Senior in HS, questions about undergrad school?

[Pandas are love]

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Hi, I am currently a senior in high school, and I had already decided since I was very young that I was going to be a vet. I know I seem pretty naive, but I have well understood many of the complications of getting into vet school. And yes I am sure that I want to be a vet, because of my constant volunteering at my local animal control center and I was in FFA for all 4 years of highschool raising show animals.
Okay now that I got that over with..I'll tell you some things about me. I live in Texas, so obviously Texas A&M might be the smartest place for me to go. Personally, I really do like the place, and since I am a National Hispanic Scholar, I will save a considerable amount of money going there due to scholarships.
I applied early decision to Cornell University, because I have been in love with that place ever since I was a freshman. I guess it might be because it has the best vet school in the nation, but i like to set high goals for myself 🙂 I know that its hard..and I'm anxiously awaiting whether or not I will get accepted to Cornell in 14 days :/
My safe college is obviously A&M, and I have applied to other colleges such as Columbia, UPenn (3rd best vet school?), Rice university, and that brings me to my ultimate question. How important is the undergrad school I attend? And does it have to have a vet school in order to prepare myself for vet school sufficiently enough? I know some people say that vet schools look at the ranking of your undergrad college, so if I go to A&M...its not like theres much ranking in that college. I really want to go to a good school, that will give me an excellent experience with veterinary medicine so that I can hopefully make it into vet school into my first round of applications after undergrad.
What are some GOOD, LEGIT universities that have good rankings, and will help me to become a veterinarian? I know that experience is VERY important in getting accepted into vet school so I don't want to make the wrong choice in my undergrad college if it won't offer me much opportunities.
HELP 🙁
- pandas are love

 

[NStarz]

Hi, I am currently a senior in high school, and I had already decided since I was very young that I was going to be a vet. I know I seem pretty naive, but I have well understood many of the complications of getting into vet school. And yes I am sure that I want to be a vet, because of my constant volunteering at my local animal control center and I was in FFA for all 4 years of highschool raising show animals.
Okay now that I got that over with..I'll tell you some things about me. I live in Texas, so obviously Texas A&M might be the smartest place for me to go. Personally, I really do like the place, and since I am a National Hispanic Scholar, I will save a considerable amount of money going there due to scholarships.
I applied early decision to Cornell University, because I have been in love with that place ever since I was a freshman. I guess it might be because it has the best vet school in the nation, but i like to set high goals for myself 🙂 I know that its hard..and I'm anxiously awaiting whether or not I will get accepted to Cornell in 14 days :/
My safe college is obviously A&M, and I have applied to other colleges such as Columbia, UPenn (3rd best vet school?), Rice university, and that brings me to my ultimate question. How important is the undergrad school I attend? And does it have to have a vet school in order to prepare myself for vet school sufficiently enough? I know some people say that vet schools look at the ranking of your undergrad college, so if I go to A&M...its not like theres much ranking in that college. I really want to go to a good school, that will give me an excellent experience with veterinary medicine so that I can hopefully make it into vet school into my first round of applications after undergrad.
What are some GOOD, LEGIT universities that have good rankings, and will help me to become a veterinarian? I know that experience is VERY important in getting accepted into vet school so I don't want to make the wrong choice in my undergrad college if it won't offer me much opportunities.
HELP 🙁
- pandas are love

Hi! Welcome to the forums! You'll find your time here to be very informative 🙂

You made a few points that I would like to comment on:

Most vet schools do not care what undergrad school you attend. All that really matters is that you do well in your prerequisties, sciences, and have a good cumulative GPA (school-wise). You should go to undergrad where you think you'll be happiest. Also go where you can seek out the best opportunities--if you think that's Cornell, that's fine. So is A&M 🙂 You do not need to go to an undergrad school that has a vet school attached to it. There may be better opportunities for experiences in the veterinary/animal area, but other people will probably also have the same idea. So you may be competing for vet experience opportunities/research opportunities/etc. with every other pre-vet in the area. Personally, I picked my school before I decided I was going to apply to vet school. I love the homey atmosphere, the beautiful campus, and the small class sizes that allow me to really get to know my professors on a personal level.

Also, vet school rankings do not matter! Cornell is a great school, and so is Penn, UC Davis, Oklahoma, Tuskegee, or any of the others. Vet school rankings literally mean nothing in the world of veterinary medicine. There are only 28 vet schools accredited in the US, as opposed to 100 something medical schools (medical school rankings matter a lot more than do vet schools). It doesn't really matter if you attend the 3rd best (ranking-wise) vet school as opposed to the 4th. All that matters, really, is where you get in (😉) and which school best fits your needs.

Wishing you all the best! Rock out your prereqs and GREs (SATs for old people), enjoy college, and get some awesome experiences 🙂

 

[Vet Engineer]

I'm a current Texas A&M veterinary student so if you have any more specific questions about A&M I can try to answer them, but I didn't go there for undergrad. Just for future reference though, Aggies take a great amount of pride in their university so I would be careful about what and how you say anything that isn't positive about the university.

School rankings mean little to nothing in the world of veterinary medicine. How well you do and how you spend your time matter most. I don't know what your financial situation is, but unless you and your parents have the ability to pay for a private school education, I would strongly recommend Texas A&M. The cost of getting an education in veterinary medicine is rising while their incomes have fallen flat. Unless you feel that you could not enjoy your undergraduate experience at A&M, it is not wise to accrue a large amount of debt in undergrad only to pile on more in veterinary school.

