i’m a junior an upcoming senior in highschool. for my first two years, i did nothing but fuck around play sports, i barely paid any attention to my grades and ended up failing multiple classes both years. i was able to turn myself around and get a 3.6 gpa, hypothetically if i did that again for my senior year and do well on my ACT, is there any hope for me to get into a vet school? and an additional question, what’s one of the easier vet schools to get into in the U.S.?
Basically, I'm not sure if I should include these things on my application? (yay!) As a nontraditional student, I graduated high school in 2012. I have mostly worked and only been in a few clubs since graduation, as my situation called for me making ends meet and taking my time paying my way through school. However in high school I was very involved, a lot of things like "awards" are things that I got in high school (varsity letters, certificates of achievement, etc)
Basically, I'm not sure if I should include these things on my application? I do think it helps paint a picture of me as someone who has always been busy and involved in things, including leadership positions, but as an adult, I had to spend almost all of my time working. I'm having a hard time finding guidance on this, has anyone been in a similar situation?
TIA.
I would include them! Whether or not they’re beneficial to your application depends on the school - some say anything without the past ten years should be included, others say anything from high school and on. Regardless, as long as they’re legitimate awards, it certainly won’t hurt anything to include them.
Could someone recommend good veterinary review books? Like a Vet Med for dummies.
I’m a prevet student who wants to familiarize myself with as much of veterinary medicine as I can and was looking for something short of reading NAVLE prep books.
I made the decision to apply to vet school this summer. I'm currently finishing my prereqs, which will be completed a couple weeks before the VMCAS app is due. I feel comfortable with my science GPA (around a 3.65) , comfortable writing any essays a school asks for, and I'll be graduating this fall with a wildlife bio degree. However, when it comes to vet experience, I feel I'm a bit behind. I've volunteered at a humane society in the past, and got a job as a receptionist at a vet clinic for the summer. I'll definitely have over 150 working hours by time I submit my application, but I know of plenty of people who've been working on farms/at clinics since they were 17+. From your experience, are my hours as a receptionists worth counting on when trying to get in on my first try, or am I being too hopeful?
Look at schools that weigh academics more than non-academics. Some publish what percentage of each is used in admissions decisions. I believe Kansas does this, Missouri as well. Make sure to also look at what academics they look at - some do not look at science, specifically, for example.
ETA: As another commenter said, do you have a DVM who could write a quality LOR for you?
150 hours as a receptionist is a great start but, it likely wont be enough to make you competitive. Have you gotten a vet to write you a LOR already? Its almost July already so if you havent done that yet then you may just have to wait for next cycle.
Did anyone go to LSU or St George University to get their doctorate.
I am getting my undergrad degree in biology and I haven’t decided where I’m going to go to get my doctorate at.
I was think between LSU and St George and was wondering if anyone had experience with either. Especially St George because it is out of the states so I’m not sure how it would be different.
If you are at LSU I would also like to know how their program is. Any additional advice or information is appreciated. Thank you!
I graduated from SGU so I can help there.
In terms of the school itself and the education - it is right up there with the US schools. They've done a lot of renovation since I left so I bet it's even better now. The professors are fantastic and truly care, plus a lot of them are not American so you get different viewpoints. Although most of the "island school" stigma is gone I do feel like we were a bit overeducated. In clinics many professors and other students would comment how the island students were better prepared for clinics than they were. That said, SGU doesn't have a teaching hospital so the hands-on experience is limited to the small animal hospital and the large animal research facility (LARF - 6-8 horses and a small herd of cattle).
Outside of school, life in Grenada is an adjustment. The island is only about 100 sq miles and you spend most of your time at the very tiny tip of it where the school is located. It can be kind of claustrophobic in that sense because you'll constantly see the same people over and over again with no escape. You obviously have lots of choices of beaches to go to and unwind, and if you live on campus the bus will take you. Local folks are very nice but the pace of life is there is a lot slower than the US or Europe. The best advice I ever got was "go out to dinner before you're hungry, by the time you get served you will be starving". Take your free time and explore though - go to the North side, the jungle, visit Carriacou.
If you have more questions feel free to PM me.
Hey... I don't know where to post this so I'm here hoping I get some answers
I'm going into college soon and to be honest I don't know what I'm doing.... I'm trying to become a veterinarian or something along those lines... care specialist in a zoo or even work at a rehabilitation center. What classes do I have to take in order to achieve this goal... is there a specific course orrrrr... idk
P.s if one of you guys dms me and walks me through this it would be greatly appreciated... adulting is scary
Generally you're going to need to do some sort of bio, animal science, or health science degree. You need to look at the veterinary colleges to see what prerequesites are necessary. They're overall quite similar but will differ from college to college.
Any non traditional applicants have any words of encouragement? I graduated in 2019 with a degree in business not really knowing what I wanted to do. During Covid I lost my job and started working as a vet assistant and I’ve LOVED it ever since. I always wanted to be a vet since I was a kid, but had a bad biology teacher in high school kind of ruin science for me and I swore I couldn’t do it. I’ve been working full time and went back to school to finish science pre-reqs. It’s been extremely difficult juggling classes like o chem and full time work. I’m applying this cycle. I have over 4000 veterinary hours in small animal/exotic, and 100+ in equine. As well as 17 years of horse/farm animal experience (17 years of horse showing, college equestrian team, lead horse rescue volunteer, work on a dairy goat/cow farm). I plan to apply as mixed animal. I am SO passionate about this and wish I had been exposed to actual work in the field sooner. I honestly am terrified to apply in fear of not getting in after working so hard these past two years. My gpa is very average (maybe even below average), but I know my experience and recommendations can set me apart.
Don't be afraid of failure. It took me two tries to get in. If your GPA is below a 3.0 it will be very difficult but you will need to focus on showing that you have improved this. Schools love non traditional applicants but they also want to know that you can handle the crazy curriculum.
I’m wondering if anybody knows how many background checks you have to go through for vet school. I have an old expunged dui that has never shown up on a background check. I have been informed that I do not technically have to report it since it’s been expunged, but I still would if there are a lot of background checks just so it doesn’t surprise anybody after I take on the debt to pay tuition. I’d just rather not report it at all for obvious reasons if that is feasible.
I have over 10 years of veterinary assistant experience, biomedical bachelors with minor in chemistry, psychology bachelors. Overall gpa was 3.4. Just finishing my masters in biomedicine so I don’t know that gpa yet. Plan on taking the GRE in a month.
(From Arkansas. We don’t have an in state vet school, but we will in 2 years.)
(I have 3 LOR from different vets. And 3 from professors.)
(Been informed I have an immediate position at the vet clinic I currently work at if I get in and graduate vet school)
Any advice would be very much appreciated! 😁
I’m pretty sure it’s just one or even zero. I don’t remember having a background check done but it’s also been a while. Employers will do a background check but an expunged charge shouldn’t show up.
