Pre-Calc/Trig class question

[UFCVMhopeful]

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I am supposed to take MAC 1147 - a Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry class - as a pre-requisite to taking Calculus I, chemistry and physics classes. I'm registered to take it this fall, but noticed it says I should have had high school trigonometry. I never had trig in high school. Would you recommend I take a college trig course first, even though it doesn't check off any of the requirements, does not count toward my A.A. degree, and would effectively push everything else back a semester? MAC 1147 is a combination course worth 5 credits, and that is what is called for (taking them as separate Pre-Calc and Trig courses does not fulfill the requirement).

I am 34 years old, returning to college after over a decade, didn't do it right the first time and had a horrible GPA. I am battling my way back to a respectable cumulative GPA and have all A's since my return, but I need the very best grades I can get to make up for the past, especially considering the harder classes that are coming soon. Assuming all A's again this summer, I believe it will go to a 2.94 cumulative after this summer semester wraps up.

This is all community college work, will have A.A. after fall 2010 term - then I'd stick around and take Calc I, Chem I and Chem II, Physics I and II, Org Chem I and II before seeking transfer to the University of Florida for a Bachelor of Science, then on to vet school. Main thing right now is I've got to do as well as I possibly can and get granted that transfer to UF.

Since going back, I have A's in Intermediate Algebra (took it as a refresher), College Algebra and Statistics. Never had any trig, though, so my question for those who have been there, done that is this - would you dare take Pre-Calc/Trig with no high school trig background (I only had high school algebra and geometry)?

 

[Packen]

I think it would depend on how basic they start with the trigonometry in your MAC 1147 class. At my school, small liberal arts, my calculus II class was a joke. I was really worried it would be hard for me because I had a hard time with Calc I in H.S. (school would not let me repeat Calc I), but the majority of the class was really a review of I.

Is there anyone who has taken the class that you could talk to? Maybe even emailing the professor?

 

[Polar Opposite]

I think it would depend on how basic they start with the trigonometry in your MAC 1147 class. At my school, small liberal arts, my calculus II class was a joke. I was really worried it would be hard for me because I had a hard time with Calc I in H.S. (school would not let me repeat Calc I), but the majority of the class was really a review of I.

Is there anyone who has taken the class that you could talk to? Maybe even emailing the professor?

I would definitely talk to the professor or your advisor.

 

[UFCVMhopeful]

Thanks for your reply...

I don't know of anyone off-hand but can try to find someone who has. I'm also trying to find a way to get in touch with the professor (but strangely cannot find an e-mail address for him in the college e-mail system). All I know so far is what I've seen about him from ratemyprofessor.com, where they say he moves kinda fast through the material (to be expected as it is like two classes in one) and seems to expect you to know a lot already. I don't know if those students who say some of these things are really applying themselves or just trying to do the bare minimum. Nonetheless, the reviews are pretty positive. My experience thus far has been that half of every math class has been a bunch of slackers who don't show up very often.

I plan to meet with an adviser this Thursday anyway. After fall semester I'll have the A.A., got to make sure all graduation conditions are met, need to check on foreign language requirements for transferring (had two years of Spanish back in like 8th and 9th grade, not sure if that counts), see what the ILAS is all about, etc.

Pre-Calc/Trig says it requires a B or better in College Algebra with high school trig. Really the only other option is to take College Trig first, which only requires a C or better in College Algebra, so it sounds as if it starts you wit the very basics of trig. But taking College Trig instead of Pre-Calc/Trig would tack on a semester and hold everything up - just wondering if it's worth it.

 

[Risika]

Hey! I never took this class while I was at UF since I love math (actually majored in it) so I started off my college career in Calculus....BUT I did tutor MAC 1147 while I worked for the Broward Teaching Center there (btw, an excellent free tutoring service UF offers if you find you need extra help). From what I remember from tutoring the class, there actually is quite a bit of trig involved in the course. While I didn't find it particularly difficult, I do know from speaking with some of the students I tutored that MAC 1147 does go at a pretty fast pace. So I think it comes down to how comfortable you are with math and how much time you'll have to devote to the class. If you've never been good at math, then I would probably recommend taking a trig course first OR maybe taking the MAC 1140 version instead. Now, I'm not exactly sure if MAC1140 is okay for what you need it for but since I'm assuming it's just as a pre-req to take Calculus, it should work. You should check with an advisor, though.

