r/prevets

I’m a high school junior who wants to be a vet. I lost almost all my motivation this year, but have been working on getting it back. I plan on working at a vet office this summer to remind of why I wanted to become a vet. I plan on working at my uncles company where he sells insurance in my undergraduate years while majoring in public health. I even plan on getting my license for selling health insurance during that time period. I wanted to know if having that license and major with all the other stuff vet school requires would make me stand out to UF or any other vet school when I finally apply.

I just finished my spring semester of my junior year in undergrad school and I failed Organic Chemistry I. This isn’t the first time I have failed a class but those previous classes I have retaken and passed with better grades but it’s at the point where I do not think I am academically gifted enough to pursue vet school.

If it’s important to add, whenever exams were held in orgo, no more than five (5) people would finish the exam in the allocated time (I never finished except almost once).

Academically, I am very weak, I had a 2.7 GPA and have now been dropped to a 2.5 GPA. At my school, I am considered a double major in Animal Science and General Science. I excel incredibly well with my Animal Science courses but struggle with my General Science courses despite trying hard to pass those classes. For Orgo, I went to tutoring, met with my professors AND still failed.

Beyond academics, I believe I am stronger. I’ve accumulated the following:
• 500-600 hours working in a small anima clinic.
• 5 hours shadowing at a Zoo. (I asked if they would let me come back to shadow more but they said they only allow people to do it once due to the high influx of requests they get.)
• 20 hours in community service (animal shelters) and am gaining more over the summer.
• Currently 100 hours working at a daycare/boarding facility for dogs (still working there).
• Freshman year I was secretary of Pre-Vet Society, moved up to vice president by my sophomore year and now I am president.
• Shadowing/interning with an equine vet.
• I have a farming family background of growing up with cattle, farming, and equine.
• Pet sitting experience.
• Animal care experience (cat, dog, reptile, fish).

I’ve never thought about anything else besides vet school and don’t know what to do especially if I decide to not continue the path of vet school. I also was technically supposed to apply to vet school this cycle but ultimately decided against it because I am staying an extra semester and wish to get my GPA up but it’s clearly a struggle (I will graduate in December of 2027). I’m also struggling with getting more hours within an actually animal clinic/hospital despite already having hours but I know it’s better to have more to strength my chances.

I suppose I’m looking for advice on what to do because I feel like such a failure academically as a student and as a person too. I know that people have managed to get into vet school with a GPA on the lower end but I still feel as if I have no chance. I’m not sure if I just have some sort of learning disorder or am simply just stupid.

hi hi! so i’m applying this cycle and im having a bit of trouble with the experience section of the application.
so obviously, vmcas gives you 700 characters to explain “description/key responsibilities”. however, ive received some conflicting information from my pre-vet advisor about what they actually want.

so my pre-vet program at my college isn’t super big and we mostly just get rounded up with other pre-health professions. my pre-vet advisor is also a pre-health advisor for like 50 other students across many future health careers. she has been telling me that VMCAS actually wants me to “to briefly mention what your role was but mostly reflect on why the experience was impactful”. (her direct words).

i’m seeking guidance from anyone who has actually got accepted in to vet school because i just want to make sure i do this all correctly. my advisor has only been minimally helpful in the past and i don’t want to fully trust her when she is juggling knowledge from so many other types of applications :)

thank you so much for any advice!!!

Hey guys! I’m a recent graduate and I acquired a BS in animal science. However, I’m a low GPA applicant, I graduated with a 2.4….I’d say that’s the biggest hurdle I’m facing right now with applying to vet school. Does anyone have any advice on what steps I can take to look good in front of vet schools academically? I’m also open to a different way to show vet schools I really do want to pursue vet med, if anyone has any suggestions? I have plenty of hours working in the industry, and right now I’m just trying to figure out the fastest way I can get accepted.

Hi all, I applied to 5 vet schools last Fall and was rejected from all of them- I knew I wouldn’t get in, I did not want to apply, my dad was the one who pushed for it. I had a 3.3 cGPA applying and no veterinary experience. The only thing that could even make me a potential candidate in my eyes was my thousands of hours of animal experience- I worked on horse farms for many years, been a cat foster since 2023, and have loads of unusual at home animals that I rescue in my free time- fish, hermit crabs, and loads of unusual inverts like millipedes, shrimp, isopods, snails, and roaches.