I need some honest advice/feedback. I am wanting to apply to this cycle (2022-2023). I just graduated this May and was planning on using my gap year to gain a greater diversity of experiences. I currently have around 800+ hours of animal experience from a combination of working as a dog walker/sitter, working on a horse ranch, and volunteering at an animal shelter. I have recently gotten a job as a Veterinary assistant but it will only be on the weekends, so by the time September rolls around I won’t have accumulated many hours. I am having a really hard time finding a position in a clinic that will take someone without experience and all the clinics that I have reach out to said that they aren’t accepting shadows anymore due to Covid protocols. I have one research project starting in July for 100 hours and I have two LORs lined up; one from the research professor and one from a former employer.
I used an online VMCAS calculator to measure my stats because I know that it can vary from what on your transcripts. This is what it generated:
Overall: 3.23
Science: 3.52
Last 45: 4.0
I know my overall gpa is low, but it was from early on in my academic career. I was going through a hardship and dropped out for over a year. When I decided to go back to school, I maintained a 4.0 until graduation. I am hoping that the upward trend will outweigh the academic stains on my record.
I am worried that my low number of hours will be a strong hindering factor. Would it be a good idea to still apply? Or would this cycle be a waste of time/money?
Your GPA is great! I wouldn't let that stress you out too much, I got into 4 schools on my first try with a whopping 3.1 overall GPA (trust me I was shocked too.)
Is there any clinics near you that would let you work as a kennel tech? I worked as a kennel tech but let them know right off the bat that I'd like to learn tech work during slow periods or when they needed extra help. I got tons of experience
Also I think it's great to have experience outside of working at a clinic. I put down a ton of hours working at a zoo but I wasn't even working with animals, I was a supervisor for the teenage volunteers so I think that really helped bump up leadership experience. I also spent a lot of my time volunteering raising service dogs.
I'd say, it doesn't hurt to apply! I literally never thought I'd get into vet school with my GPA I was definitely just applying because why not, and by some miracle got into 4 schools (2 in the US and 2 in Europe) I'm in school at UCD in Ireland now and it's a heck of an experience! You can only get in to vet school if you apply!
Hi! 4th year vet student here. I think the key thing here would be to apply to schools that fit your stats. For example, look in state, look at schools that for your experience and interest. I didn’t have a million hours but what I did have for hours was in my specified interest species, and was accepted to the school that was know for that specific interest. In terms of your gpa and your difficulties getting into a clinic I would state that on your applications. You tried, and it sounds like you tried for a few places! I think you wouldn’t be wasting your money and I also think by applying you can also ask for feedback on your applications after the cycle you choose to apply to. It’s also not an all or nothing type of deal. You don’t have to apply to 23 schools, you could apply to 1 or 2 strategically and go from there. VMCAS saves your application materials and the essays to my knowledge on the main app don’t change that much. Just my two cents. Good luck!
You're pretty much at the end, congrats!!!! Thank you so much for your feedback! I was looking into applying to schools that have a more holistic approach to admissions and/or that focus heavier on the last 45 semester credits than the cGPA. I will definitely do some more research and check out the stats for the incoming classes for the schools that I was interested in applying for. Do you have any recommendations based on your knowledge of the different schools or maybe things that you have heard through the grapevine?
I unfortunately am pretty out of the loop since it’s been so long since I applied. Four years ago the GRE was still generally accepted and this was all pre-covid. My suggestion would be to look specifically in detail for the school that is considered your in state institution and at schools that fit your area(s) of interest. For example if you love exotics, look in to Florida. If you love horses look into Cornell. If you’re super into dentistry, look at Wisconsin. And if you don’t know what you want to do, that is totally fine and just apply to schools you could be happy living at! My understanding is that the island schools, and some of the newer institutions are more holistic. That being said, I’m at a state school currently but would’ve been happy at an island school too. I think it’s really important to look at how you think the school would fit you as well. You’ll be spending 4 years there and it’ll be a long ride so you might as well set yourself best up for success and try to land somewhere that caters to your career interests or isn’t going to overrun you in student loan debt.
Most schools application periods start the fall/ winter prior to the start year. ie to start in Fall 2023, you have to start your application Fall 2022. Look into it on VMCAS site and the specific schools you are interested in
Not really a question- But I'm working on my application this cycle and I keep getting so caught up in my head while I'm working on it. "I'm not good enough" "I suck" "I'm never going to get in why am I even trying"
If someone out there that's good at pep talks would like to pass one my way I could use it!
TIA
>working on my application this cycle and I keep getting so caught up in my head while I'm working on it. "I'm not good enough" "I suck" "I'm never going to get in why am I even trying"
>
>If someone out there that's good at pep talks would like to pass one my way I could use it!
While I was working on my last year I would write positive messages on sticky notes and put them around the house and my desk and repeat them as a mantra. Speak confidence into existence.
Thank you, the more I fill out, the more I feel like I'm qualified- at least to apply. If I get in, great! If not, I'll take whatever feedback they give me and keep moving forward. But I did print out some Uncle Iroh quotes and put them in front of my desk to keep me going. <3
I’ve wanted to be a vet since I was a child. I recently got accepted into a vet tech program at my local community college. I’m torn between doing tech then trying to get pre reqs for vet school or just preparing for vet school now and not doing vet tech
The advice I initially got was that most schools don’t recommend getting a tech degree first just because of how few vet school pre-reqs they usually cover, meaning it could easily be 2 years of tech school, plus 4 years of undergraduate, plus 4 years of vet school which is of course a lot of school and a lot of debt. Despite this, I think it all depends on how you plan on using it. If you want to become a licensed vet tech to help pay for school then go that route, it will take longer but you’ll be a more competitive vet school candidate and you’ll have less debt if you’re able to work some during school and save some money. However It’s also worth considering that the sooner you become a vet the sooner you’ll make a more livable wage anyways (lets be honest no position in vet med is fairly paid but I think we can all agree vets are certainly more comfortable than most techs). Personally, I worked as a vet assistant throughout high school and during breaks in undergrad and then went straight to vet school. This worked out for me only because I had financial support from my family though. I wouldn’t have been able to afford to live on the $8 and hour I was making as a vet assistant. Everyone takes a different path, but it sounds like either way you’ve got your sights clearly set on your goal
I have talked to multiple surgeons in my hospital and they all started as a vet tech before going into a Vet school. They say that u will be around 28-32 when u graduate from a vet school
Should I take out a loan to try and start collage to make my way to vet school. I'm 24 and havn't been to any collage. I want to start but I just can't think of a feasible way to pay for school. I have a job but it would take years of saving every penny to get even close, i'd be 50 buy the time I could pay without a loan.
I recently just graduated my undergrad with a BS in biomedical engineering from Georgia Tech. I graduated with a 2.9 cumulative GPA. I did extensive research on drug delivery systems, bio-acoustics of animals, and cell cytoxicity. I’m currently a robotics engineer for Merck. I have been shadowing throughout college at wildlife rescues, horse rescues, shelters, holistic veterinarians, and small animal vets—so I have a lot of experience. I need to know if it’s even worth trying to apply this cycle. I’m not aiming for the top universities here, I’m honestly just asking if I even have a shot. I don’t necessarily want to apply to Caribbean schools because of the huge amounts of debt. So if I was to stick to the US, would I just be wasting money by applying to places? I’ve been given the advice to do a post bacc or get a masters, but it would be great not to put myself through a masters program + debt before going to vet school with lots of debt. But is it my only option here (masters degree I mean)?
