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Hi guys, not much going on yet but thought I would start a thread for this year!
I haven't done much besides fill out my name and address so far so not too tricky yet! chs621 are you applying at UCVM and WCVM?
I'm applying at both. The 200 word limit is definitely a challenge to fit everything into!I'm almost done my app for WCVM and so far it's going good! I find the hardest thing is trying to fit the answers into 200 words. I'm just applying at WCVM, how about you??
Thanks SAR! I do have one Calgary question (though it is totally too early for it). I can sort of imagine what might be on the MMI part of the interview because there is so much info out there for the med school version but I am very lost as to the essay. I know you guys can't tell topics or anything as far as I know, but would you be able to give just some tips on how you prepared for potential essay questions? I'm not sure how to go about it as I haven't known anyone who had an interview at UCVM and really am not too sure what to do to help for that portion! Thanks for any tips!
How is school going? What kind of things are you guys covering so far?
Have you interviewed before?Hello everyone! I am a third time WCVM applicant and am wondering if you guys think that there is some advantage to changing up the application or keeping it the same as previous years, adding the additional experience of course?
Hope the application writing is going well!
Good job on the interview! Do you have a preference for WCVM vs UCVM?One serious application attempt, the first I knew I didn't have much shot yet but did it to get the practice I guess and just see where I landed? So twice! Last year I had an interview at WCVM and that went well so I moved up quite a bit but I was pretty near last for grades in my provincial pool and the interview only counts for 40% so I'm doing one more year of classes this year, which will hopefully bump out my worst year and help quite a bit on that side of things! We shall see I suppose! I guess that's a more detailed version of that story than was needed!
Has everyone else applied previously or is it the first time for some of you?
Have you interviewed before?
(Sorry I know I've seen you on the threads before but I can't remember exactly how it turned out for you)
I would say definitely add the new experiences, but otherwise keep it the same if the same still applies. Do you still want to be a vet for the same reasons? Or have your new experiences opened your eyes to more reasons you want to be a vet? If you could find a way to show how you have improved from last year, that would be ideal.
If you haven't interviewed before, then your academics were the main concern, and it wasn't anything else in your application holding you back. If you did interview, what was the feedback you were given?
Yes, I'm taking all higher level courses because I know they don't want people just taking easy intro courses for several years to bump up their grades. I find them easier actually too because they're a lot more interesting, which makes them easier to me!Good job on the interview! Do you have a preference for WCVM vs UCVM?
How many 1st year courses are you in this year? I was talking to Heather today and she said that typically they want to see a max of 3 introductory courses in your most recent year if you are going to drop your oldest year.
Perfect, just wanted to make sure. I would hate for someone to put in all the work and then find out they don't qualify.Yes, I'm taking all higher level courses because I know they don't want people just taking easy intro courses for several years to bump up their grades. I find them easier actually too because they're a lot more interesting, which makes them easier to me!
Have you done anything like Toastmasters? I went to a few sessions of the campus club last year and it was helpful even just watching others present.The first year I applied I had just graduated from a 5 yr degree and managed to snag an interview, although I was ranked very low. My feedback was to improve my GPA, work on speaking skills, and acquire more small animal experience. I ended up getting a sweet job at a clinic and decided to focus on improving the experience and speaking skills. However I narrowly missed a interview last year, so I'm really hoping to get one this year.
My experiences since my first attempt haven't changed my reasons for becoming a vet, but definitely solidified them! You are right about showing them how I have improved, I will have to put some thought into that and rework some of my application. Thank you for the input
Have you done anything like Toastmasters? I went to a few sessions of the campus club last year and it was helpful even just watching others present.
That's great about the vet clinic! What are you doing there?
Yes, I'm taking all higher level courses because I know they don't want people just taking easy intro courses for several years to bump up their grades. I find them easier actually too because they're a lot more interesting, which makes them easier to me!
I'll break in to answer this just because I was talking about this with Heather pretty recently.Hey Sally, I'm also working on getting rid of my worst year at the moment by taking another year of classes! I was wondering if you had any insight on how many classes they would like us to take? Last I spoke to Heather she said one might be okay taking 4 classes per semester but that the committee would prefer to see 5 per semester.. Have you heard anything regarding this? I know people who have done an additional year taking 4 per semester and have been successful
Welcome to the thread!Hi everyone,
I was looking for some advice on writing the personal statement for my WCVM application.
Awesome! So this year are you still applying BC pool then? And then next year SK if you don't get in?I have done Toastmasters, I was part of it for about a year and it was super helpful. At the clinic I was working as a kennel attendant, basically responsible for kennelled animals and keeping an eye on the recovering ones while helping out the techs or vets. I got a lot of hands on experience which was awesome. However, I decided that instead of staying in BC and doing another year to improve my GPA, I moved to SK planning on working for a year and then potentially doing another year of school while applying as a SK resident. I am finding it tricky to find an animal related position here, especially since I do not know anyone and have no contacts in SK. How is school going for you? Your in your 2nd year right?
