Grad School Before Vet School: What Are You Majoring In?

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rjmacready

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Hi all,

I still have a year and a half left of undergrad (getting a B.S. in Zoology) and my GPA has been hovering right around 3.00 for the past year (mainly because I suck at math and physics), so I am strongly considering getting a masters or PhD in something to bump my GPA up before applying, which would also give me more time to strengthen the other weak points of my app (i.e. vet experience). I am trying to find a grad degree that would benefit me both in vet school and out of it, just in case I don't get into vet school for some reason (then I won't be S.O.L. with grad school debt and a degree I don't even know what to do with).

I've worked quite a bit with primates and alongside several zoo vets (I would ideally like to specialize in exotic/wildlife med if I get to vet school, though I am aware how competitive that is), so I am considering getting a PhD in psychology or anthropology to satisfy that interest. If I did that, I would like to get a lab or field research position to study primate behavior or maybe something genetically related. I currently work in a lab focusing on red-winged blackbird management and am working on my own behavioral study now (which will hopefully get published next spring). I have a lot of varied animal experience, though, so not trying to limit myself to just primates here- I just love working with them!

Whatever the degree is, I would like to be doing my graduate work with animals and, even better, with a vet. What are those of you who are going to grad school before vet school studying? And did you apply to vet school at the same time you applied to grad school?

Thanks!

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Hey!

I'm currently finishing up a MSc. working with a vet! My project is related to obesity in dogs, and my advisor is a boarded veterinary clinical nutritionist. I'm in the process now of applying to vet schools. I had applied to my local vet school when applying to grad school and didn't get in.

I feel like I've become a better vet school applicant through my MSc. program, but it is also nice to know that there are other opportunities with the MSc I chose (ie work in the pet food industry, research, etc.).

:) If you have any questions, let me know!

That's awesome! By local, I assume you mean you applied to an in state vet school. I have an in state as well (Minnesota) and that's a good idea! What was your reasoning for getting your masters and what do you think helped you get one with a vet/how did you go about locating a program working with a vet? Also, how many grad schools did you have to apply to before you got accepted? I'm worried I'll apply to too few or two many. I'll let you know if I think of more questions for ya!
 
I personally wouldn't go into a PhD program for the main purpose of getting into vet school. A PhD is a beast in itself and can easily take 5+ years to complete. I realized about 3 years into my PhD that I wanted to pursue veterinary pathology, a field that increasingly means you need a PhD too to be competitive. I finished my PhD and am now in vet school. Unless you REALLY need a PhD for what you want to do, I would go more for a masters if your plan is to boost your GPA.
 
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I will be applying to mph programs with a focus on emerging infectious diseases or veterinary public health. I'm really interested in zoonotic infectious disease research so if vet school doesn't pan out I plan on finding research associate positions. I'm already working in the biomedical field as a research animal tech so I would like to expand on that experience. I was advised by someone at work today that I should also look into biotechnology programs as it is more science heavy and have lots of fulfilling careers after graduation (just in case). There's a branch campus of Johns Hopkins university right across from my work that offers a biotech program that would be part time on campus and some classes offered online. There's even an option to take the entire program online. Would vet schools look down on me if I take all my classes online? Or even part time?


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Hi there, I'm going into my second year of my MS in Food Safety program. It's an online program through Michigan State College of Veterinary Medicine. I currently work in the industry as a food safety specialist and am hoping to attend veterinary school next Fall. I would like to focus in preventative medicine and food safety / public health. It's a great program and I've learned so much! A lot of students are MSU DVM/MS combined, veterinarians interested in food safety or food safety professionals in academia, industry and government. I think I'll be the first person to complete the program and then apply to vet school. An MPH is always good to look into as well. I just wanted an education more focused on food safety.


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I personally wouldn't go into a PhD program for the main purpose of getting into vet school. A PhD is a beast in itself and can easily take 5+ years to complete. I realized about 3 years into my PhD that I wanted to pursue veterinary pathology, a field that increasingly means you need a PhD too to be competitive. I finished my PhD and am now in vet school. Unless you REALLY need a PhD for what you want to do, I would go more for a masters if your plan is to boost your GPA.