I worked really hard my senior year of college and brought my cGPA up to a 3.41, with a sGPA of 3.36 and my last 45 GPA at about a 3.6. I also began volunteering at an equine NICU doing overnights, and I am sitting at 115 hours there currently. My hours aren’t incredibly high, as it’s an on-call position, but they are not shadowing hours- I independently do TPRs on the foals (including blood pressure, assessing lungs/GI, etc), assist them in standing and getting them back down, restrain them for the vets, bottle feed, and do various other tasks to keep the NICU running. I also volunteer at a wildlife rehab (started late April), but with the demand of the NICU and my 18 credit load I am still working my way up to getting more hours (only about 20 right now). My goal is to get a job either in ER or in an equine hospital once the NICU ends (end of June). I feel like my hours might be too low as of now to consider applying again, but I’d like to hear everyone’s thoughts, and where they think I should go from here.

Hi y'all, I am intending on applying to veterinary school for this upcoming 2026 application cycle, and I have a lot of uncertainty when it comes to who I am as an applicant. This uncertainty is due to being a non-traditional applicant, as after my undergraduate degree, I took a gap year to figure out other career options, which was followed by a 2-year master's degree, that will be completed by 2027. My first school of choice is UC Davis, as that is my in-state school; however, I will be extending my applications around the US such as Colorado State, Washington State, University of Georgia, and more.

I understand more veterinary schools are moving away from interviews due to the influx of applications, so I would like opinions on my stats. These are expected stats as I am using this upcoming summer to gain more experience. I am also open to discussing this in further detail.

GPA: 3.56 (Undergrad), 3.6 (W/ Masters)

Science GPA: 3.3 (Undergrad), 3.4 (W/ Masters)

Veterinary hours (900 hours):

Small animal clinic (650 hours), California wildlife (150 hours), South Africa Zoo (100 hours)

Animal hours (950 hours):

Marine mammals (450 hours), wild birds (300 hours), South Africa Zoo (50 hours), Horse caretaker (100 hours), FFA Livestock: Cows, Pigs, and Goats (50 hours)

Research (2,240 hours):

2022 Zoo animal welfare (320 hours), 2023 - 2024 REU Ruminant microbiome (720 hours), 2025 - 2026 Ocean bacteria and viruses (1200 hours)

Other:

2023 - 2024 Community outreach lead, San Diego and Mexico (600 hours), 2023- 2024 Teaching Assistant (500 hours), 2024 Medical Assistant (520 hours), 2025 Lowe's worker (480 hours), 2025 American Cetacean Society (50 hours)

Letters of Recommendation

Small animal veterinarian, Marine mammal veterinarian, California Dept of Fish and Wildlife veterinarian, a veterinary technician, and my research advisor

I saw somewhere that you should include hobbies (such as reading, drawing, etc) in the extracurriculars section of VMCAS. Is this actually something people do?

Edit: if I do, how do I go about sections such as supervisor, etc?

Is it possible to get into NCSU or any school with a 3.4 GPA ( IN STATE)
I’m on my fourth application cycle and starting to think it is not

Hello! I am planning on applying for this upcoming 2026 cycle. I was really confident with my application, but I got a C+ for physics and a B+ for biochemistry last quarter.. my dog unexpectedly passed away right before finals week and honestly that whole week was a blur. I ended up failing my exams, but I thankfully passed both classes as I did well on all my exams before finals. I plan on taking a different physics course over the summer at a community college to average out my physics GPA, and I hope to explain my situation in the VMCAs application. My stats and the schools I want to go to are listed below, thank you!

undergraduate: UC Davis
cGPA: ~3.8 (if I end with all A's this quarter, if not it will be around 3.75-3.78)
sGPA: ~3.8 (could lower based on how I perform this quarter)
last 45 units: ~3.860 (could lower based on how I perform this quarter)

vet schools: UC Davis (in-state, low-income family), Western, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Ohio, Iowa, Cornell, Kansas, North Carolina

vet clinical hours: ~2000hrs (small animal vet technician, mostly paid)
reptile zoo volunteer: ~75hrs (plan on getting more this summer)
other animal volunteer: ~225hrs
non-animal volunteer: ~400hrs
non-animal work: ~290hrs
research with marine invertebrates: ~650hrs (mostly paid)
- presented my research at SICB Oregon conference and 2 times Davis conference
(I hope to get into an equine vet clinic as a volunteer this summer, but not guaranteed)