With all that being said, if MAC 1147 is the best option then I do believe it is very doable - even if math doesn't come naturally for you. You'll just need to devote the time to it and definitely make use of some of the services your professor (office hours) and UF has to offer (https://teachingcenter.ufl.edu/index.html)

Edit: With a quick search I did discover, despite MAC 1140 being called a "Precalculus" class it does not meet the pre-req for MAC2311 (Calculus 1) : /

 

[UFCVMhopeful]

Thanks Risika!

If I dropped Pre-Calc/Trig soon I can still do so with no academic penalty and no W on my transcript (term hasn't started and tuition isn't even due yet). College Trig classes for fall are full though, so would have to wait until spring to take it, then I'm looking at Pre-Calc/Trig in the summer, and taking it then means an intense abbreviated 8 week course and that's probably not sane to do, so realistically it would push Pre-Calc/Trig back to fall 2011. Then of course everything that builds off of that gets delayed too. But I'd do it if taking MAC 1147 without any previous trig is grade suicide. I want all A's, definitely not less than a B. The bar is set high because I'm making up for academic sins of the past and have a lot of work to do to rebuild my cumulative GPA to where UF will take me as a transfer. I have to prove to them I'm the real deal.

MAC 1147 is specifically listed as the pre-requisite for Calculus w/Analytic Geometry, General Physics I and General Chemistry w/Qualitative Analysis I, all of which I'll need to take. Then that is all for Calculus, but Physics I and Chemistry I clear the way for the required Physics II and Chemistry II courses, which in turn clear the way for Org Chem I and II. After all of that, I will need to transfer and take all 3000-series or higher courses at UF.

I have to have MAC 1147. I could prep for it by just taking MAC 1114 (College Trig), or by taking MAC 1114 and MAC 1140 (Pre-Calculus Algebra). Those won't substitute for MAC 1147, though, and I'd still have to take it.

MAC 1140 seems like a waste of time because it looks like it is pretty much the same as taking College Algebra over again, and MAC 1147 lists College Algebra as the pre-requisite (it does not require Pre-Calculus Algebra first). So MAC 1140 only seems to make sense if you struggled with College Algebra and feel like maybe you need a refresher on it, but I got an A in that. I'll either take College Trig first or just jump right into MAC 1147.

I used to think I had trouble with math. Hated it, actually. Looking back, it was just not applying myself enough. I'm not that person any more. Now since going back to college I'm getting A's in it thus far and actually kinda starting to like it. Statistics was almost fun because I can really see using that a lot in the courses I'll need for my B.S. in Wildlife Conservation & Ecology (one of two pre-professional tracks at UF geared toward pre-vet students).

 

[StartingoverVet]

I can't talk specifically about the courses at your C.C. or tell you exactly what to do, but as another non-traditional my experience (although different) may be useful.

I was pretty reluctant to use any of the classes I had taken previously to meet pre-req requirments and I was happy with my decision. I retook Calculus (although I had placed out in college with AP) and I am not sure I remembered anything but a few basic concepts. There was a LOT of trig involved and that had all faded into pre-history for me.

A number of classes after that used at least some basics of calc and trig including chemistry and physics. I was very happy to have had a strong foundation so I could focus on just learning and not catching up on old basics.

Also, I wouldn't worry too much about the time it is going to take to complete your classes if at all possible. Whenever I rushed (skipping pre-reqs, over-committing etc) I almost always regretted it. Juggling responsibilities is hard enough, and whatever time it takes, so be it. Eventually you can achieve your goal and in the end the time taken won't matter. It took me 3 years from start of classes to matriculation and as much as it seemed like it never would happen, it did.

So, take a breath, take your time, and do it right! Or not! Either way, good luck and enjoy the ride.

 

[UFCVMhopeful]

Thanks StartingoverVet! By the way, I've had two passions when it comes to careers I've wanted pursue. The other choice was flying helicopters. I still get in one any chance I get (got a little R-22 time, nothing major), and I haven't given up on that one yet, either. 🙂

I'm not relying much on old classes. I'm not using any old class to count toward anything in the present unless the grade was up to my current standards. Most of the old stuff I did doesn't count toward what I'm doing now anyway, and those that do are general ed courses I actually did do pretty well in - stuff like English Literature, etc., not stuff like math and science that keep building on top of what came before. I had one bad Bio I grade there was just no excuse for - retook that and got an A. All of the critical math and science courses will have been taken since I went back to school during fall term 2009.

