Masters Programs

[TaSaHa]

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I don't think I'm ready to apply to vet school yet so I'm thinking about doing a masters in the mean time ( while i rack up animal/vet experience). What is a Masters program that would look good to vet schools? I was thinking animal sciences but since that masters is under agriculture i'm unsure if it would look good to vet schools. Any advise??? please=]

 

[VAgirl]

My advice is to not do a masters unless it's something that you'd want to do even if you didn't go to vet school, in a subject area that you'd like to work in regardless of vet school. It's a lot of money and effort, even just the 1 year course work based masters programs, unless you really want to do it. Mine, which I think was a good choice for me, set me back about $30K. I'd do it again, but only because I think it met the criteria I mentioned above.

Good luck.

 

[nyanko]

I second VAgirl's post, for the most part. If you are considering something like Animal Science for a MS, just know that it is very hard work and not really something you should do to fill some time between getting a BS and going to vet school.

The one exception I could possibly see is the special Masters programs that are specifically aimed towards making a person more competitive for entry to med/vet school. Not that those are any easier (the coursework is abundant and challenging, from what I've heard!), but they are somewhat rare and really only necessary if you specifically have some big question marks on your academic record concerning your ability to handle a full time professional science-based course load. But a regular MS in Animal Science? You probably only want to do that if there is some area that you are very interested in doing research in and would want to use towards an alternate career path.

 

[jglovicz]

I don't think I'm ready to apply to vet school yet so I'm thinking about doing a masters in the mean time ( while i rack up animal/vet experience). What is a Masters program that would look good to vet schools? I was thinking animal sciences but since that masters is under agriculture i'm unsure if it would look good to vet schools. Any advise??? please=]

Personally, I think getting an MS is a great way to improve your application. It's a good way to show that you can handle harder classes. If you have lab experience (or if there is a PI that is willing to take you on without any), you can show an appreciation for the application of science (something you need to do if you go to vet/med school), and you may be able to get your name on a publication. I was able to get funding (through TAships) for 2 years...I didn't lose any money and I got a stipend. Many friends at different universities have had the same deal. I cannot speak for course-based MS programs--You will have to do research on different programs to see what kind of funding will be available to you (many hard science-based programs do a good job at funding students).

That said, I never would have had time to "gain more vet experience" during my program...however I know many MS students who don't put as much time/effort into their projects as others. I did gain more animal experience, but it was a part of my project. I will second the above recommendations that you heart really does need to be in it. Good luck

 

[JosephKnechtDVM]

If you have any interests in non clinical careers in the sciences, getting a masters in a new program called the Professional Science Masters is better than veterinary school because it is more in depth and developed with industry. Go to www.sciencemasters.com and it will explain further.

Veterinary schools are not the best place to train for jobs in industry to any degree. At a presentation on alternative and non-practice jobs at the AVMA convention in Seattle, the net consensus is these jobs are almost impossible to get if you do not have specific training that that industry needs and probably considers more important than the DVM. Almost everyone that was employed by industry had additional degrees at the masters level. Industry wants specialized knowledge that the DVM can no longer supply in order to be competitive. This point was brought up in the KPMG MegaStudy of 1999 done for the AVMA, but veterinary schools largely have ignored to tell students the truth. Being more of a science nerd myself I would have preferred a similar master's degree myself instead of gettting the "one size fits all" DVM which is outdated.

Joseph Knecht DVM