How to Get Into a Veterinary College With Bad Grades
- 1). Work very hard to get an outstanding MCAT score if an MCAT is required for admission to your program. Veterinary programs may require an MCAT score just like medical schools do. Often, the admission requirements are broken down into weighted categories. A certain amount of your total admission score will be weighted towards your previous grades, but another large percentage will be given to your MCAT score. You should take MCAT prep courses and work hard to get the highest score possible. A great MCAT score can be enough to offset low grades in some admissions situations.
- 2). Get any additional experience in the field that you can without a veterinary doctor degree. If your grades are too low to be admitted to vet school directly, you could look into a shorter college program for veterinary assistants or veterinary technicians. Then you can get some work in the real world in your field. Many schools will look at the experience that you have in the field as part of your application. Cornell, for one, does this. Letters of reference from educators or veterinarians you have worked with can help to bolster an otherwise weak application.
- 3). Focus on the reasons why you want to be a veterinarian. Some schools will require a letter of intent with your application, and may give weight to other factors such as an interview. You should clarify why you feel this field of study is for you, why you are passionate about pursuing veterinary medicine as a career and why your personality suits the field. If you can indicate these factors during the application process or in an interview, it may help you gain a position.
- 4). Take additional college classes and work very hard to get exceptional marks. If your low marks are still holding you back, you should enroll in some part-time or night classes in order to build some extra credits that have higher marks attached to them. Take science classes that are related to the veterinary medicine program you want to apply for, and try to get the best marks possible. If you have lower marks from the past, but demonstrate a marked academic improvement, it may help improve your application odds.
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