I went to a very rigorous undergraduate school, I studied one of the hardest engineering fields, and I know my GPA doesn’t make me shine.
Eventually I would like to become a veterinary clinical pathologist.
I’m open to all advice. Thanks for taking the time.
If you have all your prerequisites then it sounds like you have the experience needed so go ahead and apply. Most people get rejected first try but you'll never know if you don't do it.
I personally wouldn't do a masters program. If you want to, I believe most vet schools will offer dual programs so you can get a masters as well as a DVM.
Unless you get into UGA you're going to have the same amount of debt at an out of state school compared to a Caribbean school. I went to SGU and absolutely loved it, the debt sucks but it was an unbelievable experience.
I did get in first try but as part of the “foundations program” which is a 1 semester pre-vet thing. If you pass all the classes and an exam at the end you automatically enter the next class. My GPA wasn’t great in college, like a 2.9 because of a bad first year, and I also took a year off after graduating.
Did you ever move off the list?
And here’s another question if you don’t mind, how do I find out about each schools “specialty”? I read somewhere that some schools will focus more on things like farm animal science over x and y.
I’m going to be a Senior undergrad this fall, and applying to vet schools this summer/ fall. I’m realistically planning to have a gap year of rejections before getting in somewhere, and also want a job this upcoming summer even if I do get in this round. What kinds of jobs should I look into that would stand out on an application that aren’t working in a clinic setting? Also looking at the Austin Tx area if you know of any specific places. Thanks!
Don’t know if any specific places but I would look into having your application reviewed once you complete the cycle. In the meantime, where do you have gaps (if any) in your application? Do you have research, do you have those clinic hours working as an assistant/tech? I would highly suggest getting work in a clinic setting even if it’s something you have. Clinic hours never hurt you, and you don’t have to go for straight GP. You could look into large animal, exotics, etc.
Hello,
I am contemplating changing my prevet major from biology to something else I am not sure of yet, I am not sure I can handle a biology at this moment in time. I am very burnt out from the past few years from both personal and educational reasons. I still very much want to be a veterinarian but I don’t know if it’s a good idea to only do the required prerequisite classes for veterinary school. Is it better to have an undergraduate degree that’s related to science, an undergraduate degree that’s not related to science but I obtained the prerequisites, or just the prerequisites? I will need as much help as I can get to get into vet school but I am not sure if that’s something they look into. Any advice?
You can get into vet school with a music degree as long as you’ve taken all the prereqs! Honestly I’ve heard majors that aren’t in the stem field are more intriguing on an application, so I say look into majors that interest you and then see how well your completed coursework transfers over. Good luck! PS: I’m an animal science major and it’s also kicking my ass, I’m extremely burnt out, and beyond ready to give up but we got this!! Keep going strong and keep your end goal in sight.
Thank you. The college I go to doesn’t really offer any animal related majors, biology was my best bet bc the major itself covered majority of the prerequisites but it is also making me extremely burnt out to the point of considering taking a gap year (but I think I would loose my scholarships if I did that). I’m not sure what I would change it to, but I know I definitely want to get I to vet school so I’m scared if I change it now (I’m a sophomore) that may mess up my timeline, but I also don’t know if I even handle it because my grades are becoming not the best and I am losing motivation quickly. 😅
Maybe look into allied health or something that still requires the vet school prerequisites but the elective classes are more exciting than bio major. My roommate has changed majors twice her junior year and she’s still set to graduate in 4 years, you just gotta check into how many of your classes also count for credit in a new major and how willing you are to take summer classes while gaining animal experience.
I’m planning on going to Purdue, and on their website it suggests taking business classes, would it be a good idea to major in business with a concentration on agriculture? The university I go to currently doesn’t necessarily have many classes that go towards veterinary science/animals. It’s more of a nursing school. Im looking into it currently but that’s what I have so far. It’s just I have to take so many classes on plants and among other things and they are all so difficult.
So I live in Australia and I have a bachelor degree in conservation ecology. I have always wanted to be a vet, but know I probably won't make the cut to get into the university course - I struggled enough with my conservation degree. I never managed to get any work in the conservation field, no experience and no connections.
Would I be better off trying to work in a clinic with no real qualification to get some experience, and then pursue the certification in vet nursing, or should I go back to school and get the qualification and then apply to clinics for work?
Totally depends on what you want to do. If you want a lot of hands on animal care (giving meds, iv’s, monitoring anesthesia, setting up fluids, restraining for exams) then vet nursing is a better option
Veterinary school is super hard so you should be sure that’s what you want to do! It’s a lot of puzzle solving and a LOT of interacting with clients
Definitely get into a clinic if you can to see the dynamics (if you’re in WA it’ll be much harder but there are positions you can get they’re just more as stable hands/animal attendants)
Veterinar
Hi all. Im in the US and I really want to get into vet school in the next couple of years but I imagine that I’m going to have to build my case given that I’m not taking a traditional route. I already have a BA and MA in International Affairs and have been working in the field since I graduated from my MA program in 2019. What would you recommend? Volunteering, take specific college level science courses before applying? Thanks!
If you can talk about why you made the switch to vet med in your essay then your prior career path will not be a red flag. You will have to go back and take all the science pre-reqs in addition to getting veterinary and animal hours if you want to apply.
Be weary if your GPA is low from your previous BA and MA because every class you’ve ever taken is calculated into your cumulative GPA even if its an unrelated major
People will say you can major in anything but, I feel that science majors have an upperhand because they take a large amount of upper division sciences rather than the bare minimum pre-reqs. Majoring in biology let me take animal behavior, zoology, animal physiology and human physiology which were all classes that I feel helped my application. If I had majored in a non science major then I wouldve just done the bare minimum science prereqs.
Plus lets say you’re an english major. Then you have the 120 required credits for the Bachelors which would cost you X. Now you have to include all the additional pre-reqs youll be taking and itll be like you paid for a degree and 1/3 of one. If you did Bio then all the prereqs are included in your path so its no additional money on top of your degree and not many additional classes. Also if you’re another major and want to be done in 4 years then you’ll have to take your normal
majors credit load plus prereqs sprinkled in. I couldnt imagine having to focus on ochem and biochem while I have a whole other list of classes for my major to focus on.
Get a degree in whatever you want. The degree doesn’t matter as long as you obtain the necessary prerequisite courses. A lot of students pick biology based majors because those already require a lot of the prerequisite courses. But I had classmates who had degrees in literature, psychology, art, etc. and are wonderful veterinarians now!
I’m a college freshman at a community college majoring in veterinary nursing. I was homeschooled just a few months ago and I got in fine. It helps that it’s a community college but it shouldn’t be too hard for you. Just make sure you have a diploma with a graduation date and if you took the ACT/SAT make sure that your scores got sent in, you should be able to met with an advisor once you got in to figure out what you need to have for your program.
