There is a very good chance that you aren't going to be accepted into veterinary school your first time around. For this reason it is a very good idea to have a back-up plan, even if you are absolutely sure you are going to get in, because when you get those denial letters you need to have some sort of direction for your life. Getting rejected is definitely tough, but it also gives you the opportunity to change the course of your life or better yourself for the next application round. There are two main routes that you can go, either moving on to a new career pathway or trying to apply the following year. Choosing which pathway you want to go down is a very personal choice that needs a lot of thought and consideration. Below I have outlined some of the main secondary options that I am aware of for students as backup plan.

 

Re-apply

Re-applying is always an option if veterinary medicine is still something that you are passionate about. If this was only your first time applying to veterinary school, then I would definitely suggest that you re-apply. Since you are probably done with your undergraduate studies, you can spend that next year before the next application cycle gaining more experiences and bettering your application. However, something to keep in mind is if you find out in late winter/early spring that you haven’t been admitted then you only have 3 or 4 months till the next cycle opens up. Therefore from the moment you submit the VMCAS the first time you need to keep up with your experiences, volunteer work, and classes. During this time period in-between application cycles you can work on improving your application by:

 

- Retaking classes. The academic aspect of the application is extremely important so you can spend this time retaking some of the required courses that you may have gotten a C or B in so that you can improve your GPA. This is also the time you can study for and retake the GRE to improve your scores. 

- Getting a veterinary related job. Experience in the field is always important and if you can get paid for it even better! This year can also be a chance for you to save up some money to go towards your hopefully future veterinary school tuition. This could be getting a position as a receptionist/technician at a clinic, working at a zoo, or employment at an emergency hospital.

- Improving and broadening your experiences. It is also super important to continue your volunteer work with animals to show your passion. Since you’ve graduated from undergrad you will have lots of free time to do more volunteer work and broaden your opportunities. Another interesting option could be going international for research, volunteer work, mission trip, or other veterinary related opportunities.

 

- Advice for re-applying to medical school (applicable to veterinary) = http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/medical-school-admissions

- Re-applying through VMCAS = https://portal.vmcas.org/vmcasHelpPages/frequently-asked-questions/re-applying-to-vmcas/

 

Master’s Program or Graduate School

Another very common option for students who still want to try getting in to veterinary school is pursuing additional higher level degrees, such as a masters or graduate program. The advantage to this option is that have a higher level degree will make you more appealing to veterinary schools and during the application process most schools will only factor in your GPA from that masters/graduate program. By going this route you could potentially improve your GPA immensely by working harder than when in your undergraduate studies. This is also an option for students who no longer want to pursue veterinary medicine because it can provide you with a new career pathway. The following are some examples of masters or graduate programs that fit the veterinary profession:

- Masters in Public Health

- MS in Animal and Public Policy

- MS in Laboratory Animal Science

- Graduate Programs in Animal Behavior

 

Some sort of graduate program that focuses on public health, animals, or research is highly suggested and can help improve your chances of getting in the next time you apply. I would suggest to start looking at programs at the university you graduated from and look at the programs at the schools in which you would like to go to veterinary school at. 

 

- Masters and Doctoral Programs at GVSU = http://gvsu.edu/gs/academic-programs-155.htm

- Masters of Public Health at MSU = http://publichealth.msu.edu/pph/

- Graduate Programs at MSU = http://www.reg.msu.edu/academicprograms/Programs.asp?PType=GR

 

Become a Licensed Veterinary Technician

If you still have a passion for animals, but think that veterinary school just isn’t the route for you then you can go back to school to become a licensed veterinary technician. This career pathway will allow you to still work in a veterinary setting. Most programs are two years long and are considered an associated degree. This is also a good pathway because if down the line you decide that you do want to re-apply, you will have gained further education related to the field and a lot of great experiences that will help improve your application.

 

- Baker College LVT Program = https://www.baker.edu/baker-programs/health-sciences/veterinary-technician/

- Vet Tech Profession Overview = http://www.veterinarytechnician.com/certification/

 

Get a job in your degree field

Chances are you are just about to or you have already graduated with an undergraduate degree. While you may have been focused on getting to veterinary school, during that time you did gain something very valuable: a degree! If you choose not to apply again to veterinary school, then you can absolutely start looking for a job that related to your degree. The options are really endless as a student applying to veterinary school can technically peruse any degree as long as they meet their requirements. Sometimes this could mean that you need to take a few additional courses depending on your new career choice. My biggest suggestion is sit down with your advisor, a professor in your major, or a career advisor at your school to take about your options. They will be able to point you in the right direction and show you all of the opportunities you have to choose from. Below are some links that have ideas about what you can do with a Biology degree (most common degree for pre-veterinary students) and other options.

 

- 50 things you can do with a biology degree = http://csh.depaul.edu/departments/biological-sciences/resources/Pages

- What can you do with a biology degree? = http://biology.csusb.edu/careers/

- Degree in biology = http://collegelife.about.com/od/CollegeMajors/a/What-Can-I-Do-With-A-Degree-In-Biology.htm