If it doesn't change your graduation date, it's probably not a bad idea as long as you know that you can maintain good grades in your required core classes as well. Schools may also like that it shows you're more diverse (if it's in a non-science area). However, I would advise against taking up a minor if it's going to mean that you're going to graduate later.
To clarify, you'll be graduating a semester late, regardless of the minor? Then I'd say that it's not harmful to pick up the minor if you're genuinely interested in it, and you know that it won't harm your other grades by overwhelming you! I almost picked up a soc minor for the same reasons. I loved it, it would've helped my cum. GPA, and it was definitely easy enough to not put my biology/pre-req classes at risk.
I'd add it and email your schools and say that you added tutoring at your university to your application and ask if they'll redownload your app. Worst they can do is say no.
Your math & science GPA isn't bad, but your upper level science GPA is quite low. You obviously need a lot more vet experience too. Try to get varied experience if possible, like large animal experience, wildlife, avian, exotics (not all, but try for three areas including the small animal experience you have, at least I'm assuming it's small animal).
I think that you look pretty good for MSU. They just changed what all they're looking at, so I'm not totally on top of what they're considering now. They no longer look at GRE, and I think it's last 36 semester hours they want (maybe also science?). That looks good, and you've got way more vet hours than I did.
Actually some schools will count owning pets as animal experience, depending on what that ownership entailed.
The Caribbean schools are really expensive, then add in COL and travel to and from the island, and it becomes even more expensive. It might be smarter to focus on getting your undergrad classes done sooner at a higher cost to you, and then apply to your in state vet school, and other lower cost schools in the continental US.
Also, staying in academia means you will spend extra time getting a PhD and/or getting board certification in a specialty to be competitive...
Most stateside schools don't require a bachelor's either, just prerequisites. Take a serious look at the debt that planning for going Caribbean would leave you in and consider strongly aiming for your in-state.
Thanks. Honestly was looking more at how good my chances were to getting into a state school given my situation. Wasn’t sure shooting for the minimum requirements but applying with a good amount of experience would really give me a shot anywhere given that it seems most traditional students apply every year with a better educational background.
If you do go this route, I'd take your science prerequisites last as many schools have limits on when you take them (such as within five years of applying)... just something to keep in mind.
If you do well in your classes, you are just as competitive as anyone else. Some schools do factor in course load, but I don't think that is ever heavily considered.
Which OSU? There are 3. Oregon state is extremely hard to get into OOS if that's what they are referring too.
My guess (and 3m's) is that is was Ohio state. Only because their other schools are in WI, MI, and IN
Yeah, sorry, I was referring to The Ohio State University.
Y’all are making me want to rewatch Sherlock with those deductions.
I do hear they can be a bit persnickety about that The.
Thanks for the opinions, everyone. It’s nice to get some feedback outside of my own head!
We take our *THE* very seriously
I just feel down in the dumbs and wish I could just start over. I had a rough first year and a half which regarded in my low gpa. For my 3.4 gpa I have 17 credit hours for that. I just don’t know what to do to raise my gpa. If it’s worth retaking courses, or stay in school and take classes until I can raise my gpa. I’m 22 which I know is still young but I feel like I’m so behind compared to my friends.There are some schools that focus primarily (or entirely) on science and last 45 GPAs --- ISU and KSU do for sure, and I know that that there are at least a few more. However, a lot of them still do have a minimum cumulative GPA that you have to meet in order for your application to be considered; ISU's is 2.5, which is I actually believe to be one of the lowest. Many schools won't even glance at your application if your cumulative GPA is below a 3.0.
I was accepted to a couple of schools with a 3.2 cumulative, and that's considered to be on the pretty low end. A 2.2 is going to make things extremely difficult for you and, honestly, I'm not sure that you're even going to qualify for most, if any, vet schools with a GPA like that.
Unfortunately, like Trilt alluded to, if you've got a lot of credits already under your belt, it may be practically impossible to raise your cumulative GPA beyond a few tenths of a point, even with straight As. You could potentially do a masters or retake any pre-reqs you did poorly in, but depending on how many credits are going into that 2.2, it might be too little too late.
Edit: Here's a calculator that may be useful to you: It can be used to determine just how high you can raise your GPA based on how many credits you've already taken and what courses you're currently in or have left to complete, as well as how many hours of As you'll need to raise your GPA to a certain level and whether or not that is going to be a realistic goal for you. For example, running it through that calculator, with 96 credit hours amassed, it would take 77 hours of straight As to raise a 2.2 to a 3.0.
Edit 2: Just realized that this got merged into the WaMC thread -- this is all in response to @Katienic
You have a better chance of raising your GPA than someone who's done an entire bachelor's at 2.2. That's even more of an uphill climb.
First of all - it's not a race. Don't feel rushed because other people are at different stages than you are. That has absolutely no bearing on you or your career path.
I do have an advisor to talk to. I’m supposed to graduate spring 2018 with my bachelors. I’m just stuck on what to do to get my gpa up even after that. I know I want to work with animals for sure but I don’t know what I can exactly do without being required to go to vet school. How do most vet schools look at classes that you retake?
there are tons of options on what you can do for a job working with animals that DOESNT require vet school. And TBH, being a vet you're going to be working with people more than animals. As most of the vets will tell you on here, like 90% of their job is working with people vs animals. If you really prefer working with animals, you should look at becoming a vet tech if you still want to be in a veterinary setting. As a vet tech, you're going to have way more hands on time with just animals than most vets. There's also things like working for an animal shelter/humane society, working at a kennel, or being a trainer or a groomer that would allow you to work with animals.
Other ideas with animals: laboratory animal technician, dog trainer, park ranger/national forest service, police officer with with specialized k9 unit, pet sitting company, fundraiser/public outreach coordinator for animal rescue organization, animal husbandry technician for zoo or aquarium...
There are many careers that allow you to work with animals outside of being a veterinarian. There are also many careers that give you fixed hours and a steady income that would allow you to work with animals in a volunteer capacity - fostering animals, therapeutic riding center volunteer, etc. Being a veterinarian requires getting through veterinary school, which is an exercise in academic rigor. I'm someone who really struggled with pre-reqs and made it in to vet school and passed my vet school classes; it CAN be done but it certainly isn't for everyone nor is it actively enjoyable to get good gradesI think I could have been very happy continuing my job as a lab animal technician - sure, less income overall but also zero debt and a satisfying job.
I was excited to see this link because I’ve recently been wondering if it was possible to increase my gpa to a certain point. So I tried it and it told me I wasn’t allowed to take 28 credits in a semester!
I’m like, semester, no that’s how many credits I’m taking this quarter!Do I need to get my bachelors before going in the vet tech track? I’ve heard people doing vet tech then later doing vet school. Or can I get my vet tech degree while getting my bachelors? I know I have the potential for good grades. My first college I had a 3.8 gpa and I transferred to start the pre-vet track and I just had a horrible time my first few semesters and my gpa suffered. I’ve been interested in animal therapy like a therapist for animals but doesn’t that require vet school?
A vet tech degree would usually be an associates or a bachelors depending on where you go for it, so you wouldn't need to have a bachelors degree first. And some people do tech school and then go onto vet school, but it's definitely not necessary and a lot of people on here will tell you not to spend money on tech school and put yourself in more debt if your ultimate goal is vet school. I'm not sure if vet schools would count tech classes as part of your prerequisites and gpa or not, I haven't researched that route because it's not something I'm interested in doing. And you would also have to be careful about timing because even if you had already taken a lot of vet school prereqs, there is a limit on how long ago they can have been for some (all? Idk) vet schools.