No Animal Science Background...Get A Master's?

[SeaWorldVet]

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Delete b/c my questions were answered and there's no need for my personal info/stats anymore.

 

[pressmom]

I'd look at how they do their GPA calculations. Some count in graduate and undergraduate classes together into one GPA and some (like UTK where I go) count undergrad more. Most vet schools have how they calculate GPA on their website, but if they don't, call them and ask for advice.

 

[SeaWorldVet]

Delete.

 

[stick91]

Definitely look into how GPAs are calculated by the school you are interested in. It will also depend on whether you plan on re-taking classes you did poorly in or if you are going to take new classes. I don't think it really matters that you don't have any "animal science" background, unless of course the vet school requires you do. I got a B.A. in biology and the closest thing I did to animal science was vertebrate anatomy. However, I am going to be taking animal nutrition online to fulfill a requirement for some of the places I applied.
I wouldn't do a masters just because you think you should, if you don't enjoy it then it will be torturous and thus probably harder to do well. So, it could be better to take some classes that you enjoy or feel like you missed out on in undergrad. If you've got lots of vet experience hours, ECs, good LORs and GRE scores and are dedicated to improving your GPA then I bet you'll have a fighting chance! Good Luck!

 

[SeaWorldVet]

Thanks! 😀

 

[twelvetigers]

Animal science isn't the end-all-be-all major for pre-vets... I'm a zoology major. There are lots of options out there that would include a lot of the pre-reqs in the courseload. So, just make sure you consider more than just ansci.

 

[LucyLoo]

Animal science isn't the end-all-be-all major for pre-vets... I'm a zoology major. There are lots of options out there that would include a lot of the pre-reqs in the courseload. So, just make sure you consider more than just ansci.

Microbiology all the way!!😀

 

[aspiringDVM]

I was concerned about animal science as well (bio major, chem and spanish minors) and asked several schools whether I should try to take animal science courses at the nearest big ag school. All told me that , beyond their prerequisites, they actually prefer solid, traditional science courses (ie micro, vertebrate anatomy, histology) over animal science.

 

[Kylana]

Animal science isn't the end-all-be-all major for pre-vets... I'm a zoology major. There are lots of options out there that would include a lot of the pre-reqs in the courseload. So, just make sure you consider more than just ansci.

I totally agree! I was an animal science major because I thought that was what pre-vet students were supposed to major in. But then I decided to switch to Nutritional Science because I love food and the classes are so awesome! How many classes have you taken where you are served such things as freeze dried ice cream and fat free chips in class!? Ok I found the freeze dried ice cream disgusting, but interesting nonetheless!

But if your GPA is not too far under 3.5, why don't you just apply to some schools anyhow that seem to be a little more lenient with lower GPAs? I imagine a good chunk of people get in with a GPA less than 3.5, and if the rest of your application is awesome, then you probably have a decent chance!

 

[pupsforseeing]

As everyone else as said, don't get too worked up by the animal science thing. I was a molecular biology major at a small school with no animal science classes and got accepted on my first try. It seems schools are more interested in the core science classes (physics, chem, bio).

 

[SeaWorldVet]

Did you guys get accepted to schools w/o Animal Science classes even though it was a pre-req to get in? Did they just substitute that with another class?

I want to go to UF and it requires a 2nd semester of Animal Biology or Zoology (I only took one semester of Zoology), Animal Science and Animal Nutrition. All of which I haven't taken...

 

[david594]

Did you guys get accepted to schools w/o Animal Science classes even though it was a pre-req to get in? Did they just substitute that with another class?

I want to go to UF and it requires a 2nd semester of Animal Biology or Zoology (I only took one semester of Zoology), Animal Science and Animal Nutrition. All of which I haven't taken...

Every vet school in the US requires 2 semesters of general biology. So you are going to need to find another one for that requirement.

University of Florida is actually pretty cool, because they will accept you and allow you to complete the Animal Science and Nutrition requirements the summer directly before you enter. They also provide a list of online courses offered elsewhere that satisfy those 2 requirements.

 

[VeganChick]

I was an International Relations major undergraduate and got my Masters in Hospitality Administration where I took wine tasting classes! Of course, I had to start from ground zero on prereqs, but how many vets do you know who can fix your pet and cater your dinner?

 

[LucyLoo]

Did you guys get accepted to schools w/o Animal Science classes even though it was a pre-req to get in? Did they just substitute that with another class?

I want to go to UF and it requires a 2nd semester of Animal Biology or Zoology (I only took one semester of Zoology), Animal Science and Animal Nutrition. All of which I haven't taken...

The schools are pretty strict about you fulfilling the required prereqs as listed, but Animal Biology is usually fulfilled by one of the semesters of the full year sequence of General Biology.

I haven't taken a bit of animal science for my current degree, but there are many schools that don't require it. I had no problem having enough schools to apply to this year, you just have to be willing to relocate.

 

[ylrebmik]

If you have a major in bio, I'm guessing you already have a ton of requirements down... and depending on the school there really aren't THAT many "animal bio" courses outside the realm of reg. courses... course some have comp. animal phys and stuff but physics and chem are just as important.

haha my major in college will be English (emp. on creative writing) with a minor in humanistic studies. Since it will be fairly easy to meet the criteria of my major, I might squeeze in bio too: for a lot of the internships I wanna do, I need a science type major :/

But look at the colleges and their prereqs... When are you going to graduate?

