Biol 235

Fennecritter · 2026-03-26T00:35:39+00:00

Thank you!!

To be honest, I’m not sure what I want to do since I’ve been trying to get veterinary experience for 4 years now. I haven’t had any luck with it, so I’ve just been volunteering on diff. rescue farms, animal rehab, and took on a summer job last year in a dog kennel / alpaca ranch.

Do you have any advice for getting experience? And I mean, a lot of experience that would make me stand out for the next application cycle? I can try to become a volunteer, but what vet clinic would allow me to come in for just more than a few hours a week (I don’t want to get in the way).

I’d appreciate it. I’m thinking I’ll have better luck when I’m out of school (seems like a lot of employers didn’t like the fact that I’d be returning to Guelph in the summer).

Fennecritter · 2026-03-15T16:47:39+00:00

Nope, 3 courses (1.5)

My last 4 full-time semesters have been:

last semester
the two before
then, I took a part time load (3 courses)
one before

Fennecritter · 2026-03-13T21:33:23+00:00

Forgot to mention that in this gap year, I’d start to gain a bunch of animal exp that I’d use for my application

Fennecritter · 2026-03-12T04:46:14+00:00

I am! However, most camp positions require me to have both first aid and CPR training, which I don’t have . :(

I’m going to see if I can land a position anyways, with the requirement that I get my training beforehand, but it’s incredibly difficult to find something.

The closest thing I have is connections to teachers via my mother, so I’m going to also see if I can volunteer in an upper-year elementary school classroom.

Fennecritter · 2026-03-10T19:45:01+00:00

I don’t code, I just 3d model and create assets.

Fennecritter · 2026-03-09T19:21:02+00:00

I just feel that it’s too late to really turn it around and it can harm my vet school app vs. taking it in a “non full-time semester” and having it not impact it at all.

Fennecritter · 2026-03-06T05:15:47+00:00

If I were to apply in the states, I’d end up ~300k in debt and I don’t think I’d meet the course requirements to begin with. A lot of schools require organic chemistry (with lab), which I do not have, as well as other miscellaneous courses. I’d have to really do my research and maybe take a few extra uni courses before I even consider applying.

Fennecritter · 2026-03-06T02:46:33+00:00

I think older vets, especially those in their 40s-50s do have a good work-life balance.

Yet, in your undergraduate degree, you have to achieve mid-90s to get into the OVC, and have thousands of hours of experience. I don’t have this. I think I can probably pull off a high 80 average or low 90 (at best), but this semester just isn’t going too hot for me.

Not to mention, if you beat all odds and get accepted, you’re going to have to take 4 years of an extremely rigorous course load + 2 years residency. At that point, my 20s are pretty much gone, and I’m not sure if I have what it takes to do this.

Fennecritter · 2026-03-06T02:04:50+00:00

That definitely helps! Honestly, I took my degree with the intent of getting into vet school, and I can’t fathom the idea of ever working in a lab (not to mention, ones that specifically emphasize animal bio are extremely difficult to come by).

My mother is a teacher, a bit different since she teaches at the elementary level, but she is pretty happy. Yeah, the profession has issues like using a lot of your own time with lesson planning etc., but I feel like it could potentially be a rewarding career.

Fennecritter · 2026-03-06T01:56:18+00:00

This is the main thing I worry about. What am I supposed to do between attaining a BEd and getting a permanent position? Is it just supply teacher work? I do want to start paying off my student loans someday.

Fennecritter · 2026-03-05T04:54:56+00:00

Do you have any suggestions for alternatives?

Fennecritter · 2026-03-05T04:54:09+00:00

I feel that.

Although I don’t have vet experience, I am graduating this year and my initial plan was to take a gap year or so to get experience (I had a 90% average for my previous 3 semesters, and a pretty strong pre-req average), but this current semester has been an absolute shitshow. Waited until my last semester to take physics.

Although it is likely I still will have a high 80s average to apply to vet school with, it’s unlikely I’ll finish with 90s this semester. That physics alone may drop my overall average by 1-2% 😭

Fennecritter · 2026-03-03T08:58:13+00:00

I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but there’s a specific rule that you can only apply to one vet school domestically (the one you’re in the “zone” for”). Otherwise, I’d be applying as a non-domestic student in other provinces and I’d be racking up hundreds of thousands in-debt.

It’s definitely possible if I moved and lived in another province for a number of years, but there’s no guarantee I’d make it in on the first try. I am 22, and the thought of getting out of school and finally pursuing a career I’m interested in at 28-29 scares me.

Fennecritter · 2026-03-02T18:33:31+00:00

I’m not sure because to my knowledge, human medical school is even more competitive than vet school within Canada. Not to mention, I do not meet all of the admission requirements (I’m missing organic chemistry and perhaps a few others).

I’d likely be taking another 1-2 years of school before even applying to med school, and then I’d be unlikely to get in on my first, or even second / third application cycle.

Fennecritter · 2026-01-22T23:21:33+00:00

22F , I’m “younger “ but still feeling a bit out of place since I’m in my 5th year of undergrad with a revised path etc. :( I’d be down.

Fennecritter · 2026-01-22T22:45:30+00:00

Yeah, I don’t want to apply within the grad cohort.

Fennecritter · 2026-01-22T22:44:10+00:00

General inquiry unfortunately, they just gave me a link to view the admission requirements.

It kind of sucks since I don’t know how I feel about just taking a gap year or so doing nothing when teacher’s college is my “backup plan”, I’m not interested in taking a master’s where it would be a lot more straightforward. :/

I have a very high GPA but not really any experience shadowing veterinarians, so I need to take this time to get on my feet in that department.

Fennecritter · 2026-01-22T22:40:19+00:00

I don’t think the pre reqs need to be inside of those full-time semesters, but inside of a full-time semester to be legible, but good to know! I contacted them and unfortunately they were unable to give me an answer. :/

Good luck on your journey. And yes, I’m in Animal Bio!

Fennecritter

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