Thanks for the insight! You make a good point about the timeline aspect of the PhD/vet school idea. Best of luck in vet school!
 
Is anyone currently or have in the past done an online masters in a field such as biomedical sciences? Would like some recommendations if so. Currently searching for some options. Primarily looking at it as a way to take upper level science classes while boosting my GPA. Not necessarily looking for something to provide hands on experience for a "plan B" as I'm pretty set on vet school at this point.

EDIT: In case of anyone curious, I'm talking about a program like this one :

Courses & Requirements
 
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Hi! :hello: I'm applying to MS programs this fall. I'm actually hoping to use a master's degree as a stepping stool into a PhD rather than vet school. When I found out I wasn't accepted this year (my second app), I decided to look for other career possibilities. I'm interested in research but I don't have the experience to be sure - so, hopefully an MS will help me figure it out and define what I'm working towards. It's always possible I could decide to reapply to vet school afterwards, but I don't think it's likely. We'll see.

I haven't ironed out where I'm applying - right now, I'm mostly looking at cost. So many programs I've looked into don't offer any aid to MS students (no TA or RA positions), and their graduate tuition is very comparable to vet school. I'm not willing to go 40-50k (or more) in debt for a master's degree. That's just not happening.

I'm interested in molecular biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, immunology and infectious disease . . . So, a lot of things. I didn't explore research much in undergrad. (I had a forestry summer research internship, but that is the extent of it) I'm actually really nervous about my MS applications. I'm not sure how competitive I'll be, and I'm afraid that I won't be accepted. Ideally I'd retake o chem and take calculous (which I never had in undergrad) to help my applications, but I don't have the money to do that right now. I'm planning to do my GRE again this summer. Hopefully there's a school somewhere that wants me. ;)
 
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Hi! :hello: I'm applying to MS programs this fall. I'm actually hoping to use a master's degree as a stepping stool into a PhD rather than vet school. When I found out I wasn't accepted this year (my second app), I decided to look for other career possibilities. I'm interested in research but I don't have the experience to be sure - so, hopefully an MS will help me figure it out and define what I'm working towards. It's always possible I could decide to reapply to vet school afterwards, but I don't think it's likely. We'll see.

I haven't ironed out where I'm applying - right now, I'm mostly looking at cost. So many programs I've looked into don't offer any aid to MS students (no TA or RA positions), and their graduate tuition is very comparable to vet school. I'm not willing to go 40-50k (or more) in debt for a master's degree. That's just not happening.

I'm interested in molecular biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, immunology and infectious disease . . . So, a lot of things. I didn't explore research much in undergrad. (I had a forestry summer research internship, but that is the extent of it) I'm actually really nervous about my MS applications. I'm not sure how competitive I'll be, and I'm afraid that I won't be accepted. Ideally I'd retake o chem and take calculous (which I never had in undergrad) to help my applications, but I don't have the money to do that right now. I'm planning to do my GRE again this summer. Hopefully there's a school somewhere that wants me. ;)

Best of luck! I'm sure you'll find a program that suits your interests. May I ask if you know why you weren't accepted to vet school the times you applied?
 
Hi! :hello: I'm applying to MS programs this fall. I'm actually hoping to use a master's degree as a stepping stool into a PhD rather than vet school. When I found out I wasn't accepted this year (my second app), I decided to look for other career possibilities. I'm interested in research but I don't have the experience to be sure - so, hopefully an MS will help me figure it out and define what I'm working towards. It's always possible I could decide to reapply to vet school afterwards, but I don't think it's likely. We'll see.

I haven't ironed out where I'm applying - right now, I'm mostly looking at cost. So many programs I've looked into don't offer any aid to MS students (no TA or RA positions), and their graduate tuition is very comparable to vet school. I'm not willing to go 40-50k (or more) in debt for a master's degree. That's just not happening.

