publications and my honors thesis in my jacket, so that when I take it off they all fall out onto their lap or desk ("oh crap, I'm sorry, those are just my publications. I've got my hands full with this coat, could you do me a favor and pick them up for me?").

MCAT score monograms and cufflinks 😎

 

[BlueLabel]

MCAT score monograms and cufflinks 😎

MCAT score print tie or GTFO

 

[Kinch]

MCAT score print tie or GTFO

👍

 

[Narmerguy]

There are many professional school programs that constantly compare and place themselves above medical school programs. In the end, you'll find that you are much happier if you avoid getting pulled into these conversations--nothing good comes from them.

 

[MDforMee]

why would you brag that you took a test without studying? that shows irresponsibility. and i doubt conversation about vet school would come up? unless you were pre-vet in the past or something

Irresponsible? No. Confident? Yes. And I have reason to be, thank you.

 

[mcloaf]

Irresponsible? No. Confident? Yes. And I have reason to be, thank you.

What is going on ITT?

Brb taking GRE so I can brag about being competitive for vet programs on an anonymous premed forum.

 

[MDforMee]

What is going on ITT?

Brb taking GRE so I can brag about being competitive for vet programs on an anonymous premed forum.

That person made a snide comment, and my original post was meant to be funny.