Dr. Bobula is a Western veterinary graduate. She worked at a vet’s office and volunteered with three different wildlife rescues before getting into Western University veterinary school. Read the interview below to see what other credentials helped her get in on her first try.
Western Veterinary – How One Student Got Into This Vet School
Working at a veterinary office can help you get to know some vets. With this in mind, you will ultimately need a recommendation letter from a veterinarian. It doesn’t matter if you are applying to Western veterinary school or Cornell, the letters of recommendation are a must!
Get help navigating all of the requirements for each individual college. Whether you are trying to get in the VA tech vet school or Western veterinary school, you will need to figure out beforehand what each individual school requires. The book below will help you!
- Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 274 Pages - 04/15/2020 (Publication Date) - Purdue University Press (Publisher)
Name, veterinary school attended, and year that you started.
Christine Bobula, Western University College of Veterinary Medicine, 2014
What was your major in undergraduate college before getting into Western veterinary school?
Integrative Biology
At what age did you first apply to Western veterinary school?
22
How many schools did you apply to?
Two.
How many application cycles did you apply before being accepted to the Western veterinary school?
One.
I got into Western veterinary school on my first try.
Did you attend grad school before getting into this California Western vet school?
No
What types of paying jobs did you have before going to Western veterinary school?
Selling cherries on the side of the road, a receptionist at a General Practice, a veterinary technician at an ER, and a dog/house sitter.
How many people did you have read your personal statement before submitting it?
Three or four.
Did you work at a vet’s office?
Yes
Did you volunteer before getting into Western veterinary?
Yes- three different wildlife rescues, an animal shelter, and various veterinary outreach programs like Vet SOS in SF.
[If you are looking for jobs working with animals where no experience is needed, then volunteering can get your foot in the door.]
When did you decide to become a vet and apply to Western veterinary?
I thought about it my whole life, and really committed to it after starting college
How many schools invited you for an interview?
One, Western University College of Veterinary Medicine.
How many of those gave you an acceptance letter?
One, Western University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Do you remember any specifically challenging interview questions?
Western University uses behavioral questions and it was difficult to sometimes come up with examples…for instance, they wanted to know about times that I’ve worked with difficult people or had to overcome difficult situations.
What was your GPA (in undergraduate)?
3.5
What was your GRE score?
156 quantitative
161 verbal
4.0 on the essay
Did you interview any vets before starting the application process? If so how did you approach them?
Not exactly, most Veterinarians I worked with knew I was interested in going to vet school and so I had an open dialogue with them about veterinary school and specifically the Western vet college.
Were you a member of the pre-vet club at your school?
Yes.
Do you think students should join clubs/orgs once they are enrolled in a DVM program?
Yes.
Did you apply to Western University College of Veterinary Medicine, after or during your Bachelor’s education?
After
Part of the Western vet school requirements are letters of recommendation, who gave you yours?
I had one from a biology professor, one from an educator professor, and two from Veterinarians that I worked with.
Did you know them very well before asking for a letter?
Sort of? The bio professor was the one who taught larger classes and I didn’t have a personal relationship with, but he was very accustomed to writing letters of rec.
Are you happy that you chose this career?
Yes.
Do you have any advice for students once they get into Western veterinary?
Keep a positive attitude. I think a lot of Veterinarians and technicians become negative and embittered… because sometimes you see things that are sad, and you will be misunderstood by people that don’t know or understand our profession. It’s our job to stay positive, and not judge, educate people and not just get angry.
Another piece of advice is to take every opportunity you get to learn… Don’t be scared of getting your hands dirty, and don’t close your mind to things (the mentality of “I’m gonna be a small animal vet so I don’t need to know that” or “I’m gonna be an equine vet so I don’t need to know that” is a big roadblock for a lot of students and you miss out on some really cool experiences that way.)
Any study tips?
Find a study-buddy. They will keep you accountable. Also… learn how you study. Some people read textbooks and learn, I don’t! I need to draw things out and discuss them and watch videos. Everyone learns differently and don’t waste your time studying in the way you think you’re “supposed” to study. Study smart, not long.
What was the most challenging class, in your DVM program at Western veterinary school?
We don’t have exact classes… but first and second year are very challenging with long test weeks and a lot of basic science knowledge.
Do you have a specialty or are you working towards one?
Possibly interested in ER medicine.
Have you read or listened to anything worth sharing?
I Love Radiolab and the TED Talks podcasts!! Highly recommended. For vet stuff- the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine is a great journal and free to read online. I also loved the book “Bite Me: Tales from the ER” it was a great book that every Veterinarian, Vet student, pre-Vet should read.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Lefkowitz DVM, Laura (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 286 Pages - 11/07/2015 (Publication Date) - Laugh Learn Books (Publisher)
Do you have any last words of wisdom as a Western veterinary DVM?
Always find life balance. Do things you love and make time for yourself and those that you love. Veterinary medicine, though wonderful, should not be the only thing in your life.
How can people find you? (Social media or email)
christinebobula@gmail.com
MORE INTERVIEWS WITH WESTERN STUDENTS AND ALUMNI CAN BE FOUND BELOW
- Evie worked in a research lab as an animal care technician before getting into Western.
- Dr. Lippman is a veterinary entrepreneur she graduated from Western as well.