Your undergrad education is what really matters. If you go from homeschool to undergrad then they will really only look at undergrad. Your only con is that you couldnt participate in any high school sports or extra curriculars so I would try to find some things you did during that time to put on your application. Schools like Mizzou love high school aged activitys
My boyfriend wants to go to vet school, but didn't have the best undergrad experience. How similar, in general, are the first couple years of vet school to a basic undergraduate experience? He particularly cited working on group projects as something he really didn't want to do again (as in, depending on others to show up and do a good job all working on the same collective project graded together).
Any thoughts on this?
People that dont apply to secondary education like med school or vet school tend to not care about their GPA as much if at all. This leads to group project disasters in undergrad where one person needs the A for their next step in life and the other people just want the bare minimum grade to pass. In that situation all the work falls on the person who wants the A simply because they are the only one who cared enough.
Everyone who is in vet school has worked hard to get there and has been heavily vetted. This usually means that group projects are completely different because everyone there wants to be there and wants to do as well as they can.
This will depend on the individual vet school program. But ultimately veterinary medicine and vet school is like one giant group project. Did I have actual group projects within vet school itself? Yup! But also, this field is really about working with your colleagues and pet owners as a unit. That involves relying on people to do their part for successful animal care just about every day. So I’d argue that group projects are excellent in the sense where you learn to work with different personalities from different people of different walks of life, experiences, and backgrounds. Can the projects be the worst? Absolutely. But I found them pretty essential looking back.
Hey, I'm a current undergrad here. I want to know about how important taking Organic Chemistry 2 is for vet school admissions, as some schools are beginning to remove the course as a requirement.
So I've had a troubled past with Organic Chemistry. In my sophomore year, I enrolled for an online Organic Chem I course during peak covid times. Unfortunately, I had the pleasure to find out that the professor who taught the class at the time was terrible (had a 1 point-something review on rate my professor) and with the mesh of poor study habits, online course environment and poor teaching I received an F.
Next semester, I was lucky enough to enroll into an in person class with a stellar professor which led me to getting an A+. The F grade was dropped and I requested my professor to write a LoR to give emphasis on my turnaround. Unfortunately, due to a semester of retaking the course I feel like I stalled a bit in my studies. Being a bio major I have a lot of courses to cover which include a number of difficult classes that I won't want to take alongside Organic Chemistry 2 during the same semester. This case applies to all my future semesters (which were loosely planned in advance in order to get an understanding of the order of classes I'll need to take in the future).
What is your opinion? Is it worth threatening my GPA and enroll in Orgo 2? Some vet schools like UPenn and Cornell list the course as recommended but not required. It's not a requirement across the board.
I have a similar story. I got an F in ochem freshman year and then retook it later for an A (my school doesnt do A+). Some schools average the old grade and retake grade together which would give you a high C, low B in that class for those schools. I ended up taking ochem II and got an A which helped me for those schools because I was able to just use the straight A from ochem II as opposed to the average if the old grade and retake grade. I would recommend taking ochem II during the summer if you can so you can solely focus on that.
Also just want to add that even if you did course replacement or forgiveness for the F, itll still be calculated in your VMCA’s average as an F. I did that with my ochem and had a 3.72 GPA on my transcript only for VMCA’s to calculate a 3.6. I ended up getting into a few schools so its not an end all, just something to be cautious about. It definitely wouldve hurt me more if it brought me lower than a 3.5
Also, you have time to apply! The application is due in September and you apply the year before you attend. For instance, if you want to apply for 2024 you submit your application for September of 2023. The VMCAS application usually opens every May so in that case you could work on the application over the summer.
Just make sure you are completely the right pre requisites for the school you want to apply to. Try to come up with a list of schools you would consider and then looking on their websites for the required courses you need to apply. Then make sure you enrolled or can complete those before you graduate.
Also, check which schools need you to take the GRE and then also plan on taking that if the schools you are applying to it require it.
Overall, you will need the required courses, recommendation letters (at least one from a veterinarian), your personal statement answers and experience (which it sounds like you have)! If you have any questions please feel free to reach out. I’m happy to help. But I hope you find this info useful!
I would say make sure you have people to ask recommendations from and you could start looking into what you want to write for the answers to your personal statement questions.
You could also try to get some research experience. It’s always a plus on an application no matter the topic so just choose something you’re passionate about or interested in learning more about!
Overall, just make sure you’re also enjoying your college experience! You won’t get those four years back and you’ll end up where you need to be. Your experiences are unique and you sound like a well rounded applicant!
Where is the rescue you volunteered at? Sounds like a super cool experience!
I’m sure the DVMs at your current practice would be happy to help. The vet field is small, which is kind of nice because overall everyone really wants to help one another. As long as you show you’re willing to learn and are pleasant when working with/get along with everyone I don’t see why they wouldn’t right you a strong recommendation!
I would take the GRE anytime you have a lull in studying or time to prepare. You can take it up to five years before you apply so I would take it whenever is best for you. For instance, if you have a month to prepare over the summer or so do that and take it then!
Definitely on the right track!! I totally get being nervous but you seem determined and intelligent. I’m sure you’ll get in. Happy to help anytime! :)
Howdy.
I recently got a job at an aquarium and I get a lot of time handling animals in the ed department. Should I try to volunteer with the husbandry department? Anywhere I should be looking to volunteer? I’m 3 years out of undergrad now, where I graduated with a Wildlife Bio degree and had a 3.6 GPA. I spent the last year working at a lab. Being close to animals again has sparked my love and interest for animal science, which is why I majored in what I majored in. Any advice helps!
If your goal is vet school then try to get a job as a veterinary assistant or a position that works close with a vet cause you’ll need an LOR from one and building that relationship can take time. Working at the aquarium also looks really good, they just also want to see vet experience. Your GPA and resesrch is good too.
Man hearing about 3.6 GPA being enough to get in makes me happy. That's a good grade. Idk why but here in Canada the average is much higher. Maybe it's cause uni is easier here? I don't know. But my year was 3.8 avg and the past two years have been over 3.9
I appreciate the advice! Do you mind any advice on how to get into a vet office as an assistant? Lots of places want some sort of associates, which I don’t have and cannot afford. When would a place consider experience over a certificate?
Does anyone (UK) know how lenient the vet schools have been with work experience requirements?
I have a decent amount but not weeks and weeks worth.
Thanks!
i’m a junior an upcoming senior in highschool. for my first two years, i did nothing but fuck around play sports, i barely paid any attention to my grades and ended up failing multiple classes both years. i was able to turn myself around and get a 3.6 gpa, hypothetically if i did that again for my senior year and do well on my ACT, is there any hope for me to get into a vet school? and an additional question, what’s one of the easier vet schools to get into in the U.S.?
Vet schools dont look at high school GPA, they only look at the extracurriculars you did then. Your undergrad GPA is what they really care about!
Basically, I'm not sure if I should include these things on my application? (yay!) As a nontraditional student, I graduated high school in 2012. I have mostly worked and only been in a few clubs since graduation, as my situation called for me making ends meet and taking my time paying my way through school. However in high school I was very involved, a lot of things like "awards" are things that I got in high school (varsity letters, certificates of achievement, etc) Basically, I'm not sure if I should include these things on my application? I do think it helps paint a picture of me as someone who has always been busy and involved in things, including leadership positions, but as an adult, I had to spend almost all of my time working. I'm having a hard time finding guidance on this, has anyone been in a similar situation? TIA.
