Finishing undergrad - Needing Advice

[MysteryCat]

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Hi all! I have a pretty specific question regarding my last 2 years of undergrad, and I hope that this is okay to ask here. I'm about to start applying for transfers, and I have two schools that I'm looking at. Here's the scenario:

Both are instate, but one is across the state from me, and the other is in my home town. They both have great majors offered that would encompass most or all of my pre-vet coursework. The one across the state has a pre-vet track, though, and has a veterinary school (WSU, don't try to track me down, Internet strangers. 😛 ). That seems beneficial, but I'm not sure how beneficial. Would it be worth leaving all of my family support behind two years earlier than necessary?

Of course this would be moot if I only got into one or the other, but assuming my acceptance to both, which do I choose!? I know that majors don't matter, but for what it's worth, I would be hoping to major in zoology at WSU, and behavioral neuroscience here in my hometown.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[MarxistPreVet]

Why the two drastically different majors? Is zoology not offered in your hometown?

I guess I'd be tempted to go to WSU; it may be beneficial to be in such close proximity (physically and academically) to the vet school you hope to attend.

 

[MysteryCat]

Why the two drastically different majors? Is zoology not offered in your hometown?

I guess I'd be tempted to go to WSU; it may be beneficial to be in such close proximity (physically and academically) to the vet school you hope to attend.

Yep, no zoology on the west side. I am very interested in neuroscience, and I'd even consider it if I went to WSU. I know they are pretty darn different, but the coursework for both includes basically all the pre-reqs for vet school at WSU. I guess that being able to work so closely with the vet school would probably be invaluable, though. It just scares me a little to have to spend more $ living further from home! (We live in my in-laws basement apartment right now.)

 

[MarxistPreVet]

Well, $ definitely shouldn't be the least of your priorities. If that's a major factor, don't disregard it!

 

[MysteryCat]

That's why it's such a hard choice!

 

[orcagirl]

That's why it's such a hard choice!

Honestly, I'm not sure how it is with them, but I feel like I've heard from some schools that going to that same institution does not give you an advantage over having a comparable education as long as you're still qualified to apply for an in-state spot. I was out-of-state everywhere so I'm not really sure on how true that is and can't remember where I heard it. I'd say it is important to look at money at this point in time because vet school isn't cheap and anything you can do to minimize your debt is worth considering. Also it sounds like you've thought about your interests. I can say that there are many people who get into vet school without majoring in pre-vet or zoology. Sure it's nice and can be helpful depending on the program. However, if you are interested in something else that will still fulfill all the pre-reqs why not do that? It's important to be well rounded and have other interests, which I'm sure you do. One other point to possibly consider: What happens if you never get into vet school? This was an essay question for NCSU two application cycles ago. If you never get into vet school which degree would lead you down an alternative path you'd want to follow? I'm not trying to say you won't get in. I'm sure you will and of course I want you to succeed. But sometimes people make different decisions if they look at things like that. I hope this rambling helps you a little, even if it just gets you thinking.

 

[dvmdreamer]

However, if you are interested in something else that will still fulfill all the pre-reqs why not do that? It's important to be well rounded and have other interests, which I'm sure you do. One other point to possibly consider: What happens if you never get into vet school?

👍 Totally agree here.

Not only will majoring in behavior neuroscience give you a backup plan, it will also give you something different to talk about in your interviews. It also give you a different depth of science, and may open you up to doing veterinary research. Also, I know our behavioral neuroscience program uses rats, so it may give you opportunities to get that hard to find lab animal experience!

I did something similiar by doing biotechnology. I live in an area that has many biotech firms and medical research institutions. When asked in my interviews what happens if I don't get in, I was able to say, "well I have taken these steps to make sure I am highly employable in the area I live in, so if I'm not accepted, I plan to do research in one of these institutions and come back next year with even more experience." Which seemed to go over well. And I was able to draw on my research experience and lab preparation to suggest that I would be interested in academic work and to answer various behavior scenerio questions.

I also don't think going to a university with a vet school has much advantage.

