Major

[lissette10]

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AHHH!!!
Ok so the counselor I spoke to yesterday told me that I need to major in Chemistry. This the 3rd counselor I have spoken to and the 3rd different major I have been advised to do. First Animal Sciences then Biology and now Chemistry! So what gives? Which one do I need?!?!? I want to go to Davis so people there PLEASE PLEASE help!!!

I'm about ready to rip my hair out!!! Would Biological Sciences work?

Thanks in advance and sorry if this question has already been asked.

 

[nyanko]

Major in whatever you want, and whatever will give you the best chance to excel as an undergraduate.

Majors like Animal Science, Biology, and Chemistry have the prerequisites built in, and you can take more courses in stuff related to vet school if that's really your interest as an undergrad. However, it's perfectly okay to major in something completely different and just take the prereqs alongside of it, if you have another interest that you want to pursue.

 

[zpinkpanther]

Don't let anyone tell you what you need to major in. That is crap (I hope I'm allowed to say that 😀). I know that I say this every time someone asks a question like this, but it bears repeating:undergrad is for taking classes that you enjoy and will do well in. As long as you get the prereq's done (and do well), you'll be fine! Seriously, enjoy taking whatever classes you want while you can, because once you get to vet school, you don't really have many, if any, choices. Good luck! 🙂

 

[LVT2DVM]

Ditto to the the previous posts. Most vet admissions will tell you to major in a subject that will give you a "back-up" plan in case you do not get accepted.
So major in something that you really enjoy. If we all were bio, animal science, and chemistry majors, vet school and subsequently veterinary medicine would be a dull, unimaginative place. It can be frustrating when counselors try and give advice without experience or research. Best bet is to go right to the source. If you have a graduate school in mind, contact their counselors and try to get the information you need.

I will throw this out there, though for whats its worth. Adcoms seem to like students with course histories "heavy" in sciences. Completing only the required pre-reqs may qualify you for application, but wont necessarily make you the most competitive applicant. As others have said, a science major MAY give you an opportunity to take more science-related courses, depending on your majors requirements.

 

[ylrebmik]

AHHH!!!
Ok so the counselor I spoke to yesterday told me that I need to major in Chemistry. This the 3rd counselor I have spoken to and the 3rd different major I have been advised to do. First Animal Sciences then Biology and now Chemistry! So what gives? Which one do I need?!?!? I want to go to Davis so people there PLEASE PLEASE help!!!

I'm about ready to rip my hair out!!! Would Biological Sciences work?

Thanks in advance and sorry if this question has already been asked.

There is no "major" required for admission... just pre-reqs. Look at davis's pre-reqs and make sure you get those done. Otherwise... do what you want! I plan on double majoring... Biology (Or biochem) and History major 🙂 I don't really take advice about my career or anything like that with my councellor because he has no idea what he is talking about... I come to SDN when I have a question. haha 🙂

 

[Nexx]

Yeah.. the key is, as said to major in something that you -excel- at... something that you find easy essentially. I personally would shoot myself before majoring in chem.

Also, don't remember if it is the avma website or the VMCAS book that shows the listing of majors people were accepted to the various schools with (or if I'm just imagining that existed all together). Because depending on the school, some of them like to see that you took a random major (Criminology, Business, Underwater Basket weaving with a minor in underwater lego building, etc) but still were able to do well, and are interested in vet med. The random major helps with that 'diversity' thing they like to see in their applicants. *shrug*

Okay.. enough procrastinating studying for my exam.. back to physio

 

[lailanni]

Ditto. Major in anything you want as long as you get the pre-reqs done. Since you're going to take all the bio and chemistry anyways for the pre-reqs, some people just go for the bio/chem type of degree. But it does not matter at all.

I got in with a major in Environmental Science. I know vet students who got theirs in communications/marketing, wildlife, math, sociology, agriculture, psychology, biochem, etc. Doesn't matter.

And as I side note, I'd stay away from that "counselor". Sounds like a load of bull. Unfortunately, there don't seem to be many good pre-vet counselors.

 

[lissette10]

THANKS THANKS THANKS!!!😀
Good to hear that I'm not going crazy trying to understand what all these counselors are trying to tell me. They are just ummm........ clueless.

I really don't like chemistry. I can't imagine majoring in it. UGH!

