Canadian Vet Schools and The Application Process to the OVC

In Canada there are four vet schools (to the 28 in the USA!). However they are semi-segregated for the areas that they are in, giving applicants from that area a much higher priority over others. Not to say it is impossible, but definately not worth the time, money, and effort. So OVC is for Ontarians; this province has hands down the most people and cities so it is a highly competitive school and is one of the highest ranked in North America. There is one in the Atlantic provinces in PEI, one in the Western provinces in Alberta,and one bilingual one in Quebec. They all require completion of the MCAT (the GRE for American applicants), but the course requirements are different.

For the OVC they look at your last two semester averages, your MCAT score, and your 8 prerequisite courses. For more details visit Acceptable Undergrad Courses but essentially they include:
Biological Sciences - 1.5 credits (with recommended emphasis on animal biology; one course must be a cell biology)
Genetics - 0.5 credits
Biochemistry - 0.5 credits
Statistics - 0.5 credits (requires a Calculus prerequisite to take the Statistics course)
Humanities/Social Sciences - 1.0 credits
***Note: these prereqs are VERY different from every other vet school!!! Alberta AND Atlantic want Organic Chemistry and English!!! Make sure you organise your schedule accordingly or you might have to take extra semesters!

These marks are the first things that the acceptance committee looks at. From these the top 200 applicants are offered interviews. The interview process changed formats in 2010 to a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. I will explain this later but it is the greatest interview system ever!!! Your score from your interview, reference letters, and your Background Information Form (BIF) will all be taken into consideration to rank the top 100 students who are then accepted into the OVC! Okay so that is everything in a nut shell but lets break it down some more.

You must have an MCAT score by Jan 1st of your application year (ex. mine was due Jan 1st, 2011 for Sept. 5, 2011 start date, class of 2015) They stop offering MCAT sits in September so you need to get it done between May and Sept. The AAMC website will wxplain how to release your scores BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO PRINT OFF AND FAX YOUR SCORES TO THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE BEFORE JAN 1ST AS WELL!!!! This is something they don't explain well on the website and can cost you the whole application. Your two previous semester averages get forwarded if you do your undergrad at Guelph, if not, I believe you have to send in an official transcript from your University (which can take up to a week and costs $10).

The BIF form is available in Jan/Feb of your application year and is due Mar 1st by 4 pm. Yes this means you don't have much time to fill it out ESPECIALLY if you are mailing it in. My suggestion; fill out the old one so you can organize what you want to say early and when the updated form comes out you can easily copy and paste. Another fun fact; you cannot save the new form so either don't close the form/computer or PRINT!!! They really don't mean to be difficult but all this is just a time waster that you don't need to deal with if you know about it. On the BIF form is space to fill in your personal info, prereq grades, vet experience, animal experience, and extra-curriculars. Take time to choose the order you put them in and what you want in the description. Make sure you show how awesome and diverse you are! On here is also the two essay questions. PLEASE START WRITING YOUR ESSAYS THE PREVIOUS OCTOBER!!! They take forever to write and you will probably do them multiple times. The two questions roughly worded as such: "Why do you want to be a vet?" and "What do you plan on contributing to the field of vet medicine?" Again a great place to show your uniqueness as well as have 200 words to prove to them you are ready to commit and worth being admitted. Have LOTS of people (not other applicants) look over it and take some of their comments into consideration (profs, neighbours, coaches, bosses, family, friends, etc.) but don't forget it has to be true to you, not someone else. Some of the pages need to be printed multiple times so pay attention and read every page carefully! ANY mistake will cause them to throw out your application (including spelling!).

References come from three people with at least two being practicing veterinarians. So maybe a vets you worked or volunteered for as your first two but take time to consider your third. If you have strong relationships with three seperate vets from three seperate clinics, then use them, but not everyone does. Consider a coach, faculty advisor of a project, program co-ordinator of a volunteer group, a professor, or a boss that you have a close personal connection too. You want people who know how hard working, respectable, and passionate you are; people that are willing to vouche for you and who truly believe you will be a great vet. I personaly used the program co-ordinator of my volunteer group Wild Ontario (educational birds of prey) because she knew that I always worked hard and cared deeply for the animals and our cause. The letters should be back in your hot little hands by end of Jan/early Feb so ask people in Nov/Dec. They need to be sealed with a signature and put into your application envelope.

In the first 7 semesters, focus on getting good grades and good experience. Grades are REALLY important so do everything you can to get as high as you can. Talk to profs as much as possible. They can give you advice and proof read projects/essays if you keep them in the loop (and don't procrastinate!!). They are great (and expensive) resources that also can provide moral support (and definately come in handy if you want to do a fourth year thesis project or a masters!).

Sorry international applicants, I really don't know much about your process but it is pretty much the same. It should be on the website or you can contact the OVC admissions representative via email. She is very helpful!