Understand that you only have a few months (May- Oct 1st) to fill this application with information and submit it. However, it is important to note

Transcription

1 . Understand that you only have a few months (May- Oct 1st) to fill this application with information and submit it. However, it is important to note that every moment since the day you graduate high school can be used to collect the experience and information that will be listed on the application. If you have an extra hour in your semester, even if you don t plan on applying for another year, utilize it to strengthen your applicant profile. Blank spaces you ll be required to fill on your application are: Leadership Roles Build your leadership roles, join school clubs, be an active member, be an active officer. Lead outside of school, whether in FFA, 4H, or community clubs. Keep the dates of everything you do, you ll be expected to list important ones.

2 Animal Experience This includes jobs involving animals in which you are not under the supervision of a veterinarian. Ex: kennel technician at an animal hospital, dog/cat/horse sitter, stable hand, TREAT, etc. Volunteer anywhere and everywhere. You cannot have too many hours of experience. Volunteer around Stephenville at the Erath County Humane Society, Never Too Old Horse Rescue or animal shelters and rescues in your area. You ll be required to include the type of veterinarian you d like to be (exotic, small animal, equine etc ). Familiarize yourself with animals outside of your area of interest. Have a broad span of interaction to be sure that your listed concentration is your true goal; it is guaranteed to come up in your interview. Veterinary Experience Volunteer/work at veterinary clinics, as many as you can, you have room to list at least 6-8.

3 Jobs Summers are a great time to take on a full time job at a clinic to gain veterinary experience. For the 2008 Application year, the minimum number hours for the experience to be counted was 50 per clinic. Be active at the veterinary clinics, work alongside the doctors if you re able, talk to them--don't just be a shadow! They may be willing to write recommendations for you when the time comes. The veterinary school expects you to have exceptional grades and a sizeable course load. If either is low, they expect to know why. If you worked while you attempted 14 hours, keep track of it. They ll want to know. Personal Essays Why do you want to attend THIS college? Know why the college you are applying for interests you. If it is A&M, attend Open House as many times as you can. If it is an out of state college, try to arrange a tour or call and ask questions about

4 Tips the college. Know what appeals to you, you ll be required to tell them (in essays and interviews). What are your motivations for becoming a veterinarian? What special experiences in life have contributed to your desire to become a veterinarian? Show that you know what you're getting into (long hours, emotional situations, etc). Keep your GPA in outstanding condition, the average GPA of accepted appplicants is 3.6. While this is an average (meaning the actual range is ), your grades will still be your greatest ally for getting an interview. If you re having trouble in a class, seek help. Ask the professor, ask Pre-Vet Club members, find a tutor. If the grade is beyond repair, drop the class. It is easier to explain a drop than it is to explain a failing grade. Study for the GRE, take the practice classes, get the practice program, get the practice book.

5 Take it more than once. Research your college s GRE averages, beat them. Know the codes to send the scores to your college, they ll be with the application information on each particular website. It takes a long time for ETS to resend scores so know them going into the GRE. You ll need a passport picture for each school to which you apply. These can be taken at any CVS or Walgreens. Dress professionally, remember you re applying to a professional college. You can get several copies for less than twenty dollars, it never hurts to have extra! Be aware that applying to vet school can get costly if you plan to apply to many schools (but also be aware that out of state schools have different requirements and may be more appealing that A&M for your accomplishments/interests). For Texas, there is a state application (TMDSAS) and a supplementary application for A&M. For all other states, there is one National Application (VMCAS) plus a supplementary application for each school. Each application has a fee.

6 Send your transcripts early! The due date arrives very quickly when you re in the midst of finals. You can submit a request through Tarleton early and choose the box that requests the transcript be mailed once final grades have been computed. Consider your major, you can apply to vet school with any major so long as you take the required classes. Have a back up plan, what major will serve you well if you change your mind. Know what you can do with your Animal Science degree or Biomedical Science degree, etc. (Biomedical Science degrees are highly recommended by both faculty and veterinarians). Check with the people writing your recommendations frequently, they re likely as busy as you are. Make sure they ve submitted evaluations AND recommendation letters. The advice from A&M this year was to make sure at least one veterinarian you ve volunteered with or worked for writes a recommendation.

7 Talk to other members, talk to Tarleton students that have been accepted into vet school, talk to veterinarians. They ve been there and they re more than willing to offer advice to make your life easier. Be active! Join organizations! Work to make sure the time you spend filling out your application is merely listing your extensive activity rather than fretting that your application is a skeleton in need of work! Do everything you can to perfect your people and communication skills. These qualities are just as important has having the grades. Submit your application early. Plenty of people have gotten in even when they submit their application on the last day but the earlier you submit it, the earlier they see it. Don t give up regardless of how hard things get or what the news may be from the college. If this is the career you want, work toward it at all costs and don t stop improving until they say yes. It is very common for applicants to apply 2-3 times before they are accepted. If you work hard from

8 the beginning to make yourself an appealing candidate, you may not have to! Home