Question regarding DVM +/- BA/BS degree

[AgtOrange]

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Hi! I have a question regarding education....

I am trying to figure out what to do between now and the start of vet school in the fall - if I want to finish my bachelor's, I will have to take classes through the summer and will have about 1 week between finishing undergrad and starting vet school. OSU CVM doesn't require a bachelor's, and I can't really justify the time/effort/expense for something that won't be necessary or advantageous. Even the PhD programs I have looked into don't require a BA or BS with a DVM. Of the vets that I've talked to so far, 2 have a bachelor's and 2 don't, and all have said it hasn't made a difference one way or another and that it would be better to spend the summer taking a break and recharging. The classes I have left are mostly general education requirements - history, diversity, language, etc...no math or science, but time-consuming and expensive nonetheless.

I do have an appointment to speak with an advisor, but I wanted to see if I could get some opinions on here as well - has the presence/absence of a BS or BA affected you in any way?

Thanks!

 

[kittenj]

If you only have a couple courses left to complete the bachelors you might consider finishing your bachlors concurrently with your DVM. I know a lot of schools have this option, and know a vet who did so. (I also know two other vets who never completed a BA/BS.)

If I were in your position I would take the summer off, and decide if you want to finish your bachelors after taking your first semester of vet courses.

 

[StealthDog]

At the U of MN, students who start without a bachelors are awarded a BS after completing their first year of vet school classes. Not sure if that's an option at OSU or not, but it would be worth looking into!

 

[Electrophile]

If you're already accepted and ready to start, see if you can get it after a year as suggested. I am not a fan of not finishing the bachelor's, but probably too late now. What classes precisely do they want you to finish this summer?

 

[AgtOrange]

Thanks for the ideas, I'll bring up these suggestions to my advisor and see if it's a possibility to shift requirements or finish the B.S. concurrently with vet school.

Specifically, I have a history, art history, "diversity", two language, and one zoology course left, I believe (30 credit hours total).

 

[aretoo]

I know for U of Guelph (in Ontario), I'm applying to OVC after the 3rd year of a 4 year (BSc Honours) degree...I found out that if I am accepted to OVC, I will still be able to graduate with a BSc (3 yr) degree, I just won't get the Honours degree I would have recieved if I were to complete the 4th year...

not sure where you stand (or if it's different in the US) but I just thought I'd share my situation.

 

[sumstorm]

The one thing to consider is that life happens, and not always for the better. If something should happen to end your career in your choice field in veterinary medicine, what would you do? Teach? Consult? Pursue a different career?

That might be where not having a bach could become an issue. My boss (vet) doesn't have a bach, and she runs her own business, getting her DVM did not give her a bach. I also know of other vets who have dropped out of vet med for whatever reason after getting thier DVM, and have pursued other options... not sure how viable that would be without a bach. Would probably depend on where you went. I know it the business world, it is getting harder to rely on experience to compensate for a lack of completed degree (husband is in business.)

 

[HeartSong]

I wouldn't waste your summer trying to get a bachelors. If something does happen and you don't finish with vet school, just go back and finish your bach then. But once you get your DVM, no one is really going to care whether or not you have bachelors.

 

[sofficat]

I wouldn't waste your summer trying to get a bachelors. If something does happen and you don't finish with vet school, just go back and finish your bach then. But once you get your DVM, no one is really going to care whether or not you have bachelors.

I concur 🙂

 

[chris03333]

make your decision knowing that just because you are starting vet school does not guarantee finishing...

Harsh, I know, but a consideration that should be looked at.

 

[crewgal]

I'm in a similar situation. If I get accepted I will not have completed my BS by the fall, but if I took 9 credits over the summer and applied for some exception I could get it after I completed my first year... but I can also get it if I take the courses next summer in between 1st and 2nd year. I think I'm going to have enough to deal with this summer with moving, ect, but am considering taking one course, and then if I want to complete the others I believe I can take them online either during the spring semester or during the summer between the 1st & 2nd year