LORs:
- vet from small animal
- PI from research
- postdoc from research

Looking for opinions from those who have gotten accepted. One of the schools I’m applying to has prerequisite of genetics, biochem, anatomy, etc like many other schools. one of the prerequisites is “two advanced science electives”. examples are: “anatomy, physiology. Microbiology, immunology etc”. Would you guys use the courses you took like genetics, biochem, human anatomy/physiology and put them under the prerequisite of “advanced science elective” or does it seem redundant since I already placed genetics under genetics prerequisite and biochem under biochem prerequisite? Feeling stressed and worried about everything in my application

I’m a junior in high school that wants to go to vet school, but I’m worried no matter what I do it won’t be enough compared to all the other people when I finally apply. I see online all these people with these amazing stats,but they don’t get accepted, it makes me feel like there is no hope for me. I don’t want to let that discourage me though, so I’ve been trying to find things that will make me unique in my application when I finally apply. I wanted to know if the fact that I worked with poultry my freshman year of high school and even competed in a competition will make me unique since I never see anyone have any experience with poultry from all the stats I’ve seen online and would a small interest in coding be useful in standing out too. Also, do I need to be in leadership positions in clubs in college because I would much rather just be a very active member of it. I would also just prefer working on my hours in with the time the leadership position would have taken from me.

Copied from SDN. I would appreciate any and all advice ❤️

Hello! Thank you for taking a moment to offer any advice!

I am gearing up for my 3rd cycle, and the rejections have definitely been taking a toll on my mental health. I have let the notion of being a veterinarian meld with my idea of self-worth and it’s really messing with my head. I am 28 years old and I feel SO behind. I have mentored so many current veterinary students and it’s so frustrating to watch them achieve my dream. Regardless, I have made a promise to myself to really work on my mental health and start therapy. I think even by making this post and realizing that I have accomplished so much over the years, is very helpful. I hope someone else can look at this as a fellow non trad and maybe not feel so alone.

As for my application, I know my GPA(s) are my main hinderance. I stupidly have a few Fs on my transcript because I didn’t use a Q or a W for health reasons. I regret so much not using my Qs and letting those mistakes tank my GPA. I had quite a few personal and health troubles in undergrad and truly did not do the best I know I was capable of back then.

I have a pretty length “gap” as I found a passion in zookeeping and shadowing under the zoo’s veterinarians immediately after undergrad. This solidified my goal of becoming an exotic animal veterinarian; however, it took much longer than I had planned to step away and refocus on going back to school. I am very proud of my performance in my master’s program; however, I am concerned that I may have made a mistake by choosing not to retake my prerequisite courses at that time and instead focusing on new upper-division science courses. I am commited to retaking more prerequisites and trying to boost my science GPA, I am just not sure the best way to do that.

My big questions:
Which schools look more kindly towards older prerequisites? My oldest is Gen Chem 1/2 taken in Fall of 2015.
I am planning on retaking Ochem 1 and Phys 1through UCSan Deigo extension this summer, but would appreciate any other advice if there is a better option I should consider. I need an online option, but I am worried about certain schools not taking this transfer credit.
Any other schools I should add to the list?
Am I doomed? (this is a joke)
(2024-2025 Cycle)
TAMU (IS): Denied Phase 1
Kansas: Interview Waitlisted, Not offered Interview

(2025-2026 Cycle)

TAMU (IS): Denied Phase 1
Kansas: Denied
Michigan: Denied (Did not meet science prereq)
Iowa: Waitlisted

(2026-2027 Cycle)
I would really like to keep trying at TAMU, but that’s probably futile with my grades.
MSU,Iowa, Oregon, CSU, Kansas? (I think I have officially timed out of their prereqs) + others after some more research

Cumulative GPA: TMDSAS: 3.14 / VMCAS 3.18
Science GPA: TMDSAS 2.92 / VMCAS 3.09 / 3.17 ISU
Last 45: 3.6 / 3.52 ISU

