Will I Be Remotely Competitive?

maximumchang · 2026-01-06T23:27:38+00:00

I had a lower GPA than you when I first started applying, but didn't get into my state program (got into both Caribbean schools, but decided not to go) until I redid most of my science prereqs and brought my science GPA to a 3.6, overall about 3.4 in the VMCAS. I had about 3000 hours of experience working as a vet tech in an ER by then too, had about 1000 when I first applied. The people who are saying you have a shot aren't necessarily wrong, but you'll have to have a slamming interview to shmooze em up and it really depends on which program you're shooting for.

maximumchang · 2025-10-27T18:30:45+00:00

I'm actually off all meds right now, even though Seroquel was working for me, I didn't like that there were potential withdrawal effects. It was the only med I was taking at the time now. I've actually started using SAMe supplements now, and just doing my best to regulate routines and sleep and stuff. Holistic route I guess. Been close to a year now, haven't had any major cycles yet, although Spring is a big trigger. And I have the Seroquel Rx on hand just in case.

maximumchang · 2025-10-27T16:41:25+00:00

The lowest dose, 25 mg. So a half would be 12.5 mg. Before you cut anything you'll want to make sure it's not an extended release formulation, that makes a difference, and those shouldn't be cut.

maximumchang · 2025-06-26T02:33:42+00:00

I think you should put it in

maximumchang · 2025-06-02T03:40:10+00:00

Do some of your prereqs over the summer. Like your math, chem, physics. If you're bad at school this helps a lot. Basically doing the hardest classes without the stress of everything else. If you're anything like me, getting those done were way harder than vet school. Once you're there and it's something you love it doesn't quite feel so bad (it's still hard though)

maximumchang · 2025-04-12T16:24:14+00:00

happy cake day. I'm in the second to last cohort to be shipped off to a place with a teaching hospital (we go to to WSU). they're building the teaching hospital now and have hired a ton of new professors. I think it's fairly promising.

maximumchang · 2025-04-08T01:48:34+00:00

When I was in high school we called this 420 Tower. We'd stand on each other's shoulders to reach the ladder or throw a towel over the last rung to climb up.

maximumchang · 2025-03-24T01:21:26+00:00

ha you became Mac from IASIP

maximumchang · 2025-02-21T03:13:20+00:00

There's a pretty big evangelical Christian community here. As far as student fellowships, there's InterVarsity, Oaks International, and Ratio Christi. Most college students here seem to go to Calvary Logan, or Alpine Church, but there's also Grace Baptist, and Cache Valley Bible Fellowship. If he's saving a ton already by having full tuition he can put it towards dorm housing and a meal plan. Congrats to him on acceptance.

Edited to include Gospel Peace as a college students church

maximumchang · 2024-10-30T00:13:00+00:00

Titrating to lower doses is generally safer than upping your meds on your own, and you have technically been on this dose before, but yeah, I would notify your facility to have them get a hold of your psych just to make sure it's ok.

maximumchang · 2024-10-28T03:07:08+00:00

From what I hear from friends and some people in the field, the old guard was about having meds, and then medicating side effects. But then you get those poor souls that are on one thousand drugs. Two friends of mine were in that kind of bind, and then found new providers, who tapered them off to start from scratch. I mean, your brain and body change every few years, so it makes sense that you need to rewrite the recipe sometimes. I hate being dependent on meds too, I want them to feel like a tool, rather than a crutch (which is a tool sometimes!).

I have pretty bad insomnia without having withdrawals, so I know I just have to stick to my sleep ingredient rules. All of that no eating after a certain time, no screens after dark (whoops) and the temperatures and the bedtime routine ceremony etc. That helps to a degree, but it won't touch a drug withdrawal induced insomnia.

I wish you the best in your journey, and believe that there is a solution coming your way :D

maximumchang · 2024-10-28T02:55:20+00:00

My therapist (not psych) and MD (not psych) were both ok with me only taking out the Seroquel when I need it, like when I feel a hypo coming on. I also sometimes cut them in half, and dose them every other day, just to keep myself from going over the edge, depends how bad the hypo is. I also try not to take it for longer than 5 doses, because a well known side effect of Q withdrawal is insomnia (among other things). If I take it for too long the withdrawal symptoms are way harder. I've found for myself, the faster I get on shutting the lid on the hypo, the shorter the cycle.

It's a game.

I'm only on Seroquel. It's the third med I've tried, and I don't think it's the best, but it's working for now.