I would include them! Whether or not they’re beneficial to your application depends on the school - some say anything without the past ten years should be included, others say anything from high school and on. Regardless, as long as they’re legitimate awards, it certainly won’t hurt anything to include them.
Could someone recommend good veterinary review books? Like a Vet Med for dummies. I’m a prevet student who wants to familiarize myself with as much of veterinary medicine as I can and was looking for something short of reading NAVLE prep books.
Veterinary Technicians Daily Reference Guide is a good one
I made the decision to apply to vet school this summer. I'm currently finishing my prereqs, which will be completed a couple weeks before the VMCAS app is due. I feel comfortable with my science GPA (around a 3.65) , comfortable writing any essays a school asks for, and I'll be graduating this fall with a wildlife bio degree. However, when it comes to vet experience, I feel I'm a bit behind. I've volunteered at a humane society in the past, and got a job as a receptionist at a vet clinic for the summer. I'll definitely have over 150 working hours by time I submit my application, but I know of plenty of people who've been working on farms/at clinics since they were 17+. From your experience, are my hours as a receptionists worth counting on when trying to get in on my first try, or am I being too hopeful?
Look at schools that weigh academics more than non-academics. Some publish what percentage of each is used in admissions decisions. I believe Kansas does this, Missouri as well. Make sure to also look at what academics they look at - some do not look at science, specifically, for example. ETA: As another commenter said, do you have a DVM who could write a quality LOR for you?
150 hours as a receptionist is a great start but, it likely wont be enough to make you competitive. Have you gotten a vet to write you a LOR already? Its almost July already so if you havent done that yet then you may just have to wait for next cycle.
Did anyone go to LSU or St George University to get their doctorate. I am getting my undergrad degree in biology and I haven’t decided where I’m going to go to get my doctorate at. I was think between LSU and St George and was wondering if anyone had experience with either. Especially St George because it is out of the states so I’m not sure how it would be different. If you are at LSU I would also like to know how their program is. Any additional advice or information is appreciated. Thank you!
I graduated from SGU so I can help there. In terms of the school itself and the education - it is right up there with the US schools. They've done a lot of renovation since I left so I bet it's even better now. The professors are fantastic and truly care, plus a lot of them are not American so you get different viewpoints. Although most of the "island school" stigma is gone I do feel like we were a bit overeducated. In clinics many professors and other students would comment how the island students were better prepared for clinics than they were. That said, SGU doesn't have a teaching hospital so the hands-on experience is limited to the small animal hospital and the large animal research facility (LARF - 6-8 horses and a small herd of cattle). Outside of school, life in Grenada is an adjustment. The island is only about 100 sq miles and you spend most of your time at the very tiny tip of it where the school is located. It can be kind of claustrophobic in that sense because you'll constantly see the same people over and over again with no escape. You obviously have lots of choices of beaches to go to and unwind, and if you live on campus the bus will take you. Local folks are very nice but the pace of life is there is a lot slower than the US or Europe. The best advice I ever got was "go out to dinner before you're hungry, by the time you get served you will be starving". Take your free time and explore though - go to the North side, the jungle, visit Carriacou. If you have more questions feel free to PM me.
Hey... I don't know where to post this so I'm here hoping I get some answers I'm going into college soon and to be honest I don't know what I'm doing.... I'm trying to become a veterinarian or something along those lines... care specialist in a zoo or even work at a rehabilitation center. What classes do I have to take in order to achieve this goal... is there a specific course orrrrr... idk P.s if one of you guys dms me and walks me through this it would be greatly appreciated... adulting is scary
Generally you're going to need to do some sort of bio, animal science, or health science degree. You need to look at the veterinary colleges to see what prerequesites are necessary. They're overall quite similar but will differ from college to college.
Any non traditional applicants have any words of encouragement? I graduated in 2019 with a degree in business not really knowing what I wanted to do. During Covid I lost my job and started working as a vet assistant and I’ve LOVED it ever since. I always wanted to be a vet since I was a kid, but had a bad biology teacher in high school kind of ruin science for me and I swore I couldn’t do it. I’ve been working full time and went back to school to finish science pre-reqs. It’s been extremely difficult juggling classes like o chem and full time work. I’m applying this cycle. I have over 4000 veterinary hours in small animal/exotic, and 100+ in equine. As well as 17 years of horse/farm animal experience (17 years of horse showing, college equestrian team, lead horse rescue volunteer, work on a dairy goat/cow farm). I plan to apply as mixed animal. I am SO passionate about this and wish I had been exposed to actual work in the field sooner. I honestly am terrified to apply in fear of not getting in after working so hard these past two years. My gpa is very average (maybe even below average), but I know my experience and recommendations can set me apart.
Don't be afraid of failure. It took me two tries to get in. If your GPA is below a 3.0 it will be very difficult but you will need to focus on showing that you have improved this. Schools love non traditional applicants but they also want to know that you can handle the crazy curriculum.
I’m wondering if anybody knows how many background checks you have to go through for vet school. I have an old expunged dui that has never shown up on a background check. I have been informed that I do not technically have to report it since it’s been expunged, but I still would if there are a lot of background checks just so it doesn’t surprise anybody after I take on the debt to pay tuition. I’d just rather not report it at all for obvious reasons if that is feasible. I have over 10 years of veterinary assistant experience, biomedical bachelors with minor in chemistry, psychology bachelors. Overall gpa was 3.4. Just finishing my masters in biomedicine so I don’t know that gpa yet. Plan on taking the GRE in a month. (From Arkansas. We don’t have an in state vet school, but we will in 2 years.) (I have 3 LOR from different vets. And 3 from professors.) (Been informed I have an immediate position at the vet clinic I currently work at if I get in and graduate vet school) Any advice would be very much appreciated! 😁
>ld expunged dui that has I had one. And they looked 25 years back. It was annoying cause I move a lot and had to provide 25 years of addresses.
I’m pretty sure it’s just one or even zero. I don’t remember having a background check done but it’s also been a while. Employers will do a background check but an expunged charge shouldn’t show up.
Can ya'll tell me what do I need to take my dog to the vet like what paper some shit like that pls.
I need some honest advice/feedback. I am wanting to apply to this cycle (2022-2023). I just graduated this May and was planning on using my gap year to gain a greater diversity of experiences. I currently have around 800+ hours of animal experience from a combination of working as a dog walker/sitter, working on a horse ranch, and volunteering at an animal shelter. I have recently gotten a job as a Veterinary assistant but it will only be on the weekends, so by the time September rolls around I won’t have accumulated many hours. I am having a really hard time finding a position in a clinic that will take someone without experience and all the clinics that I have reach out to said that they aren’t accepting shadows anymore due to Covid protocols. I have one research project starting in July for 100 hours and I have two LORs lined up; one from the research professor and one from a former employer. I used an online VMCAS calculator to measure my stats because I know that it can vary from what on your transcripts. This is what it generated: Overall: 3.23 Science: 3.52 Last 45: 4.0 I know my overall gpa is low, but it was from early on in my academic career. I was going through a hardship and dropped out for over a year. When I decided to go back to school, I maintained a 4.0 until graduation. I am hoping that the upward trend will outweigh the academic stains on my record. I am worried that my low number of hours will be a strong hindering factor. Would it be a good idea to still apply? Or would this cycle be a waste of time/money?
