Nutrition Course?

[Angelonyxcat]

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Hi! Thanks everyone for the earlier encouragement about ochem and grades! I have a quick question. I just received my VMSAR book, and I noticed several schools require an animal nutrition class, but accept web based or correspondance courses. My school doesn't have an animal nutrition course, only human.

Has anyone had this issue before? I would really love to be able to further open up my options for schools, since I want to apply nearly everywhere I would have a chance. 🙂 Where can one take a web or correspondance course on animal nutrition?

 

[sumstorm]

There are several, incuding oklahoma and purdue and oregon (only offered in the summer, I think.) I am currently taking rutgers, which is ok, but a bit pricey.

 

[Angelonyxcat]

Here's another random question. So, when they say that the courses must be taken within 6 years from the desired enrollment date, does that mean that technically, if you took something your freshman year, you only have 2 years after you graduate to be accepted at that school?

 

[sumstorm]

As I understand it. Might want to contact those schools to be certain that they won't accept an upper level at a later date. IE if you took introduction to microbiology as a freshman, then medical microbiology 420 as a senior, if it would 'cover' the expiration, but that is a big variable dependent on each school.

 

[JulieB361]

I'm taking the online animal nutrition from Purdue right now. It might not be what you want, but it's really not that bad. The professor in charge of it is helpful and the information is clear. I had to take it because there were no schools near me that offered it.

 

[david594]

Has anyone had this issue before? I would really love to be able to further open up my options for schools, since I want to apply nearly everywhere I would have a chance. 🙂 Where can one take a web or correspondance course on animal nutrition?

Something to keep in mind is that Michigan and Florida(dont know about the others) give you up until the time you matriculate in the fall to complete some outstanding pre-reqs. So for either of these two schools you could wait until you are accepted before you go spending money on an online nutrition course.

 

[Angelonyxcat]

Oh really, that's very helpful! I wonder how much those courses cost, blah! It would open up options though.

Wait, unless the course is a summer course, wouldn't you have to blindly spend the money anyways, since most schools don't let you know till Feb, Marchish if you are accepted?

 

[david594]

Oh really, that's very helpful! I wonder how much those courses cost, blah! It would open up options though.

Wait, unless the course is a summer course, wouldn't you have to blindly spend the money anyways, since most schools don't let you know till Feb, Marchish if you are accepted?

I want to say the Oklahoma course is around $700 and both michigan and florida say its acceptable. And with that course you can start it at any time, so you can wait until after you hear from schools.

 

[sumstorm]

I think you could do Purdue still...not sure about OSU....the big problem there is that the nutrition course fills up at OSU. Just so you know, NCSU wants it done by end of spring before you enter...so no summer option for them. Also, from my perspective, it would suck to have to take this after I knew I was in. I would have a real case of slacker going on as I prepared to go to school.

 

[Angelonyxcat]

I still have about a year until I would find out if I was accepted (applying this cycle). Are there only two schools that would accept the online course? I noticed there are so many that want nutrition, argh! A school nearer to me has it, but they are extremely expensive.

 

[sumstorm]

I know NCSU accepts the online/distance ones (they even suggest them)

 

[Angelonyxcat]

Ah, I just checked, the earliest course that most colleges flag with a time limit that I took was spring of 08. Clearly, if I'm not in by 6 years after that, I won't be getting in, if I try every year.

 

[sumstorm]

Well, not quite true. you would just have to retake those courses. and not all schools have time limits on courses.

 

[Angelonyxcat]

*suddenly realizes that I hadn't phrased things quite right* I think I mainly meant that I would have nearly given up by then, NOT that someone couldn't ever get into vet school if they had waited a bit. Ah, poor wording on my part.

Eh, I could end up in the same boat, though, I hope not.

 

[sumstorm]

yep...keep talking. I took my over half my prereqs in 1998-00, with only biochem, genetics, 2 business courses and nutrition this past year.

So..... I am glad yours will be considerably fresher.

 

[Angelonyxcat]

I can't imagine have to take ochem over again. 🙁 Have you gotten into a school? That's great that you have the determination to go back and take courses, not sure if I would have the willpower to do some of it all over again.

 

[sumstorm]

I haven't...but I am still waiting to hear from Penn and NCSU. I am trying to avoid retaking anything. If I don't get in, I am trying to figure out what my next step is. I might go for applying to more schools next year (any that don't expire grades), taking a masters, or takinga year of repeat sciences stacked together. not sure.

 

[Angelonyxcat]

Now, I'm assuming that even if one went to get a master's, and those classes had expired, they would still have to retake them? Lucky for me, Ohio state allows 10 years, and that's where I'd really like to go. Though, I think I would go to nearly any old school if they accepted me, heh. Really, retaking ochem would be like, a horrible nightmare.

I hope you get in. 🙂

 

[twelvetigers]

I'm taking ochem over again! Woo. Heh.

