When rejection is redirection

THE AVERAGE ACCEPTANCE RATE for veterinary school is around 10% to 15%.¹ With thousands of applicants per cycle and a limited number of seats per school, it is not uncommon for applicants to have to apply more than once because of the process’s competitiveness.

If you had told a younger version of me, after submitting her first Veterinary Medical College Application Service application just days before the September 2023 deadline, that I would not get into veterinary school on my first attempt, I would have been shocked. Yet that became my reality during the spring semester of my final year in undergraduate studies. I received both an email stating that I would not be invited to an interview and a formal rejection letter from each of the schools I had applied to. The disappointment felt overwhelming. Having made plans to relocate in the coming months, my future seemed so uncertain.

What was certain was that my dream to be a veterinarian did not stop here. Despite the tears and the feeling of failure, I knew that my love for this field would not let me give up. So I gave myself a moment to feel everything, heard the encouraging words of my support system, and got up and made plans for revision. I scheduled file reviews with the schools I had applied to and listened carefully to their feedback. I used that information to guide meaningful improvements. I finished my final semester of undergrad strong, earning high grades that raised my GPA, expanded my veterinary experience to include equine medicine, and continued working as a veterinary assistant alongside excellent veterinarians and staff who inspired me daily.

Most importantly, I used my gap year as a sign to prioritize self-care and focus on things that made me happy outside of veterinary medicine.

When the next application cycle came around, I approached it with renewed confidence and preparation. I applied to more schools to enhance my chances and reminded myself that no matter the outcome, my goal remained unchanged. When interview invitations were released, the familiar anxiety returned, especially after receiving my first rejection of the cycle. However, I pressed forward and soon came an interview invitation. I prepared extensively with the support of friends and family, and I gave the interview my best effort.

Then came the phone call that changed everything for me. I would get my acceptance! That single “yes” turned years of uncertainty into reality. The rejections I had received no longer carried the same weight, because that one opportunity let me know I was going to be a veterinarian.

Now, as a first-year student at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, I often reflect on the path that led me here. To the applicants who are applying for the second, third, or even fourth time: Your journey is valid. Use your gap years not only to strengthen your application but also to grow as a person. Trust the process, take care of yourself, and keep going. Your “yes” is coming.

Reference

How hard is it to get into veterinary school? Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. January 29, 2025. Accessed February 26, 2026. https://veterinary.rossu.edu/about/blog/how-hard-is-it-to-get-into-vet-school