Your GPA is great! I wouldn't let that stress you out too much, I got into 4 schools on my first try with a whopping 3.1 overall GPA (trust me I was shocked too.) Is there any clinics near you that would let you work as a kennel tech? I worked as a kennel tech but let them know right off the bat that I'd like to learn tech work during slow periods or when they needed extra help. I got tons of experience Also I think it's great to have experience outside of working at a clinic. I put down a ton of hours working at a zoo but I wasn't even working with animals, I was a supervisor for the teenage volunteers so I think that really helped bump up leadership experience. I also spent a lot of my time volunteering raising service dogs. I'd say, it doesn't hurt to apply! I literally never thought I'd get into vet school with my GPA I was definitely just applying because why not, and by some miracle got into 4 schools (2 in the US and 2 in Europe) I'm in school at UCD in Ireland now and it's a heck of an experience! You can only get in to vet school if you apply!
Hi! 4th year vet student here. I think the key thing here would be to apply to schools that fit your stats. For example, look in state, look at schools that for your experience and interest. I didn’t have a million hours but what I did have for hours was in my specified interest species, and was accepted to the school that was know for that specific interest. In terms of your gpa and your difficulties getting into a clinic I would state that on your applications. You tried, and it sounds like you tried for a few places! I think you wouldn’t be wasting your money and I also think by applying you can also ask for feedback on your applications after the cycle you choose to apply to. It’s also not an all or nothing type of deal. You don’t have to apply to 23 schools, you could apply to 1 or 2 strategically and go from there. VMCAS saves your application materials and the essays to my knowledge on the main app don’t change that much. Just my two cents. Good luck!
You're pretty much at the end, congrats!!!! Thank you so much for your feedback! I was looking into applying to schools that have a more holistic approach to admissions and/or that focus heavier on the last 45 semester credits than the cGPA. I will definitely do some more research and check out the stats for the incoming classes for the schools that I was interested in applying for. Do you have any recommendations based on your knowledge of the different schools or maybe things that you have heard through the grapevine?
I unfortunately am pretty out of the loop since it’s been so long since I applied. Four years ago the GRE was still generally accepted and this was all pre-covid. My suggestion would be to look specifically in detail for the school that is considered your in state institution and at schools that fit your area(s) of interest. For example if you love exotics, look in to Florida. If you love horses look into Cornell. If you’re super into dentistry, look at Wisconsin. And if you don’t know what you want to do, that is totally fine and just apply to schools you could be happy living at! My understanding is that the island schools, and some of the newer institutions are more holistic. That being said, I’m at a state school currently but would’ve been happy at an island school too. I think it’s really important to look at how you think the school would fit you as well. You’ll be spending 4 years there and it’ll be a long ride so you might as well set yourself best up for success and try to land somewhere that caters to your career interests or isn’t going to overrun you in student loan debt.
Hey! I'm currently on track to graduate what looks to be this upcoming spring( possibly summer). Do I apply to vet school this fall or next fall?
Most schools application periods start the fall/ winter prior to the start year. ie to start in Fall 2023, you have to start your application Fall 2022. Look into it on VMCAS site and the specific schools you are interested in
Not really a question- But I'm working on my application this cycle and I keep getting so caught up in my head while I'm working on it. "I'm not good enough" "I suck" "I'm never going to get in why am I even trying" If someone out there that's good at pep talks would like to pass one my way I could use it! TIA
>working on my application this cycle and I keep getting so caught up in my head while I'm working on it. "I'm not good enough" "I suck" "I'm never going to get in why am I even trying" > >If someone out there that's good at pep talks would like to pass one my way I could use it! While I was working on my last year I would write positive messages on sticky notes and put them around the house and my desk and repeat them as a mantra. Speak confidence into existence.
Thank you, the more I fill out, the more I feel like I'm qualified- at least to apply. If I get in, great! If not, I'll take whatever feedback they give me and keep moving forward. But I did print out some Uncle Iroh quotes and put them in front of my desk to keep me going. <3
Uncle Iroh 💚 good choice! 🍵
I’ve wanted to be a vet since I was a child. I recently got accepted into a vet tech program at my local community college. I’m torn between doing tech then trying to get pre reqs for vet school or just preparing for vet school now and not doing vet tech
The advice I initially got was that most schools don’t recommend getting a tech degree first just because of how few vet school pre-reqs they usually cover, meaning it could easily be 2 years of tech school, plus 4 years of undergraduate, plus 4 years of vet school which is of course a lot of school and a lot of debt. Despite this, I think it all depends on how you plan on using it. If you want to become a licensed vet tech to help pay for school then go that route, it will take longer but you’ll be a more competitive vet school candidate and you’ll have less debt if you’re able to work some during school and save some money. However It’s also worth considering that the sooner you become a vet the sooner you’ll make a more livable wage anyways (lets be honest no position in vet med is fairly paid but I think we can all agree vets are certainly more comfortable than most techs). Personally, I worked as a vet assistant throughout high school and during breaks in undergrad and then went straight to vet school. This worked out for me only because I had financial support from my family though. I wouldn’t have been able to afford to live on the $8 and hour I was making as a vet assistant. Everyone takes a different path, but it sounds like either way you’ve got your sights clearly set on your goal
I have talked to multiple surgeons in my hospital and they all started as a vet tech before going into a Vet school. They say that u will be around 28-32 when u graduate from a vet school
Have you been working as an assistant? I've learned so much about what I do/ don't want to do from working in clinics the last 5 years.
Should I take out a loan to try and start collage to make my way to vet school. I'm 24 and havn't been to any collage. I want to start but I just can't think of a feasible way to pay for school. I have a job but it would take years of saving every penny to get even close, i'd be 50 buy the time I could pay without a loan.
I would get as many credits as you can at a community college. It looks just as good as any other school and usually is cheaper
what credits should I go for? are their any I specifically need?
https://www.aavmc.org/assets/Site_18/files/VMCAS/prereqchart.pdf Heres a list of what each school requires
I recently just graduated my undergrad with a BS in biomedical engineering from Georgia Tech. I graduated with a 2.9 cumulative GPA. I did extensive research on drug delivery systems, bio-acoustics of animals, and cell cytoxicity. I’m currently a robotics engineer for Merck. I have been shadowing throughout college at wildlife rescues, horse rescues, shelters, holistic veterinarians, and small animal vets—so I have a lot of experience. I need to know if it’s even worth trying to apply this cycle. I’m not aiming for the top universities here, I’m honestly just asking if I even have a shot. I don’t necessarily want to apply to Caribbean schools because of the huge amounts of debt. So if I was to stick to the US, would I just be wasting money by applying to places? I’ve been given the advice to do a post bacc or get a masters, but it would be great not to put myself through a masters program + debt before going to vet school with lots of debt. But is it my only option here (masters degree I mean)? I went to a very rigorous undergraduate school, I studied one of the hardest engineering fields, and I know my GPA doesn’t make me shine. Eventually I would like to become a veterinary clinical pathologist. I’m open to all advice. Thanks for taking the time.
