International vet school after High School

[Kara31191]

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I'm graduating High School in summer of 2009 and I went to a college fair yesterday and the lady was trying as hard as she could to convince me to apply to AVMA accredited vet schools this upcoming fall... right after High School.

I don't think I really could travel internationally... right after High School... to a completely new country where I know no one and I couldn't even bring my macaws due to the strict, but necessary, laws.

What can you tell me about this? Or even Glasgow... I heard the program is similar!

I looked up other threads on this but none were US High School students looking to go directly there!

 

[clawsbeatskin]

Kara, slow it down! 😛 Obviously vet med is your thing, you've been working so hard at your clinic (way more than any high schooler should, IMO). Enjoy yourself. Be an undergrad first. Gather a variety of significant life experiences before vet school.

You're so motivated and that's great. If you feel like you can handle more on your plate right now, maybe knock out some basic college courses over the summer. That will get you on the fast track, too, you know. And if an international veterinary program is something you're really interested in, then by all means do it. But I think straight out of high school is a little much.

 

[gemini55]

Kara, this is from Glasgow's website:
Entry Requirements

We consider applicants from North America who have completed at least two years of a pre-veterinary degree, or a science based degree from a North American University. We would expect a cumulative average of around 70%, (3.2 GPA) and the subjects studied must include Chemistry, Biology and either Physics or Mathematics. We also require some practical experience in an animal related environment, and with a veterinary surgeon. The choice of additional courses is left to the student. However, since the curriculum of a professional school is extremely specialised, students are encouraged to make their college years as broad as possible by selecting in the humanities and social sciences. All course requirements must be met prior to matriculation. Exposure to practice, research or other areas of veterinary medicine is essential and should be documented.

 

[projekt]

I think some Aussie schools will accept foreigners into their post-secondary vet program. The first 2-3 years are basically undergrad, you learn the same stuff, and have a good amount of free time. They would be competitive, and the dollar is dropping so they are getting expensive.

A better idea, if you're really eager, is to work toward one of the early action programs. Cornell, for example, has a program that accelerates your entry into vet school. That would mean that you would have to work very hard and get amazing grades.

If I were doing one of those early admission programs, I wouldn't drink at all in college. Getting in would require showing that you're much more mature than your cohort, I'd think. Other people might be able to drink and get a 4.0, but I certainly couldn't.

 

[Tiraka]

If you want to go to vet school early, there's also the option of getting enough AP credit in HS and graduating in 3 years (or going to vet school without a BS). I think, depending on where you plan to apply, a couple of schools frown upon this. There is a lot to be said for living a little in college and learning how to balance a social life with classes/experience.

I originally planned to apply to vet school the summer after my freshman year, completing my pre-reqs in two years. I took the GRE, started the application, and decided that I wasn't ready to go into such a rigorous program. This year I've had plenty of time to pursue interests outside of vet med, and I've taken some classes that weren't pre-reqs but will be really helpful in vet school. I do have to say that if I'd known about the Australian programs, I would almost certainly have applied as a high schooler, but unless living abroad and fast-tracking it is something YOU really want to do, there's no need to rush.

 

[Kara31191]

I was pretty much looking for information to back up what this lady said...

I couldn't find too much, and quite honestly, do I want to miss undergrad? No.

I've never been out of New England, nevermind New Zealand, Australia or other places. Too far from my birds. =P

🙂

Just gathering information is all.

 

[lazyjayn]

New zealand isn't bad- despite what I might have written about it in the past. Or maybe it's just better than wyoming (pleh).

Anyway. If you're already taking an academically rigorous schedule, and you take whatever chem, bio and physics is available, You'd probably fit right into NZ's program. You'd be the same age as the local students, and you'd have close to 8 months between high school and college to "grow up"- work, travel, whatever.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Aus. is about the same. Nederlands, of course, you'd have to speak dutch.... so it's prolly not that one.

If you decide to do it, ship yourself some of your favorite "comfort" food before you go. You can also look at vetstudents.net which has forums and a link to some blogs that you could read. Going overseas is an outstanding experience. Even if you decide against the direct- or ever shortened- route to the vet degree, you should look into study aborad opps at colleges in teh states you apply to.

j.

ps- was it Eloise from Massey? Is Eloise even still at Massey?

 

[freyamaxine]

I personally like the idea of Vet school straight after high school. It essentially means that you can have a Vet degree in 5 years instead of 8 years (a huge difference!).

