prereqs & electives...

[cubs11]

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since each school i'm hoping to apply to, seems to have different prereqs, it's beginning to become stressful planning. 🙂

the credit hours at my school are set up differently, so when i read the prereq courses on each of the websites, it's hard for me to tell what i need. i'll probably end up calling and asking, but thought i'd ask you all first based on your experience, before i spend hours on the phone calling each school. 😀

did you all take physics 1 & 2 with both labs?

did you take orgo 1 & 2 with both labs (or just 1 lab??). some universities require both org. chems., but only 1 lab (not both), while others don't specify.

my univ. has biochem 1 & 2. some institutions just require one semester, while others (like UTK) require you to take both semesters if they are offered. (those of you who attend or have been accepted to schools like UTK, correct me if i'm wrong...i'm just going from what's on their website of prereqs).

also, on most electives, they require upper level...anatomy is a recommended elective at some schools, however my anatomy class is only a 200 level. so will this not count as one of the recommended upper level electives?

any info. would be awesome! 🙄

 

[AuburnPreVet]

I'm going to reply - since your in KY, I assume you'll be applying to Auburn (as a contract student). . . most of this applies to Auburn, I don't know a lot about other schools....

did you all take physics 1 & 2 with both labs?

Yes, when schools say thay want 8 semester hours (they are usually assuming 6 hrs lec/2 hrs lab - in other words the two 4hr sections).

did you take orgo 1 & 2 with both labs (or just 1 lab??). some universities require both org. chems., but only 1 lab (not both), while others don't specify.

I took 1 & 2 both with labs... to get to the "8" hours required by many schools. This is what AU expects.

my univ. has biochem 1 & 2. some institutions just require one semester, while others (like UTK) require you to take both semesters if they are offered. (those of you who attend or have been accepted to schools like UTK, correct me if i'm wrong...i'm just going from what's on their website of prereqs).

I'm not sure about what schools require both. AU wanted only 3 hours (which means you don't even have to take a lab!!).

also, on most electives, they require upper level...anatomy is a recommended elective at some schools, however my anatomy class is only a 200 level. so will this not count as one of the recommended upper level electives?

While it is a great class (at least, I thought) Anatomy probably won't satisfy the "hard sciences" the schools are looking for. I would still take it, but I think they are thinking more along the lines of genetics, micro, histo, immuno, maybe clinical phys, etc. I would still take Anat/Phys regardless, if you have time.

G'Luck.

 

[cubs11]

auburnprevet,
thanks for your response. i agree, anatomy is a great class and couldn't hurt, but i didn't think it would satisfy the electives they are looking for. i am taking genetics and a comparative animal physiology course for sure. those are 300 and 400 level courses, so i know they will satisfy the 2 electives for auburn. i'm trying to take immunology but they only offer it one semester, and dropped it this year for whatever reason. histology and immunology are offered at another institution 30 minutes from me, so i will probably end up taking them there. thanks for the advice! you're right, i am planning to apply to auburn as a contract student.

 

[wivet2011]

I think most schools require physics with labs both semesters (WI is an exception, you only need one semester of lab)

Not sure you need organic lab both semesters, most schools only require one (which was good since my undergrad school only offers one semester of lab!)

Comparative Anatomy is a good class, especially if it has a lab with it. I think any of the more narrowed down classes (immunolgy, histology, endocrinology, etc) are a very good idea.

Good luck!!

 

[critterfixer]

UTK requires a complete course in biochem, but that doesn't necessarily mean two semesters. It could, but doesn't have to. For example, I took a Brief Biochem course which was a complete one semester course that covered all the topics they wanted covered (glycolysis, gluconeogenesis/glycogen metabolism, fatty acid catabolism, lipid biosynthesis, nucleotide metabolism, protein synthesis, amino acid biosynthesis, DNA synthesis and repair, RNA synthesis, nucleotide structures and nucleic acid structure and function) in an accelerated format. Had I took the regular, two semester Biochem course, one semester would only cover one half the material, going into more depth. In other words, if the course is set up to run over two semesters, then one semester won't cover everything, but if it is a one semester course, period, then it may. UTK accepted my Brief Biochem course as a prereq. The best thing to do is call the school and ask.

 

[QTkitty]

With all of the good advice you've already received, I'll keep this short. I was in a bit of a different situation because my school is on quarters but I'll tell you what I've heard:
Challenge yourself.. If you're thinking about not taking a lab (offered for any class) becuase it isn't required, do it anyway- it's only 1 or 2 units. If you're looking at similar lower vs. upper division science courses, go with upper division. Try to keep a full load (more than what's considered "full time"), but not so much every semester that you're killing yourself. For example, at my school full time is 12 units and I've never taken less than 16 (often more).This of course is dependent on every situation as I know there are many nontrads who have had to go part time for work/ family reasons and were accepted. These are the type of things that supposedly set applicants apart. If the committees are looking at several applicants with similar GPAs and amount of experience the "difficulty of coursework" will also be taken into consideration.