I actually did well in an old math class but did not jump right into college algebra when I went back to college - I took intermediate algebra first to have a refresher. I'm not looking to skip pre-requisites - I want good foundations too (and need to take as many required courses as possible because every one is another chance to raise my cumulative GPA further out of the abyss it was once in and I have just so many I can take before I need to seek a transfer).

People typically do go from college algebra right to pre-calc/trig - it's just that a lot of them may have had HS trig and I did not (although my brother is a professor in NY and said from what he sees, most of them didn't have it in HS either). I graduated HS in 1994. Maybe since then some trig is more common in HS in a lot of places, I don't know.

It's not only that it would take more time, but I guess another thing I'm cognizant of is that I want my transcript to show I didn't skate through. By the time I'm into organic chem I and II, that's going to be all there is left I can take at community college - two back-to-back semesters of just one class each. Between now and then I want them to see I took multiple challenging courses at the same time and handled it. Vet school will probably be that times ten and they want to know you can do it. A lot of people can pull good grades if they don't take a full course load. Maybe I should worry more about that after I transfer and start working on that B.S. degree, though, and just make sure I get the basics down really well for now. Good grades are the main thing and I don't want to push it TOO much, either. I have to make up for the old days, so I actually have played it a little bit conservatively to this point because I need all the A's I can get - no B's yet since I went back and I want to keep it that way as long as I possibly can.

I also want to keep the courses that do not apply directly to my desired transfer school's requirements to a bare minimum so it doesn't look like I took a lot of extraneous classes that aren't relevant just to boost the overall GPA. College trig isn't required (though it couldn't hurt and isn't really irrelevant). Also don't want too much time to pass after algebra before I get into some of these other courses.

Interestingly, many seem to feel that pre-calc/trig is the hard one and after that calc seems easy.

Just for some background, my cumulative college GPA before I returned to college last fall was a 1.16, I think. Yeah. Mostly at a local state university. They kicked me out. That was a little over a decade ago. Towards the end of that stint in college I took some community college courses (same one I attend now) and did pretty well. It's not that CC was easier, it's that I had an attitude change, but too little too late. Since going back, I have all A's, and should have it up to a 2.94 cumulative for my college career after this summer term wraps up. At the end of this spring term I had a 3.71 cumulative for the CC (even though I have earned all A's recently there) because there's a B or two on there from back then. The more challenging courses are coming up, so there's just not much room for error. I hope they will see the effort put forward recently and cut me a little slack on the old stuff.

I was perusing the successful applicants thread and noticed most people who applied where I want to go (University of Florida) don't get accepted. Saw a few people who seem to have gotten into vet schools without a letter of recommendation - I did not think that was even possible. I know UF won't take you without one.

 

[parietal]

Good luck, UFCVMhopeful! I graduated high school the same year as you and also had a mixed first college experience. I just graduated summa cum laude and am starting vet school this fall, so it definitely can be done! 🙂

If I were you, I would consider moving to a four-year college as soon as possible after finishing your A.A. Especially with your low previous GPA, I agree that it would be important for you to take several upper-level science classes along with O-Chem to show you can handle a rigorous, heavy workload. Is there a reason you plan to stay at the community college instead? Even if you can't get accepted into UF, aren't there other four-year state college options as well? (Sorry, I know nothing about Florida's higher-education system!)

As to your original trig question, I think talking with the professor is your best option. It's hard to balance wanting to get going with wanting to do as well as you possibly can. Trig is very useful, especially for physics and the GRE, and I was very rusty going back even though I loved math and had done through Calc 2 my first time through. I'm sure being more current on trig and calculus would have helped a lot, but I did make it through fine without. Your professor should be able to give you a better idea of what the class requires and whether you can teach that to yourself or get some tutoring to keep up.

Good luck on whatever you decide!

Saw a few people who seem to have gotten into vet schools without a letter of recommendation - I did not think that was even possible. I know UF won't take you without one.

What?!? I'm pretty sure this isn't possible. I think all VMCAS vet schools require at least three. Even the Caribbean schools want a couple. Most schools even require one or two of the letters come from a veterinarian.

