Classes that are not required but helpful

[jtom]

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This is my first year applying and I am assuming I will not get in this time around. I was hoping to take a class or two next fall/spring in order to strengthen my application and get a better foundation. I have to take animal science/animal nutrition but was thinking about doing the Anatomy/Physiology sequence. Now I think due to the fact that I am looking at courses that are not required for graduation that there will be a limited selection at local universities but online is still an option.

Here is a list of courses I took that are not listed as required by all of the schools I applied to:

-cell biology
-immunology
-parasitology
-microbiology w/lab
-Genetics w/lab
-Physiology w/lab (no anatomy)

Thanks!

 

[SocialStigma]

Cell bio and genetics are required as prereqs for me but I think I would've taken them regardless. Of that list, I also took immuno (as an elective) and anat&phys (mandatory for my major), both were great courses. Immuno has been one of my favourite courses in university thus far, I highly recommend it.

 

[Nechochwen]

Take anatomy.

I wish so much that I had taken anatomy before vet school. I don't know how much it would have helped me, but I would take it if I could do it again.

There's plenty of histology the first semester too , so that might help.

Also, I would think taking some research hours would look good for next year.

 

[katryn]

I'll second necho's post. Even though I didn't really remember any of my anatomy (I took it at various difficulty levels in 2002, 2004, and again in 2006), there is definitely a level of "oh yeah, I remember that now" that made anatomy this semester not nearly so daunting as it might have been.

If you haven't done research before, it's definitely worth it to get some research hours, if only to verify that you don't like research. It's something that ad coms have a habit of asking about in one form or another, so it's good to be able to say you tried it already.

 

[heylodeb]

I'll second necho's post. Even though I didn't really remember any of my anatomy (I took it at various difficulty levels in 2002, 2004, and again in 2006), there is definitely a level of "oh yeah, I remember that now" that made anatomy this semester not nearly so daunting as it might have been.

That's nice to hear - I worked so hard on anatomy (human) and I was really hoping that there would be some cross over. (I took it in 2006 as well..)

 

[gilch]

What are you interested in? All of these courses could be useful--precisely how useful would depend on your strengths and weaknesses and your vet school. The only extra class I'd always recommend to anybody looking at vet school is A&P, which it seems like you are already planning.

I believe you are a Florida resident? Have you thought about what schools you'll apply to during future cycles if not accepted during the current one? If I were you, I'd look at the required class lists at other schools you might be interested in and see if there is any overlap with the list in your OP.

 

[jtom]

I am a florida resident and will complete all the required pre-reqs for UF but I thought I might take a few other courses. I will continue to apply to UF in the future as it is my IS but might change some schools in the future.

I already have conducted research, I am a non traditional and graduated 2 years ago. During undergrad I was planning on going to grad school for ecology, A/P was not required for graduation so I didnt take it.

I am definetly taking A/P not so much to improve my application but to make it easier for me during vet school. An upper level physiology course was required for graduation so I took that. I have always seen anatomy joined together with physiology but would appreciate just an anatomy course so I can finish it in one semester but will obviously do the 2 semester A/P sequence.

Are there strictly anatomy courses?

Thanks!

 

[elefante7]

-cell biology
-immunology
-parasitology
-microbiology w/lab
-Genetics w/lab
-Physiology w/lab (no anatomy)

Thanks!

Personally, I think that all of these would be quite useful to have before vet school. I took cell bio, micro, genetics, and physio because of various pre-reqs I was fulfilling. Genetics may have been the least useful so far (but I loved the course so I don't care). I really wish I had taken immuno. It would have been super helpful to have seen a lot of it before.

 

[laurafinn]

Immunology, no question. It's the most conceptual (at least to me), and it can take several weeks to really get the whole picture. Better to have a little fumbling in undergrad vs. vet school when you've got other things to worry about.

 

[racccjlm]

If the vet schools you're looking at have histology and parasitology in the curriculum, take them in undergrad if you have the chance!! Helped me loads!