Hello everyone! I am a current senior at University of Nebraska- Omaha majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Spanish. I am a first time applicant, and I applied to a lot of schools to try and up my chances. I’m mostly interested in exotic mammals, emergency small animal, and internal medicine.
Schools: UNL 2+2 w/ ISU (In-State), Iowa (OOS), Minnesota, Colorado, Mississippi, Ohio, Arizona, Illinois, Missouri, Washington, Georgia, Florida
Cumulative GPA: 3.34 (Repeats averaged) 3.54 (Repeats replaced)
Science GPA: 3.42 (averaged) 3.52 (Repeats replaced)
last 45: 3.72
Any degrees achieved: BS in Biology in Spring 2024
GRE results: N/A, Casper 4th Quartile
Veterinary Experience: (As of 9/18)
Animal Experience: (As of 9/18)
Worth noting that all these experiences are current except shadowing and the wildlife rehab. Those are just the hours on my application. I probably have 100 more hours at the vet clinic, as well as another 50 with the alpacas and 20 at the humane society.
Research Experience:
None: this is the first thing on my list to strengthen if I have to reapply.
Awards/scholarships:
Extracurriculars:
Employment:
Concerns:
My first year of college was 2020, when COVID was in full swing. I had a very bad first semester (1.9 GPA!!) and had to repeat every class except 1. My freshman GPA is a 2.94, Sophomore 3.41, Junior 3.59, and Senior 4.00 (So far). I’m hoping schools can see that upward trend, and a big chunk of my personal statement was about how switching from pre-med to vet gave me the energy and purpose that I needed to start working hard. Obviously I have a big advantage in schools that replace grades from retaken classes. However, a lot of schools, including my IS, take science prerequisite GPA as a factor, which for me is around 3.24, because I took a lot of those classes when I was still struggling, and didn’t get low enough grades to retake them. Schools looking at a 3.24 definitely worries me. I also feel like my experiences, while decently varied, are below average in terms of hours. I recognize that, with my GPA, very solid experiences are needed to make up for it, and I just don't have those right now. I switched from pre-med to pre-vet in late sophomore year so I feel pretty behind in terms of experience. I speak English, Spanish, and some Japanese. I put that in the languages spoken section but didn’t really mention it anywhere else. Do schools look at that sort of thing? My scholarship program hasn’t really dealt with a pre-vet student before and there aren’t a ton of pre-vet students at my school, so I feel like I’m taking shots in the dark! Thanks so much for your feedback everyone!
Schools: UNL 2+2 w/ ISU (In-State), Iowa (OOS), Minnesota, Colorado, Mississippi, Ohio, Arizona, Illinois, Missouri, Washington, Georgia, Florida
Cumulative GPA: 3.34 (Repeats averaged) 3.54 (Repeats replaced)
Science GPA: 3.42 (averaged) 3.52 (Repeats replaced)
last 45: 3.72
Any degrees achieved: BS in Biology in Spring 2024
GRE results: N/A, Casper 4th Quartile
Veterinary Experience: (As of 9/18)
- 700hrs working as a vet assistant at a small animal GP. Some exotics but mostly cats and dogs. I assist with appointments, blood draws, surgery, etc.
- 30hrs shadowing a wildlife vet
- 50hrs shadowing a different small animal vet as well as 6 hours with an orthopedic surgeon
- 20hrs volunteering as a vet assistant for Street Dog Coalition (nonprofit free vet clinic)
Animal Experience: (As of 9/18)
- 250hrs (unpaid) interning + ~20 volunteering at a wildlife rehab (same vet that I shadowed). Took care of injured and orphaned wildlife, assisted the vet sometimes as well. Mammals, avians, and some herps.
- 40hrs (paid) as an assistant/farmhand on a small alpaca farm. Cleaning, feeding, giving shots. Assisted in the gelding of one alpaca.
- 50hrs as a volunteer (kitten feeder) for humane society.
Worth noting that all these experiences are current except shadowing and the wildlife rehab. Those are just the hours on my application. I probably have 100 more hours at the vet clinic, as well as another 50 with the alpacas and 20 at the humane society.
Research Experience:
None: this is the first thing on my list to strengthen if I have to reapply.
Awards/scholarships:
- Full tuition + full ride scholars program for STEM- highest level scholarship offered by my university
- Gold scholarship (highest scholarship offered by my high school)
- Dean’s List x3
- Stanford D School and Harvard SMART certifications through my scholars program- basically problem solving and stress management courses respectively
- NHS member in HS
Extracurriculars:
- Pre-Vet Club- experience coordinator (2yrs, ~20hrs)
- Community Action Project- working with other students in scholarship program to basically be consultants for a nonprofit in my area (4yrs, ~200hrs)
- Band Section Leader (HS) (2yrs, ~750hrs)
- Charity Board Member (HS) (2yrs, 50hrs)- Student board member for a charity similar to make a wish
- NHS volunteer (HS) (4yrs, 160hrs)
- Misc Volunteering 80hrs
Employment:
- Grocery Cashier (HS)- 750hr
- Pizza Delivery (College)- 800hr
- Small animal vet (owns the clinic where I work, Iowa alum)
- Wildlife vet (from wildlife rehab, Tufts alum)
- Professor (taken almost all the classes he offers, also the chair for Pre-Vet club)
- Former head of volunteering organization, has known me for ~15 years
- Program director for my scholarship program
Concerns:
My first year of college was 2020, when COVID was in full swing. I had a very bad first semester (1.9 GPA!!) and had to repeat every class except 1. My freshman GPA is a 2.94, Sophomore 3.41, Junior 3.59, and Senior 4.00 (So far). I’m hoping schools can see that upward trend, and a big chunk of my personal statement was about how switching from pre-med to vet gave me the energy and purpose that I needed to start working hard. Obviously I have a big advantage in schools that replace grades from retaken classes. However, a lot of schools, including my IS, take science prerequisite GPA as a factor, which for me is around 3.24, because I took a lot of those classes when I was still struggling, and didn’t get low enough grades to retake them. Schools looking at a 3.24 definitely worries me. I also feel like my experiences, while decently varied, are below average in terms of hours. I recognize that, with my GPA, very solid experiences are needed to make up for it, and I just don't have those right now. I switched from pre-med to pre-vet in late sophomore year so I feel pretty behind in terms of experience. I speak English, Spanish, and some Japanese. I put that in the languages spoken section but didn’t really mention it anywhere else. Do schools look at that sort of thing? My scholarship program hasn’t really dealt with a pre-vet student before and there aren’t a ton of pre-vet students at my school, so I feel like I’m taking shots in the dark! Thanks so much for your feedback everyone!
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