This is just what I've heard/ experienced, please don't berate me if you don't agree.

 

[pressmom]

I applied to many of the same school you are applying to. I made a big list of what I absolutely had to have and checked it off as I went. That way I always had a reference. (Too bad I missed cell bio for UTK, fortunately they are letting me take it this summer!) Anyway, then I made a list of courses I would like to take and tried to fit one in a semester. I wasn't always able to. Focus on your basic pre-reqs first, especially if you're non-trad. And also I'd disagree with taking the lab if it's not necessary. Maybe I'm just not a "lab person," but I would rather squeeze in an extra lecture (because since when is a lab only one credit of work!) than take an unecessary lab.

Too much of trying to type with a dog in my lap and another trying to get in!

 

[sofficat]

don't do what i did-
for the most part, almost all of the prereqs are the same. i applied to ncsu and noticed that they also required a business/finance course (notice the slash...that is how they put it). i had to take biochem in my last semester (spring of this year) and for ncsu i had to take the bus/fin course. when i went through the list of rules and regulations posted by ncsu i checked them all off thinking i was ok. there was one rule that stated you must complete all but 2 prereqs by the last semester before vet school would start (thus sp 07). i thought i was fine on that rule b/c all i had left was biochem and the bus/fin course. needless to find out, bus/fin are two courses. by the time i realized that, i had forgotten about the all but two rule and was eventually disqualified from the pool of applicants at ncsu. pooey. 👎
so... in the end it was my fault, but honestly, there are so many rules and guidelines i'm surprised that was my only mistake. cover your ass.🙂

 

[cubs11]

that is horrible!!! i hate that. however, you are lucky that your biochem is offered in the spring. mine is only offered in the fall...👎 it is making scheduling a pain in the ass! i have a business minor, so hopefully that will be covered, but you are right...there are so many underlying rules and regulations regarding prereqs, and since they vary by school it's hard to keep track of them all!

 

[cubs11]

I applied to many of the same school you are applying to. I made a big list of what I absolutely had to have and checked it off as I went. That way I always had a reference. (Too bad I missed cell bio for UTK, fortunately they are letting me take it this summer!) Anyway, then I made a list of courses I would like to take and tried to fit one in a semester. I wasn't always able to. Focus on your basic pre-reqs first, especially if you're non-trad. And also I'd disagree with taking the lab if it's not necessary. Maybe I'm just not a "lab person," but I would rather squeeze in an extra lecture (because since when is a lab only one credit of work!) than take an unecessary lab

i'm doing the same thing...making a list of the required courses, and a list of the courses i'd like to take (and trying to fit them in each semester). i hate that my university only offers these upper level courses one semester (either fall or spring, and very few electives in the summer). otherwise scheduling the electives i'd really like to take, wouldn't be a problem! 😀

 

[philomycus]

I wanted to apply to UTK and Auburn, but they had a limit on how long your courses could have been taken. I think those 2 have a limit of like 6 years for Orgo (Aub), and the UTK had a limit of 6 years from Biochem. I's been like 8 for me. I know UTK said I could apply for a waiver since I teach a lot of biochem topics at the college level, but I didn't even bother b/c I really felt I'd be wasting my time. Once I was red-flagged, I thought it was over.

 

[wivet2011]

i hate that my university only offers these upper level courses one semester (either fall or spring, and very few electives in the summer). otherwise scheduling the electives i'd really like to take, wouldn't be a problem! 😀

I know exactly what you mean. At my school some classes are offered only every other year! At least they are all electives, but still... Meant that I had to plan my schedule a couple semesters in advance and hope the classes were still offered at the right times!

 

[KittenKiller]

the credit hours at my school are set up differently, so when i read the prereq courses on each of the websites, it's hard for me to tell what i need.

The same was true for my school, and you can probably call your school and find out how your school's system translates to the credit hour system, rather than calling the individual schools.

 

[cubs11]

I know exactly what you mean. At my school some classes are offered only every other year! At least they are all electives, but still... Meant that I had to plan my schedule a couple semesters in advance and hope the classes were still offered at the right times!

that is exactly what i'm experiencing right now. i can't plan on taking immunology next summer (the only time it's offered...how weird is that??) because this summer it wasn't offered. i have looked at the next closest university to me for immunology and histology, but their courses require all of these prereqs that my school doesn't even offer (they aren't mainstream bio core classes...this school has created their own courses for their own bio core). ugh!!! i wish all of the prereqs for vet school were the same!!! 🙂

 

[jfitzpatri8]

i wish all of the prereqs for vet school were the same!!! 🙂

Where would be the fun in that?

You'll get through it- I have faith in you!

J

 

[cubs11]

it might take me a few years, and a couple of school transfers, to complete them all...😀

but there is hope! haha