Preparing to apply to Veterinary School in 2-3 years and trying to improve my odds of getting in on the first try

[CardiacStimulant]

Hey All!

I am currently working in IT and have been exploring many routes over the years: Dental, Medicine, Optimetry, PT, and Veterinary school. I have shadowed a Doctor, Dentist, and Veterinarian and I have found that Veterinary medicine is the route I want to take. I am currently 34 years old and hope to start school when 36 or 37. I have an appointment with an HPSP Army recruiter and discussing this option as I know Veterinary school is very expensive and have been interested in serving in the military anyway. As I stand right now, I graduated with a dual bachelors in Biology and Biopsychology with a cumulative GPA alittle over a 3.0 and science GPA of around 3.3 (graduated in Late 2015). I had a really bad start to college (I think at the end of Sophomore year I had a 2.5 cumulative GPA). That said I had a great trend my 2nd half of school and my last 45 are closer to a 3.9. I need to get more Vet shadowing experience (around 24 hours right now) and more animal experience (roughly 100) and need to figure out how I can get these hours up significantly while continuing to work full-time and having children. I am a South Carolina resident which hurts a little bit more not having an instate school and competing for seats at UGA and Mississippi State and OOS seats at other schools.

I have mostly A's with all my pre-reqs (except Vertebrate Biology and Ecology and a C in Orgo 2). From a GPA standpoint should I look at taking more science classes like re-taking Orgo 2 and maybe and retaking some of my old classes I took back in 2013 to try and get my GPA up and more recent science classes? Should I do a Masters program (would have to be online given the covid situation and the fact that I work full-time and have 2 kids)? Should I not worry about either and just do really well on the GRE? How much shadowing and animal experience should I aim at getting that would greatly increase my chances? Being full-time it would be difficult for me to go and work for a Vet, but I have been keeping my eye out for a Vet office who might need some weekend/night help like an Emergency clinic.

Obviously I am not getting any younger here and want to put the least amount of stress on my family as possible. UGA is my top choice due to it's proximity to family, loving the school, and having grown up in Georgia the first half of my life. Any advice would be very helpful!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[EngrSC]

We're in the middle of exams so I don't have the time to give you a super long response, but I was accepted to vet school on my first try after 10 years in engineering. When I first considered vet school I took prereqs at night at my local community college and worked weekends in a small animal hospital. Once I decided I really wanted to pursue it I was able to cut my engineering work hours back to 30/week which allowed me to take classes full time. And regarding vet experience, I think it's more about quality and diversity than quantity. I've quoted my stats below, which provides more info about the path I took.

Low GPAer with multiple acceptances!

My undergrad GPA was a 2.7ish so this goes to show that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself if you’re willing to work for it! Being an older student ready to move on with my life, I applied to a ridiculous number of schools. I was also super worried about how much my academic history would hinder me. I timed my application cycle with my husband being overseas on an unaccompanied tour (he’s career military), giving us the best chances of ending up in the same region of the country when he returns. Of course this would only work if I was accepted so that’s another reason why I applied to so many schools! I wouldn’t recommend being financially reckless (I have the GI bill and savings to pay for vet school so cost was less of a limiting factor), but ultimately you gotta do what’s best for you!

32 y/o female, non-trad, Georgia resident, 1st time applicant

Applied: Auburn, CSU, Davis, UF, UGA, U Illinois, Iowa State, K-State, LMU, LSU, Michigan State, UMN, Mississippi State, tOSU, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Penn, Purdue, SGU, Tufts, VMCVM
Rejected: Davis, Auburn, CSU, U Illinois
Interview waitlisted: UF, tOSU
Invited to Interview: SGU, LMU, K-State, VMCVM, Mississippi State, Purdue, Michigan State, UMN (declined), Tufts (declined), Penn
Waitlisted: Oregon State, Purdue, Mississippi State, Michigan State
Accepted: SGU, LMU, LSU, Oklahoma State, Penn, K-State, VMCVM, Iowa State, UGA
Attending: VMCVM

Cumulative GPA: 3.06
Last 45 GPA: 4.00
DIY Post-Bacc GPA: 3.87 (84 credits, all science)
Science GPA w/o engineering: 3.63
Science GPA w/ engineering: 2.98 (thanks VMCAS)

GRE: 152 V / 160 Q / 3.5 <- don’t half-a$$ the writing portion like I did LOL

Undergrad degree: BS Aerospace Engineering (2010)

Veterinary Experience
- SA general practice with Chinese medicine: 2800 hours
- SA ER: 250 hours
- Avian, exotics & wildlife: 170 hours
- Equine/swine: 100 hours
- Equine/LA/internal medicine: 240 hours
- Low cost clinic: 140 hours

Animal Experience
- Therapeutic riding group for disabled children: 120 hours
- Farrier: 12 hours (corrective shoeing)
- Shelter: 55 hours
- Cat rescue: 300 hours
- Wildlife center: 30 hours
- Pet ownership (only included animals I’ve owned as an adult independently of my parents and super low-balled the hours)

Research
- Nada!

