[Poppy Dog]

Hey, Ive messaged on here a while a go. Im just back because i need some more advice. I have always wanted to be a vet and im being really really honest that i will do anything to get there, i seriously do not want to do anything else with my life.

Anyway, heres my problem;
I have the following grades

GCSEs
Bio A*
Chem A*
Phys A*
Maths A
Eng lit A*
Eng lang A
Art & D B
D&T A*
ICT A
German C


A levels
AS
Bio A (AAB)
Chem C (BCC)
Physics B (ABB)
Art C (CCD!!)

A2 predicted
Bio A
Chem C
Physics B
Art B--the amazingly bad art grade was due to one hell of an unexperienced art teacher who caused our school to have the worst GCSE and GCE art grades our schools ever had :s--we have a brill teacher now-well i hope so :s!!

I also have;
3yrs 8mnths working every sat morning at a sa practice.
2&1/2 weeks lambing/calving between 07/08 at a sheep/beef farm
1 week at an amazing equine referral clinic
1 week at a boarding kennels/cattery
2 days cats protection league.

RVC summer school 2006
Vetmedlink conference dec 2006
Vetsim 2007

Anyway, as you can see my A levels are very bad for a vet. Ive applied to two colleges (just in case)to redo my Alevels should i completely muck them up(one A3 course which covers AS and A2 in one year and one doing the whole two years again).
Ive also talked to different vet students at the RVC. They all say different things.
One said it was easier than they made out to get in, and that she knew someone who got a C in her A levels, others said it was very very difficult, especially graduate entry, and one even told me if i didnt get AAB then i wouldnt last the first year.

I have tried to address my issues with physics and chemistry by getting a tutor but my self esteem plummeted after being told by my physics teacher "wasnt there anything else i wanted to do?", and my chemistry teacher(who had been ill and in none of my lessons for 4 months) told me and my parents that she didnt think i had the academic ability to get into veterinary school(then going on to say that she had got in!!!).
Right now i cannot imagine getting in. Ive looked at many different options, postgraduate study(too expensive), gateway programme(i worked too hard at my 11+ and my parents earn too much), studying USA/Australia(massively expensive), studying in EU(last resort-and after enquiring about it, i only got negative emails telling me i probably couldnt do it because i would get home sick??!!!). So here i am, about to start(i have done revision before now XD) revising for my physics practical exam tomorrow.
If anyones got any advice, i would be truely grateful!


I am doing more work experience after my exams when i pass my driving test-hopefully at a pig farm and the equine referral clinic.

Thank you and take care!
XxX
Well done all who got a place at vet school this year, you are stars I really look up to-and am a bit jealous of ;P

[ch0c0h01ic]

Grades? Believe it or not i do study alongside people who go Bs, even Cs (one person i know got ABC), it is possible you just may have to go slightly further in impressing them at interview. I didn't do A-levels so i could be talking utter bs, but could you simply retake unit exams to push your marks and grades up (with additional revision of course) so that you don't have the need to go to college? Art? You got a B it's a good grade, i wouldn't bother trying to improve it given that it has very little relevance to vet sci, focus on getting your chem and physics up 1-2 boundaries.

AAB and you won't last the first year? I got the equivalent of 4 As at a-level and yes, i have been struggling to pass my exams. It isn't because i don't have the ability to pass, it's because the vast majority of us don't revise/work hard enough. Out of the 50% per year who fail at least one exam, each year, it is mostly due to insufficient work, not academic ability. One of the main reasons vet schools command high grades is simply on a selection purpose, without these boundaries in place they would get even greater numbers of applicants and/or have less means to differentiate between equally able students.

Teachers? Who gives a fork? My headmaster at primary level told me it was extremely optimistic that i'd get into even one of the grammar schools in the area, let alone make a decent future of myself. I also had a deputy at my secondary (who specialises in Oxbridge and competitive applications) tell me that vet sci was so difficult/elite that it was pointless applying. Needless to say i've proven them all wrong. It's all down to you.

Your work exp is fine, maybe try to get some lambing experience as opposed to equine referrals if you have already done a week.

GCSEs are fine.

Just work hard, try your best and see what happens. Think about applying, what's the worst that can happen? You get some feedback on areas that you need to improve to make you successful next time, or you get where you want to be.

[_imperator_]

OP: so your taking your A2's now? If so did you apply to any uni's last year?

I agree with chocoholics suggestion to resit a few modules, if you could pull the two C in chemistry up, and possibly one of the B's in physics then you could be looking at AAB/ABB, which would be the normal offer level anyway. Although if you are taking your A2 now it could be too late as I think the Uni's normally say they prefer the A-level including any resits to be in 'one session' ie within two years of you starting the course.
You seem to have loads of work exp, and good GCSE's so no problems there.