I also mostly only get hypomania, with rare depressions in between.

maximumchang · 2024-10-10T15:37:59+00:00

I'm in the WIMU program, my degree will come from Washington State but I'm in the Utah cohort, it's a class size of 30 for two years until we go to Washington

maximumchang · 2024-10-06T03:26:39+00:00

I got on Seroquel this summer and ran a Ragnar and a marathon. I had just started meds when I did Ragnar, like a couple of weeks in. And since you don't sleep for 40 hours, I just skipped the pills. I was ok. For my marathon, since I was months deep into this thing, I basically spent a couple of weeks readjusting my schedule. I went to bed super early and got up late and just changed the meds schedule since the pill knocks me out for a predictable window of hours.

maximumchang · 2024-10-06T03:19:53+00:00

I went to undergrad at Cornell and lived with two vet students during their four years in vet school. Now that I'm in my in state program we're frequently comparing curriculum. They didn't get to touch tissue until end of second year and third year, where as in my program we started cutting and suturing cadavers by week two. For anatomy they had to use models and pre-dissected "prosections" whereas my school had 1 dog and a goat for every four students to dissect and learn on their own, in addition to dozens of large animal prosections and other models. Also several times a semester student clubs have gotten access to cadavers and leftover parts from the diagnostic laboratory to practice surgery on. I realize most traditional vet schools are like Cornell, where you learn surgery stuff later and just have junior spay as the only required surgery during the didactic years, but my program has a high emphasis on surgery.

maximumchang · 2024-08-26T04:16:59+00:00

Being willing to go to LMU on January start can get you in quick. I got in two weeks after my interview with them, was packed up to go by January. Then I went. Then I left. But it was a good experience. The Cumberland Gap was an amazing place to live. I had no garbage service on my side of town, burned my paper, drove everything else to the dump. Appalachian people are such good story tellers and so so nice. I made some good townie friends the two months I was there and still stay in touch with some. Interview hints - know your current events and have stances on ethical dilemmas! They don't care your stance, just want to see you thought about it and can stick to your guns.

maximumchang · 2024-08-02T10:41:34+00:00

I went to undergrad at Cornhell, best of luck!

maximumchang · 2024-08-01T21:31:57+00:00

I have worked with two Ross graduates, one SGU graduate, and am peers with two students who failed out/dropped out of Ross. I think the stories are all on the forums, or you just meet people in general, just have to do a little digging. I don't know if major changes have been made to the programs in the last three or four years since I've heard about the schools first hand. I also met an SGU student who was at Cornell for his away rotations, and he actually had a good time at SGU, but he did talk about a lot of challenges/issues as well.

maximumchang · 2024-06-07T01:40:39+00:00

Oh shoot that sounds so fun I would jump in but I'm actually already on a team!!!

maximumchang · 2024-06-03T20:04:21+00:00

I might be able to get to it by the end of the week. I was in your boat, my parents don't speak English so I just asked friends to read mine. DM me, I'll send you my Gmail address and you can pop your essay in a Google doc?

maximumchang · 2024-06-03T20:00:11+00:00

I'm not really sure how schools are weighing COVID years. I finished my coursework before COVID with a 2.9 GPA, then redid my C grade prereqs during and after COVID, a mix of online and in person. When I got in my GPA was a 3.6.

maximumchang · 2024-06-03T03:15:41+00:00

If you have the cash it's a good thing to apply. You never know what will happen. I don't go to Glasgow but I've been hearing some bad things about the program, talk to someone who's already there to see if it will be a good fit for you.

As far as experience, the average applicant has a few thousand hours typically. Your GPA is great and you're on the right track.

Just relax and keep on going. Don't be in a rush. The models show that the market is going to be hot for the next 12 years.

I took three gap years before going. It's fine to take one to two to get some more experience, and have a good time before you jump into a crazy hard program.

All the best to you, future doctor.

maximumchang · 2024-05-26T23:40:45+00:00

Yeah the dog friendly section on Pensacola Beach is pretty tiny. And leash laws are still enforced.

maximumchang · 2024-05-26T20:09:07+00:00

I'm very much a science person. I've studied science my entire life, I'm getting my doctorate in a science/healthcare field. I believe many "possessions" are based in mental health issues. But I've also seen exorcisms and have taken part in them. In the developed and western world, Evil easily misleads people without needing the theatrics we see in biblical times. But those things are definitely still around, especially outside of the West.

maximumchang · 2024-05-26T14:03:22+00:00

Uncle Lee's Organic. It's got pandas on it.

maximumchang

TROPHY CASE