Community Service/Volunteer Things
- 7 years as a board member and caseworker with a non-profit that provides financial assistance to owners and rescuers of dogs in need. We disperse funds to veterinarians directly to be used for non-routine treatment. I’ve worked some super interesting cases and this is where my interest in medicine began.
- 3 years as the Family Adoptions Director (board position) of a breed specific dog rescue. A group of us broke off because we wanted the flexibility to take in mixes of said breed so I was a founding member and the Applications Director for 2 years of the new non-profit. I really enjoyed working with potential adopters so managing the application and adoption process was a natural fit for me.
- Volunteer at an emergency women and children’s shelter

Non-Animal Employment
- 10 years for the same engineering company, first as an intern, then mechanical engineer, and finally as a systems engineer. The highlight was working software test on a really cool program that was awarded a Collier trophy (a pretty big deal).
- Also included the 2 jobs I had as an undergrad student: recycling center for 2 years and mechanics lien company for 2 years.

LORs (tried to pick people in different areas of my life that know me very well)
- SA vet
- Equine/LA vet
- Engineering boss
- President of non-profit I’ve been with 7 years
- A&P I & II and Neuro professor
- Infectious Diseases and Micro professor

Explanation Statement
I used this space to discuss GI issues I had from childhood through my undergrad years. I had a slew of medical tests done when I was an engineering student and, living alone, I developed some very disordered eating habits stemming from anxiety about my GI stuff, which resulted in me being super underweight. I struggled with the decision to include this in my application but ultimately I did. I used the first paragraph to outline the facts: this is what happened and this is what I did about it (cognitive behavioral therapy and working with a registered dietician). In the 2nd paragraph I talked about the things I do today (9 years later) to manage my GI issues and anxiety (basically putting self-care first and confronting the things that make me anxious, both food-related and not). And in the 3rd paragraph I was able to demonstrate how much more functional I am now by discussing the strong grades I’ve earned as a post-bacc student while juggling an engineering career, a cross country move, a periacetabular osteotomy (corrective surgery for hip dysplasia), and making time for veterinary experiences.
These days I’m super open about my struggles and how I got to where I am now. My inbox is always open to anyone struggling, needing a little encouragement, or whatever; and I’d be happy to share my explanation statement with anyone needing an example and/or help with editing theirs. I asked half a dozen people for feedback on mine to be sure it was conveying the right message ... I basically admitted to having anxiety and an eating disorder, which could’ve sunk my ship if not done right. Moral of the story, own what happened and make it a strength (but only if you can demonstrate how you’re a bada$$ now).

Essays
1 - Opened with why I studied engineering, talked about the development of my interest in medicine, included a major takeaway from each of my vet experiences, and closed by saying that I’m seeking an area within vet med where client relationship and continuity of care are valued, as this relationship is most fulfilling to me.
2 - Given my rescue background and having lived in states where shelters are understaffed and at max capacity, I talked about supporting my local shelter and/or rescue(s) in some capacity once I’m a vet. I emphasized that I want to improve the lives of the animals in my community through education, which I hope to do in clinical medicine. I also expressed an interest in teaching the next generation of vets as my contribution to the profession that benefits the community long after I’m gone.
3 - I went with commitment to learning, finding enjoyment and meaning outside of medicine, strong oral and written communication, and integrity.

 

[CardiacStimulant]

We're in the middle of exams so I don't have the time to give you a super long response, but I was accepted to vet school on my first try after 10 years in engineering. When I first considered vet school I took prereqs at night at my local community college and worked weekends in a small animal hospital. Once I decided I really wanted to pursue it I was able to cut my engineering work hours back to 30/week which allowed me to take classes full time. And regarding vet experience, I think it's more about quality and diversity than quantity. I've quoted my stats below, which provides more info about the path I took.

thank you for sharing!