 

[UFCVMhopeful]

Congratulations parietal, well done!

Sorry, my mistake - I meant to say "without a letter of recommendation from a veterinarian." Which I didn't think was possible, but I saw a few that seem to indicate so on the successful applicants thread. I know I watched a UF dean once say that he couldn't recall anyone ever getting in without at least one letter of recommendation from a vet, and would expect that to hold true for any vet school.

I just wanted to take everything I could here, but that same dean said all 3000-level and up courses do need to be taken at UF or another university (implying no penalty for taking the lower level ones at a CC). That means I can take Calculus I, Chem I and II, Physics I and II, and Organic Chem I and II right here where I am. I am married and a homeowner, and we would probably have to relocate and sell our home when I go to UF. I also have heard that O-chem is definitely used as a weed-out course at UF, and I don't want to take the path of least resistance, but would rather not have them trying to kill me either. Maybe it would be different if I weren't trying to battle back from such a dismal past, but with things as they stand... figured if I can take everything up through that here, might as well. Plus I am trying to rebuild from a shaky start from years ago, and class size at my CC will be smaller. I want to have excellent grades and resurrect the GPA and get the transfer. One step at a time and that's the most important thing right now (getting my foot in the door). Then I figured I'd still have plenty of coursework left between there and the bachelor's degree (in Wildlife Conservation & Ecology or Zoology) where I can wow them with what I can do at UF. 😀 I'm open to all suggestions though and appreciate any and all advice on how to proceed!

I believe in order to earn a UF degree, you must take at least 40% of the coursework at UF (in other words, don't take all but a couple somewhere else and expect them to award you their degree)? My plan would work out to 44% taken at UF.

Yes, there are many other state universities I could attend, all further away than UF, though. Funny thing about UF though - the huge majority of those accepted to the vet school are in-state, and the majority of them did their undergrad work at UF as well. Plus they have two educational tracks (which I named above) with optional pre-professional specializations specially designed for getting you ready for their vet school. If I want to get into their vet school, I want to stack the deck in my favor and try to do it that way.

 

[parietal]

That makes sense. Sounds like you have a solid plan in place. Best of luck to you and feel free to PM me if you run into any glitches!

 

[UFCVMhopeful]

Thanks everyone for your input and patience with me - I know you may be shaking your heads wondering why I don't just go talk to an advisor, etc., (and I will), but I wanted some of your input from your perspective and I really appreciate it.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go ahead and just take pre-calc/trig. My brother teaches up in NY and says lots of people never had HS trig and manage (he's not really a math prof, but does teach psych and statistics). The professor I've had for college algebra and statistics feels like I should go for it, even though it is a rigorous class. She kinda knows me and my work ethic so she probably has a pretty good feel for how I'll fare in it. She said the professor I'm signed up for is very good and that the course is taught like you have little to no previous trig because many don't. Made me feel a lot better about it. Will run it by the advisor tomorrow too, though (I just kinda figure the advisor isn't really going to be my best source on this - just a hunch, could be wrong).

However, I am probably going to hold off on one of my easier electives I was planning on taking at the same time. Not that it would be real difficult (humanities course), but the thought being just to have that little bit more time to devote to pre-calc/trig. I want to be strong in it since it will be a very important foundations-building course and it won't be the last I'll see of it. Taking enough credit hours already, so it won't look like I'm slacking to put one off.

 

[jtom]

If you have any questions about MAC 1147 I can tell you about it since I went to USF and took the class. From what I remember, they do expect you to know trig already. I personally would take MAC 1147 and see how it goes. You could buy a math book or even something like an idiots guide to trig to learn the basics before the semester starts.

 

[UFCVMhopeful]

Thanks jtom! And funny you should say that, because it's what I was thinking (re: getting an Idiot's Guide or for Dummies book). Did that once before in prepping for a course. 😀

Got a month left in which to learn what I can of it. Also may take advantage of a friend at church who minored in mathematics at FSU. He has tutored other people there and helped me figure out a few homework problems last semester. It would be free tutoring, too (he just appreciates the chance to get to keep using it, says it helps him stay more proficient too).

By the way, been chatting with someone who did undergrad at USF - she's in the final year at UF now. Name is Crystal, just in the off chance you know each other or something.

 

[Nechochwen]

Just out of curiosity, do think you'll be applying to only UF CVM?