At Melbourne university you can also take a year off in the middle of the Vet degree to complete a research year.

The Vet faculty has lots of social events, and a great student cohort. I don't see how you would have more fun in undergrad than learning about something you love with similar minded people!

We have several people in the course who have come straight out of high school internationally. We then also have people who have completed PhD's. Age isn't really a factor and everyone seems very mature and dedicated.

🙂

Good luck!

 

[pupsforseeing]

If you want to go to vet school early, there's also the option of getting enough AP credit in HS and graduating in 3 years (or going to vet school without a BS). I think, depending on where you plan to apply, a couple of schools frown upon this. There is a lot to be said for living a little in college and learning how to balance a social life with classes/experience.

I accumulated quite a few community college credits in high school (around 70), so had to stretch out my remaining credits/take lots of extra classes to stretch out my UG experience to 3 years. I have been on the fast-track for as long as I can remember and will be 19 when I graduate from college. I applied to vet school this cycle and was accepted at UPenn and UC Davis. While I did get asked about my age/speeding through school at both my interviews, it didn't seem to negatively impact admissions decisions. I think it was just important that they saw that I was as mature and level-headed as my classmates.

Having said that, I am declining/deferring admission this year because, despite how it appears on paper, I do not feel I am ready to sign my life away and devote the next many many years of my life to one thing. I still want to see the world, enjoy being young, and pursue other passions. So, a friend and I are backpacking around Europe for a month right after graduation (yay for buying yourself a graduation present!), and then I will come home, work for a month or two, and then move to a third-world country to work at a school for the deaf for a year. I will start vet school in Fall '09.

Just something to think that. I never thought I would hesitate to jump right into vet school. But, then I realized that, although I know for sure that this is what I want to do with my life, I have my whole life ahead of me to practice veterinary medicine. But, who knows if I will ever again be debt-free, unattached, and able to jump on these other opportunities.

 

[weirdhobo]

Wow Kara, your one amazing person for being only a Junior and having so much experience 😳 I'm so jealous because I can't find a decent Vet Hospital near me who will hire/let in volunteers, yet you already have a great position at one 😛

Just backing most other's responses in saying that it is probably better to reject the offer and have a great undergrad experience prior to entering Vet School 🙂 I myself can't WAIT to get into the college experience which is supposedly one of the happiest/most fun periods of one's life 😀

 

[twelvetigers]

🙂 I myself can't WAIT to get into the college experience which is supposedly one of the happiest/most fun periods of one's life 😀

Har har. I'm guessing I'll feel more nostalgic about it once it's over. But, right now, college can blank my blank. I'll agree that it's definitely a life experience, and you (can) do a lot of growing up (your choice). As for the most fun, well, maybe when you AREN'T doing Organic/Physics/Biochem/insert other horrible pre-req here... 😉

I suppose I wouldn't go back and change my decisions, even though my highschool GPA would have been way better than my college one. I'm more prepared this way. Now, I just need to get in...

 

[Hobiecat1642]

Yeah, college can blank my blank too. I had a great time, for the most part, but I was really ready for it to be over. Which it actually wasn't, because of the 5,000 post bacc classes that I took. Anytime that someone tells me that something is supposed to be the greatest exeperience of my life, I get suspicious.

 

[weirdhobo]

Haha, I'm guessing this assertion was in the social perception then, as being a pre-vet looks more like hell then heaven from what you guys are saying lol.

 

[Nexx]

Australian schools...

I don't know much about Sydney or Melbourne except that I am pretty sure Melbourne is set up to accept students from the US who have an undergrad degree already--I could be very wrong on that though

Murdoch this year implemented it such that their Vet program is 6 years now. They are making it so their incoming students have a year of undergrad work which includes statistics, Cell bio, and General Chemistry. These courses can be taken at Murdoch as well of course.

I'm in the 2nd year of the 5 year program currently and having a good time with it so far. Most of your classmates would indeed, be at your age level so as long as you can buckle down when you need to, you would not miss out on the traditional 'college' experience.

I found the transition from Gainesville, FL to Perth to be very easy (albeit expensive to get set up). If you went this route, chances are it would be not only shorter, but also cheaper in the long run.