I went to a prestigious high school so I know what it's like to think that rankings mean everything, but they don't. I promise. Go where you will be happy and try not to rack up a bunch of student debt. If you love Cornell because of their PBL and the people you have met there, go for it. However, if you just want to go there because it's a prestigious school, I wouldn't recommend it. If you end up unhappy and your grades begin to fall, it won't matter what institution you went to, you'll have plenty of trouble getting into vet school.

 

[VeganSoprano]

First piece of advice: burn your copies of US News & World Report. Seriously. School rankings are absolute rubbish. They're of marginal validity for undergrad and absolutely zero validity for vet school.

According to Wikipedia, these are the criteria used to determine US News college rankings:

* Peer assessment: a survey of the institution's reputation among presidents, provosts, and deans of admission of other institutions(15%)
* Guidance Counselor assessment: a survey of the institution's reputation among approximately 1800 high school guidance counselors.
* Retention: six-year graduation rate and first-year student retention rate(20%)
* Faculty resources: average class size, faculty salary, faculty degree level, student-faculty ratio, and proportion of full-time faculty(20%)
* Student selectivity: standardized test scores of admitted students, proportion of admitted students in upper percentiles of their high-school class, and proportion of applicants accepted(15%)
* Financial resources: per-student spending(10%)
* Graduation rate performance: difference between expected and actual graduation rate(7.5%)
* Alumni giving rate(5%)

So the only element of these rankings that has anything to do with the academic quality of the school is its ranking by peer institutions and high school guidance counselors. They're trying to tell you that you should pick a school based on how good *someone else* thinks it is! This is nonsense. It makes no more sense than choosing a spouse based on how cute other people think s/he is!

So with that said - Choose an undergrad school that you love and that won't cost you an arm and a leg. You will have to live there for four years and you have literally hundreds and hundreds of perfectly good undergrad schools to choose from. So go where you feel comfortable, where you can get the classes you need (the school should offer majors in biology and chemistry - even though you can major in absolutely anything you will need the upper-level classes offered in these departments), and where you can afford. The "best" school according to some magazine may be the school that leaves you miserable and broke. Don't do that to yourself. If you love Cornell and you get money to go there, then by all means go. But you must choose a school based on what *you* think of it, not based on what someone else thinks of it.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Agreed, rankings (both undergraduate and professional) are silly. I got rejected from residency from a low-ranked veterinary school, for example, (will remain unnamed) and ironically immediately got enthusiastically accepted by a much higher ranked one (Texas A&M, the number 6 or 7 vet school in the nation).

For undergrad, they don't really care, as long as you go to at least moderately ok school. A person that went to Virginia Tech (my alma mater and my vet school) does not have an advantage over a person that went to Harvard (although they might over a person from po-dunk univerisity that no one has ever heard of with uber grade inflation - like I said, there are always exceptions). t is all about what you do with your pre-reqs, jobs, externships, grades, and test scores - not name. Texas A&M is a wonderful undergrad school and produces good pre-vets and vets - judging by the second and fourth year students I teach and oversee....I'm not sure who told you it wasn't... don't take on extra debt if you don't need it. TRUST ME. You will already rack up 150,000 or more in vet school.

In terms of vet school, different schools want different proportions of their student bodies depending on the school's strengths....eg VMRCVM (my vet school) for research, others of Eq, etc. So look into your school of choice's strengths and see if it matches with your interests.

VetEngineer, good to see another Aggie 😉 Come to Friday pathology rounds and say hi !

 

[SilverSpyderGT]

Since I am a National Hispanic Scholar, I will save a considerable amount of money going there due to scholarships.

Let me add my own personal experience. I was accepted into three universities for undergrad: Ohio State, Case Western, and Duke. I was also a National Merit Scholar and ended up having a full ride to Ohio State. Case would have cost about $7,000/year after scholarships, and Duke was going to, quite frankly, break the bank at nearly $40,000/year.

Looking back on my choices, I am absolutely certain that going to the cheapest place possible and doing well was the smart decision. You will most likely have your share of loans after vet school, and trust me, if you can avoid tacking on anything from undergrad, it will be a big help. In addition, ANY university with a vet school will usually have a solid science program and great networking opportunities for pre-vet undergrads (animal science departments, research labs, lab animal facilities, etc.).

Money is becoming a big factor in veterinary education. Unless you're independently wealthy and aren't going to have to pay for school, you will be happy if you curb your undergrad bills as much as possible.

 

[Lemming3]

When I was looking at schools, I realized that some had animal science programs that would definitely have hands-on experience whereas others had good programs as well but I'd have to work a little harder to get experience (work or shadow at nearby vet hospitals).

I ended up choosing a land-grant with an animal science major and am so glad I chose it. I've had the chance to have not only lots of animal science courses but great experiences dealing with all major types of livestock.

Texas A&M is the land-grant for your state, but if you do want to go elsewhere look around.