[x_Bex_x]

You say your chem teacher hasnt been in your lessons? do you think thats why you getting C's, cuz if so get your UCAS referee to inlcude that in you application to make sure the unis understand what been happening. Your main hurdle is going to be chem, your physics grade is fine, so I would focus more on the chem and keep the physics going, as mentioned by the op lambing would be good and if you can get it abbotoir work will make you stand out

[Poppy Dog]

She wasnt in my lessons between september and end of january/february. During that time we were taught by a teacher whod never taught A level before. However, my school is very "reputation" aware and i very very much doubt they would even consider putting something about my teachers absence.
I tried to get them to let me drop art but when having a "discusion" about this with my head of sixth form(i couldnt get a word in edge ways), she told me i shouldnt of stayed on at my school if id wanted to do three A levels, and that because of my ability I should complete the four(i.e. my average number of ucas points would be higher rather than me having less pressure). Right now im extremely stressed. I havnt had enough time to revise for my practical physics exam tomorrow(study leave started on fri) and funnily enough one of the main reasons i havnt been revising as much as i should was because my cw and 15 hour art exam was last week.
I managed to get a prediction of ABBB(it was a damn struggle) last year and was advised not to apply to vet school. So, no i havnt applied and finding it really hard to see the future working out...hence me panicing and spewing all this out!!!

I have done 2 and a half weeks lambing these last two years(i helped mainly with the lambing but they also have a herd of beef cattle). I also know of a pig farm near me where im hoping to do some work experience-if any vet students need some ems with pigs please message me, im hoping to do it in the summer when ive passed my driving test.

I really hate to say this but i tried resitting some of my exams in january. My school scrapped study leave in january this year and my grades were worse!!!

Im resitting chemistry again in a couple of weeks(units 1&2) -i didnt tell my teachers as they said we shouldnt do this but hay-what do they know.

Im just going to have to do my best tomorrow, i hate cramming but i guess thats what im going to have to do this evn and tom.morning.

What i really need to know-because my brains a worst case scenario machine-what should i do if i get CCDD or something.

sorry for going on!
XxX

thank you!!!

[_imperator_]

Originally Posted by Poppy Dog

What i really need to know-because my brains a worst case scenario machine-what should i do if i get CCDD or something.

From what I've read by others on here people in situations like that tend to take one of three options:
1, Postgrad route, expensive but some of the uni's RVC and another i think do reduce the cost.
2, Retake A-levels completely, shows comment to achieve grades but uni's may be unsure
3, on the job training as a vet nurse, then vet course entry later.

But its unlikely to come to that, you sound like you are determined and hard working so as long as you think positive you should do fine.
Good luck

[Poppy Dog]

Thank you so much, I always wondered whether a vet nurse could go on to become a vet. Im off to revise!
XxX

[J_E_N_N_Y]

loads of people get in after resiting. though not all unis accept resiters. but rvc liverpool and bristol do i think. but not the scottish ones or cambridge. but liverpool will offer AAA and rvc could offer AAA but they give that offer to non resiters as well. you can resit as many modules as you like. you could for instance take chem modules in january and so concentrate soley on chem until jan and then physics modules in june. if you can get the A in bio this year it will reduce the pressure alot.

My chem teacher was off from october to november and then came back for a bit and has now been away since the first week back after xmas. So due to my schools lack of organisation as she was the head of science we only had 3 out of 6 lessons until march and then we had 4 lessons until may and now we have 5 lessons.

I now how you feel with all the stress. half of my resits went down in jan and half went up so i am having to take them again. for example i am taking 3 exams for the 3rd time. Plus we arnt even on study leave yet, we only leave on the 6th June, by which time i have had half of my exams. but they let us have the day off before an exam before study leave starts. which is why im home now, as i have my bio W2 paper tomorrow, followed by physics practical on wed and chem practical and physics as retake on thurs. We wernt even supposed to be doing the chem practical as we had started cw but when are teacher went off she lost are cw and noone realised until last month so that had to put us all into the practical exam.

My head of sixth form wrote to all of the unis of the people doing chemistry last month so say that are chem grades are likely to suffer. I got a response from liverpool simply saying that thanks we will put this in the file and may look at it on results day.

Anyway i wish you luck with your exams, i have a horrid week of 7 exams in 3 days!!! eek!! xx

[Dissey]

Originally Posted by J_E_N_N_Y

loads of people get in after resiting. though not all unis accept resiters. but rvc liverpool and bristol do i think. but not the scottish ones or cambridge. but liverpool will offer AAA and rvc could offer AAA but they give that offer to non resiters as well. you can resit as many modules as you like. you could for instance take chem modules in january and so concentrate soley on chem until jan and then physics modules in june. if you can get the A in bio this year it will reduce the pressure alot.

