BIF and References

[serena]

Hi all

Just a couple of questions that I couldn't seem to find posted:

1) I've been looking at the 2012 BIF and I'm a little bit confused in terms of word limits especially when describing experiences/the essay. The PDF seems to automatically let you type as much as you want by reducing the font but I'm assuming this is sort of the wrong thing to do? If so does anyone know the word limit for experiences/essay?

2) In terms of our references, are we allowed to submit more then 3?

Thanks in advance!

Serena

[dreizehn]

Hi serena,

1.) When I go through the 2012 BIF, for the essay section the text does not adjust size, and you are limited to the preset text size and space available. It does not appear to be coded to a specific word limit or character limit, as I played around a bit and could get in different counts. For a general idea though: when I copied in my essay, I could get in approximately 420 words.

Now, for the experience sections, the text does indeed automatically readjust size. There is no set in stone word limit (unless they add one to the updated BIF); I think the name-of-the-game is to be reasonable. Yes, the text size will readjust to fit what you're typing in, but at some point it just becomes ridiculously small; you should stop some bit before this point when the text is still a relatively normal size (e.g., use the text of the form itself as a guide; your text should probably end up at a similar size). Keep in mind the purpose of this description is just to give a better general idea of what you were actually doing at the activity. You don't need to go into intense detail, just a quick, general summary. For example, here are three descriptions I used in my application (all three fit into the provided space with a single automatic size reduction, ending up at approximately the same size as the form's built-in text):

Dog Fostering:
Provided temporary and long-term foster care for dogs considered unsuitable for shelters and/or with special health or behavioural concerns. Provided basic health care, dedicated training, and facilitated adoptions.

Shelter Work:
Volunteered at the admissions and adoptions counters, assisting clients relinquishing animals, and assisting others through adoptions and follow-up. Worked with a large variety of animal types admitted to the shelter.

Vet Clinic Work:
Worked as a veterinary assistant, assisting the vet with both in-patient procedures and farm calls, as well as equipment setup and maintenance, examinations, treatments, surgeries, paperwork, and customer relations.

2.) For the undergraduate pool they have requested 3 references, so stick with 3. Keep in mind that the reference letters essentially come into things as flags (i.e., a negative reference letter might be enough to flag an application for further review or rejection, but so long as the references are good, things will proceed just fine). So, as long as your 3 submitted references are good, there would also be no benefit to any additional references. Also, keep in mind the reasoning behind them setting it at 3: every year there are several hundred applicants and they read each of the letters. Were every applicant, or even just many of them, to submit an additional reference, that would be a lot more work for the already very busy admissions committee. So, just submit your top 3 references.

[priscillayu]

Hello,

I have a reference that is currently overseas and we worry that there may be delays for her to mail the Assessment form and Letter of Reference back to Canada (due to Christmas season and New Year). Is there any other way to submit the documents to the school or any suggestions to avoid delays?

She would be a really good reference for me so I really hope that it would work out. Thanks!

[cbarne01]

@pricillayu: References are submitted to Admissions and I believe there is a special envelope to put them in so I'd contact Deanna unless someone who has applied before posts here with a good idea.

[cbarne01]

I just thought of another question:
Do pre-req courses get too old/expire? I have undergrad marks as early as fall 2000, is that ok? I can't find anything on the ovc or admissions websites.
Tks

[dreizehn]

priscillayu:

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Admissions wants your entire admissions package (BIF and references) submitted as a single package. I am not aware of any alternate means of submitting reference letters other than as the original signed hard copy in a signed and sealed envelope (as requested). Also, I personally would really NOT recommend splitting things up, as you should keep in mind that admissions will probably be dealing with over 400 DVM applications alone (plus many other things), which makes it much more difficult to match things up correctly if documents start coming in individually (not to mention increasing their already heavy workload).

Now, the good thing is that references are not due in admissions until March 1 (4PM), so even taking standard international mail delivery times into account (i.e., 4-6 weeks, plus maybe a week or a bit due to seasonal load), you should still have a good amount of time to get your completed form/letter from your reference, and then you can submit it together with the rest of your package (i.e., your BIF and the rest of your references). In all fairness, with the deadline almost three months from now, there should be plenty of time.

If you want to be extra safe, one thing you might consider, if possible, would be getting a "back-up" set of reference forms completed (i.e., get a 4th-choice reference to complete the forms and hold onto them. That way, if you don't receive your overseas reference's forms on time, you will still have a complete application to submit. Hopefully though, you DO get the overseas reference's forms on time, and you could just throw away the "back-up" set).

You should also keep in mind that, at least from my experience talking with other applicants, admissions is extremely strict about their deadlines. So, whether or not you end up able to use your overseas reference, make sure you will have three completed references (including 2 DVMs minimum) to submit for the deadline.

Another thing: remember that the references are essentially used as flags (i.e., they're basically just used to flag out people who submit a bad reference). As such, if you could get a "good" back-up reference, it would in all likelihood acheive the same thing as getting a "really good" reference from your overseas person (i.e., as far as the admissions process goes, there's probably not much of a difference between a "good" reference and a "really good" reference). With that said, I would still go with your overseas person since she'll give the best reference, but if it doesn't work out in time, it's definitely not the end of the world, and a "good" reference from an alternate should achieve the same end result.


Admissions does indeed send out an envelope into which you can put your BIF and all your individually sealed and signed reference forms. Going by my year at least, it's nothing much to get excited about; just a standard 9x12 type envelope with your ID and the admissions office's address printed on it.


cbarne01:

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"Do pre-req courses get too old/expire?" I certainly don't think so. When I applied (2011 entry), I used courses from 2002-2003 (not quite as old as yours, but similar). If your courses were from UofG, you could check the list of pre-approved courses to see if your courses are still listed as acceptable (www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/future/dvm/admissions/academic/documents/acceptablecourses_000.pdf). If these courses were from another university, then you either had them previously approved (so they should still be acceptable) or still need to get them approved (ASAP). As always, you could check with Deanna Lundmark ([e-mail]) if you want a definitive answer.


Also, just as a side (for the benefit of EVERYONE reading this, not just picking on you): it's best to start a new thread unless your question directly relates. Otherwise, things get chaotic and it becomes quite difficult to find relevant information when looking through the boards.