Any degrees achieved:
Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries (Vertabrate Zoology) May 2019, final GPA 3.025
Master of Science in Biomedical Science, May 2025, final GPA 3.8

GRE results: Not taken

Veterinary Experience:
- Research Animal Technician for Schubot Center for Avian Health (~4000)
(Current full-time job)
- Wildlife Chemical Immobilization class at Texas A&M (60)
- Veterinary Technician 1 - Ward Nurse in Texas A&M Large Animal ICU (760)
- Veterinary Shadow in South Africa (64)
- Veterinary Technician 1 in Texas A&M Large Animal ICU (525)
- Aggieland Humane Society Spay and Neuter Unit (63)
- Veterinary Technician Assistant in Texas A&M Large Animal ICU (3800)
- Veterinary Shadow at Fossil Rim (35)
- Head Zookeeper (was promoted and focused more 1on1 with veterinarians) (1800)
- Veterinary Shadow in Costa Rica (86)
- Wildlife Rehabilitation with Veterinarian (50)
- Veterinary Shadow with GP/Exotic (156)
- Veterinary Shadow with GP (180)
- Texas A&M Veterinary Enrichment Camp (24)

Animal Experience:
- South African 2-week Study Abroad (160)
- Zookeeper (6000)
- Student worker at Schubot Center for Avian Health (undergrad) (1700)
- Pet Sitting Business (3000)
- Animal Shelter (50)
- Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team (150)
- Intern Coordinator at Zoo (250)
- Hand raised Red Kangaroo, Capybara, Ring Tailed Lemur, Coati

Research Experience:
ABV Vaccine Challenge Study (60)
Quaker Parrot Nutrition Study (90)

Awards/scholarships:
- $3,900 from various sources in undergrad
- $8,000 from various sources in graduate school
- $30,000 TSHA Scholarship that fully funded my room/food during all 4 years of undergrad
- Distinguished HS Diploma
- IB Diploma

Extracurriculars:
- Costa Rica Semester Study Abroad
- DFW Hotline Volunteer (Wildlife Rehab) (Grad)
- Member, Historian and eventually Vice President of Rotaract Club at Texas A&M University (Undergrad)
- Member of Wildlife Society at Texas A&M (Undergrad)
- One Health Learning Community at Texas A&M (Undergrad)
- Cultural Leadership Understanding, and Exploration (CLUES) seminar semester at Texas A&M (Undergrad)
- Member of Zoological Club at Texas A&M (Undergrad)
- Founder of Westlake Academy Interact Club (HS)
- Student Teacher for Junior Naturalist Club (HS)
- Executive Council for Project Unify (HS)
- Aggieland Rotary Club (Grad/Post Grad)
- Purdue University, Conservation and Veterinary Medicine Online Certificate Program

Employment:
- Nanny in HS (1200)
- All other employment is either animal or veterinary coded

Wondering what you chose, and if you would recommend it?

Hello! I am looking into the prereq requirements for the UofI in illinois, and saw that they need 15 hours total of chemistry. I have completed five in organic, three in biochem, and four in a one semester chemistry course. That means I have three credit hours remaining to fill that. Could I take the first semester of a two semester general chemistry class? Or would I need to take both semesters for them to accept that? If anyone with specific knowledge from UofI could help that would be great, thank you!

Hi guys!

A bit of background about me: I (22F) have recently begun the role of a veterinary cleaner at a smaller clinic in my home town (really small- one tech, one doctor, and a manager).

I figured that this would be a great way to start to accumulate veterinary hours for an Ontario Veterinary College application (I plan to apply by this winter).

However, I must say: I’m super bored. I know that it’s necessary to keep the place clean, especially in between examinations, but I’d like to learn more so that I can eventually become a veterinary assistant. I’ve only been there for a week, but they seem to have no intention on ever teaching me how to run labs, do inventory etc. (so that I can learn Avimark), or having me engage more with clients. I’ve been making the best of it and have been asking people questions, especially the veterinarian, out of interest - but I just got in-trouble with the manager for talking too much with coworkers? I don’t get it since it’s been a slower week and there really isn’t a whole lot to do, but I’m not only there to clean, I am there to learn and to take the experience to vet school apps.

