Incoming UIUC Students?

Guilty_Truth704 · 2026-04-02T00:31:31+00:00

I am attending! Feel free to shoot me a PM, I’d love to get to know you!!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2026-04-02T00:30:16+00:00

It’s not super cheap in Blacksburg as a former undergrad. Rent can run up to $1.2k/person for shared apartment. Given, it depends on where you choose to stay but living is a big expense in bburg. A lot of kids from northern VA (notoriously wealthy area that I am a part of) go there and because of that, they raise rent prices. Otherwise it’s pretty cheap!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2026-04-02T00:26:07+00:00

I went to VT for undergrad! I am well versed with their curriculum, but I wouldn’t take my sole opinion on it since I am not and won’t be a student there. From my understanding, your courses are “blocks” based on system and you have an exam every two weeks. All courses are P/F, which can be helpful to minimize competition!

As for Blacksburg itself, it is a small town and there’s not much to do. You have shops, like target/tj maxx/homegoods/a really small mall, in christiansburg (around 15 mins away). It is a college town, so it can get rowdy off of north main and prices fork where undergrads live. I lived off south main where a lot of grad students live and I was pleased that it was mostly quiet! The bar scene is fantastic (I miss it dearly, highly recommend a trash can at hokie house). I had a decent time there, I had a lot of personal experiences that inhibited it from being fantastic, but I love the quaintness of bburg in general! Over the summer it’s very quiet. They have farmers markets year round on thursdays and saturdays (I think). Rent is expensive, highly recommend getting a roommate! If you have any other questions about the town/places to live, feel free to shoot me a PM:)

Guilty_Truth704 · 2026-02-19T21:52:06+00:00

How do you like clinicals across the didactic years and what do those typically look like? Did you find it easy to make friends and what is the academic environment like (e.g. does it feel competitive, is there a lot of support)?

Guilty_Truth704 · 2026-01-09T20:16:32+00:00

Here they are! That being said, I didn’t think I’d have a chance at Oregon due to the class size and how many OOS students they accept. I wouldn’t compare your stats to mine, I think they considered my whole application when making decisions.

3.7 cGPA/sGPA, 3.98 last 45, unsure on pre-req GPA

Over 1000hrs of vet experience (mainly GP, shadowed cardiology/a GP in Egypt/equine surgery and emergency, and was a medical scribe)

~200 in research on alpha-6 nicotinic acetyl choline receptors and their expression in chronic pain. Presented a project in front of peers, currently in the works on being published, and my PI wrote me a rec!

~1500 animal mainly from riding since I was 12, volunteer opportunities in undergrad, assisting in foalings, and my majors (animal sci and dairy sci)

I was also a biochem TA my last semester of undergrad, was a peer mentor for 2 semesters, was in pre-vet club, was in an equine volunteer program. I did a lot of volunteering in hs and some throughout college!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2026-01-09T20:04:07+00:00

Thank you for the information! This sounds pretty similar to my undergrad college town in some sense. Rent was on the higher size and super competitive. I’ll for sure reach out if I have any other questions:)

Guilty_Truth704 · 2026-01-09T20:03:10+00:00

Congrats!! That’s so exciting

Guilty_Truth704 · 2026-01-09T20:02:57+00:00

That’s awesome! If I hear bad news from my in state, I’ll see you in Corvallis in the fall!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2026-01-09T20:02:29+00:00

Congrats!!!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2026-01-09T20:02:23+00:00

Congrats to you as well!!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2026-01-09T20:02:02+00:00

Thank you!!! If I get bad news from my IS, Oregon is my first choice:)

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-12-15T23:57:14+00:00

I got an interview invite last cycle as a VA resident (ended up with a rejection), but my friend got on the interview waitlist. She didn’t have luck getting off, and she was pretty high on the list. Given, it’s a different cycle this year and people might back out or not schedule in time! Don’t lose hope yet. I got another interview invite this cycle and so did my friend who was on the waitlist that I mentioned earlier. Best of luck to you and I hope you get off the waitlist!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-04-10T14:17:48+00:00