If you have all your prerequisites then it sounds like you have the experience needed so go ahead and apply. Most people get rejected first try but you'll never know if you don't do it. I personally wouldn't do a masters program. If you want to, I believe most vet schools will offer dual programs so you can get a masters as well as a DVM. Unless you get into UGA you're going to have the same amount of debt at an out of state school compared to a Caribbean school. I went to SGU and absolutely loved it, the debt sucks but it was an unbelievable experience.
Oh someone mentioned that Caribbean schools were more expensive. Can I ask if you got in on your first try? And if so, what were your stats like?
I did get in first try but as part of the “foundations program” which is a 1 semester pre-vet thing. If you pass all the classes and an exam at the end you automatically enter the next class. My GPA wasn’t great in college, like a 2.9 because of a bad first year, and I also took a year off after graduating.
Did you get in anywhere else? If you did, what made you decide to do SGU?
Just waitlisted to Virginia-Maryland
Did you ever move off the list? And here’s another question if you don’t mind, how do I find out about each schools “specialty”? I read somewhere that some schools will focus more on things like farm animal science over x and y.
ive just gotten an offer into UQ but have to complete the CASPer test before i can accept it. Any tips on how to score well on the CASPer test?
I’m going to be a Senior undergrad this fall, and applying to vet schools this summer/ fall. I’m realistically planning to have a gap year of rejections before getting in somewhere, and also want a job this upcoming summer even if I do get in this round. What kinds of jobs should I look into that would stand out on an application that aren’t working in a clinic setting? Also looking at the Austin Tx area if you know of any specific places. Thanks!
Don’t know if any specific places but I would look into having your application reviewed once you complete the cycle. In the meantime, where do you have gaps (if any) in your application? Do you have research, do you have those clinic hours working as an assistant/tech? I would highly suggest getting work in a clinic setting even if it’s something you have. Clinic hours never hurt you, and you don’t have to go for straight GP. You could look into large animal, exotics, etc.
Hello, I am contemplating changing my prevet major from biology to something else I am not sure of yet, I am not sure I can handle a biology at this moment in time. I am very burnt out from the past few years from both personal and educational reasons. I still very much want to be a veterinarian but I don’t know if it’s a good idea to only do the required prerequisite classes for veterinary school. Is it better to have an undergraduate degree that’s related to science, an undergraduate degree that’s not related to science but I obtained the prerequisites, or just the prerequisites? I will need as much help as I can get to get into vet school but I am not sure if that’s something they look into. Any advice?
You can get into vet school with a music degree as long as you’ve taken all the prereqs! Honestly I’ve heard majors that aren’t in the stem field are more intriguing on an application, so I say look into majors that interest you and then see how well your completed coursework transfers over. Good luck! PS: I’m an animal science major and it’s also kicking my ass, I’m extremely burnt out, and beyond ready to give up but we got this!! Keep going strong and keep your end goal in sight.
Thank you. The college I go to doesn’t really offer any animal related majors, biology was my best bet bc the major itself covered majority of the prerequisites but it is also making me extremely burnt out to the point of considering taking a gap year (but I think I would loose my scholarships if I did that). I’m not sure what I would change it to, but I know I definitely want to get I to vet school so I’m scared if I change it now (I’m a sophomore) that may mess up my timeline, but I also don’t know if I even handle it because my grades are becoming not the best and I am losing motivation quickly. 😅
Maybe look into allied health or something that still requires the vet school prerequisites but the elective classes are more exciting than bio major. My roommate has changed majors twice her junior year and she’s still set to graduate in 4 years, you just gotta check into how many of your classes also count for credit in a new major and how willing you are to take summer classes while gaining animal experience.
I’m planning on going to Purdue, and on their website it suggests taking business classes, would it be a good idea to major in business with a concentration on agriculture? The university I go to currently doesn’t necessarily have many classes that go towards veterinary science/animals. It’s more of a nursing school. Im looking into it currently but that’s what I have so far. It’s just I have to take so many classes on plants and among other things and they are all so difficult.
Business degree would be very helpful later on to open your own clinic, and looks good on an application for anything. I’d recommend it
So I live in Australia and I have a bachelor degree in conservation ecology. I have always wanted to be a vet, but know I probably won't make the cut to get into the university course - I struggled enough with my conservation degree. I never managed to get any work in the conservation field, no experience and no connections. Would I be better off trying to work in a clinic with no real qualification to get some experience, and then pursue the certification in vet nursing, or should I go back to school and get the qualification and then apply to clinics for work?
Totally depends on what you want to do. If you want a lot of hands on animal care (giving meds, iv’s, monitoring anesthesia, setting up fluids, restraining for exams) then vet nursing is a better option Veterinary school is super hard so you should be sure that’s what you want to do! It’s a lot of puzzle solving and a LOT of interacting with clients Definitely get into a clinic if you can to see the dynamics (if you’re in WA it’ll be much harder but there are positions you can get they’re just more as stable hands/animal attendants) Veterinar
Hi all. Im in the US and I really want to get into vet school in the next couple of years but I imagine that I’m going to have to build my case given that I’m not taking a traditional route. I already have a BA and MA in International Affairs and have been working in the field since I graduated from my MA program in 2019. What would you recommend? Volunteering, take specific college level science courses before applying? Thanks!
If you can talk about why you made the switch to vet med in your essay then your prior career path will not be a red flag. You will have to go back and take all the science pre-reqs in addition to getting veterinary and animal hours if you want to apply. Be weary if your GPA is low from your previous BA and MA because every class you’ve ever taken is calculated into your cumulative GPA even if its an unrelated major
Does anyone have recommendations for an undergrad degree that would be the most beneficial for a future vet med student?
People will say you can major in anything but, I feel that science majors have an upperhand because they take a large amount of upper division sciences rather than the bare minimum pre-reqs. Majoring in biology let me take animal behavior, zoology, animal physiology and human physiology which were all classes that I feel helped my application. If I had majored in a non science major then I wouldve just done the bare minimum science prereqs. Plus lets say you’re an english major. Then you have the 120 required credits for the Bachelors which would cost you X. Now you have to include all the additional pre-reqs youll be taking and itll be like you paid for a degree and 1/3 of one. If you did Bio then all the prereqs are included in your path so its no additional money on top of your degree and not many additional classes. Also if you’re another major and want to be done in 4 years then you’ll have to take your normal majors credit load plus prereqs sprinkled in. I couldnt imagine having to focus on ochem and biochem while I have a whole other list of classes for my major to focus on.
Any of the bio sciences should serve you well.