Bubbles (here and on vetstudents.net) is from the Massachusettes (by way of Rochester) so she may be able to give you some insight from a fellow northerner 😉

btw.. vetstudents.net is getting upgraded so if you stop by there and the site is down, keep checking back. The owner of the site is trying to make it quite a large network for us vet students studying abroad.

 

[freyamaxine]

Australian schools...

I don't know much about Sydney or Melbourne except that I am pretty sure Melbourne is set up to accept students from the US who have an undergrad degree already--I could be very wrong on that though

In my class at University of Melbourne there are a few international students who have come over here straight from highschool. They only had to do the pre-vet year (a year of Bio, Physics, Chem with labs).

I think Melbourne might be changing to a 6 year degree in 2011 or something. I vaguely remember an email about it.

 

[VAgirl]

I myself can't WAIT to get into the college experience which is supposedly one of the happiest/most fun periods of one's life 😀

Yea, I agree. Anyone who tells you fill-in-the-blank experience will be the best time of your life is selling something. Or trying to relive their happiness with that time of their own life through you. Live each experience and see for yourself what it is like. That's much better than setting yourself up with someone else's expectations for any given experience. And you'll learn more about yourself and your own likes/dislikes in the process, I think.

 

[weirdhobo]

Hehe, thanks for the insight, VAgirl 😛 What you said it absolutely correct. I should be more focused on my own experience than one stated by someone else. But, it still wouldn't hurt for college to be fun 😀 I plan on joining a bunch of great outdoor activities and such while hopefully being able to keep a steady GPA. For instance I've always wanted to try playing Polo, so I'll be joining the club for it at Davis 😀

 

[Electrophile]

Having said that, I am declining/deferring admission this year because, despite how it appears on paper, I do not feel I am ready to sign my life away and devote the next many many years of my life to one thing. I still want to see the world, enjoy being young, and pursue other passions. So, a friend and I are backpacking around Europe for a month right after graduation (yay for buying yourself a graduation present!), and then I will come home, work for a month or two, and then move to a third-world country to work at a school for the deaf for a year. I will start vet school in Fall '09.

+1 pupsforseeing

American high school at least does NOT prepare you for the vigors of vet school straight out. And I say that after having taken like 8 AP classes in high school. Heck, even GRADUATE SCHOOL didn't totally prepare me for it. In America, even college is like 13th-16th grade sometimes, but it was more of a preparation than even imagining just coming out of high school. 🙄 I think it really helps to be a little older and have a little more perspective on stuff. Not to mention how many people change their minds when they are 18-22 years old. I did...twice! Never changed majors...just added more. Even with a 6 year program, I don't think I'd feel comfortable making life or death decisions where everyone looks to you as the expert at 24. Besides, over the course of a life time, a few extra years in school is really not a big deal. Plus you learn a lot about yourself as a person when you leave home for a couple years and all that. It's hard to put a value on those experiences.

I really feel we need to be seen in the medical profession as being well-rounded and not just playing lip service to that. By that I mean that we can write, speak, and communicate articulately about things besides just veterinary medicine. Knowing a foreign language (especially the Latin/Greek derived ones!) is very helpful for anatomy, for example. Taking psychology or sociology is helpful for behavior issues...and not just for the patients! Business classes or economics are really important, especially for us future practice owners. Policy and legislation is a big deal for all sorts of issues in vet medicine (ownership vs. guardianship, breed specific legislation, animal welfare in general, our food supply, us getting a fair salary for what our debts are going to be, etc) and knowing the basics of government is essential. That kind of stuff is not stuff you'd get much or any of in vet school, but you have elective time to get in undergrad. Seriously, undergrad is the only time you'll be able to take such a big breadth of classes and have easy access to those resources. Everybody take advantage of your time and don't rush getting out so fast. 🙂 We'll all get there eventually! 😀

 

[Nexx]

College (or Uni)... is quite different from how it is in the US.

Honestly part of the reason I couldn't buckle down in school is because I had to take courses that I considered useless. Really Latin American Civilization? Sociology? Art Appreciation?

Yeah while it gave me a well rounded education, it also wasted about $30,000 in classes that really aren't necessary.

Furthermore, the classes I am taking currently in the vet program are no more vigorous than some biochem/org chem/physics classes that I would have had to take a semester (or three) into my undergrad degree. It isn't easy, but it surely isn't any more difficult than the amount of effort put into certain undergrad courses.

