I need adviceAnswered
hey everyone
I'm currently a freshman in high school, and I want the most amount of help I can get when it comes to college. My dream school is UC Davis for Animal Science or Animal Biology, and then continue into UC Davis's veterinary school. Obviously, my goal in life is to be a veterinarian (Companion-Animal Veterinarian). My question is, what are some things that are highly recommended to improve my chances of getting in?
I currently do:
Speech and Debate (this club might get shut down next year as our director/coach/leader is stepping down, and we don't have a replacement yet): informative speech
Theater: I've done both shows we've put on this year and been on the run crew during both. I've also helped with the senior show. I've been on costumes for all. (currently have 293 hours of work done)
Animal Care Club: Just a member, but hope to be one of the leaders
American Red Cross: Just a member, but hope to be one of the leaders
Photography Club: Just a member, but hope to be one of the leaders
Society of Literary Analysis: Just a member, but hope to be one of the leaders
AFJROTC: The highest rank I can be as a first-year
Band: I'm doing band this year, but I'm quitting next year (I didn't vibe with the director :( )
Algebra 2: 2 years ahead in math (I've had an A this whole year, and I haven't doubled up in geometry and algebra 2 to do this)
Track and Field: hope to be in it all 4 years
Volunteer Hours: I help at vet clinics (shadowing) and animal shelters. I want to get 1,000 hours of work before the end of high school.
Grades: I've had a 4.0 the whole year
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3 answers
To improve your chances of getting into UC Davis, focus on taking leadership roles in the clubs related to animals, continue shadowing and volunteering at vet clinics and shelters and stay strong academically with a focus on science and math. Also, you may want to consider finding internships in any vet clinic or animal learning company and preparing for the SAT/ACT. UC Davis looks for well-rounded students, so keep up with extracurriculars like track and field and build relationships with people who can write strong recommendation letters. Make sure your essays reflect your passion and experiences when you get to that point.
You’re already doing a lot of great activities, especially for a freshman. Since you’re aiming for UC Davis Animal Science → Vet School, the biggest things that will help you stand out are:
Getting consistent hands‑on animal experience (vet clinics, shelters, kennels, farms)
Taking on leadership roles in clubs you care about
Keeping strong grades in bio/chem/math
Sticking with a few activities long‑term instead of spreading yourself thin
If you can, try to get more structured vet experience — shadowing, assisting, or volunteering weekly. Leadership in Animal Care Club or starting an animal‑related project also looks great for UC Davis.
Definitely think you could get a great offer from several different schools. I would say apply to a school that offers financial aid based on GPA and/or SAT/ACT scores. My school offers a full ride for those with a 4.0 GPA and at least a 28 on ACT.
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oh ok thank you so much. I will for sure look into schools with financial aid based on GPA and/or SAT/ACT scores, but Davis will for sure be my first choice. Also, do you think taking the SAT/ACT is worth it? Is there anything else that could help me?