My chem teacher was off from october to november and then came back for a bit and has now been away since the first week back after xmas. So due to my schools lack of organisation as she was the head of science we only had 3 out of 6 lessons until march and then we had 4 lessons until may and now we have 5 lessons.

I now how you feel with all the stress. half of my resits went down in jan and half went up so i am having to take them again. for example i am taking 3 exams for the 3rd time. Plus we arnt even on study leave yet, we only leave on the 6th June, by which time i have had half of my exams. but they let us have the day off before an exam before study leave starts. which is why im home now, as i have my bio W2 paper tomorrow, followed by physics practical on wed and chem practical and physics as retake on thurs. We wernt even supposed to be doing the chem practical as we had started cw but when are teacher went off she lost are cw and noone realised until last month so that had to put us all into the practical exam.

My head of sixth form wrote to all of the unis of the people doing chemistry last month so say that are chem grades are likely to suffer. I got a response from liverpool simply saying that thanks we will put this in the file and may look at it on results day.

Anyway i wish you luck with your exams, i have a horrid week of 7 exams in 3 days!!! eek!! xx

Jenny I'm doing the exact same exams (including retakes) as you. I'm mostly scared for Physics 1 because I really suck at that! How is W2 studying going?

[J_E_N_N_Y]

i dont really understand how you decide which statiscal test to apply, or to say to apply in question 2. also how many of the tests do we actually need to know?

i take it you do ocr physics and chem and edexcel bio. The physics retake of forces and motion all seems quite easy now so i dont no how i only just got a c in that exam last year. Are physics teacher gave us some hints about what to expect in the practical exam without telling us exactly what was going to come up.

Also in w2 how you decide wehter to do a bar chart or histogram or does it not matter (in q1).

[Dissey]

Originally Posted by J_E_N_N_Y

i dont really understand how you decide which statiscal test to apply, or to say to apply in question 2. also how many of the tests do we actually need to know?

i take it you do ocr physics and chem and edexcel bio. The physics retake of forces and motion all seems quite easy now so i dont no how i only just got a c in that exam last year. Are physics teacher gave us some hints about what to expect in the practical exam without telling us exactly what was going to come up.

Also in w2 how you decide wehter to do a bar chart or histogram or does it not matter (in q1).

If you're examining differences in 2 sites/populations/treatments, you can use
a) the t test -> used when there are more than 15 measurements/gp
b) Mann Whitney U test -> used for 6-15 measurements
c) Wilcoxon Matched Pairs (last minute our teacher said we dont have to know this)-> used for before/after situations (eg measuring reaction times before and after giving people wine), and for example the differences in the way yeast respires with a glucose substrate as opposed to a fructose substrate

Then there's the chi-squared test, which you use when
a) You have expected and observed values, eg Genetics when you expect specific ratios
b)in behavioural work where you have choice chambers, eg if maggots prefer the dark or light.

lastly there's the Spearman Rank correlation test
a)12-15 measurements are sued
b)used to find out if there is a relationship between two factors, eg if the effect of temp affects rate, or if the effect of CaCl2 affects the rate of milk clotting.
c) This usually gets a line of best fit as a graph but our teacher said it's safer not to join the points

Depending on the method you choose to employ you either get a scattergraph or a histogram or a bar chart.

You use a histogram when you have class intervals, eg when you have 2 groups of people, 20 year olds and 50 year olds and you're measuring their blood pressure and you want to split it into class-intervals eg 15-15.9 KPa, 16-16.9 KPa,

whereas a barchart you would use for example if you were testing out what flower colour a bee prefers, in which case you would have the different flower colours on the x-axis and the number of bees visiting each one on the y-axis.

I do edexcel everything:p I'm a bit nervous for physics lab because our teacher sucks and barely gave us any hints! I got a B for mechanics last year, and when I resat in Jan I got exactly the same (67/90) grrrr!!!!! However what made my physics grade low was the 83/120 in unit 3, so hopefully I'll go much better and if I go bad in mechanics it wont matter since I went quite well in unit 2 (88/90)

Good luck, hope this info helps!!

[J_E_N_N_Y]

thanks, thats really helpful.

[Poppy Dog]

I wish our school was a bit more forgiving. I go to a very very old fashioned school.
One girl got into Oxford this year and we have had assemblys blasting out how clever she is and how hard the people who get AAAA must work when we(the less academic) work much harder but are not blessed with brains like sponges!!!My problem is I panic BIG time in exams.
There were three girls in my year who wanted to become vets. One had to leave as they wouldnt allow her to study the A levels she needed to here(she didnt get A's) and the other girl has given up because our teachers seem adamant that if your not an A grade student, you wont get in. Shes now off to do a zoology degree.
These schools dont seem to care about their actual students, just about their league tables. Appearance is everything, in the lower school you can get detentions for wearing jewellery with your uniform outside of school.