OKSU will accept it's own nutrition course, obviously. I think most schools that require nutrition will... pretty sure Florida does, too. Florida also accepts OKSU's Intro to Ansci course...

 

[Angelonyxcat]

Yeah, that confused me. With those "animal science" requirements, what the heck is equivalent to that? I took a bunch of mammology and herpetology classes, and an intro to animal behavior class...As well as physiology.

 

[sumstorm]

I can't help you with Animal Sci and I don't know if the schools that require it allow substitutions or not.

Welcome to the weird and often arbitrary world of vet school apps!

 

[Angelonyxcat]

I guess I need to just start calling places to ask. Heh, arbitrary, seems like it to me!

 

[sumstorm]

You might want to wait for another month or so....just because they are a bit crazy right now and it might be difficult to get clear answers. My recommendation is to wait till the next book comes out, then call, and make your notes in the book...and if you can manage it at all, get your answers in writing, either snail mail or via email. Also, if you can make it to info sessions, those can give you a good feel for schools.

 

[crittergal]

I just completed Animal Nutrition from Kansas State, titled ASI318 Fundamentals of Nutrition. It was an online, self paced course that cost me just over $1000. While it was pricey, I really enjoyed the format and the ability to blow through the class at my own pace. The instructor was very helpful anytime I had questions. They also offer an online Animal Science course but I can't provide any personal experience with that one.

 

[carolinaowl]

I took nutrition as a distance ed class at NCSU in summer of '07. The course was ANS 225, Priniciples of Animal Nutrition. Almost everything could be done from the comfort of my own home and computer. Quizzes were done online with the honor system that you weren't looking at your notes, and you had a small range of dates to finish them by. Tests had to be done on a specified date, at a proctored center. You have to tell the instructor at the beginning of the semester who your proctor is. I was worried about finding a proctor, but ended up having no problem using my local public library. I thought this proctoring deal was some weird thing, but the librarian said they do it all the time. There are scheduled audio sessions to listen to, but if you can't listen at the time because you are at work or something, you can log in later and listen. The instructors and TAs were very helpful. I paid in-state tuition so it was about $400 for the 3 credit hour class. I even went on vacation twice during the summer. I just made sure to schedule them when I didn't need to be in town for proctored exams. Having internet access at the beach house also helped so I could keep up with the material.

Regarding old classes - I hate this! It is the reason I didn't apply to Auburn or Texas A & M. I can understand the requirement for some subjects that continue to change with new information, or some of the subjects that will feel more relevant to vet school, but for some subjects it just doesn't make sense. I took physics in 1996. I am pretty sure that levers and pulleys and gravity haven't changed since then. I am also positive I am not going to take physics again. I am glad my IS school doesn't have a time restriction.

 

[princesspeaches]

I took "Bio 105: Biology of Human Nutrition" and Michigan State accepted that for their animal nutrition requirement. Maybe email the schools you are applying to and as if your human nutrition course could be substituted? It was way cheaper for me to take it at my university than online.

 

[teatime]

I'm currently taking animal nutrition, now called "comparitive nutrition" (ANS 415) at NCSU online. The fees for the class were pretty high ($800!) but like you, I wanted to open up as many options as possible. The professor is very helpful, exams are not too difficult-although you do have to take the test under the watch of a proctor, and he basically tells you the most important things you need to know for the test. However, I find much of it to be a review of cell biology-in terms of carbohydrate, protein, and fat structure, so I breeze through those lectures quickly to get to the new information. I believe they offer it every semester and during the summer also.

 

[Ben and Me]

I also took ANS 225 through NCSU and would recommend it. It was time-consuming (as in you had to take the time to memorize the simple terms/definitions) but easy. The professor is very available and the course is well-structured. It is much easier than the upper (400-level) course that is mentioned above.

 

[Klhughes]

I believe the University of Kentucky also offers a nutrition correspondence course. When I took it it was through regular mail but that was a few years ago and I have heard that it is now all online. I thought that one was pretty good. Murray State also offers animal science course if you are looking for one of those. These were 2 of the schools that FL recommended taking them through when I was first applying. I believe I have the right course with the right school but they could be reversed... its been awhile and I was doing them during my final semester of undergrad along with a heavy load of regular classes cause my school sucked at scheduling and tried to make everyone stay for 5 years to finish.
I think I spent around $500-700 per class when I took them.

 

[hopenpray]

I'm taking the online animal nutrition from Purdue right now. It might not be what you want, but it's really not that bad. The professor in charge of it is helpful and the information is clear. I had to take it because there were no schools near me that offered it.

Hey, JulieB361,
I am also taking this course. I was wondering have you done the term project, and is it very time consuming? I have this overwhelming fear that I will finish everything on time, but then my transcript will not be completed in time for enrollment in August. The professor is very helpful, but it took a month to have my first test graded. I kept moving in the course, but I wonder if all of the semester will be like this. Thanks!