 

[dooleypuppy]

I was in a very similar situation! I chose the neuro program that was further from home and didnt have a vet school. My reasoning was that if I got my instate I would end up at that school for like 8 years at least and I like new experiences; I thought I could stand out more at a school with a smaller prevet population; and I liked neuro and thought it would be cool. And it all worked out! (and vet schools seemed to like the neuro thing a lot it kinda sets you apart a little from all the bio majors and stuff) But that doesn't mean you have to do what I did to get in! There are also a TON of pros to going to a school with a strong prevet program. I was very lucky to have an advisor (there was one on the whole campus) who knew about vet school stuff. If I was in your shoes, I think I would choose whatever school wasn't in my hometown so I could get some new perspective and have a little more freedom to reinvent myself and make the best of whatever school I'm at. Whatever you do, have fun and hit the ground running 🙂

 

[that redhead]

I would attend the school that allows you to save money and get to see your loved ones for a longer period of time. My opinion is that being close to the vet school will not help you, unless you were to get a job there and form relationships with people. You can always visit at their open house to get a feel for the school/area.

 

[MysteryCat]

Thanks for the input, everyone! I think the current plan will be to apply to both, and go to the closest (WWU) if I can. Seems to be the safest option. 🙂

 

[hygebeorht]

It seems your question has been answered, but I want to add that when you attend a school that has a vet school, you may have animal and vet experience opportunities that you would not have had otherwise. I was able to work in the teaching hospital and several labs, and no way would I have had opportunities like that had I chosen to stay in Denver for my prereqs rather than bite the bullet and go to Fort Collins.

If you already have lots of great experience, this probably matters less. But for me, experience was my weak point, and I really had to work it up.

 

[MysteryCat]

It seems your question has been answered, but I want to add that when you attend a school that has a vet school, you may have animal and vet experience opportunities that you would not have had otherwise. I was able to work in the teaching hospital and several labs, and no way would I have had opportunities like that had I chosen to stay in Denver for my prereqs rather than bite the bullet and go to Fort Collins.

If you already have lots of great experience, this probably matters less. But for me, experience was my weak point, and I really had to work it up.

This was the biggest reason that I thought WSU would be better. Maybe even the only reason! But, I do have about 1,200 experience hours in small animal day practice and ER medicine mostly as of now. I'm doing some serious networking around here too. I've gotten some LA opportunity ideas lately too. So I think I'm on track experience wise? Right? I have TONS of equine experience as far as husbandry and training go, too. Just not a lot of vet related large animal exp.

 

[MysteryCat]

👍 Totally agree here.

Not only will majoring in behavior neuroscience give you a backup plan, it will also give you something different to talk about in your interviews. It also give you a different depth of science, and may open you up to doing veterinary research. Also, I know our behavioral neuroscience program uses rats, so it may give you opportunities to get that hard to find lab animal experience!

I *think* that going to WWU for neuro would be beneficial as opposed to WSU in the same major also because WWU has a pretty well known psych department in general. That was another factor. 🙂

I know it's probably a naive statement, but I feel like just being done with all of this admissions uncertainty, and figuring out when to do what and what to do when will be SO relieving! Sometimes I forget that that will mean still having to...you know...pass vet school. :eyeroll:

 

[485501]

It seems your question has been answered, but I want to add that when you attend a school that has a vet school, you may have animal and vet experience opportunities that you would not have had otherwise. I was able to work in the teaching hospital and several labs, and no way would I have had opportunities like that had I chosen to stay in Denver for my prereqs rather than bite the bullet and go to Fort Collins.

If you already have lots of great experience, this probably matters less. But for me, experience was my weak point, and I really had to work it up.

I'd be wary about this. I have found that while there was a wider variety of experiences in places near vet schools, there were also way, way more people trying to get into those experiences. In the places I've been with no vet or tech schools nearby, I could pretty much just go to a clinic and if they took volunteers at all I was in, whereas in both places I've been with vet and tech schools nearby it took me months to find any open volunteer positions, and they were much further from where I was living.

 

[Minnerbelle]

Agreed. I even found it harder to find quality hands on vet experience with one on one vet time AS A VET STUDENT (in an area near a vet school), than I did when I was a pre-vet not living near a vet school.

Obviously people get lucky/unlucky on either side of the fence, but I wouldn't assume that you can get good experience just because you are going to a school with a DVM program.

 

[Easnadh]

It seems your question has been answered, but I want to add that when you attend a school that has a vet school, you may have animal and vet experience opportunities that you would not have had otherwise. I was able to work in the teaching hospital and several labs, and no way would I have had opportunities like that had I chosen to stay in Denver for my prereqs rather than bite the bullet and go to Fort Collins.

If you already have lots of great experience, this probably matters less. But for me, experience was my weak point, and I really had to work it up.

I did the opposite and found a ton of great experiences in Denver while saving money living at home, so it really just depends