September 16 Meeting Minutes
Test bank is getting more things on it.
Fun Quiz with Jellybeans!!
Dues and registration forms at end of meeting
Scott Robertson (scott.robertson@kaplan.com) 865-971-5455, ext 5001
Kaplan gives away $25,000 scholarship; names drawn in January; free GRE quiz bank and 50% off Kaplan class
Who is Deborah Shepherd? One of the admissions directors at vet school. Get to know her. Email isnt the best way to reach her, so should call her at 974-7354.
How Grad Schools will evaluate you; understanding the GRE exam; planning your admissions timeline
Sunday, Oct. 19 FREE GRE PRACTICE TEST (College of Law) Find out where need improvement FOR FREE.
Admissions factors fall into three main categories: Academics, Experience, Personal Characteristics.
Academics
o GRE and Transcript
o Any additional coursework; look at undergraduate GPA
o GRE score
How will UTs Vet College evaluate and use your GRE score?
o Need good academic background so that get to second phase. (70%)
o Get up to 20 points added to academic profile based on GRE score and up to 5 points for the analytical writing portion. Can help cushion any difficult classes with lower grades.
Understanding the GRE
o Length: 3 hours
o Quantitative section: 28 questions, 45 minutes; problem solving, quantitative comparison, data interpretation
o Analytical Writing Assessment Section: two essays, 30 minute section and 45 minute section; analyze an argument, present perspective on issue
o Verbal Section: 30 questions, 30 minutes; reading, comprehension, analogies, antonyms (might go away soon), sentence completions
o Scores: Quantitative 200 800, Verbal 200 800, Analytical Writing 0 6
o No calculators!!
o Problem solving test, dont necessarily need calculators
o New question types, changing one question at a time
o Computer adaptive test (CAT) scoring
know your score when you leave test
adapts to level of difficulty to questions that you can answer
start off low and concentrate on later questions because youll be at a high adaptive level instead of low
set number of questions and set time to do it
need to complete questions or get them wrong; also cannot skip questions (so cant go back to a question)
penalty is the same in higher or lower level; more difficult at end to make increasing point jumps
Experience
o Work experience (start early)
o Research, clinical experience, internships
o Extracurricular activities (how did you make a difference? Need active involvement)
o Community involvement (chose something that adds to performance in classroom)
Personal Characteristics
o Traits that matter:
o Dedication
o Passion show now that you care
o Integrity truthfulness, especially on application
o Where do you highlight your strengths? On Personal Statement, in classroom, in extracurricular activities
Keep journal on things you do that help you in becoming vet and use that on personal statement
Writing Winning Essays
o Focus on:
o Stand out show them why you want to be a vet, dont just tell them; what has driven you to be a vet?
o Develop a theme keeping history
o Show, dont tell
o Get feedback from people who know you, from acquaintances, and English person for grammar
Other Key Elements
o Recommendations: Who to ask? Ask early and follow-up.
Form relationships with professors; someone who knows them, including faults
Come in with transcripts and personal statement to give to professor
Give adequate time for professor to write them
o Interviews:
Do interview if given chance.
Be professional.
Have questions for interviewer.
General
You want to take a practice test instead of going into real test cold turkey. GRE score is for life.
Look up different schools and then try to exceed their averages.
Applications come out June 1 and due on October 2; turn yours in early
You can take the GRE more than once, but prepare well for first time. VET SCHOOL TAKES THE MOST RECENT GRE SCORE.
More new question types are being added slowly but are only a small part of the test now.
Ask Deborah Shepherd if you have specific questions about applying to vet school.
Any Pre Vet Club member gets $100 off of GRE classroom course or tutoring package.
GRE costs $140 and offered 3 weeks out of each month. Sign up for test early.
Take GRE after serious preparation, spring of junior year at very latest.
Next meeting (and all others) Claxton 206, biweekly schedule from now on.