Hi everyone! I have been lurking the forum for quite some time, but I figured there is no better time than now to make my first post - like many others, I am applying in the current VMCAS cycle and was hoping to gain feedback from those better experienced than me.
I am a first-time applicant from Florida (Male, 20y/o), completing a B.S. in Zoology from UF. I intend on applying to: UF (would love to stay IS), Auburn, CSU, Michigan, UGa, UPenn, Washington State, and Tufts (although I am 100% open to feedback on where my application might best "place" me...). I know my cumulative and science GPAs are not the hottest (attributed to a rough acclimation period during my first two years), but I am hoping a well-balanced application will ameliorate that. My intended niche is in small animal medicine, focusing on treatment of service animals (esp. behavior and sports medicine) and accessible veterinary medicine for the people with disabilities whom they serve. Without further adieu...
Florida Male, 20 years old, Zoology Major and Disabilities in Society Minor, VMCAS virgin
Cum. GPA: 3.44
Science GPA: 3.50
Last 45 GPA: 3.87
GRE: Verbal 162 (90th Perc.), Quant. 159 (73rd Perc.), Analytical 5.0 (93rd Perc.)
LOR's: UF Small Animal Hospital Chief of Surgery, Research Advisor (PhD in Animal Psychology), UF Honors Program Director
Vet Experience:
-570 hours working as a small animal surgery technician at UF SAH
-225 hours shadowing clinicians & residents in the integrative medicine service, observing and applying rehabilitative treatments and sitting in on rounds.
-150 hours as a student intern at a hometown clinic, learning and practicing basic laboratory techniques (fecal floats, microscope use, staining, etc.) and engaging in equine surgical and rehabilitative processes.
-(THIS SUMMER, one week) completing a "Wildlife Veterinary Medicine" study abroad program in Belize. Led by two zoological medicine vets, we will be participating in annual examinations on animals at the Belize Zoo.
Research:
-200 hours as an Undergraduate Researcher in an animal behavior and welfare lab. Currently conducting an honors thesis investigating the effects of gestural cues on training outcomes in the domestic dog (involves collaborating with a professional dog trainer to develop training methods and techniques for research, employing methods, collecting/reviewing/analyzing data and writing up research for formal publication). Also contributed to literature reviews, discussion, data collection, and data analyses for additional studies testing cognitive patterns (food consumption, perception of environmental stimuli, and efficacy of varying training methods) in a diversity of species (namely: dogs and dolphins).
Animal Experience:
-80 hours as a "small primate intern" at a primate sanctuary, learned basic exotic animal welfare techniques, delivered meals, and led educational tours for groups of K-12 students. (Fun fact: found out that I am not too bad at shooting a tranquilizer gun.)
-360 hours completed as part of certified veterinary assisting program, in-class activities included basic veterinary techniques: grooming, nail trimming, husbandry, handling, restraint, sanitation, etc.
Teaching Experience (I include this as extracurricular on my app):
-Teaching assistant for Animal Cognition (since the Spring semester, est. 75 hours)
-Lead teaching assistant for American Sign Language (2 years now, est. 600 hours)
Extracurricular:
Signing Gators (a Deaf culture organization) President 2016-2017
Honors Ambassadors (student representatives of the Honors Program) Vice President 2016-2017
North Central Florida Signing Alliance, Inc. (non-profit organization for Deaf Community advocacy) Founding Member, 2016-2017
Pride Student Union Leadership Development Director 2015-2017
Honors First Generation (a group for Honors students who are the first in family to attend college) Student Mentor 2015-2017
Student Honors Organization Executive Board Member 2014-2015, Executive Board Mentor 2015-2016
Recognitions:
-3 Semester Dean's List
-Leadership Award - Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Gainesville Programs
-Machen Florida Opportunity Scholar (Merit & Need-Based program for First-Gen students)
-2017 Officer of the Year Award Nominee - UF Student Activities & Involvement
If you read (or even skimmed) through all of that, wow, I appreciate you. Would share the cookies in my microwave with ya.
Thank you for any and all feedback, folks.