With your life firmly planted in Florida, I can understand if so?

 

[jtom]

Thanks jtom! And funny you should say that, because it's what I was thinking (re: getting an Idiot's Guide or for Dummies book). Did that once before in prepping for a course. 😀

Got a month left in which to learn what I can of it. Also may take advantage of a friend at church who minored in mathematics at FSU. He has tutored other people there and helped me figure out a few homework problems last semester. It would be free tutoring, too (he just appreciates the chance to get to keep using it, says it helps him stay more proficient too).

By the way, been chatting with someone who did undergrad at USF - she's in the final year at UF now. Name is Crystal, just in the off chance you know each other or something.

I dont recognize the name but I did graduate a year and a half ago so I have forgotten names. I really would just do what I said and get an idiots guide for trig. I took a differential equations course with a professor override because I did not take calc II and did well in it, I just had to learn beforehand with the idiots guide. Those books are good because they teach you the most important concepts and do not include all the other stuff that probably would not be required to already know.

 

[UFCVMhopeful]

Well, despite my current professor's advice and the way I was starting to lean, I have dropped pre-calc/trig (no penalty if done at this point) for the fall and signed up for a trig course instead. I got an e-mail from the professor who would be teaching the pre-calc/trig class because he noticed I had no previous trig, and he encouraged me to reconsider. So I'm playing it safe. If it were another course of study I was into, maybe I wouldn't, but vet med is a little different - I've just started the journey and these skills will keep coming up later and being built upon. I just don't want to screw around and mess this up. If it takes more time and more money to ace pre-calc/trig later on, so be it. Just passing classes and doing the bare minimum isn't good enough for people like us. I just decided that yeah, I could try to fly by the seat of my pants a bit on the trig and go for it, but that's the sort of thing that got me in trouble in the past, too.

The problem now is rearranging my schedule this late in the game (tuition fees for fall term due in a few days) and most classes are full. You live, you learn - will just have to be more on top of things the next time around. My advisor said I may still be able to get into a chemistry class the morning after tuition is due because often some people don't pay and get dropped from the course. So I may still be able to snag a seat in the chem class I want to be in even though it is full right now.

Was not thrilled with the advisor I met with yesterday. Acted like he didn't want to be there or something, didn't listen too well, etc. However, I was told by the advisor NOT to take the final two courses need for the A.A. degree. I was going to take them this fall, get the degree, then take whatever else I can here as well. He said I don't want to graduate yet because UF would look at the courses up to the A.A. being awarded, and if I graduate already then the GPA I have at that point is what they'll see (I'm trying to work it back up from a dismal past many years ago).

In other words, courses taken after obtaining the A.A. (physics, chems) won't be factored into the relevant GPA UF will consider, but if I take them beforehand they will? Even though they don't count toward/aren't needed for the A.A. degree? He said to take everything I plan to and wait until the very end to take one of those two A.A. program classes. Supposedly this is the way to raise my GPA and help me get a transfer to UF.

I guess UF will be looking at overall cumulative GPA, not the A.A. program-specific GPA?

Sorry if I'm being a dummy or something, but better to ask dumb questions than not ask at all. The advisor was really not very helpful and was having a bad day or something (and was almost borderline adversarial, in fact).

 

[UFCVMhopeful]

Sorry Nechochwen, just saw your comment...

UF is definitely my preferred institution. It is in-state so it would cost a lot less. I am in Jacksonville and UF is only about 1.5 hours away (although I would definitely live in Gainesville while in vet school). UF also is the vet school with the highest first time NAVLE pass rate for its grads and puts their students in clinicals in both years 3 and 4, not just 4th year like everyone else (probably explains the NAVLE part). I am interested in a strong wildlife program, which I have heard UF, Tennessee and LSU are known for. I would be happy to get in anywhere and most likely would apply to other schools as well, but I have a great school practically in my backyard and out-of-state is just so darn expensive. I am also married and will be a non-trad applicant because I'll be older than the average, so it's just harder to pick up and move wherever. Although if push came to shove, I would. I'm a firm believer that where there is a will there is usually a way and that most people are only limited by the limitations they voluntarily put upon themselves (not being willing to relocate being one such thing that can limit one's opportunities for success). I would actually love to reside in one of the Rocky Mountain states at some point, but leaving FL would be hard, especially with my parents aging (with their other son already having moved far away) and so forth.