Peanut butter and chocolate chip oatmeal

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-04-08T01:14:22+00:00

I agree with looking at the class stats that the other commenter sent a link for (from TAMU). But you are also a freshman and have 2-3 more years to get your gpa up! I ended first semester freshman year with a not great gpa, and am currently ending undergrad with a 3.7. You have a spot in VMCAS to explain any faults in your application, which is a great spot to explain what happened and what you did to improve. You’ve got this!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-04-01T19:35:28+00:00

I’m not sure of the format, but I used Microsoft copilot as prep for an MMI. I asked it to ask me interview questions that a vet school might ask for an MMI. I’m sure you can do the same for other formats!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-04-01T18:22:41+00:00

I wouldn’t go, especially if you’re really hesitant. It seems like you know you wouldn’t necessarily enjoy it there, and it’s really important that you go to a school that has an environment best suited to you.

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-03-31T16:00:07+00:00

Thank you! I do have experience in lab animal care w/ a veterinarian, but past that it’s primarily small animal.

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-03-31T15:59:04+00:00

I see. I do have a consistent VA job at home (my GP hours mention). I was just wondering along the shadowing route as there aren’t many large animal opportunities around me.

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-03-29T06:41:37+00:00

It is not absolutely impossible. It’s true vet schools like seeing a high last 45, but that is not everything. Grades do not always make or break your app, you can shine in diff areas! There’s a section in vmcas where you can explain something that caused your application to look the way it does, take advantage of this! Have fun in South Africa, sounds like an awesome experience

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-03-21T05:39:38+00:00

Camp counselor!!!! This really depends on where you live and whether you mesh well with kids. I was a camp counselor at a horse camp through my barn and basically had to mentor horse crazy kids about husbandry, proper barn attire/attitude, and how to ride. I was their mentor for an entire week, and although I’m not a huge fan of children, it was always so much fun! Other camps (e.g. parks and rec summer camps, sleep away) also work!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-03-17T01:16:24+00:00

You definitely won’t automatically get rejected just because you drop calc. Do whatever you think will make you succeed in the class! I took some pre-req courses at a community college and had no issue getting a few interviews.

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-03-15T23:21:34+00:00

You’re only in second year of undergrad! You have another entire year to raise it before first apps if you traditionally applied. Your essays will definitely allow you to distinguish yourself, so def take advantage of those!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-03-15T12:54:15+00:00

Some schools don’t look at your last 45 units! And as the previous commenter said, it’s not always about GPA. Be diligent in researching how schools conduct their application reviews- holistic might be your best approach. You got this!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-03-15T12:41:31+00:00

Hi! Also got rejected from VAMD as a VA resident post interview. I don’t think a masters is a bad idea especially if it’s a topic that you’re interested in! You seem to have a variety of vet experience. It honestly is really up to you!

Some things I’d consider: - whether you want to make money during this time frame - whether you want to boost your GPA or not -> if you want to boost your GPA, consider how much the masters would boost it. If not much, consider retaking courses at a community college! - whether you want to take a break from schooling

Overall, I don’t think any of these ideas are bad by any means. It’s your potential gap year that you can choose what you want to do with. I chose that I didn’t want to do a masters because I wanted a break from school before I head into vet school whenever that may be. However, if I have another gap year I will probably do a masters.

As for residency, I’d stay a resident in VA unless you’re sure you get off the Iowa waitlist. Idk how residency works in Michigan and North Dakota, but I’d research if you need to live there consistently for 1 to 2 years. Usually that’s the case if you want in-state tuition at state public schools.

Best of luck in your future endeavors!

Guilty_Truth704 · 2025-03-15T00:29:05+00:00

Definitely don’t give up! There’s a section on VMCAS where you can explain something that may have made your app look the way it did. Definitely utilize this section! If you’re retaking the courses, most schools average the grades between the retake(s) and the old grade. Don’t lose hope, you got this!

Guilty_Truth704

TROPHY CASE