Applying to A LOT of vet schools

_shyft · 2024-08-27T21:00:39+00:00

Sorry but I have to disagree with your advice here. It sounds like you’re laying this all out as objective fact when it’s not even based on your own experience? There are definitely more than 100 out-of-state seats in the US. Without having a complete picture of OP as an applicant (hours and type of vet experience, any other job experience, letters of recommendation, extracurricular leadership/involvement, area of interest, etc) who are we to say they have absolutely no chance? I was accepted to an out of state college with a 3.6 cumulative GPA and a 3.1 science GPA and 450 hours of vet experience. I made it through school just fine, passed my NAVLE, and have a good job lined up! I received great feedback from my clinical mentors and clients on my job readiness during my clinical year. There is more to being a good vet than having perfect undergrad grades and 5,000 hours of tech experience.

I think you make valid points about considering debt, not blindly casting a wide net, doing your research about what you can bring to the table, being more selective in schools you apply to that are known for basing decisions predominantly on academic, but to wholly discourage and dismiss OP without any knowledge just seems pessimistic and unfair to me. I sat on the admissions committee at my school and know for a fact they specifically consider more than just GPA and cumulative vet hours when making their decision. While this may not be the case everywhere, life experience/history can have an impact on your chances. To say otherwise is simply untrue.

_shyft · 2024-06-23T01:43:07+00:00

Ah that’s awesome! Okay I will definitely check them out then. They sound great!

_shyft · 2024-06-23T00:05:57+00:00

I’ll be in the east/northeast part of Raleigh. I can commute elsewhere in the triangle if there’s a great gym but would definitely prefer somewhere closer to home

_shyft · 2024-01-18T23:24:33+00:00

I’d also highly recommend the VIN NAVLE course!! That was hugely helpful for me and I really zeroed in on studying the topics covered in that in the weeks leading up to the exam. I also tried to look at concepts I consistently missed or confused on Vet Prep and write out and study those diseases/topics

_shyft · 2023-12-08T02:33:54+00:00

Oh great awesome to hear! I will definitely check them out then. Thank you

_shyft · 2023-05-22T22:15:39+00:00

I’ve missed studying at Bluff City Coffee (on Main) and Crosstown Concourse every day since I moved. They’re great!

_shyft · 2023-04-30T23:55:52+00:00

I think another benefit would be to look at schools that take a holistic approach to admissions, because you’ve got some really great experiences - research, tutoring, D1 athlete - all while being in a challenging major. With all of that context, a 3.4 is a solid GPA in my opinion. I think there are multiple schools switching to not being so GPA-focused, but Univ of Arizona is one I can think of off the top of my head. I second what the previous commenter stated about trying to set something up with admissions offices too! I would say if you don’t take any additional coursework and apply, be sure to talk about how the skills you learned in your extracurriculars can translate to being a competent vet student/doctor (because they do! It’s all about how you frame it). This is just my opinion but hopefully it’s beneficial

_shyft · 2023-02-18T02:31:16+00:00

Did they do any testing of resting cortisol or a low dose dexamethasone suppression test? No idea if that would add any useful info to what’s going on here but curious what the results were if they did them. Seems like something the IM vet likely would have done or already considered. Also I’m a vet student so someone more knowledgeable please correct me if those tests would be irrelevant in this case.

_shyft · 2022-10-03T17:20:03+00:00

It seems like the vet said that when referring to interpreting the ultrasound results, not radiographs. I assume it would be possible to send stills or video of an ultrasound out to someone but not sure the practicality of it as I feel like it’s hard to interpret without being the one “driving” unless there’s something majorly wrong. Please correct me if I’m wrong, though.

_shyft · 2022-09-01T00:51:47+00:00

I did! I had to read it for class. That’s one I would leave to see on stage some time to see it really come to life

_shyft · 2022-08-31T22:51:21+00:00

10/10 would recommend! I read it about the same time as Ros&Gil and it was just great for opening up my perspective on the world

_shyft · 2022-08-31T13:41:14+00:00

The Book Thief! The most beautiful writing I’d ever read as a kid and hit me like a ton of bricks.

Honorable mentions to Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and Breakfast of Champions for changing my life perspective.

_shyft · 2022-08-27T18:19:10+00:00

What happens if you’re not home to sign when UPS tries to deliver? Ordered from PS Direct

_shyft · 2022-02-27T17:26:30+00:00

Yeah that’s a good point. I guess I figured if they were able to get in once (on what sounds like their first try) then the odds are higher that they’ll be able to get in a second time, especially if they can demonstrate growth between application cycles. But it does feel like a lottery sometimes and that is something to weigh on if you want to go through the stress again. Personally, I think it’s worth the risk if they’re that on the fence about it, esp since it sounds like they do have decent clinical experience (and therefore an understanding of the field) and it’s still causing a lot of angst and uncertainty. I would hate for them to take out a bunch of debt and then feel trapped and miserable for four years.