 

[SeaWorldVet]

I was an International Relations major undergraduate and got my Masters in Hospitality Administration where I took wine tasting classes! Of course, I had to start from ground zero on prereqs, but how many vets do you know who can fix your pet and cater your dinner?

Niiiiiiccccceeeeee.

If you have a major in bio, I'm guessing you already have a ton of requirements down... and depending on the school there really aren't THAT many "animal bio" courses outside the realm of reg. courses... course some have comp. animal phys and stuff but physics and chem are just as important.

haha my major in college will be English (emp. on creative writing) with a minor in humanistic studies. Since it will be fairly easy to meet the criteria of my major, I might squeeze in bio too: for a lot of the internships I wanna do, I need a science type major :/

But look at the colleges and their prereqs... When are you going to graduate?

Oh, I've already graduate w/ my Biology degree. I've actually been out of school for 2 years and I'm making a career change. Previous posters just made it sound like they didn't take animal science classes (to get in) but maybe they applied to a different school. I just assumed all vet schools required Animal Sci classes.

I want to go to UF and they require a couple of Animal Sci classes...only 2 so it's not a big deal. I was just wondering if I should get a masters to make me more competitive or just take the classes I'm missing. Depending on how UF calculates their GPA, I'll probably just take the classes I'm missing...

 

[lyndaelyzoo]

I am also considering applying to the UF vet school. Spoke with admissions last week, but missed the deadline for next year. I have almost completed my MS in Forensic Science from UF and have a BS in zoology. I am not sure how they calculate the GPA for admissions, but need to find out. I will be a nontrad student as I have been teaching for nine years, but have always wanted to go to vet school. I have not taken an Animal Science course, but have taken an animal nutrition class, so I guess that I will need to be looking for an online animal science class that I can take. Apparently some vet schools do not require an animal science course, but I know that UF does. Have you spoken with an admissions advisor?

 

[SeaWorldVet]

I am also considering applying to the UF vet school. Spoke with admissions last week, but missed the deadline for next year. I have almost completed my MS in Forensic Science from UF and have a BS in zoology. I am not sure how they calculate the GPA for admissions, but need to find out. I will be a nontrad student as I have been teaching for nine years, but have always wanted to go to vet school. I have not taken an Animal Science course, but have taken an animal nutrition class, so I guess that I will need to be looking for an online animal science class that I can take. Apparently some vet schools do not require an animal science course, but I know that UF does. Have you spoken with an admissions adviser?

No, I haven't spoken w/ an admissions advisor at UF; I need to call them this week. I'm teaching also (well, substituting, and I just started) but I'm ready to start vet school asap. I just found out that I missed the app deadline for Fall 09 too. That's ok though, I still have pre-reqs to take and I'll probably move to FL to gain residency seeing as they give preference to FL residents. I know you got your B.S. from UF but are you a FL resident?

 

[lyndaelyzoo]

That's a good idea to establish residency first because it seems that out of state tuition is twice that of in-state!!!! I actually received my BS from UGA, but am from Florida originally. After getting my undergrad, I moved back to Florida and have been teaching ever since. I then started on my MS a couple of years ago and hope to be graduating this semester. I am wondering why you are considering the UF vet school over UC Davis? I am looking into the Animal Science course at Oklahoma State University online, so I think that I may register for the course in the spring semester. I really have to talk to UF about their interpretation of the GPA and see if they just combine the undergrad and grad courses. Then, I think that I have to retake the GRE!!!😱

 

[SeaWorldVet]

That's a good idea to establish residency first because it seems that out of state tuition is twice that of in-state!!!! I actually received my BS from UGA, but am from Florida originally. After getting my undergrad, I moved back to Florida and have been teaching ever since. I then started on my MS a couple of years ago and hope to be graduating this semester. I am wondering why you are considering the UF vet school over UC Davis? I am looking into the Animal Science course at Oklahoma State University online, so I think that I may register for the course in the spring semester. I really have to talk to UF about their interpretation of the GPA and see if they just combine the undergrad and grad courses. Then, I think that I have to retake the GRE!!!😱

I want to go to UF b/c I want to be a marine mammal vet and it seems like FL has an established aquatic medicine program. UC Davis is a good program but their focus is on large animals and stuff like that...and, I'm no longer a CA resident.

 

[lyndaelyzoo]

That's interesting. I spent my summer in CA and loved it so much that I applied for CA teaching certification, but now that I am really interested in attempting vet school, might not want to move out to CA just yet!! The UC Davis vet school is much more expensive than UF, even if you are a resident.

 

[SeaWorldVet]

That's interesting. I spent my summer in CA and loved it so much that I applied for CA teaching certification, but now that I am really interested in attempting vet school, might not want to move out to CA just yet!! The UC Davis vet school is much more expensive than UF, even if you are a resident.

Yeah, CA is awesome. I was born and raised in CA but UF is calling my name. Besides, FL has beaches so I'm ok w/ that. 😀

 

[twelvetigers]

I'm a zool major but I took both Intro to Ansci and Animal Nutrition. Neither were required for my major, but they are requirements for vet school. I just meant that you didn't need to choose to get a bachelor's (or master's) in ansci because there are plenty of other options. Just consider them all first.

On a side note, you probably won't have many euthanasias as a marine vet... that's a plus I suppose!