When is the App opened?

[cbarne01]

Hi everyone,
Does anyone know what the window is for applications? Admissions simply marks it as "closed" but I could stop looking each week if I knew when it would be open!
tks

[dreizehn]

I don't really know the exact date when the application opens. Somewhere in November maybe? (I wouldn't think anytime sooner than mid-October) Honestly, I actually don't really know what you're referring to when you say "Admissions simply marks it as 'closed'..." Maybe since I applied as an external it was different for me; that, and I'm a master procrastinator, so I was more concerned with the closing dates... However, in an effort to not be completely useless, I can say the following:

Assuming you're applying as a domestic undergrad for entry next year (Sept 2013), the deadlines are:

JANUARY 1: UofG Internal Transfer or Readmission Form OR OUAC 105D form (for non-UofG students like me)

AND

MCAT scores

MARCH 1: BIF, References, Transcripts

All the important deadlines are given at: www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/future/dvm/applicants/canadian/#Deadlines

How does this kind of answer your question? Well, the first deadline isn't until January 1, and that's just a very basic application form and you releasing your MCAT scores. (i.e., this should require an hour or less of actual work). So, you really don't need to be doing this until the start of December even, but I'm guessing things are opened up by around the start or middle of November (for the early-birds out there).

The BIF and references are the real meat of the application, and that deadline isn't until way off on March 1 (at 4PM exactly, for those of use who like to make use of all the time provided...hahaha ). For that, you'll have to wait until they release the 2013 application BIF to start, which I seem to remember may not be until sometime in the New Year. Same goes for the official reference forms that have to be filled out. However, if you're super keen, there are a few things you can do in the meantime:

• Go through last year's BIF (www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/admission/files/dvmbif_bkgnd.pdf) and make sure you have everything in order so it will be easier to fill out when the 2013 BIF form is released. You could also start working on your BIF essay if you want; just be aware that they sometimes change or add/delete questions, so you may not want to completely finalize it, just get a rough start.
  
  
• You can start gathering your reference letters. Not the actual reference forms, but the individual letters themselves where they have to:

  ...attach an additional page to support your ranking of the applicant. Please note any attributes or flaws which, in your opinion, make this applicant particularly suitable or unsuitable for a career in veterinary medicine.
  If you are writing a letter of reference for a graduate cohort applicant please include information on the quality of his or her research ability and performance as a graduate student.

  Since the letter requires the most time (the other part of the form is just some check boxes), most references would probably appreciate this heads-up (unless you're using someone you're doing work with this fall, who may want to include that experience in their reference letter).

So, tl;dr (like always): maybe look in around the start/middle of November.

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_{Someday I'll write a post that isn't an essay...}