If you think it's for you, seriously look into it. You will not be skipping over anything, you won't be cheating the system (which may be the opinion of some people reading your question). You will be leaving friends and family behind for a large chunk of time, and moving into a new culture. You are young and while some people travel first, this could be a way to accomplish both in one shot.

Think it over and talk it over with your family. As someone who has gone the long route and then come over to Australia and is experiencing the undergrad life here... it is probably more fun and relaxed (at Murdoch anyhow) than mine was in the states... at 3 different colleges. Afterall it's not many schools where you call professors by their first name, they hang out with you after class, and will have a drink with the students, etc.

 

[VAgirl]

American high school at least does NOT prepare you for the vigors of vet school straight out.

I know I went to a very different kind of high school and that it was the exception to the rule, but I have to respond to this statement anyway. My high school prepared me brilliantly for everything academically (college and beyond, I feel). It was a truly exceptional academic experience, much more so than my undergrad OR grad school experiences. Of course, we weren't so ready for the real world (no common sense, many of the students) but we had the book learning, time management, study techniques, etc. down pat. (Sorry, kind of off topic, I know, but not ALL American high schools are poor. Some are good, some are great, and some are exceptional. Just wanted to put that out there.)

I think it really helps to be a little older and have a little more perspective on stuff. Not to mention how many people change their minds when they are 18-22 years old.

I totally agree with this. Some people even change their minds after 22. 😉

 

[Electrophile]

That's true...some of my AP classes in high school were more challenging and more interesting than their counterparts in undergrad. Mostly in a good way. I had two very decent high schools and was lucky that my second high school that I graduated from had so many AP classes. But especially if you're coming out of a rural or inner city area where you're lucky if you get any honors classes let alone AP classes, that will be a harder transition. I knew quite a few people who were valedictorians of their small high school classes who really struggled at first since they usually had no AP or community college options like the kids from urban or suburban areas like myself.

 

[ratbandit]

Regardless of whether vet school straight out of high school is good/bad or whatever doesn't really matter unless you've completed the pre-req's for the international schools. Most of the pre-req's will take at least a year or two to complete just because of scheduling (can't take orgchemII concurrently with orgI and gen chem at the same time etc.). From my understanding high school in other countries is much more difficult than the US and that's why they can jump right in. Anyways, I guess my point is all of these arguments are moot unless you've already got the pre-reqs completed.

 

[freyamaxine]

Anyways, I guess my point is all of these arguments are moot unless you've already got the pre-reqs completed.

I don't think Sydney uni has an pre-req's. The only pre-reqs that I know of are doing the basic sciences in year 12, ie Physics or Maths, Chem and maybe Bio and maybe English?

Essentially the same pre-reqs that you would have to have if you were going to do a degree in Science.

 

[Kara31191]

I know I went to a very different kind of high school and that it was the exception to the rule, but I have to respond to this statement anyway. My high school prepared me brilliantly for everything academically (college and beyond, I feel). It was a truly exceptional academic experience, much more so than my undergrad OR grad school experiences. Of course, we weren't so ready for the real world (no common sense, many of the students) but we had the book learning, time management, study techniques, etc. down pat. (Sorry, kind of off topic, I know, but not ALL American high schools are poor. Some are good, some are great, and some are exceptional. Just wanted to put that out there.)



I totally agree with this. Some people even change their minds after 22. 😉

Our town is literally the third most desired town to live in on the east coast. It's also the snobbiest town in MA and the school system is very academic and very rigorous. The teachers say that they'd compare it to college. We have kids who were in AP classes elsewhere and come to our school and fail at level one and two.

AP/honors- Level 0
Advanced college prep- Level 1
College Prep- Level 2
Not college bound- Level 3

I'm pretty much fluent in Spanish, and I'm continuing my education in music.

Ready for vet school? To leave home and run off to another country? Probably not. It's just an option I'd like to consider.

 

[banditalfi]

I know I went to a very different kind of high school and that it was the exception to the rule, but I have to respond to this statement anyway. My high school prepared me brilliantly for everything academically (college and beyond, I feel). It was a truly exceptional academic experience, much more so than my undergrad OR grad school experiences. Of course, we weren't so ready for the real world (no common sense, many of the students) but we had the book learning, time management, study techniques, etc. down pat. (Sorry, kind of off topic, I know, but not ALL American high schools are poor. Some are good, some are great, and some are exceptional. Just wanted to put that out there.)