 

[Pandas are love]

I got accepted into Cornell University!! Haha thanks guys. I mean it kinda scares me how you guys are telling me to go to A&M, and I like that college too. But I LOVE cornell. I know that the workload is a lot harder, but I know for sure that a degree from cornell is much more impressive than a degree from a&m, whether or not I want to become a vet! The money isnt too big of an issue, i agreed to my parents that I would pay for my grad school, they would pay for undergrad.
I mean...I dont know...do you guys think I should not go to Cornell? I freakin got accepted there...should I decline that offer for A&M?
:/ Someone gpa at A&M might be a bit higher than mine but a vet school admissions officers arent dumb and they would probably know that Cornell has a higher workload than A&M...
Lets put it this way: Money isn't an issue
But would going to cornell university jeopardize my chances of getting into vet school? sounds pretty ironic..but I know people say to go to a state school mostly for the money...but if it will hurt me from becoming a vet then I dont know..

 

[GreennWhite]

Like everyone else said, your undergrad really doesn't matter. It's how you do at your undergrad and the experience you have. Pick where you are going to be most happy, because that is where you'll do best at.

Something to add to that, doing your undergrad at a place (esp. out of state) does not increase your chances at getting into the vet school there. I went to Michigan State for undergrad and did not get accepted at their vet school. It really made no difference, they still considered me out of state even though I spent 4 years there. But I did get accepted to my In-state. Just something to point out if you're thinking going to Cornell for undergrad is going to give you a leg up to get into their vet school.

 

[VeganSoprano]

Congrats on your acceptance to Cornell! That's quite an achievement.

Have you visited both schools? You can't know which school you will prefer without visiting. Either school will prepare you for vet school. You must make your decision based on what is best for *you*. For instance - you are from Texas. If you have never experienced an upstate NY winter, you may be in for quite a shock. Or maybe the Texas heat makes you miserable and you'd do great with 3-4 months of cold and snow each winter. These things are important to consider. If you happy, you will have an easier time doing well in school and doing well in school is key.

Money is also of great consequence. If you have an opportunity to go to undergrad debt-free, it will be very difficult to justify a decision not to take advantage of this opportunity. A full scholarship is basically a gift of $100,000! That's enormous. It's money you will not have to repay down the line.

I promise you, A&M students are at absolutely no disadvantage when it comes to vet school admissions.

I'm not saying which school you should choose. But I am concerned that you are focused entirely too much on US News rankings. Those rankings are pretty much the least important thing you should be considering.

 

[racccjlm]

I think that your questions have already been answered by the above people. These guys give GREAT advice and have been on the forums for a while, so I would take what they say to heart. Go to the undergrad school that will make you happiest. Work hard, keep your GPA up, and get unique experiences that will set you apart from the crowd. You seem very motivated and set on what you want to do, and I'm sure you'll go far. Good luck!

A side note: if your parents are willing to pay for your undergrad, why not go to Texas A&M for free, and put the money they would have spent on your undergrad toward paying down your vet school bills?

 

[Pandas are love]

The thing is..Cornell has been my dream school since before I started high school. And I used to live in New York, so trust me..I love and miss the environment there...I hate texas weather...well actually I hate houston weather haha. But the thing is..getting into Cornell University has been such a HUGE impact on my life because I really proved to myself that I can go somewhere where I really set my heart on. Yeah I know its a lot more work and money but somehow I think it will be worth it. dont get me wrong, A&M is great, thats why it would be my second choice school.
And as to the one who said it won't give me a leg up into its vet school, it will offer me this:
The double registration program between Cornell University and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University is approved for students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It enables a qualified student to save one year in pursuit of the Bachelor and D.V.M. degrees. The program is intended for students who have been admitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine after completing three years of undergraduate work and who have made sufficient progress on the Bachelor's Degree requirements. Certain courses taken in the College of Veterinary Medicine can be used to complete those requirements. Questions about the program may be directed to Catherine Thompson, CALS prehealth/prevet advisor in 145 Roberts Hall.

And even though my heart is set on becoming a veterinarian, I know things can change, and it would SUCK if I gave up Cornell for A&M and I didn't even become a vet in the end, you know?

Sigh...I'm really confused...I love cornell but if its not the best for me I dont know... you guys really discouraged me from going there...
🙁
Its sad because I have never before seen a tear in my fathers eye when he found out his daughter was accepted to an ive league :/ sigh..
I need help. Also, I did early decision at cornell, but there is a loophole where I can get out of it if I can show that I can't pay for it, but its like...I worked my entire high school life for this...I dont know if I should just give it up like that..

 

[Pandas are love]

Also some statistics if it will help you guys:
For the classes entering the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University (CVMCU) for the past five years, generally over 20 members of the class were from Cornell. Approximately 100 Cornellians apply to CVMCU each year. No figures are currently available for Cornell students accepted at veterinary schools other than Cornell. Nationally, in 2008 there were over 6,000 applicants to U.S. vet school and over to 2,700 enrolled.

 

[GreennWhite]

Very well, I wasn't factoring in that. I'll rephrase, if you don't get into a program that puts you on the fast track, the fact that you went to a school for undergrad doesn't necessarily give you a leg up to get into their vet school.

I don't think anyone is discouraging you from going to Cornell. Both are fantastic schools, you need to go where you will be happiest. It is a big decision, but not irreversible. Just think it over carefully, and choose a school because it's the right one for you, not because it's ranked higher or may "look" better on your transcripts - because that doesn't matter.

