WAMC 2nd time

[eleanor713]

Hi! With applications just opening up I was wondering to get some feedback on what to do this summer to improve my application.

For background I applied last year after graduating undergrad pretty unprepared as I decided on vet med my senior year. My overall GPA was an 3.87 with prereq probably slightly lower and last 45 slightly higher. I only had about 300 hours of working with a lab animal/large animal vet and 100 hours of various research. I played college field hockey for 4 years and was voted captain my senior year and did a lot of volunteer work in undergrad through my major (exercise science pre PT). I had about 50-100 hours of both small animal and equine animal experience. I was waitlisted at Virginia Maryland and Wisconsin and denied at Penn which was my IS.

For this cycle, Virginia maryland will be my instate as we moved during the fall of last year so hopefully that helps a little. I’ve been working at the same animal research facility since last June which by application time will add about 2,000 more hours split between vet and research experience. We work mainly with pigs, cows, goats and sheep but also occasionally rats. I’m also shadowing a small animal neuro and ortho specialist for a week and volunteering with the local humane society walking dogs/socializing cats.
Outside of vet med this will be my second year coaching high school field hockey and I’m a Morgan’s message ambassador (mental health for athletes program).
I’m wondering what else to do this summer before applying but I’m also worried that I won’t be able to get good opportunities while working full time and coaching again by august.

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[matthirten13]

From my perspective, you are doing the right things to improve your application. From your background paragraph, I would imagine your lack of experience harmed you the most. The 2k additional hours of veterinary and research experience should help you a lot in that regard. Would be interested to know what the hour split is between those.

It sounds like you've spent a lot of time working with the same vet?? I think my number one suggestion would be to diversify a bit more if possible. You mention shadowing an SA neuro/ortho Vet for a week (40 hrs maybe??). I think that's a good start, but I'd advise trying to get more hours with that specialist and/or seeking other diverse veterinary experiences if possible.

If you have not already, I would do any file reviews offered by the schools you applied to.

 

[eleanor713]

Thank you! I actually posted another thread on the main pre vet page. We work with a lot of outside research teams so I’ve worked personally with a couple other vets and phds while working at this company. Should I split them up according to hours and list the other vets/researchers?

 

[matthirten13]

I work as a research vet tech on a farm. Basically we buy and sell pigs goats sheep and cattle but also have operating rooms and a typical lab set up that other companies pay to use along with our vet staff and our animals. By the time I submit my application I’ll have about 2,500 hours working here. About half of my time is spent doing pre op, anesthesia, post op, and record keeping for clients and the other half is general large animal veterinary work. I’m pretty sure I’m going to split this up on the VMCAS even thought it is under the same vet and same company.
My main question is how to include what I do for the research side of things. I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of different clients such as the department of defense, John’s Hopkins, and other major hospitals in maryland and PA. Should I include each project separately and go into detail about each one or just group all of these hours together because for the most part I was doing the same tasks (intubation, IV, anesthesia, recovery, etc)?

Thank you! I actually posted another thread on the main pre vet page. We work with a lot of outside research teams so I’ve worked personally with a couple other vets and phds while working at this company. Should I split them up according to hours and list the other vets/researchers?

I wouldn't split them up, personally. You called them clients and you stated doing the same tasks, sounds like the same job/experience to me.