Need a little help from above.

[Equestriandynam]

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Hi, i am new the the forum 😀

Right now i am enrolled in college to get a bachelors in Pre-vet medicine.
How does this differ from a 2 year degree in Vet tech?
From both the educational standpoint and the potential employer standpoint?

If i get this bachelors in pre-vet (from what i understand) and choose not to pursue further into vet school, where does that put me as far as qualification for jobs in the vet field?

Is the Pre-vet degree more 'powerful' than a vet tech degree?


Thanks in advance for your responses!

 

[Starwrecker]

Well, A) it's a two year degree vs. a four year degree.

In my opinion the four year degree would make you a little more well rounded and probably expose you to a few more things than you'd get in a vet tech program. With the vet tech program you might get more hands on practical experience, but you might miss some of the random classes/electives you'd get to take in the four year program.

Personally I'd choose the four year over the two year. It gives you that option of vet school, but even if you decide that's not for you, you've always got the knowledge and experiences that can't be taken away from you. I can't say as far as your schools, but where I'm at, had I chosen to go vet tech instead of vet school, a TON of my pre-vet classes would have transferred and very much expedited my progress through the vet tech program (i.e. I could have been finished in 6 mos to a year instead of 2 years.)

As far as the employer standpoint...it really depends what you want to go into after school.

Just my two cents. 🙂

 

[Equestriandynam]

Thank you starwrecker!
four years is a long time but i suppose it will be worth it in the end.
I just wasnt sure what would benefit me more... trying to get the best bang for my buck you know.

 

[StealthDog]

The difference would be if you want to be a vet tech or go on to be a veterinarian. A bachelor's degree will not earn you a vet tech degree- you'd still need to complete a tech program. Likewise, if you went to a two-year vet tech school, you'd still need to get a bachelor's degree (or at the very least complete all the prerequisite courses) to apply to vet school.

There are four year programs that combine a vet tech degree with a bachelor's degree (I have a few classmates who went that route).

Keep in mind that after your four year pre-vet bachelor's degree program, there are still four years of vet school to go to be a vet!

 

[Equestriandynam]

The difference would be if you want to be a vet tech or go on to be a veterinarian. A bachelor's degree will not earn you a vet tech degree- you'd still need to complete a tech program. Likewise, if you went to a two-year vet tech school, you'd still need to get a bachelor's degree (or at the very least complete all the prerequisite courses) to apply to vet school.

There are four year programs that combine a vet tech degree with a bachelor's degree (I have a few classmates who went that route).

Keep in mind that after your four year pre-vet bachelor's degree program, there are still four years of vet school to go to be a vet!

so all in all what does a bachelors in pre-vet qualify and teach you to do?

of course i have just started school and just being in college is good for me because i can still change my major and even come out to get a bachelors in biochem or some crazy thing like that...
The question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" has never seemed so hard to answer.

 

[ylrebmik]

A bachelor's degree (with the nessisary prereqs) qualifies you for vet school.

It teaches you... well it depends what you're studying I guess but it gives you a good preparation for the classes you will have to take in vet.

It doesn't really matter what you're major is. There is a huge variety of majors from people on here who have gotten into vet school... especially the non-trads. Biochem is a major that i know at least a few people have...at long as you get the prereqs in the major.

 

[nyanko]

so all in all what does a bachelors in pre-vet qualify and teach you to do?

of course i have just started school and just being in college is good for me because i can still change my major and even come out to get a bachelors in biochem or some crazy thing like that...
The question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" has never seemed so hard to answer.

You should not get a bachelors in "pre-vet." You should get a bachelors in whatever you want while still satisfying the requirements for vet school. If you like the life sciences (and you should at least somewhat like them if you're going to go to vet school!), major in Biology or Microbiology or Molecular Biology or whatever you enjoy more. If you want to get a completely different type of degree in undergrad for a backup career or just to broaden your horizons or study something else you're interested in, then major in whatever you want and just take the pre-requisites for the vet schools you're interested in alongside that degree.

 

[wi girl]

so all in all what does a bachelors in pre-vet qualify and teach you to do?

It would qualify you to apply to vet school. You would not be certified in any field, so your title (at least in WI) were you to work at a clinic would be something along the lines of "veterinary assistant".

Just reiterating and clarifying what those before have said. 😀

 

[Hobiecat1642]

I agree, you don't have to do the official "pre-vet" major. Study whatever you want, as long as you take the classes that you need as pre-reqs for vet school. I'm obviously not an adcom or anything, but I don't think that the pre-vet major gives you a leg up. However, others may disagree. During this time, do well in whatever classes you take, and try to get some hands on experience in the clinic--that will help you make this decision. Good luck!

 

[SweeTeaPie]

Yeah, what I'm going to say will basically fall in line with everything that everyone else has told you. A "Pre-Vet" major is really nothing more than a B.S. with the necessary pre-reqs to qualify you to apply to vet school. I emphasise "apply" because just having the pre-requisites does not automatically guarantee that you'll be accepted somewhere.

If you decide not to go to vet school, it does NOT mean that you'll necessarily be able to get a job at a veterinary clinic, either. You'll probably be able to get the same entry level type position that a Biology or Pre-Med major might be able to get. i.e., research technician, etc. I think most states require Vet Techs to have specific certifications. So you probably wouldn't be able to become a vet tech with a pre-vet degree.