 

[Pandas are love]

I feel like many of you are saying that the smart thing to do would be to go to A&M university.
and omg..I dont care about the ranks...I just put that stuff in my original message because I wanted to show that I was really serious about this..I mean I understand that the ranks are highly overrated and that intelligence varies on every college but, should I really turn down Cornell? I mean, besides the money issue, is it going to be that deleterious for my ambitions to become a vet?
Lets think about it this way, either college I go to, A&M or Cornell, I'm still going to have to study my ass off. And as far as I'm concerned, there are more students at A&M university who have ambitions to become a vet than at cornell, so getting opportunities at A&M (like experience, internships, research) would be difficult. At cornell, I know they would be difficult as well, so dont get offended aggies.
I'm really not a ivy-league name brand person, its just that if going to cornell was my dream, I should follow it yes? Just tell me if im making a stupid decision. Because I know that everyone I know, my parents who have both graduated for med school and have friends from vet school, would tell me that I am stupid for turning down Cornell...
:/ Im stressed...

 

[Pandas are love]

Im sorry for bothering you guys so much with my questions but heres something else..
I am the kind of person who can and will be happy at any university. Thats because of my personality, and whatnot, but of course, all of us do have those dreams. Like...turning down Cornell..would depress me. Because its like..you have a goal to go somewhere. and you accomplish it, and then you turn it down because other people make you feel like its a stupid decision...and I mean it might be. Going to a&m might also be a stupid decision too. Basically any college you go to you take a risk. If I decide I want to become something else in the animal field..well Im screwed because I chose a&m over cornell. I might get bad grades at cornell, but I migght also get bad grades at a&m..and I would much ratther get bad grades at cornell than a&m lol. Because its almost impossible to fail out of any ivy league college. I donttt knowwwwwwwwww...I dont know why im still arguing. its obvious i want to stay at cornell because (FOR ME) its the most amazing school. But I also see what you guys are saying, and it slightly scares me because I dont want to make a huge mistake :/

 

[HopefulAg]

Well it sounds like you want to go to Cornell more than A&M. I'd go with Vet Engineer though on the debt issue (you're going to have plenty with just vet school).

I went to A&M for both undergrad and now vet school, so if you've any questions, I'll try to answer them for you. I personally really love the school but I recognize that it's not for everyone.

VetEngineer, good to see another Aggie 😉 Come to Friday pathology rounds and say hi !

Are those the ones in the 50x room? They were always in the middle of our anatomy review sessions lol.

 

[Pandas are love]

1) Do you know how many people are interested in becoming a vet at Texas A&M? I know a LOT of people who go there JUST to become a vet. A TON. And I have already met many of my fellow class of '15 cornellians and not one of them has told me they want to be a vet? A&M has an undergrad Veterinary College...imagine all the people there OF COURSE want to become a vet too. And just so you know, College Station, is definitely not in the center of the world. Since its vet program is also of a very high caliber, it would be difficult there to get opportunities, maybe just for the fact that so many people go there to undergrad to become a vet. I know a lot about texas a&m because I live in houston, trust me, i hear enough about it.

2) Well yeah its a competitive program, but its not like Im counting to be in that program for sure. Ill work my ass off for it, but guess what, even if I dont get onto that early admit program, doesnt mean I wont become a vet?

3) My parents WANT me to go to Cornell. I want to go there too. Trust me, money isn't an issue. Yeah I feel bad, its my parents money, but not everything is about money value. Going to a prestigious college also has an intrinsic value in itself.

4) I'm not stupid. I know that going to college somewhere for undergrad I wont be considered an instater. My life would be made if I got into Cornell Vet school, but if I get into any other vet school, which are ALL just as great, I will still be happy. Undergrad school though, for me, I feel that I need to go to a really good one, because I want to do really well at vet school.

5) I got the numbers directly from Cornell's website and I even recieved an updated brochure about it. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't lie.

Yeah my heart is set on Cornell, hell I already got into it. And its been set on there ever since I have visited it. Yeah I used to live in new york, in brooklyn, and duh I know it is nothing like ithaca. But in case you dont know, you probably do, I find ithaca to be one of the most beautiful places I have been to in the United States. I really enjoy being there. You might hate it, but I love it. I also love the fact that Im much close to NYC than College Station is.

Undergrad may not matter, but there is always an intrinsic value. Telling your kids you graduated from an ivy league, having that on a resume, you can't really compare that to a bachelors from a&m.
**Also, Cornell's brochure of getting into vet school:
Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Take your time and research your choices. Use a college guide and apply to the most competitive colleges into which you believe you can gain acceptance. Your undergraduate preparation is critical to your success in gaining admission and doing well in our DVM curriculum.

Four years later when you apply to veterinary college we will assign points to the college you attended and compare your college to the colleges of other applicants. Cornell tends to take its students from the most competitive colleges. We measure the competitiveness of a college based on “Peterson's Guide to Four Year Colleges” entrance ranking system.

🙂 I don't think that cornell is the only college that views applications in this manner, as you have stated.
I know I'm taking a risk, and I'm glad you made me realize I could completely faiiiillll, but ..youre right. Its my decision, and I'll just choose the one that has made me the most happy.

 

[bee83]

Hey, if got accepted into Cornell, I'd pick that over my hometown university too! Congrats, that is an awesome achievement! True, going to Cornell might not be the most PRACTICAL thing to do, but it is your dream so I say go for it. I'm 27 and went to art school for undergrad, lol, because it was my DREAM, and I don't regret it for a minute. You MIGHT end up regretting going to Cornell, but I think that if you go to A&M, part of you will always regret not going to Cornell. You could always move back home if you hate it. AND, if your parents are paying for your undergrad either way, why not pick the school that makes you most excited?
As Joseph Campbell would say, "Follow your bliss."

