Pre-Vet Undergraduate Programs

[Heeeidii]

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Hi guys,
I'm 19, and I'll be entering my sophomore year of college this September, and I am planning on transferring to another school.
I was wondering if anyone knew what schools had pre-vet programs? Also, is it more beneficial to find a school that offers a pre-vet program, or would just majoring in something like Biology be just as good?

 

[RackingHorse]

Pre-Vet is not a major. Technically speaking you can major in any subject in you're undergraduate education. The pre-vet part of you're undergrad education are the pre-requisite courses that are required to gain admittance to a college of veterinary medicine. Generally speaking the pre-requisites are General Chemistry 1 and 2, Organic Chem 1 and 2, Biochemistry, General Biology 1 and 2, Microbiology, Genetics, Physics 1 and 2, and Cellular Biology. However, the course requirements do vary slightly from one school to the next. Some may require you to take certain math classes in undergrad. It would be a good idea to start familiarizing yourself with the requirements that the school(s) you are planning on applying to require. Also, you made mention of majoring in Biology in undergrad. If you are majoring in Biology there is probably an advisor in the Biology dept. at you're school that advises pre-vet/pre-med students. Hope this helps.

Here is an example of the courses a pre-vet animal science major at MTSU would take: http://www.mtsu.edu/abas/programs/ANSCI_VET__09-11_.pdf

 

[Prospectivevet]

I agree with the poster above. Theoretically, you could uphold any major and whether or not you were labelled as pre-vet wouldn't matter as long as you got in all your pre-reqs. It doesn't really matter a lot to the adcoms whether you are pre-vet as long as you get in all of your required coursework on time. Theoretically, if two people with exactly the same credentials applied to vet school, a pre-vet track might be used as a tie breaker because it would be assumed that the pre-vet student was in the more competitive pool of students, but otherwise it won't really affect you. The main benefit of a pre-vet track would probably be a better informed academic adviser and being able to connect with more students who were also applying to vet school.

 

[cowgirla]

Theoretically, if two people with exactly the same credentials applied to vet school, a pre-vet track might be used as a tie breaker because it would be assumed that the pre-vet student was in the more competitive pool of students, but otherwise it won't really affect you. The main benefit of a pre-vet track would probably be a better informed academic adviser and being able to connect with more students who were also applying to vet school.

Or maybe in that situation, the non pre-vet student would get in, because they have more unique experiences to add to the class/a different outlook/stand out in the crowd/classes to talk about at interviews.
Take a look at successful applicants threads from the past few years and look at all the Dance/theater/foreign language/finance/history/etc majors that get accepted.
And you'd be surprised how many pre-vet advisors are useless when it comes to vet school info. Mine was a DVM and he was an clueless ahole.

 

[Marsala]

Major in something that you are interested in! You can take the prerequisite courses while in that major, and it gives you a back-up plan (you always need to have a back-up plan!). I was wait-listed this year and have degrees in history and entomology.

 

[Coquette22]

I was actually happy to get out of my pre-vet school. I didn't particularly like the school, and had only gone there because I thougt you had to go to a school with a pre-vet program. I spent a year there before transferring out to a different school and enrolled in a Biology major. For me, being away from pre-vet was a bonus. It gave me the chance to broaden my extra-curriculars with things like the micro society and swing dance. Not important for other people, but it ended up being very important for me!

 

[Heeeidii]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, its all really helpful!! I have just started seriously thinking about everything I need to do and any advice is welcome 🙂

 

[Escalla]

The school I go to has a pre-vet major as an emphasis for either a BSc in Equine Science or Animal Science. It is a great school for prospective vets! The advisors are sooo helpful and do everything they can to make sure you get into vet school. As well, we have lots of cattle, sheep and horses (full indoor riding arena with 45 stalls) for our classes and Equestrian team. I can't say enough how much this school has helped me to the point where I'm ready to apply this fall. I was originally a biology major in a very large university (35000) and found it so impersonal and tedious. UMC is a small campus but a part of the large University of Minnesota system. In-state tuition for all and everything!

Anyways, I guess I should tell you the name: University of Minnesota, Crookston. Check it out, it's wonderful 🙂

http://www1.crk.umn.edu/

 

[deleted387118]

I'd recommend going in-state for undergrad whenever possible. Vet school is so expensive and chances are there is an undergrad school that will fit you in your state.

As far as large school/small school goes, in my experience there are ways to make a large school feel like a small school. If you are looking at a large school, take a tour with a student that is in the college you are in. They will give you a better idea of what its like than just a general tour from the university.

 

[alwayslistening]

Rutgers University-New Brunswick in New Jersey offers a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, with an option in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Research. Each year, of the students who make it through the curriculum, about 85-90% of the first-time applicants make it into vet school on the first try (20-30 students). Most of the other applicants get in on try #2. It is expensive to attend, if you are out of state, but thats my two cents on the matter. Find the most rigorous school within your own state, go there, and do well. 😀

 

[Cautionary Tail]

I went to a school without a real "pre-vet" program because the university prospective veterinary students in my area generally go to wasn't interested in me.

I'm not sure what their advising situation is (ours was pretty bad), but the primary advantage I see to going there is that they offer a lot of opportunities for handling (especially livestock... and livestock experience is hard to come by in this area). Nearby clinics also like to hire the pre-vet students for tech/assistant positions, and it seems to be a little easier for them to find paid work in the field.

 

[alwayslistening]

Also, if you are having trouble with advising, asking the veterinarians that you know, or searching out the admissions staff can be much more helpful. Approach them once you have looked at the pre-requisites, and work with them to build the best schedule, one that will still allow you to fulfill your degree requirements