I Dont Know What Else I Can Do

[jtom]

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So I have to make up a few pre-reqs for vet school. I decided to pursue veterinary medicine in april and have since found a job at a mixed animal clinic. I have already graduated from college. Anyways so back in april I applied to my local schools in florida for the fall term. I live about an hour from UF and a little less from UNF. UF does not accept any post bacc, second bachelors or non degree students. UNF due to budget cuts only offers the class I need (microbiology) in the fall semester and this fall the class is full and has a very long waiting list. I called the dean of the bio department there and she said she could not do anything for me even though I need it to get into vet school.

Now there is one other four year university within a 2 hour radius from where I live. They do have a 3000 level microbiology course but it only has gen chem as a pre-req. Even so, this course is full as well and only offered in the fall. I did apply to this school yesterday and I emailed the professor about getting into the class but then i realized that it didnt have organic as a pre-req (I havent heard back from him). Is this microbiology course acceptable? At UF their examples for microbiology courses have organic pre-reqs.

If this school does not work out, the closest school is UCF, about a 3 hour drive from here and it looks like I will not be able to apply this year. I talked to one of the vets at work and she told me to call the dean at the UF vet college to ask for advice, I am having trouble finding any contact info for him. Do you guys have any advice?

Thanks!

 

[gone2dogs]

That all sounds very frustrating! But first of all, I don't know that I've ever seen organic as a prereq for microbio... it is usually biochem that the vet schools require to have organic as a prereq. So I personally wouldn't sweat that one.

As a less than ideal thought, microbiology may be available at a community college closer to you, and have a more reasonable commute and schedule. I know it wouldn't be upper division, but I don't think that is necessarially required for most schools.

And as an even more less than ideal thought, what about taking it online? I don't know where else offers it, but http://www.ccconline.org/courses/course_desc/index.php?course=bio204_welcmpg_04m is a class within the Colorado community college system. The lab kit you have to buy is SUPER expensive (included a microscope I believe). There may be something similar in your state if you hunt around, or worst case, you could take this class as an out of state student (which would also be expensive).

Good luck to you! I feel your pain trying to get all these classes fit in!

 

[breenie]

A lot of schools will take lower level microbio courses, but I think if you can take a higher level course, that's preferred. My university offers an "intro" micro that's a 200-level and than another "intro" micro with more pre-reqs and aimed at microbio, bio, genetics, bacteriology, etc majors. Our vet school knows the difference. 😉

I know this might be unpopular... and I mean it in the nicest way possible... but you just decided in April you wanted to be a vet. Waiting a year won't be the end of the world. Take some time, get to know the profession better, check out some clinics other than the one you work at. I know you're probably totally committed and convinced you're ready to go, but a lot of us have been waiting a few years already and have a lot of time to sort all of this out. One more year won't hurt you if you can't get your classes to work out. 🙂 If you like your job and stick with it, you'll be a very competitive applicant next year, and might have a bit of cash saved up.

 

[nyanko]

I know this might be unpopular... and I mean it in the nicest way possible... but you just decided in April you wanted to be a vet. Waiting a year won't be the end of the world.

This is exactly what I was going to say. There really isn't any reason to rush it.

And honestly, jtom, you sort of sound kind of whiny and entitled there. It's not the UNF Bio department head's fault that you decided to change careers after all of their students (the majority of whom also need the class to graduate, to take more advanced microbiology courses or get into professional/graduate school) had already registered for it. Why would you think that you should get some special exemption?

edit: UF's Micro requirement is the upper division one. The community college version is not equal.

 

[jtom]

Oh I agree that I should not be given preference over other students who have registered for the class long ago. I am actually nervous and legitamately sound whiney as I am getting extreme pressure from my parents to apply this year. I do agree that I should take another year to get more hours before I apply but my parents are just really giving me a very hard time about applying this year. My dad espeically considers waiting another year to be unacceptable and while I would be paying for vet school with loans, I currently live with them since I lost my last job so I hear it non stop. Now do agree that my application is not very competitive and I would probably not get in but I guess they feel not trying (thus not getting all pre-reqs done) is unacceptable at this point.

I would rather not take a lower level (200/2000) level microbio course either at a cc or four year as I just dont want to run the risk of having to retake it. As for the organic pre-req, this sounds a little better as I can try to get into this other course at the private school in town. Their microbio course is a 300 level course but it only requires gen chem whereas UF recommends a microbio course that requires organic chem.

 

[Nexx]

Florida follows a statewide course numbering system. A 1000 level at a community college may be a 2000 level course at a State Uni. Same for a 2000/3000

http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/programs/courses/scns.html#equal
This page should explain it a bit.

Basically look at the last three numbers of the course code as that would indicate equivalence between Uni's

Although now that I looked into a bit, I'd avoid trying to take the course at a CC (which sucks). UF specifically states on their site "all upper-division pre-requisite courses (3000-level courses such as microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, etc.) must be taken at a four-year institution."

 

[breenie]

Well... if you honestly feel like you NEED to apply to get them off your back, try applying to somewhere like Wisconsin. You don't need micro. Yes, you have to pay the huge VMCAS fee and still do all that, but it would technically count as applying. Wisconsin doesn't require nutrition or an sci, either.

Only solution I can think of that doesn't involve telling you how to live your personal life. 😉 Good luck!

 

[ginger17317]

What about USF? That may be a little more of a drive for you - but it might be worth checking into? But IMO online sounds like the way to go...
You also might want to check into FAU - I took my Micro class there and it was mostly online - you should see if you could arrange to take the exams somehow online - that's all we came to class for.

Hope that helps 🙂

 

[jtom]

I could go to USF or FAU but due to the drive I dont think it is realistic to drive 3 1/2 hours to tampa or more to baca raton 3-4 days a week.

I actually did get good news as the professor who teaches microbiology at the four year private school in town emailed me and said he would put me in his class even though it is full. It looks like I can now apply this cycle!

 

[smusho]

you should be able to take them at santa fe college if you are near uf