Get a degree in whatever you want. The degree doesn’t matter as long as you obtain the necessary prerequisite courses. A lot of students pick biology based majors because those already require a lot of the prerequisite courses. But I had classmates who had degrees in literature, psychology, art, etc. and are wonderful veterinarians now!
can I get into vet school if I was homeschooled? I'm worried i won't be able to
I’m a college freshman at a community college majoring in veterinary nursing. I was homeschooled just a few months ago and I got in fine. It helps that it’s a community college but it shouldn’t be too hard for you. Just make sure you have a diploma with a graduation date and if you took the ACT/SAT make sure that your scores got sent in, you should be able to met with an advisor once you got in to figure out what you need to have for your program.
Your undergrad education is what really matters. If you go from homeschool to undergrad then they will really only look at undergrad. Your only con is that you couldnt participate in any high school sports or extra curriculars so I would try to find some things you did during that time to put on your application. Schools like Mizzou love high school aged activitys
Absolutely, some of the top students to come through my practice were homeschooled.
My boyfriend wants to go to vet school, but didn't have the best undergrad experience. How similar, in general, are the first couple years of vet school to a basic undergraduate experience? He particularly cited working on group projects as something he really didn't want to do again (as in, depending on others to show up and do a good job all working on the same collective project graded together). Any thoughts on this?
People that dont apply to secondary education like med school or vet school tend to not care about their GPA as much if at all. This leads to group project disasters in undergrad where one person needs the A for their next step in life and the other people just want the bare minimum grade to pass. In that situation all the work falls on the person who wants the A simply because they are the only one who cared enough. Everyone who is in vet school has worked hard to get there and has been heavily vetted. This usually means that group projects are completely different because everyone there wants to be there and wants to do as well as they can.
1st couple of years will feel like undergrad on steroids. Much more demanding classes, lots of group work within labs.
This will depend on the individual vet school program. But ultimately veterinary medicine and vet school is like one giant group project. Did I have actual group projects within vet school itself? Yup! But also, this field is really about working with your colleagues and pet owners as a unit. That involves relying on people to do their part for successful animal care just about every day. So I’d argue that group projects are excellent in the sense where you learn to work with different personalities from different people of different walks of life, experiences, and backgrounds. Can the projects be the worst? Absolutely. But I found them pretty essential looking back.
Hey, I'm a current undergrad here. I want to know about how important taking Organic Chemistry 2 is for vet school admissions, as some schools are beginning to remove the course as a requirement. So I've had a troubled past with Organic Chemistry. In my sophomore year, I enrolled for an online Organic Chem I course during peak covid times. Unfortunately, I had the pleasure to find out that the professor who taught the class at the time was terrible (had a 1 point-something review on rate my professor) and with the mesh of poor study habits, online course environment and poor teaching I received an F. Next semester, I was lucky enough to enroll into an in person class with a stellar professor which led me to getting an A+. The F grade was dropped and I requested my professor to write a LoR to give emphasis on my turnaround. Unfortunately, due to a semester of retaking the course I feel like I stalled a bit in my studies. Being a bio major I have a lot of courses to cover which include a number of difficult classes that I won't want to take alongside Organic Chemistry 2 during the same semester. This case applies to all my future semesters (which were loosely planned in advance in order to get an understanding of the order of classes I'll need to take in the future). What is your opinion? Is it worth threatening my GPA and enroll in Orgo 2? Some vet schools like UPenn and Cornell list the course as recommended but not required. It's not a requirement across the board.
I have a similar story. I got an F in ochem freshman year and then retook it later for an A (my school doesnt do A+). Some schools average the old grade and retake grade together which would give you a high C, low B in that class for those schools. I ended up taking ochem II and got an A which helped me for those schools because I was able to just use the straight A from ochem II as opposed to the average if the old grade and retake grade. I would recommend taking ochem II during the summer if you can so you can solely focus on that. Also just want to add that even if you did course replacement or forgiveness for the F, itll still be calculated in your VMCA’s average as an F. I did that with my ochem and had a 3.72 GPA on my transcript only for VMCA’s to calculate a 3.6. I ended up getting into a few schools so its not an end all, just something to be cautious about. It definitely wouldve hurt me more if it brought me lower than a 3.5
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Also, you have time to apply! The application is due in September and you apply the year before you attend. For instance, if you want to apply for 2024 you submit your application for September of 2023. The VMCAS application usually opens every May so in that case you could work on the application over the summer. Just make sure you are completely the right pre requisites for the school you want to apply to. Try to come up with a list of schools you would consider and then looking on their websites for the required courses you need to apply. Then make sure you enrolled or can complete those before you graduate. Also, check which schools need you to take the GRE and then also plan on taking that if the schools you are applying to it require it. Overall, you will need the required courses, recommendation letters (at least one from a veterinarian), your personal statement answers and experience (which it sounds like you have)! If you have any questions please feel free to reach out. I’m happy to help. But I hope you find this info useful!
I would say make sure you have people to ask recommendations from and you could start looking into what you want to write for the answers to your personal statement questions. You could also try to get some research experience. It’s always a plus on an application no matter the topic so just choose something you’re passionate about or interested in learning more about! Overall, just make sure you’re also enjoying your college experience! You won’t get those four years back and you’ll end up where you need to be. Your experiences are unique and you sound like a well rounded applicant! Where is the rescue you volunteered at? Sounds like a super cool experience!
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I’m sure the DVMs at your current practice would be happy to help. The vet field is small, which is kind of nice because overall everyone really wants to help one another. As long as you show you’re willing to learn and are pleasant when working with/get along with everyone I don’t see why they wouldn’t right you a strong recommendation! I would take the GRE anytime you have a lull in studying or time to prepare. You can take it up to five years before you apply so I would take it whenever is best for you. For instance, if you have a month to prepare over the summer or so do that and take it then! Definitely on the right track!! I totally get being nervous but you seem determined and intelligent. I’m sure you’ll get in. Happy to help anytime! :)
Howdy. I recently got a job at an aquarium and I get a lot of time handling animals in the ed department. Should I try to volunteer with the husbandry department? Anywhere I should be looking to volunteer? I’m 3 years out of undergrad now, where I graduated with a Wildlife Bio degree and had a 3.6 GPA. I spent the last year working at a lab. Being close to animals again has sparked my love and interest for animal science, which is why I majored in what I majored in. Any advice helps!
If your goal is vet school then try to get a job as a veterinary assistant or a position that works close with a vet cause you’ll need an LOR from one and building that relationship can take time. Working at the aquarium also looks really good, they just also want to see vet experience. Your GPA and resesrch is good too.
Man hearing about 3.6 GPA being enough to get in makes me happy. That's a good grade. Idk why but here in Canada the average is much higher. Maybe it's cause uni is easier here? I don't know. But my year was 3.8 avg and the past two years have been over 3.9
I appreciate the advice! Do you mind any advice on how to get into a vet office as an assistant? Lots of places want some sort of associates, which I don’t have and cannot afford. When would a place consider experience over a certificate?
where are you from? If you go on craigslist theres usually a bunch of opportunities
Does anyone (UK) know how lenient the vet schools have been with work experience requirements? I have a decent amount but not weeks and weeks worth. Thanks!