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If someone is struggling in upper division science courses to the point of failing being a possibility, that’s an issue that needs to be addressed and a solution identified BEFORE making the main focus veterinary school. Vet school is like those courses, but 24-30 credits of them at a time. It is much too expensive of a venture to go “I’ll figure that out later” and then get there with no idea of how to study for success in those courses. Everyone has an adjustment when they start vet school and they learn how to be successful learning that amount of material, but that’s a different ball game than struggling to succeed in those types of courses when they are being taken as part of a lower credit load.Biology/Chem/Physics 1 and upper division courses like molecular biology are on different planets (I know bc I was a biochem major and the upper division science courses were unnecessarily difficult imo.)
you're in luck, TAMU is one of the more transparent schools and put their criteria online: DVM AdmissionsIf you were to optimize an acceptance to Texas A&M, any ideas on how she could approach this?
Do you really think you should encourage this? If she has trouble with higher level science how can she possibly get through vet school. Meeting the requirements shouldn’t even be the issue at this point. Vet school is super hard even for people who are good at the stuff. The age and monetary situation are irrelevant (I was a similar demographic), but I can’t imagine anyone with those issues surviving. Got To be realistic.The problem is, she struggles with higher level science and math. I know GPA is king, so I don't want her dreams to be ruined by two F's in third-year advanced science courses that are irrelevant to her interests. I know vet school will be much harder, but our first priority is getting her accep
That isn't what I said, and I think you know that.that's fair, but a bit premature to tell her to give up before she even begins Bio/Gen Chem 1 no? @supershorty, this would be like telling a high schooler who struggled in hs chem to avoid medical school bc they might fail analytical chemistry (i.e. an irrelevant course in the grand scheme of things). Might be better to let them take the first few courses on the track before we make a judgement here.
Obviously if she's failing intro bio we'll reconsider, but I feel if she can establish strong study habits, avoid unnecessarily difficult courses to protect her GPA, and keep her focus, she'll be fine.
Very good point on the opportunity cost. I'll speak to her on this. I suppose the debate she'll have is which option would help the most animals. Would funding a new shelter help more animals than being a veterinarian? An interesting though for sure.
There is nowhere in this thread where that was said.Do you see how that's a premature statement to make with the only information to go on being that she might struggle with upper division science courses?
Is true for succeeding in a professional program. However, this generalization:1) Are you disciplined? 2) Are you committed? 3) Are you invested?
Is not. This is because of the vastly different requirements each of these take to be successful compared to the details of professional school. While being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever done, I am also a much better mom than I ever was a vet student. Not because my dedication, discipline, or commitment (redundant?) are any less. It's because the skill sets are different at their cores. I'm a better vet than I ever was a student because being a doctor and being a student doctor are two completely different things. Which leads to....Upper division science courses are an easy proxy to these questions, but almost anything else could serve just as well (industry experience, being a parent, deep ideological drive, personal ambition etc.)
They are required. Texas A&M requires upper level biochem, genetics, and animal nutrition. They specify jr/sr level courses.If they believed their students need to take upper division biology/chemistry/physics courses to succeed in their school, they would make them required.