Agreed. My high school was VERY competitive and our teachers really pushed us to the limit. The courses I've taken as an undergrad are certainly harder than what I had in high school, but the workload is practically nothing when you compare the two. That being said, I went to what has been called the top public school in the country and is the exception to the rule, especially when I consider the educations my brother and sister received at their high schools (not that they were bad, they were just completely different).

 

[Whirr]

Can a vet education happen right away or soon after high school? Seems the answer here is yes, depending.

Should it?

This is such an individual decision. For me, personally, the answer is no. But I've never been sure exactly what I want as far as a career goes, and even now I'm not 100% sure (not that most of us ever really are, in the dark moments), after almost two B.A. degrees and a healthy dose of other classes in other areas, not to mention a year between the first degree (German) and now, as I finish the second degree (chemistry).

I remember being a senior in high school applying to colleges, and the high school I went to was a private college preparatory school that was academically rigorous and prepared me very well for further studies, so there were many good students and high college expectations. The thing I was struck by was the early decision process and how problematic that was for someone like me; I felt that I grew up a lot and changed a lot even in those 4-6 months between sending in applications and making a final choice of schools. As a result, I decided not to apply early decision (which is binding), and this may very well have prevented me from getting into the most competitive school I applied to (the only one I didn't get into). Would I have gone there anyway? As it happens, probably not, but the point was, I wasn't ready to make the decision and rushing it even five months early at that point in my life would have been bad for me.

I'm not saying that it would be bad for you to go straight into vet school, but I made a conscious decision to stay all four years at my undergraduate institution (it doesn't have to be expensive to be good), even though I came in with about a year's worth of credits. This allowed me research opportunities, chances to make solid connections with faculty and the community, and a chance to just appreciate where I was and to grow into myself. I always get irritated at people who say that "college is the best time of your life" or "the easiest time you'll ever have; wait 'till you hit the REAL world" because as a dual major with chemistry as one of the subjects, not to mention work/tutoring/research, I was working ALL the time. The real world actually seems easier to me so far. But I miss those four years all the same; I had a community of friends, I loved living in the town the school was in, and the college was a gem with wonderful faculty who I consider friends and miss every day. I am a much better person for the experience.

If I were in your shoes right now, I'd try to slow down, and enjoy what you have. You have so much time and you are in a great place. There's no reason to fret! 👍

 

[Hollycozza]

You can come to Sydney straight from an international high school but not many people seem to do it. Its a five year course.

Australian schools...

I don't know much about Sydney or Melbourne except that I am pretty sure Melbourne is set up to accept students from the US who have an undergrad degree already--I could be very wrong on that though

Murdoch this year implemented it such that their Vet program is 6 years now. They are making it so their incoming students have a year of undergrad work which includes statistics, Cell bio, and General Chemistry. These courses can be taken at Murdoch as well of course.

I'm in the 2nd year of the 5 year program currently and having a good time with it so far. Most of your classmates would indeed, be at your age level so as long as you can buckle down when you need to, you would not miss out on the traditional 'college' experience.

I found the transition from Gainesville, FL to Perth to be very easy (albeit expensive to get set up). If you went this route, chances are it would be not only shorter, but also cheaper in the long run.

Bubbles (here and on vetstudents.net) is from the Massachusettes (by way of Rochester) so she may be able to give you some insight from a fellow northerner 😉

btw.. vetstudents.net is getting upgraded so if you stop by there and the site is down, keep checking back. The owner of the site is trying to make it quite a large network for us vet students studying abroad.

 

[Mylez]

Had I known that I could go to vet school straight out of high school I would have done it, hands down. Sure I gained a lot from undergrad, but I always knew that I wanted to be a vet. Saving myself the time and money would have been immensely worthwhile, but I didn't know it was an option. I have traveled out of the country before (and lived abroad for a summer with a host family during High School) so I don't think the culture shock would have gotten me all that much; especially considering since then I've been to South Africa (and headed there again this summer).

It's all individual. But I think you get just as much (for a bit less time) going overseas than you do in the U.S. A lot of the first year of vet school is re-hashing classes I've already taken, but because they need to make sure everyone is on the same playing field they HAVE to teach them. Yay for re-learning phys, immuno, and others(!) NOT!

I wish I had known earlier, but I'm stuck with what I've got. If you felt that you could do it, I would go and not look back. (Provided you're sure vet med is what you want to do).