Dilemma

[peachea]

Hey guys, I've just graduated from UofT with Honours Bachelor Science. I've got all the prerequisites for applying to OVC but now the problem is that I never took full-semesters. Well, maybe in one semester in the year I would be taking five 0.5 credits, but the other semester would just be four. Now, that basically means that I would have to retake all my courses in full-semesters in order to be considered for admissions, correct? But even that is a problem, since I have already completed the prerequisites, and they won't look at repeats of courses.

I have e-mailed Deanna five days ago but I haven't heard back from her. Has anyone been in this situation? I wasn't planning on applying for vets before but I'm sure there are others out there who switched to vets later on in their careers (I remember reading about one in this forum). So then what am I supposed to do? It doesn't make sense that I'm cut off from the vets world forever just because I never took a year of full-semesters in my undergrad!

[drv]

I am nor sure...but I believe the semesters you got 5 courses still count...so if you have your prerequisite done in those semesters you are fine. Overall you should have at least 4 full semesters. it is a strict rule, but I guess you can appeal if you have good reasoning why you didn't take full time semesters.

[michelle]

Hi Peachea,

Ahh! A fellow UofT student (Well, alumni really... Wow, that makes me feel old!)! Welcome! First of all, congrats on graduating, I just had my convo this past week! It was THE best feeling walking across that stage! Hope you celebrated finishing your HBSc!

I'm sorry to hear about your dilemma - it seems like it would be very difficult to realize 'later in the game' that you'd like to go to vet school, as there are many rules and regulations regarding acceptable courses. However, looking on the bright side, you have a goal now! All you have to do is achieve it;)

With respect to your contacting admissions, Deanna Lundmark is probably crazy busy right now, as they are (to my knowledge) now interviewing grad students for this year's class, while still going through undergraduate final decisions, so I wouldn't expect to hear from her quickly. However, that being said, if you don't hear back soon, definitely email again, or perhaps arrange an appointment to speak to her in person. Based on the rules, and what others have told me, my thoughts are that she is going to suggest that you go back to undergrad, and complete the prerequisite courses in full time semesters. You are correct that you are not permitted to retake courses, nor allowed to take prerequisite courses at a lower level. As such, you will have to take higher level courses in genetics, biostats, cell bio, etc in order to use them as prerequisites. Are any of the courses that you took in the full-time semesters potentially able to be used as prerequisite courses? Hopefully so! At the very least, I'm assuming you're going to have a Biology course that you can use! If not, and assuming that all 8 of the prerequisite courses 'fit' in your semesters, you are looking at a minimum of 2 full semesters to complete all of the prerequisite courses. If you are concerned in terms of there being limited courses to take for your prerequisites, as you have taken most already in part-time semesters, would it be possible to take them at another school that has more selection? I'm not sure which UofT campus you go to, but you could even take some courses at the other campuses...

If I were you, I would wait to hear from Deanna - she's going to be the one to whom you'll need to speak, not only about what to do, but in terms of planning which courses to take, as she'll have to approve that they are all acceptable as prerequisite courses. And never fear - I'm sure you will not be forever cut off from the vet world! I'm positive you will be able to work something out and make a plan with the OVC admissions in order to complete the necessary courses. However, assuming the worst case scenario - you are not able to complete the prerequisite courses for OVC - there are still many other fantastic vet schools to which you can apply! After establishing residency in the province for 1 year (not in school), you can apply to any of the other vet schools in Canada, and there are always (while more expensive) those vet schools in the US, UK, and Australia! Don't give up! If you want to be a vet, you just have to persevere and you can accomplish your goals! Good luck! Keep us updated!

[peachea]

Thanks drv and michelle (great to see a fellow UofT alumni!). Congrats on your convocation too, michelle! I was at the downtown campus, what about you? If you're from dt as well, can you let me know what were your eight courses?

I still haven't heard back from Deanna, and UofG admissions just told me that they've forwarded my inquires about upgrading courses either as a non-degree or as a double degree to Deanna :S.

So drv, you are saying that even if I did 5 courses within a semester, but only 4 within the other semester in that same year, if my prerequisite was done in the semester with 5 courses, my understanding is that this prerequisite can still count? Even if it was a first or second year course?

michelle, what do you mean about the residency in the province for 1 year thing? I'm a resident in Ontario so if I live in another region for a year, then my limit of applying to just OVC can be expanded to all three other schools? or just the school of that region? Unfortunately I cannot afford vet school outside of Canada, tho I am doing some research on some of the ones in the states.

[drv]

Ya that what I think,as long as you have 4 full semesters in total, and all your prereq are done in full time semesters. At least that how I understand it

[michelle]

Hi Peachea,
I actually went to the UTM campus, but spent a LOT of time at the St George campus (their science library is awe-inspiring!).

And I think drv is correct - if any prerequisites were completed in 5-course full time semesters, then they should count towards your application!

Unfortunately, if you establish residency in another province, then you can only apply to the regional vet school of that province, and not both that school and the OVC. I suggested it in case they do not require full time semesters, as an alternative to going back and completing extra courses for the OVC.

Hope that you hear back from Deanna Lundmark soon!

[dashing]

Hey peachea. I'm sorry to hear that. I know Guelph has really strict and stringent restrictions when it comes to course work which don't allow a lot of room for error.

If you're interested, I went to St. George campus, and the 8 courses I used were:

Cell bio 0.5 credit CSB327
Biology 1.0 credit CSB351

Stats STA 221

Genetics 0.5 credits CSB349

Biochem 0.5 credits BCH210

Humanities 1 credit CLA221 and NMC270)

I would highly recommend that you double, triple check with the admissions staff whether the courses you're going to take as pre-requisites, if you need to retake them, fulfill their requirements. I have a friend who wasn't eligible for admission because he took a wrong biochem course. When he retook it the next year, it was also wrong. I myself had a scare when they told me by cell bio wasn't considered a cell bio, but luckily I had another course I could submit which did fulfill the requirements. I also had to retake genetics because the first time I took a genetics course it wasn't a full time semester.

Anyways, I think making an appointment with Deanna is probably best because, in a complicated situation like this, it's better to have a long face-to-face meeting rather than email conversations which might take a while. And don't lose hope- I'm sure you'll get there

[peachea]

Thanks all! I got a reply from Deanna today and her answers were what I've expected. Looks like I will be in school for another year, but that's alright .

dashing, which of your cell bio wasn't considered a cell bio? I hope it is not BIO241 because that is the one I am planning to submit.

[ngauth6]

In terms of getting residency in other provinces, I'm pretty sure that at least for OVC - unless it changed since last year - you have to have lived there for 12 months at any time (without doing full time school) and that residency status doesn't change ever, so you can apply to other schools where you may have to currently be residing to apply + OVC. I applied to 2 vet schools in Canada based on residency last year and there was no issue.

I don't know if that helps, but hopefully it can open up some doors for you peachea.

I was in a similar situation where my semesters didn't count because of the way they were put together in my first degree when I didn't know I wanted to be a vet. So I had to go back to school, do the pre-req at the regular 1st or 2nd year level, which didn't count for OVC, and then do the advanced version of those courses for OVC. It was super annoying and took longer, but totally worth it in the end! I was also able to take other classes during that time that I really enjoyed, and the advanced classes really helped my understanding of the basics for those first year vet courses.

Best of luck!

[dashing]

It was BIO240. BIO241 should be fine

[peachea]

Thanks ngauth6 and dashing! And Deanna just told me that BIO241 is fine .