 

[jtom]

I am near jacksonville right now and am in the same situation as you. I am a non traditional and while I would prefer to go to school out of state, the price difference is just not worth it, plus Florida is my IS. I am going to apply to a few other schools but only those that are similarly priced, only a few come to mind. I actually just recently moved from colorado and liked it.

Sorry Nechochwen, just saw your comment...

UF is definitely my preferred institution. It is in-state so it would cost a lot less. I am in Jacksonville and UF is only about 1.5 hours away (although I would definitely live in Gainesville while in vet school). UF also is the vet school with the highest first time NAVLE pass rate for its grads and puts their students in clinicals in both years 3 and 4, not just 4th year like everyone else (probably explains the NAVLE part). I am interested in a strong wildlife program, which I have heard UF, Tennessee and LSU are known for. I would be happy to get in anywhere and most likely would apply to other schools as well, but I have a great school practically in my backyard and out-of-state is just so darn expensive. I am also married and will be a non-trad applicant because I'll be older than the average, so it's just harder to pick up and move wherever. Although if push came to shove, I would. I'm a firm believer that where there is a will there is usually a way and that most people are only limited by the limitations they voluntarily put upon themselves (not being willing to relocate being one such thing that can limit one's opportunities for success). I would actually love to reside in one of the Rocky Mountain states at some point, but leaving FL would be hard, especially with my parents aging (with their other son already having moved far away) and so forth.

 

[Nechochwen]

The reason that I ask is because LSU would definitely be a good school to consider. Sorry, maybe I'm a little bias, but it's the only school I have experience with. There's at least one reason to think about LSU.

LSU's grade analysis for required classes gives you the option to re-take a class (if the class was 6 years old) and only looks at the more recent class. You would have a pretty competitive GPA.

I have to agree with you though on everything else. I didn't want to apply out-of-state because of the money. It's probably sometimes cheaper to be in undergrad another year than having to pay out-of-state fees. Moving the family, especially with such a great school so close, makes everything more difficult. I can't be sure, but I believe that LSU starts clinicals in the spring of the 3rd year. I can definitely relate though with wanting to go to UF; my mom was a Gator and if money wasn't an option, I would have definitely gone for it.

Sorry about the advisor and the delay...it'll all work out if you keep going like you are.🙂

 

[UFCVMhopeful]

jtom, I would love to go to school out west if tuition were no object. CSU would be pretty much the choice by default for the area I'd want to be in. Tennessee would be awesome too, close to the national park and all (I enjoy the outdoors, hiking, etc.). University of Minnesota because of my North Dakota connections. Auburn University - I have family pretty close to there. The decision won't be about any of that, though. One step at a time - first someone has to want me. If some schools do and others don't, well then beggars can't be too choosy, LOL. Best program that accepts me, probably. We'll see. Long way to go yet. But if UF were to reject me, I would probably give that another shot the next year before going out of state. Then maybe pick the best of who's left if it happened again. But hopefully it won't go quite like that.

Neochochwen, that's good info - thanks for sharing it. I honestly haven't put enough time in yet at considering my alternatives and studying about the other schools and their programs in depth. I did recently chat with someone else on these same boards who did undergrad work at UF, went through the same Wildlife Ecology & Conservation track I've been thinking about, but did not get into the vet school. This person is at LSU now and seems to be happy there. Apparently the wildlife program there is one of the better ones, which does get my attention.

My brother graduated from UF, and my parents are rabid Gator fans, as are many other people I know. So watch me end up at Tennessee of all places, LOL!

 

[rugbychick16]

UF also is the vet school with the highest first time NAVLE pass rate for its grads and puts their students in clinicals in both years 3 and 4, not just 4th year like everyone else (probably explains the NAVLE part).

Take those statistics with a grain of salt...the highest first time pass rate tends to change every year between schools, and several schools all cluster around a high pass rate like 98% anyways. Many schools like to claim this statistic. Also, several other schools start clinics third year as well, Missouri comes to mind, but I know there are others

North Dakota connections

Do tell! There's so few of us!

 

[Nechochwen]

But if UF were to reject me, I would probably give that another shot the next year before going out of state. Then maybe pick the best of who's left if it happened again.

