A note during interview season

So, first off, I'm not doing this to be patronising. And I know that some of you will ignore it, and I don't really blame you, I would have too. But I thought I'd put it out there anyway. If nothing else, it's a brief distraction from studying about heartworm and the eight million things that all look the same and can appear in poo.

The Class of 2016 hopefuls are starting to appear at AVC for their interviews. For now it's the internationals, but in a bit, the Atlantic Canadians will show up (PS - if you're an Atlantic Canadian with an interview, let me know. I love to meet people!) My classmates and I have been talking a lot about what it was like for us to be in those shoes. Those god awful uncomfortable shoes, if I remember correctly (both metaphorically uncomfortable, and literally uncomfortable because I hate high heels as I hate Hell, all Montagues and thee).

I'm going to start by being a massive downer. Not all of you will get in. Depending on where you're applying from, the odds are better or worse, but the cold hard truth is that there's way more applications than seats. On our first day, we were told that there were 360 applications for 60 seats. Some of you will get rejection letters right out of the gate. Some of you will get them after interviews. Some of you will get waitlisted and then never hear anything. Now, an addendum to my previous statement - Not all of you will get in this year. I really can't stress that enough. Yes, it will probably be shattering when you get rejected. But there's always next year. I threw a god forsaken fit when I got rejected post-interview in 2010 the first time around. I sobbed and moaned about how it's just not fair. Eventually, I picked myself up, did a post-mortem review and set a plan into action to spit and polish next year's application. Amazingly, that first fit was really nothing compared with the fit I had in 2011 when I was waitlisted. For crying out loud, what else could I do?! "I'm never getting in!" I mournfully remarked to my mother. (My poor mother...) Lo and behold though, a week later, that waitlist moved and here I am.

Even if you're flat out rejected, there is hope. Chances are, you can improve in some way to boost your chances. And if you're rejected, please remember, it is not a reflection of you as a person. Everyone comes into this with a different background. Different skills, different opportunities, different talents. It may be easier for A to get experience than it is for B. C may be better at science courses than D. Maybe E would have had better marks, but she was working a full time job while going to school, so couldn't devote as much time to physics as F. Everyone's circumstances are different. When you get into vet school, you will be over the moon that everyone is so diverse. I can't tell you how often I go see a classmate because they know cows. Or ferrets. Or physiology. Meanwhile, people come to me because I know histology, and horses, and etymology (you laugh, but it's amazingly helpful in anatomy). My long-winded point is, be the best applicant you can be. Don't complain about how so-and-so had it easier. It won't get you anywhere.

While you're touring the school, take a look at the students around you. They were you. Hell, some of us were you two or three times in a row. We got in. It wasn't easy, it may not have been immediate, but we got in. We're not superheroes. If we got in, so can you. Throw your all at it, have some confidence and persistence, and you'll be in. Maybe not this year, maybe not next year, but you will be in. And then it'll be you blogging at 10:30 at night to avoid studying for a parasitology test.