I'll message you regarding the school. Try to keep myself somewhat anonymous haha.@BeautifulBritishColumbia, where are you going that you get a percentage instead of a GPA? How do they convert that to GPA for your applications? Super curious haha
I'll message you regarding the school. Try to keep myself somewhat anonymous haha.
We have both a % grade and a 9 point scale GPA. % is on the transcript, and from my understanding WCVM uses those exact percentages to calculate the admissions averages.
Before there was % on our transcripts they had a conversion formula to get our GPA to their GPA (or so I have read on previous threads). Since there isn't a ton of universities that they get applications from, I guess they ran a pretty tight ship.
How's school going for you?
Anatomy quiz could have been better but what can ya do Now we just have a TON of projects due this month and then onto finals
Hi everyone,
I was looking for some advice on writing the personal statement for my WCVM application.
I think basically there is no guarantee that they will take the other year. Regarding 4 vs. 5/term, Heather has said that 4 is fine but not if you have only ever done 4 at a time because they want to know that everyone can handle a full course load. If your whole undergrad was 5+5 terms and you do an extra year of 4+4 that seems to be ok as far as I've heard. So yes, after confirming a few times (really don't want to be wasting the year!), I'm confident that years with 4/semester are considered as well. They are always very careful to say that they can't ever guarantee that a year will be dropped though, just to protect from situations where it isn't for some reason. They always say it is case by case but will just give you a "most likely", which I think is the best they can do so I'm going with that as my final answer.Hey Sally, I'm also working on getting rid of my worst year at the moment by taking another year of classes! I was wondering if you had any insight on how many classes they would like us to take? Last I spoke to Heather she said one might be okay taking 4 classes per semester but that the committee would prefer to see 5 per semester.. Have you heard anything regarding this? I know people who have done an additional year taking 4 per semester and have been successful
Thanks chs651. Would you say you tried to answer the questions in a format and/or way that made you stand out?Hi peach312! For my statements I basically just answered the questions they asked. I found it easy to go over the 200 word limit so I tried to keep it concise.
Thanks chs651. Would you say you tried to answer the questions in a format and/or way that made you stand out?
I'll break in to answer this just because I was talking about this with Heather pretty recently.
It is all done automatically on a case-by-case basis. You don't have to submit a request for them to drop grades, they immediately look over it and choose if they want to grant it when you submit your application.
They really want to see 5, though she did also tell us in certain cases four was accepted. You have to "earn" the class drop in a way. That is the same reason they will accept no more than 3 1st year introductory classes in your fifth year as well.
If I was you I would definitely take 5 in each semester. Are you in 4 or 5 right now?
BTW welcome back to the thread! What application # are you on now?
I think basically there is no guarantee that they will take the other year. Regarding 4 vs. 5/term, Heather has said that 4 is fine but not if you have only ever done 4 at a time because they want to know that everyone can handle a full course load. If your whole undergrad was 5+5 terms and you do an extra year of 4+4 that seems to be ok as far as I've heard. So yes, after confirming a few times (really don't want to be wasting the year!), I'm confident that years with 4/semester are considered as well. They are always very careful to say that they can't ever guarantee that a year will be dropped though, just to protect from situations where it isn't for some reason. They always say it is case by case but will just give you a "most likely", which I think is the best they can do so I'm going with that as my final answer.
Squishes are you still in Victoria? Or did you move already.Thanks for the response Yes currently doing 4 this semester but will be doing 5 next semester. Hope I didn't screw up by taking 4 this time around! I guess we'll see what happens.. This will be round 3 for me! Well I guess more like 2 since my first application was just to test the waters Hope your semester is going well! Almost done yay
I don't think you do, actually. I've never looked at the form, but I remember people saying that you just have to fill out what you've done in 200 words. Maybe some of this year's applicants could jump in? @Sally and Z @chs621BBC has some pretty good advice! Do you have to report the number of hours you spent doing a particular activity for WCVM? For UCVM we don't have to other than beginning and end dates. I only had ~125 hours of equine veterinary experience, ~9 hours of poultry experience, and some other non-hands on volunteer work like sitting on a board of directors for a Canadian breed registry and volunteering with a group that works with high school students to inspire them to pursue science careers. Plus an uncountable number of hunter/jumper competitor hours . So I was definitely light on the volunteer hours but I don't think UCVM looks at that as critically as WCVM does. In fact, on our application it says they don't use it to determine whether or not you get in at all, it is more for their own interest to see what background their future students have. So take my experience with a grain of salt!