With everything you have all said I think I might go back to my original major (Arch engr.) and just take the pre-reqs for vet school on the side. That way if I don't get into vet school I can actually get a good job when I finish my 4 yr.Maybe minor in bio or animal science.

 

[david594]

With everything you have all said I think I might go back to my original major (Arch engr.) and just take the pre-reqs for vet school on the side. That way if I don't get into vet school I can actually get a good job when I finish my 4 yr.Maybe minor in bio or animal science.

Make sure that the Arch.E Degree from your school is a 4 year and not a 5 year program....

And I am going to say the same thing I have said before. To complete just the core pre-reqs(bio, chem, orgo, and physics series, biochem, micro, genetics, and cell+molec) you are talking about 48 credits worth of class work. You need to ask yourself how doable it would be for you to fit in 48 specific credits on top of the requirements for your unrelated major. To do it there is a good chance you would have to overload credits during a few semesters. And that doesn't even take into account some of the more obscure requirements like animal science classes, nutrition, public speaking, etc.

So you can be a history major and try and fit those 48 core credits into the (approximate) 32 credit hours of planned free electives you might have.

As compared to a bio/animal science major who is going to have those as the core classes for degree and then have their 32 credits to do whatever they want with. No need to every overload classes.

Just don't underestimate the sheer quantity of pre-reqs that there are. An Animal science major with a history minor would be much more doable than a history major with an animal science minor if your plan is to graduate with all the coursework necessary to apply to vet school.

 

[BrumleyVet]

Was this your undergrad counselor? I have NEVER had a good experience with one! Contact Davis and ask them directly - you can never go wrong there. Personally I've heard that as long as you've gotten their pre-req's done, it doesn't matter if you majored in cloud watching!

 

[lissette10]

Was this your undergrad counselor? I have NEVER had a good experience with one! Contact Davis and ask them directly - you can never go wrong there. Personally I've heard that as long as you've gotten their pre-req's done, it doesn't matter if you majored in cloud watching!

Yes
They have all the pre-reqs listed on their website and the common majors students take. But everytime I go see a counselor for this or that they try to tell me "exactly" what I need to do do.

My 1st year I was an arch engr. major so I have some units already done in that. Some of the requirments for arch. engr. are the same as for davis so hopefully that will help some. Not sure yet if arch engr. is what I am going to do but its good to hear that I have options outside of chemistry!!!

 

[ri23]

A lot of people seem to be focusing on what will help you get in, as opposed to what will help you WHEN you get in. Really no major is going to make or break you in regards to admissions, but it is important to consider what will prepare you best for vet school. There is definitely something to be said for taking strong sciences such as Immunology, Comparative Anatomy, Developmental Biology etc. as these classes/concepts will be repeated in vet school. It is always helpful to hear things a few times.

In my opinion, if you know that you want to go to vet school it makes sense to major in a science field. Whether that be micro, bio, animal sciences, chemistry etc. While it is certainly doable to go from a non-science major to vet school - if you know you want to go to vet school it just doesn't make too much sense to do something terribly different. I would assume that anyone wanting to go to vet school would enjoy and feel that they could do well with some sort of science major. There is always time to take electives in other things that you enjoy.

 

[meadow36]

Stick with the "arch engr" (whatever that is). 😉 I think if you have something a little different but still science oriented that it could be an advantage. So many apps have Biology or Biochem or Animal Science as majors. Dare to be different - you will stand out when you apply!

 

[twelvetigers]

Isn't architectural engineering a bit of a tough major? Don't overwhelm yourself. I'm sure it will involve some tough math/mechanics classes, right? Consider taking those along with organic chemistry, genetics, etc. and make sure it won't be too much for you to handle (while retaining your sanity).

If you think you can do it in a reasonable amount of time though, go for it!

P.S. I'm a Zoology major - WAY better than chemistry on ansci. IMO. 😉

 

[lissette10]

I really don't know what I am going to do yet. It would be nice to be able to work right after I finish in degree in case I don't get into vet school right away. Due to family health issuses I might not even be able to go to vet school right away. I might need to take care of a family member and go to school later. WAY to much to think about all at the same time and too many variables can change my situation by the time vet school comes around.
Anyways I think I'm getting alittle ahead of myself. How about I get into the university(4yr) first!
Thanks again for everyone's advice!!!