I dunno, my assumption is that it’s too early and if I expressed interest in a few months, my answer might be different. But, it’s just a little disheartening since I almost actually got a veterinary assistant role a few weeks ago, and I would’ve had a lot more responsibility than sweeping and mopping all day.

I literally feel like i face planted HARDD right before the finish line like omg. So i had to take 19 credits to graduate this semester yea a nightmare all my degree requirements were spring only classes but i was actually doing so good.

i was taking animal physiology + lab, invertebrate zoology + lab, micro biology + lab, physics 2 + lab and one required gen ed 3 credit bible class and i ended with As in animal phys, microbio, the bible class, invert lab, and physics lab and a C in invertebrate zoology lecture (bombed final and lost my B rip) but still pretty happy with this semester.

Then the worst thing ever happens i studied my ass off then i completely bombed my physics 2 final and my 76 dropped ALL THE WAY TO A 61?!? literally have no idea i calculated everything in advance on canvas and it said i could legit get a 50 and pass and i got over that and still got a low d somehow and i found out legit the day before my commencement date.

I still put on a fake smile walked and celebrated with my family but im so hurt rn I have to speak to my advisor and possibly retake it next spring and pay 100x times more money and get like no fasfa and give up on applying this cycle after telling everyone my plans on what comes next and i feel terrible and been bottling it up since i found out. I dont want to give up of course but this is a pretty bad hole to be in rn😭😭

I’ve tried to take calc 1 at osu, but I swear the professors make it a million times harder than it needs to be. I’m currently looking at taking calculus at my local community college and then transferring the credit in. I’m a biology pre-vet major, so I’m wondering if anyone has any insight to if this is a bad look on my transcript or could affect my future applications? I know it can be frowned upon to take major coursework at another university, so please let me know if you have any insight or experiences.

Graduating with a bachelors Spring 2027. Current cumulative GPA 3.60, Science GPA 3.45.

All I have to show for work experience is FedEx package handler, Walmart stocker, Kroger cashier, and fast food. While I know these jobs have transferrable skills that I have honed during my time, I feel like I always have to remember some specific, remarkable experience during each of them to be able to answer interview or screening questions. My experience working at these menial jobs feels like a blur, same thing every day, even though I give my all and my supervisors say I go above and beyond, so it makes it hard to pinpoint these very specific times I may have made a difference. This in turn is making it hard for me to write a strong resume or even get past interviews for entry level roles because I just sit there stunned.

Volunteer wise, I have 140 hours from shelter clinics and general housekeeping. While I am responsible for intake and monitoring the conditions of the animals, I was only allowed to shadow with the vet once and I feel the actual animal experience was too little for what schools and even entry level jobs (i.e. vet assistant) are looking for. Any time I inquire about shadowing I’ll get one response, then I’ll reply, follow up via phone and email, and get ghosted.

Staring at the VMCAS feels like a reminder that I’m way out of my league for this. I’ve already given up on my first major (architecture) because I knew I would never get a co-op (3 mandatory at my undergrad) in a million years comparing my portfolio and speaking skills to those of my peers. Now I’m about to graduate with a biology bachelors with $100k+ in debt and no clear path.

On top of all that, my parents are begging me to spend the hundreds of dollars in application fees and the hours writing mediocre essays when I know I don’t stand a chance. And I don’t even know who or where to begin with the 3 LORs, I doubt they’d be anywhere near as impactful as they need to be whether from a supervisor, professor, or the shelter vet. Everyone tells me to brag about myself when asking people for a LOR, but I’m just so average.

So I’m freaking out. I’m graduating Highschool in 2 weeks and have already committed to going to Florida Tech, Melbourne(FIT) for my B.S in Biomedical Sciences. I was planning on going to UF for vet school after my B.S BECAUSE THATS WHAT MY GUIDANCE CONSOLERS SAID TO DO. but now i’m being told that they won’t accept me because i’m too far into my degree??? I’m really confused. Multiple people are telling me different things. What do i do? :(

Did anyone receive their acceptance letters today? My girlfriend got her application in before the 24th and has not yet heard from them. Apparently today was the day they started sending them out?

Update: we got a rejection last night 😞