 

[Pandas are love]

wow bee83..thank you!
I didn't look at it that way. I would regret it...for a long time 🙁 It would haunt me. And even if I do bad at Cornell , lol, I know there are some vet schools that are less competitive than others, so my dream to become a vet would be accomplished nonetheless.
And I know its not the most practical...its the same thing for med school, and practically every other graduate school out there. But, like you said, a dream is a dream..hopefully I wont do bad, even if I do, I tried. I cant just give up 🙂

 

[psilovethomas]

so my dream to become a vet would be accomplished nonetheless.

Getting accepted to vet school is NEVER a given. You have to work hard, no matter what college you attend. Only a handful of schools give "points" for the UG institutions.
If money is not an issue and you think you can excel at Cornell, then go to Cornell. BUT don't go to Cornell just because it is an Ivy.

 

[HopefulAg]

1) Do you know how many people are interested in becoming a vet at Texas A&M?

Quite a few. Our Pre-Vet Society was 300 members strong, but most of that is Freshman. As you go up the ladder, there's less and less members of each class.

And just so you know, College Station, is definitely not in the center of the world.

I...never...said it was?

Since its vet program is also of a very high caliber, it would be difficult there to get opportunities

This is true, but you can go hang out with the LA folks if nothing else. They're pretty receptive. But honestly I did all my experience over the summer breaks back home because I couldn't get a job working at a local vet clinic in CS. It is doable, but you gotta be persistent.

3) My parents WANT me to go to Cornell. I want to go there too. Trust me, money isn't an issue. Yeah I feel bad, its my parents money, but not everything is about money value. Going to a prestigious college also has an intrinsic value in itself.

This would be true if you wanted to do, say, business, but in the veterinary world where each college is more or less on even footing, no one really cares. They MIGHT care if you want to specialize but other than that...if you graduate, then yeh, very few people care where you got your DVM from.

Additionally, the only thing Cornell might work in your favor for compared to A&M is in their Academic Rigor category, but A&M counts itself in the highest category for academic rigor, so anything above them (like Ivy league schools) isn't going to get any more points; just lumped in the same category.

4) I'm not stupid. I know that going to college somewhere for undergrad I wont be considered an instater. My life would be made if I got into Cornell Vet school, but if I get into any other vet school, which are ALL just as great, I will still be happy. Undergrad school though, for me, I feel that I need to go to a really good one, because I want to do really well at vet school.

Well I may be biased but I feel A&M is a really good undergrad school. Also I would strongly urge you to look at what your debt load for Cornell undergrad + vet school (any vet school) will be and figure out what your monthly payments on that debt would be, because vets don't get paid all that much...

Undergrad may not matter, but there is always an intrinsic value. Telling your kids you graduated from an ivy league, having that on a resume, you can't really compare that to a bachelors from a&m.

I don't really see why not. I think you're lumping areas where Cornell is clearly better than A&M, such as business and law, with those where they're probably on even grounds at best, such as life sciences. But either way, I'd be proud of either school, but everyone has different values on different things.

Your undergraduate preparation is critical to your success in gaining admission and doing well in our DVM curriculum.

You'd have to talk to the admissions office for vet med at Cornell to figure out just how much emphasis they place on doing your undergrad there vs somewhere else. Your in-state status would definitely give you an edge as it does in any other state with a vet school.

🙂 I don't think that cornell is the only college that views applications in this manner, as you have stated.
I know I'm taking a risk, and I'm glad you made me realize I could completely faiiiillll, but ..youre right. Its my decision, and I'll just choose the one that has made me the most happy.

I'm not sure who the 'you' is but I doubt anyone was trying to overly emphasize that you could fail, but there is a certain degree of realism one must take into account.

I didn't look at it that way. I would regret it...for a long time 🙁 It would haunt me. And even if I do bad at Cornell , lol, I know there are some vet schools that are less competitive than others, so my dream to become a vet would be accomplished nonetheless.

Getting into vet school isn't like getting into med school where some colleges are 'safety' schools. There's really not any vet schools that are 'less competitive' than others unless you include the Caribbean schools. Pretty much any vet school will require a 3.0+ for instate (and really, a 3.4ish is more realistic) and higher for out of state (since you're competing in a larger pool of applicants).

BUT don't go to Cornell just because it is an Ivy.

Isn't Cornell also the lowest ranked Ivy? 'The Ivy league that shouldn't be' I've always heard it referred to (unless I'm thinking of another school).

 

[RaiderTXgirl]

I think you have unrealistic views of college, rankings, and the vet school process.

I'm going to have to agree with this. It seems like half of this thread has been spent with you defending Cornell, not looking for actual advice. It sounds like you will be happiest at Cornell, and that's totally fine. Just realize that you are only barely beginning college, and have time to worry about where you apply to vet school later, IF it is still even something you want to do. College is full of changes and "figuring yourself out", and there is no reason to stress about vet school applications right now. Just worry about undergrad right now, and either Cornell or A&M is going to be more than adequate for possibly applying to vet school later. I'm not saying totally forget about getting experience, good grades, etc., but hell, there are plenty of people that get into vet school and their undergrad schools didn't even have a vet school (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and they are not at a total disadvantage just because they went to those schools). There are also many people that go to a school that DOES have a vet school (i.e. Cornell), and they end up going to a vet school out of state anyway, because they didn't get into their undergrad school's vet school.

