Will a Nutrition Master's help?

[Apollo84]

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I have applied to vet school twice and not gotten in, I suspect because of my GPA. Rather than continuing to apply to vet school this year, I think I will try to get a Master's degree in the meantime - that way it will help my GPA and give me greater experience in what I want to study in veterinary medicine for the future (animal nutrition). It seems like I can't do anything to change what my undergraduate GPA is so I feel like I just need to move forward and do the best I can with improving my application. I know this is not a foolproof strategy but it's the best that I can come up with that I can reasonably do. I have had suggestions that I apply to foreign schools (like Glasgow, etc.) or Ross but after much thought, I am not willing to move to a foreign country and completely uproot my life. As much as I want to pursue veterinary medicine, that is too much for me personally. Is there anyone that has done this (go to grad school and then vet school) that has some advice for me?

The other thing is, what if I can't even get into grad school? There is no guarantee of that either but I have heard of many people with lower GPAs that did this strategy - are there "easier" programs to get into or did they just apply to many places for grad school? Are the online programs easier to get into (such as Kansas State, Central Michigan, Umass, Eastern Michigan)?

 

[david594]

I have applied to vet school twice and not gotten in, I suspect because of my GPA. Rather than continuing to apply to vet school this year, I think I will try to get a Master's degree in the meantime - that way it will help my GPA and give me greater experience in what I want to study in veterinary medicine for the future (animal nutrition). It seems like I can't do anything to change what my undergraduate GPA is so I feel like I just need to move forward and do the best I can with improving my application.

Did you do post-mortem interviews after being rejected to find out exactly where it is you can improve your application or are you just speculating?

You also need to keep in mind that for many schools there is a numbers game that you need to play for your application to be even considered. If your GPA and GRE arnt at a certain percentile you wont be considered. Many schools also wont factor in grades from grad programs for these calculations. Not sure where you have been applying, but if this is the case with you "not getting your foot in the door" so to say, grad work may not necessarily help you. It all depends on your situation.

Also, have you really looked at the possibility of improving your undergrad gpa? Any courses you had done really bad in that could be retaken to improve it. Particularly science or other related pre-reqs? Many Vet schools will look beyond just your cumulative GPA and also consider your last 45 credit hours or your science gpa. The latter 2 you can do some serious repair work to with some post-bac classes.

Just some thoughts.

 

[jkq202]

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[Apollo84]

Did you do post-mortem interviews after being rejected to find out exactly where it is you can improve your application or are you just speculating?

Also, have you really looked at the possibility of improving your undergrad gpa? Any courses you had done really bad in that could be retaken to improve it. Particularly science or other related pre-reqs? Many Vet schools will look beyond just your cumulative GPA and also consider your last 45 credit hours or your science gpa. The latter 2 you can do some serious repair work to with some post-bac classes.

In my rejection letters they have mentioned my GPA not being as strong as the candidates they accepted. Also, I did do a post interview with one school. She felt that my application was good except for the GPA, and I should continue taking classes at the upper division level and show that I can handle the material. I can't remember if she recommended that I RETAKE the courses that I did poorly in, or just take new ones and do well, but I know schools differ in what they want to see. Since then, I have been able to take 4 science courses in summer school but I feel this is not enough - at the same time, I am working full-time and don't know if I can handle or afford taking classes during the school year. I'll have to think seriously about doing that before the next cycle. Thanks for your input!

 

[Apollo84]

I know vets that have gone that route. I would definitely do a post-mortem first and ask the vet schools themselves though. One vet I know didn't get into Florida her first time, so she did a masters in lab animal medicine and she said that definitely helped her get in. She didn't even want to do lab animal medicine, and ended up as an equine vet, but it's how she "got her foot in the door." Another vet I know did a masters in Biology because his undergrad GPA sucked, and he ended up getting into UW-Madison. So I would say it is certainly not uncommon, and is possible, but I have no idea if a masters in animal nutrition would help.

Thank you for your post because I didn't consider applying to other types of master's programs besides nutrition. I wouldn't be against doing something like lab animal medicine - I have enough interest in many facets of veterinary medicine.

 

[jkq202]

good luck!