I'm interested in molecular biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, immunology and infectious disease . . . So, a lot of things. I didn't explore research much in undergrad. (I had a forestry summer research internship, but that is the extent of it) I'm actually really nervous about my MS applications. I'm not sure how competitive I'll be, and I'm afraid that I won't be accepted. Ideally I'd retake o chem and take calculous (which I never had in undergrad) to help my applications, but I don't have the money to do that right now. I'm planning to do my GRE again this summer. Hopefully there's a school somewhere that wants me. ;)
@PrincessButterCup ... I noticed you have many interests: molecular biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, immunology and infectious disease. Besides the forestry summer research internship, have you worked in any other research labs?
 
@PrincessButterCup ... I noticed you have many interests: molecular biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, immunology and infectious disease. Besides the forestry summer research internship, have you worked in any other research labs?
I've worked in forestry and volunteered in animal science research, but that's the extent of my experience so far. I worked in micro and cell bio as a lab TA, so I have a fair bit of experience with lab equipment and running student experiments - whatever that's worth. There are actually several research related jobs (intro level, so I'm qualified, hopefully!) open in my department right now, and I'm hoping I can get myself hired and start gaining real experience.
 
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Best of luck! I'm sure you'll find a program that suits your interests. May I ask if you know why you weren't accepted to vet school the times you applied?
I did file reviews both times, and what it came down to was my gpa. I was waitlisted this year, so I was just 1-3 spots away from an acceptance - close, but not close enough. ;) The adcom told me this year that my best shot would be to do a MS and reapply, since their main hesitation was whether I could handle the course load of vet school. I wanted to specialize, initially, but now I'm looking at the debt (which has always been a huge hesitation for me), and the statistics of people who actually get accepted to residency, and knowing that I wouldn't want to work in a clinic if my residency dreams didn't work out - it doesn't seem worth it. So I'm trying to change course.
 
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Every time I see this thread title I read "Grade School Before Vet School" and I'm thinking "yes, you should definitely do grade school before vet school" before my brain fixes my mistake :smack:
 
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Every time I see this thread title I read "Grade School Before Vet School" and I'm thinking "yes, you should definitely do grade school before vet school" before my brain fixes my mistake :smack:
LOL!!
 
I applied to Vet School during last year's cycle and was waitlisted but unfortunately did not get accepted. I did some research online and found a few 1-year non-thesis master's programs. I am currently enrolled in one of these programs and must say this will definitely prepare me for the heavy load curriculum that is expected in a DVM program. I suggest looking into this!
 
I personally wouldn't go into a PhD program for the main purpose of getting into vet school. A PhD is a beast in itself and can easily take 5+ years to complete. I realized about 3 years into my PhD that I wanted to pursue veterinary pathology, a field that increasingly means you need a PhD too to be competitive. I finished my PhD and am now in vet school. Unless you REALLY need a PhD for what you want to do, I would go more for a masters if your plan is to boost your GPA.

I wouldn't either. If you don't love the PhD for the PhD's sake (at least to some degree) you're in for anywhere from 4-7 years of misery.
 
I applied to Vet School during last year's cycle and was waitlisted but unfortunately did not get accepted. I did some research online and found a few 1-year non-thesis master's programs. I am currently enrolled in one of these programs and must say this will definitely prepare me for the heavy load curriculum that is expected in a DVM program. I suggest looking into this!
Are you sure it is preparing you for the load in vet school? I'm not saying your program isn't challenging or anything, but it's hard to make that comparison when you haven't matriculated into vet school yet.
 
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Are you sure it is preparing you for the load in vet school? I'm not saying your program isn't challenging or anything, but it's hard to make that comparison when you haven't matriculated into vet school yet.
Considering I am taking classes with first year vet students, I feel like it's preparing for the load.
 
Considering I am taking classes with first year vet students, I feel like it's preparing for the load.
I'd still say that unless you're taking a full vet school courseload, it's really not equivalent. Granted it might be similar, but it's definitely a different situation than most masters or undergrad semesters I know of.
 
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Hello!

I am currently in an MPH One Health program. I applied this year, but if I do not get in, I will finish my MPH and be applying next year as well. My back up plan was to potentially work for Fish and Wildlife (either in AZ or wherever) until I get in. I love public health and zoonosis so this was the perfect in between for me.
 
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