Getting into vet school is a long, complicated, and taxing process. Sounds like you need to do more research into the application process, because you are forming some misguided conclusions. When you get to Cornell (I would venture to say that is where you will end up going), talk to your pre-vet advisor about the process, because it seems like you will be more likely to listen to them than to us.

I know a lot about texas a&m because I live in houston, trust me, i hear enough about it.

By the way, living in Houston may have given you a general impression of A&M, but it doesn't tell you a thing about the vet school. I'm from Houston too, so I get it - you can't go to an Academy or even a Walmart without seeing UT and TAMU memorabilia, but there is a reason for that. They are GOOD schools. You really shouldn't discard A&M just because of what you THINK the school is all about. If you really want to go to vet school, you need to keep your options open and be thankful that you get in ANYWHERE.

 

[goldnretrivrgrl]

I actually applied to Cornell for my undergrad as well. So, when I was accepted to Penn State, I had many of the same thoughts you are having. And I'm not going to lie- ivy league school sounded really good at the time. 🙂 Eh, what can I say, I'm only human.
Anyway, I ended up choosing Penn State which was the BEST decision I ever made. I received a full scholarship (woo hoo for graduating in the spring with no debt!) and truly love the people here both pre-vet and non! I went to my first ever vet school interview on Friday at the Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. I was called and offered admission into the Class of 2015 several hours later. 😍Penn State didn't hold me back at all. It gave me the tools I needed to be the best applicant possible and for that I will always be grateful. So just think about this as you are making your decision. There's a lot to be said about graduating debt free from a college that you love. But the loving it part is important too. If Cornell is your decision- go for it! It's a great school. But there are lots of great schools out there and I was lucky enough to go to one of them. Good luck!

 

[breenie]

You clearly want someone to validate your choice to go to Cornell, so go to Cornell.

I'm surprised that no one mentioned getting actual veterinary experience. Working at a humane society and doing FFA aren't the same as what vets do. Make sure you shadow at a clinic and get an accurate idea of what your life will be like (ie, cuddling of kittens is minimal, avoiding psycho cat bites is rampant).

There's a reason that HopefulAg mentioned pre-vet club numbers dwindling as you go up the classes.

 

[superkelpie]

If you applied early decision to Cornell, I think you're obligated to go, making this whole thread moot point (unless you meant early action?). But it sounds like you really really really really do want to go to Cornell (I'm kind of in the same place b/c I live in Texas but I'm applying to Cornell too, and I wasn't sure which was better.) so definitely go; you'll get a great education either way.

 

[that redhead]

You clearly want someone to validate your choice to go to Cornell, so go to Cornell.

I'm surprised that no one mentioned getting actual veterinary experience. Working at a humane society and doing FFA aren't the same as what vets do. Make sure you shadow at a clinic and get an accurate idea of what your life will be like (ie, cuddling of kittens is minimal, avoiding psycho cat bites is rampant).

There's a reason that HopefulAg mentioned pre-vet club numbers dwindling as you go up the classes.

Exactly what I was going to say. Working with animals and working with animals under the supervision of a veterinarian are two very different things. You also say you know you've known you want to be a vet since a young age. I'm assuming at this young age you wanted to be a vet because you love animals. However, like those of us here who have also wanted to be a vet from a young age, you need to reassess your motivation behind wanting to be a vet. You can easily work with animals in many other contexts that don't require the same hard work and grueling schooling (rhyme! ha!) that becoming a veterinarian does. I think you need to re-evaluate your desire to pursue veterinary medicine throughout college. A lot of people have wanted to be vets forever and a lot of people change their minds. I'm not saying you will, necessarily, but you may when you get some actual veterinary experience and learn about the profession on a first-hand basis.

I think the topic of you going where you want for undergrad has been covered thoroughly enough. Go to Cornell if you want. Easy solution!

 

[Chill1818]

Congrats on you early admission!!!! What an exciting moment for you, you should definitely be proud of your accomplishment.

But I also want to say that you asked a question and everyone here responded honestly and with great feedback. I don't quite understand some of your responses to their posts and why you are feeling so attacked. I think it's quite clear that Cornell is your decision, so why you are confused? Are looking for everyone to soley agree with you that Cornell is the right place for sure? No one here can give that to you because none of us here are you. We have a variety of backgrounds and different experiences all creating different opinions.

You definitely come across as someone who has a lot of growing up to do, which is 100% fine!!!! That's what undergrad is for. But instead of going on the defensive, maybe just listen and consider what people here are saying. And then say thank you!

Enjoy your undergrad for what it is...a time to explore, try new things, grow, challenge yourself, mature, fail, succeed, etc etc etc. I applied to 19 undergrad schools (yes I know, a little nutty), getting accepted to over a dozen of them, some being highly ranked, and I ultimately picked UCSB (one of the lower ranked schools of my acceptances) because of location, closeness to my family, tuition cost, their honor program and really because when I went to visit, I LOVED IT!!!! \

And things change allllllllllll the time. I went in with vet vet vet on the mind. Even that changed, especially after I spent 6 months living in another country. I even minored in Anthropology which was never on my radar when I first entered the program. I also did really well and I also completely failed at times (twice as a matter of fact in Biochem). I did not go straight from undergrad to vet school. I was out for 4 years managing a dog shelter, being a vet assitant, teaching after school science programs, working in dog daycare....you can't predict where life will take you. I guess what I am trying to say is...