My plan as it stands is
1. If I completely flunk all my A levels(or get something like BBBB), go to college to redo three of them(bio, chem and phys) again for two years.
2. If I only flunk my chem and phys, go to a different college to do a fast track one year A3 course in chem and phys.
3. If I do really amazingly well (i.e. AABB or even ABBB) try and apply for vet med at RVC and Bristol.
4. If I still flunk my Alevels after redoing them...Zoology/vet pathology/anatomy/animal sciences degree and try post grad. vet med.
5. If my Alevels are too bad for this, try veterinary nursing and then try vet med!
6. If all fails beg rich people for money and go to vet school abroard!!!!

I met one amazing girl when i was doing my work experience at the equine referral clinic. She was a party animal when she was doing her A levels and subsequently got CDE. She then went to study sports science at uni and then worked in the industry for a bit. Only then did she realise her mistake and that she really wanted to become a vet. When i met her she was in her final year of vet school in Australia!

[ch0c0h01ic]

Originally Posted by Poppy Dog

3. If I do really amazingly well (i.e. AABB or even ABBB) try and apply for vet med at RVC and Bristol.

Most of the unis say 'offers around' AAA or AAB, etc, it is at their discretion and it doesn't mean that even if you only get AAB or ABB that the other's aren't worth a try. Make sure you fill out your other slots and swot up on interview technique, work exp, etc to maximise your chances.

I'd also recommend signing up on the D of E gold, it does hold a lot of weight and it does make you stand out even if your grades are slightly lower than expected. You've probably done/doing most of it volunteering/currently volunteering, work exp, sports, learning to drive, etc, why not get the extra credit.

Sounds like your school has a few misplaced priorities. In my day, sure, my school was very concerned/driven by it's grades and table standings, but it still put a lot of effort and encouragement to the large part into getting it's students into the best uni/course/career path, it was prestigious for them getting a couple of people into vet school and 10ish people into Oxbridge and they capitalised on that in the local media to attract the best students/teachers and extra funding. They also took credit for my gold D of E (even though i'd already left the school, plus they had refused to help me with it and forced me to go through as an 'independent', plus they wouldn't let me borrow any of the school kit).

Yes, my school was very gay about uniform and appearances as well. We were meant to have our top buttons done up at all times, some people resorted to pulling them off so the school started running after school sewing sessions. You could get put in detention for simply having your hair cut too short, bleaching it, dyeing it, having it too long, having your shirt out, having a tie that is too short, not wearing your blazer because the HM hadn't decided it was hot enough yet, trying to defend yourself from a teacher...you had it easy.

[Annaconda]

poppy dog do you do 3 science and maths? cos edinburgh say they offer ABBB for that

[J_E_N_N_Y]

jesus im glad i dont go to any schools like that. were not supposed to wear tops that show are shoulders at sixth form, or if we do we have to have something over the top but only the deputy head of sixth form really cares tbh. o and if you put your arms up and you can see your midrift its an illeagal top as well but thats also ignored. In lower school they never made us tuck are polo shirts in, but they did in middle school.

poppy dog i panic in exams as well and then misread the question and write the wrong things etc etc. Which is why i have sooo many exams this summer. but ive got my first one done now. question 2....earthworm faeces and types of ploughing-plan and expiment. lol i do wonder where they come up with some of the stuff.

[Botticello]

Sorry to hear about your problem Keep plugging away, I hope you get where you want

[Poppy Dog]

Thank you people, had my physics practical a week ago which i really dont know how they went..last year i thought id mucked them up but i got and A, just praying i did the same this year. Found out Ive got 49/50 on my chemistry coursework.
My chemistry resit is in a week(cringe) and i really have to start revising alot more for it...thing is, i dont want to revise all that then find ive only got a week to finish my revision for my units 4&5 !!!
I think i may explode will joy if i get AABB or even ABBB but i cant imagine doing it. All of my teachers gave me the impression it would be impossible to get grades up at A2.
Im off for an early night!!!Revising from 8am-9pm and am praying for a miracle!!
I think i know reguardless of my grades i just dont think i could ever give up.
Thank you
XxX

[tiny_tiger]

It is definitely possible to pull your grades up at A2 if you want it enough! I did and now Im at vet school loving every minute (well minus this evil revision!!) so you can do it, dont let anyone tell you otherwise!

[Poppy Dog]

Thank you for your support. Ive got to pull the chem up to a B from a C, physics A from a B and art B from a C. Im just praying I keep my bio at an A.
Fingers crossed!