My brother graduated from UF, and my parents are rabid Gator fans, as are many other people I know. So watch me end up at Tennessee of all places, LOL!

This was exactly my plan too and it worked out good. Hard to beat half the cost.


As for the football team change, I know what you mean. After being raised a Gator, becoming a Tiger has taken some work. But slowly my blood is changing from blue and orange to purple and gold.

 

[UFCVMhopeful]

Nechochwen,

If they take me in, I will do everything short of worship them. Whatever vet school I go to, I'm sure they will have my undying loyalty. Of course, I plan to have completed undergrad work at UF, so it would be hard if I didn't get into their vet school after that. Having been a Gator too, I would still love my Gators.


rugbychick16,

That's a good point, and something I was noting just minutes before I saw your post. I saw some NAVLE numbers, and while UF was higher than the average, the difference was quite minimal. I also had read that UF was the only school that had students on clinicals for the last two years, but it seems that several schools actually do get their students started early within their third year as well. I know UF has an outstanding program, but so do many other schools. As my in-state though, if UF were to accept me, I just HAVE to go there - out of state is just crazy expensive.

Re: North Dakota, my Dad was born and raised on a farm in Wishek, ND, in McIntosh County (south central part of the state). Tiny town about 100 miles from Bismarck, to the SE of it. He went into the Navy and that's how he ended up in Florida. When his brother was going to sell the farm, my Dad purchased it to keep it in the family. The neighbor is the town vet, too. My parents go up there every now and then, me and my brother do too occasionally. Otherwise family and friends up there help keep up the place.

Minneapolis-St. Paul is about a 6 hr drive from there, so if I were in vet school there and I actually had any time for it (as if, it's vet school, haha), I'd have a house all to myself for a while, and some land to explore. Love it out there. Lots of peace and quiet, deer meandering through the yard. Even elk around there again these days. I think there are pronghorn also. Of course prairie dogs. Lots of pheasant. Skunks too, LOL. After working your butt off in vet school for a while, it would make for a great retreat. Of course, when you're not in classes with vet school, you're still busy with vet school in one way or another. Not sure how realistic the scenario would be.

As North Dakota has no vet school, did you establish residency where you are now and then apply? Or does your university have a deal with other states to accept a certain number of students from states without their own vet colleges?

My brother is a professor in Manhattan, but it's that other Manhattan.

 

[parietal]

As North Dakota has no vet school, did you establish residency where you are now and then apply? Or does your university have a deal with other states to accept a certain number of students from states without their own vet colleges?

North Dakotans actually have lots of options. They have contracts with the University of Minnesota, Iowa State, Kansas State, and are a WICHE school as well, so they can go to Colorado State, Oregon State, Washington State and Davis at reduced prices.

 

[rugbychick16]

Re: North Dakota, my Dad was born and raised on a farm in Wishek, ND, in McIntosh County (south central part of the state). Tiny town about 100 miles from Bismarck, to the SE of it. He went into the Navy and that's how he ended up in Florida. When his brother was going to sell the farm, my Dad purchased it to keep it in the family. The neighbor is the town vet, too. My parents go up there every now and then, me and my brother do too occasionally. Otherwise family and friends up there help keep up the place.

Minneapolis-St. Paul is about a 6 hr drive from there, so if I were in vet school there and I actually had any time for it (as if, it's vet school, haha), I'd have a house all to myself for a while, and some land to explore. Love it out there. Lots of peace and quiet, deer meandering through the yard. Even elk around there again these days. I think there are pronghorn also. Of course prairie dogs. Lots of pheasant. Skunks too, LOL. After working your butt off in vet school for a while, it would make for a great retreat. Of course, when you're not in classes with vet school, you're still busy with vet school in one way or another. Not sure how realistic the scenario would be.

As North Dakota has no vet school, did you establish residency where you are now and then apply? Or does your university have a deal with other states to accept a certain number of students from states without their own vet colleges?

My brother is a professor in Manhattan, but it's that other Manhattan.

I've been to Wishek many a time. I live out west near Killdeer and would love to return here someday if possible to work.

WICHE only usually funds about 1 person/year from ND, so you can't count on much there. Most vet students from ND attend MN, Iowa, or KS with the state contracts as parietal said.

My fiance would have loved for me to go to U of M as his family lives near St. Cloud, but living in the cities just wasn't something I wanted to do.