KEEP AN OPEN MIND

Currently I am at CSU in vet med and I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I am excelling in my classes, I've met wonderful people, I love the area and I am truly happy. I feel as if I have found my way home. This would not have been the case if I had not just lived a little, went where life took me and kept my options open. Everyone has a different journey, a different path they take. And all of them are fine. Follow your passion, but realize there is not just a single path to reach that goal. And also realize that there is value to be found in a variety of opinions.

Again, congrats!!! I truly mean that and I think you have great determination.

 

[EllieGirl89]

Ick. First of all, check the 'tude. That's one thing that isn't going to impress ANY vet school. You're getting super defensive when you're the one who asked for advice. We're not trying to sway you either way-why would we? We've got no vested interest in the situation. However, you wanted our views, and we're giving you our honest opinions, based on what we know as college students, college graduates, vet school applicants, and veterinary students. So take or leave our collective body of knowledge, but don't get smart just because you don't like what we have to say.

That being said, let me tell you something about "dream schools"-they're not always all they're cracked up to be. I grew up dreaming of attending the University of Notre Dame. I carried this dream with me all the way up until I wasn't much younger than you. My junior year of high school, I attended Pre-Vet Day at The Ohio State University, and I instantly fell in love with OSU. I went home after that and applied to OSU and was accepted early decision in November of my junior year.

Then, towards the end of my senior year of high school, I received a letter in the mail. It was from the local community college, offering me a full-tuition scholarship for two years (an associate degree). The decision was agonizing. I wanted to go to OSU SO. BAD. One of my best friends from high school was going there. My family urged me to choose the community college and eventually, albeit reluctantly, I agreed.

I thought it was the end of the world. I was missing out on my dream school. All my friends were going away to college and I would be stuck in this podunk town, still living with Mom and Dad, going to a crappy community college. Did I worry about that stigma? HECK yes. I worried about how horrible it would look to vet schools that I went to a community college. Would they think I did it as a cop out? So that I could take "easy" classes and get good grades?

I whined a lot. Finally, one day, my mom got sick of hearing it and told me to "quit b*tching and make the most of it." So I did. I busted my butt at that community college, and I graduated with honors and as a member of Phi Theta Kappa with not one but TWO degrees-an AS and an AA-and then transferred to OSU for fall of 2009.

As for how the vet school would look at it? Well first of all, my GPA at Ohio State is higher than my graduating GPA from the community college, so that tells them 2 things-1.) that the CC prepared me adequately for the upper-level coursework I'd take at OSU and 2.) that I didn't just get some easy-peasy skate through school at the CC. Apparently they don't mind too much, because I have an interview this coming Thursday. Also, I'll be graduating this spring with less debt than I would have accrued just in that FIRST YEAR had I gone to OSU from the very beginning.

What I'm trying to portray to you, is that I KNOW what it feels like to think undergrad choice is everything. I understand that right now, prestige and being able to "say" you went to a big important school seems like a huge deal. But being here on the other side, getting ready to graduate in the spring with a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Science and, God willing, starting vet school in the fall-it doesn't mean squat. If you can get through college and make it out on the other side with a good GPA, adequate experience, a good GRE, and the skills you need to make it through veterinary school, then you're successful no matter where you achieved those things. You'll be proud of yourself no matter what.

Knowing that, you need to do what's best for you. If you think you'll be able to go to Cornell and achieve all those things and your parents are in a position to finance that for you-then by all means, go for it. Just remember that things can change in an instant--my father had some extremely severe health issues this spring and ended up being laid off from his job due to the economy. My parents weren't financing my education, but had they been, that would be a huge blow and would have caused some problems.

But if you think you'd be just as happy at TAMU and could achieve your goals there too, and if it would be financially more feasible (i.e., your parents could pay for you to attend and put away the difference that they would have been paying for you to attend Cornell and save it for vet school) then don't completely push that option aside either.

In the end this is a decision only you can make. Take the advice from others, weigh it against what you think you want and need, and make the decision that is best for you. If you want to know what I would do, well, when I was your age I probably would have gone to Cornell. However, knowing what I know now, I'd choose TAMU hands down. But what really matters is your happiness and your success, so you need to make this decision.

Best of luck.

 

[Ehkehfemal]

3) My parents WANT me to go to Cornell. I want to go there too. Trust me, money isn't an issue. Yeah I feel bad, its my parents money, but not everything is about money value. Going to a prestigious college also has an intrinsic value in itself.

If money isn't the problem and you hate Texas A and M, why are we having this conversation?

 

[moosenanny]

Isn't Cornell also the lowest ranked Ivy? 'The Ivy league that shouldn't be' I've always heard it referred to (unless I'm thinking of another school).

I think you scared the OP away! Haha, yeah my undergrad was not an Ivy and is ranked higher than Cornell by US News & World Report 😀

 

[HopefulAg]

It's a possibility. I assume though that she's going to go to Cornell, which may be a good thing, because [no offense intended but it's going to come across as such] she doesn't sound like she'd fit with A&M very well [though our Greek life is growing every year], at least not the aspect of A&M I focused on.