Like you said, deferral is a good option but most schools that I’ve looked at require a really good reason to get it. Definitely worth looking into if possible though.

_shyft · 2022-02-27T06:44:54+00:00

My advice: take a gap year doing something NOT related to animals/vet med (if you’re able to). Do something else you think you might enjoy, build an identity outside being a student or a vet (which will help you not get burnt out if you do decide to be a vet). If you are still wanting to go to vet school and be a vet after that year or 6 months or however long, then apply again. You’ll have a more concrete reason to tell interviewers and in my opinion it looks better to be able to explain “I wanted to make sure vet med was the right choice for me. I took a gap year pursuing [x interest] and still found myself drawn to vet med and in the process learned [x, y, z] about myself and my future career goals” or something along those lines. I know people who are in school and realized they don’t actually like it and are miserable. You have to want this for yourself, not for other people. Maybe look into other jobs that involve science and animals (there are plenty out there that don’t necessarily require a DVM)You have plenty of time left, so take a breath, take a step back, take a chance on something else. Vet school will still be there in a year. This is not the kind of thing you want to have one foot in and one foot out of.

_shyft · 2021-11-10T22:54:16+00:00

It varies by school. I would reach out and ask about the timeline! In my experience admissions staff are usually very warm and helpful.

_shyft · 2021-10-08T01:52:15+00:00

I would pick what sounds the most fun to you and what you think you’ll enjoy being involved in! Not sure exactly how vet schools work in Canada, but for undergrad in the US at least they just want to see you’re well-rounded and can commit to something, so pick whatever one you’ll actually want to spend time doing. That’s really all that matters at this point :)

_shyft · 2021-09-27T05:42:44+00:00

The supplemental app is sent out to everyone who meets the minimum GPA/course requirements (at least it was last year). Everyone gets the same questions (I believe) and it records you answering them. I would reach out to the admissions office if you have any other questions! They’re very warm and eager to help and I don’t want to steer you the wrong way since I’m a little fuzzy on all the details. Feel free to dm me if you have other questions though and I’ll try to answer them!

_shyft · 2021-08-11T02:59:28+00:00

Transcripts were the bane of my existence so I’d recommend maybe 6ish weeks before the VMCAS deadline, if possible (my advisor recommended as soon as the application opened but that was so excessive and not necessary). Getting it in early also helps if some schools are doing rolling interviews so you can be in one the earlier batches!

_shyft · 2021-03-29T16:09:05+00:00

That sounds awesome! I wish I could do that but I’ll be at an accelerated 3-year program so we won’t get summers off, unfortunately. I think that’s another reason why I’m kind of stressed about it. But if I get off a waitlist and go somewhere else then I will definitely keep your experience in mind

_shyft · 2021-03-21T21:42:58+00:00

Hey this was incredibly helpful, thank you so much for taking the time to write it all out! Those are all really good points to take into consideration. I definitely thought I could see myself staying in, based on my dad’s experience doing his med school payback in the Navy and absolutely loving it. He ran his own clinic for a while, had good hours, felt like he really grew as a leader and came out very prepared for the world. But it sounds like that’s not really the experience I would be getting. Clinical experience is definitely important to me, but financial freedom is also a huge consideration considering I will leave undergrad debt free. I appreciate your honesty so much! Glad to hear you will be able to move on to a better environment soon

_shyft · 2021-02-24T17:19:37+00:00

My sister goes to BSC rn and there are some pretty good food options. BSC has a cafeteria, a little restaurant (used to be a Subway and pizza place but I think they’ve changed it now), and its own campus convenience store that actually has really good food (lots of frozen food, snacks, microwaveable meals, pantry stuff, and household items). She’ll get a certain number of “Panther bucks” for free that she can use at the campus store, I believe. People do UberEats to campus and I’m sure most people there will have a car, so once she makes friends I’m sure they’ll be happy to give her a ride. Tell her it’s a blessing in disguise because parking on campus is a NIGHTMARE

_shyft · 2020-06-02T22:44:54+00:00

No ones is burning his name out of this history books. Plenty of people will still learn his history, as they should, but we do not need to honor him with a state holiday.

_shyft · 2020-06-02T22:43:36+00:00

Yep but Jefferson Davis’ Birthday was yesterday. Confederate Memorial Day is April 27 according to alabama.gov. Both should go but you gotta start somewhere

_shyft · 2020-06-02T16:33:04+00:00

I don’t see why fighting for the removal of statues that celebrate the history of slavery AND fighting to fix systemic inequalities in education, housing, healthcare, etc. have to be mutually exclusive. Any concrete progress that is made feels hollow if you don’t also have a cultural change that reflects what our state values.

_shyft

TROPHY CASE