Then, towards the end of my senior year of high school, I received a letter in the mail. It was from the local community college, offering me a full-tuition scholarship for two years (an associate degree). The decision was agonizing. I wanted to go to OSU SO. BAD. One of my best friends from high school was going there. My family urged me to choose the community college and eventually, albeit reluctantly, I agreed.

From the flip side, going into undergrad I got offered a full-ride at LSU and chose A&M (my 'dream school' who offered me naught) over LSU. Wasn't a particularly intelligent thing to do from a monetary stand point but I don't regret it. Might when I have to re-pay the loans though. 😀

But the price difference between A&M and LSU isn't near as pronounced as the difference between A&M and Cornell.

 

[EllieGirl89]

It's a possibility. I assume though that she's going to go to Cornell, which may be a good thing, because [no offense intended but it's going to come across as such] she doesn't sound like she'd fit with A&M very well [though our Greek life is growing every year], at least not the aspect of A&M I focused on.



From the flip side, going into undergrad I got offered a full-ride at LSU and chose A&M (my 'dream school' who offered me naught) over LSU. Wasn't a particularly intelligent thing to do from a monetary stand point but I don't regret it. Might when I have to re-pay the loans though. 😀

But the price difference between A&M and LSU isn't near as pronounced as the difference between A&M and Cornell.

Glad that worked out for you and you got to go to the school you wanted =) The price difference between A&M and LSU probably wasn't as pronounced as the difference between my CC and Ohio State either. As in, tuition at the CC was less than $2,000 per year (no room and board since I lived at home with mommy and daddy) and Ohio State would have been upwards of $20,000. The full ride didn't JUST save me the cost of tuition at the CC, it saved me the cost of two years of tuition, room and board, etc. at Ohio State. That's more than $40,000 that I won't have to worry about down the road and I'm SO glad I made the decision I did, and in the end that's s all about. I got a good education, got a lot of pre-reqs out of the way, and it cost me nothing-plus I'm still graduating from my dream school and in the running for vet school.

I realize this is a different situation than the one the OP is facing, but I just thought I'd present the prospective of somebody who decided against her dream school in favor of something more practical and just as valuable.

 

[TongaPup]

.

 

[Minnerbelle]

Also, I did early decision at cornell, but there is a loophole where I can get out of it if I can show that I can't pay for it, but its like...I worked my entire high school life for this...I dont know if I should just give it up like that..

Seconding what someone said earlier about early decision... if you got accepted early decision from Cornell, YOU HAVE TO GO. What you describe is NOT a loophole. It's for someone who absolutely cannot go to Cornell without a scholarship, and the college didn't offer any. You said that money is not an issue. Unless the money that is going to pay for your schooling is stashed into a shady offshore escrow account... or the money is coming from someone other than your parents, you don't even have a way of hiding that money. Furthermore, it is totally unethical for you to "get out of" this binding contract since obviously money isn't an issue for you. Your ethical obligation is to withdraw your application from A&M IMMEDIATELY. Cornell gave you extra consideration (as in you might not have been a good enough applicant for them to admit as a regular applicant, but they may have let you in anyway) because you PROMISED to go if you got in. Just so you know, ethics/integrity is a huuuuuge deal in the veterinary profession.

If you decide to go to A&M at this point, and they actually let you matriculate (which will only happen if they don't find out about your early decision to Cornell), it will certainly come back and bite you in the ass for vet school. When you apply to vet school, you have to list every undergrad institution that you got accepted to. You WILL have to put down that you got accepted to Cornell undergrad. At that point, you will likely be in deep **** for Cornell vet school admissions.

Don't take this stuff lightly. I have a sister who got into a lot of trouble with early decision (it wasn't her fault, but she paid dearly for it). If you don't withdraw your application to A&M immediately, you can possibly lose your spot in either school... just sayin.

It sounds like you want to go to Cornell anyway, so rather than putting down state schools, it might be wiser to just be happy with your acceptance and move on. If your parents want you to go to Cornell too, and they're the ones financing... why not? I will say though, that spending over half a million dollars in post-secondary education when your starting salary at age >26 is like $60k is pretty silly even if your parents are financing it... but hey, that's your prerogative. In terms of vet school admissions, your chances for getting accepted won't be affected by which undergrad you go to. Vet school is very good about assessing each student for what he/she has achieved, and people have the potential to achieve (or fail) no matter what undergrad they go to. It sounds like you have a lot of growing to do, so remember, vet schools look for professional development just as much as they do academic achievements!

I might get bad grades at cornell, but I migght also get bad grades at a&m..and I would much ratther get bad grades at cornell than a&m lol. Because its almost impossible to fail out of any ivy league college.

I wouldn't be too sure about that. People don't say that "Cornell is the easiest ivy league to get into, but the hardest to graduate from" for no reason...

 

[light10]

When you apply to vet school, you have to list every undergrad institution that you got accepted to. You WILL have to put down that you got accepted to Cornell undergrad.

huuuuuuuuuuh?? I don't remember anything like that on VMCAS or any supplementals from schools I applied to. Why would vet schools care where you could've-but-didn't go to undergrad?

I applied early decision to my college, but had already been accepted by my state university (rolling admissions) when I got in. Obviously, declined state school, went to my college.

I'm not quite sure where this huge pile-on on the OP is coming from. She sounds like a pretty typical high school student - yes, needs to do some growing up/maturing, but who didn't?! Especially if she comes from a community where 'where you go to college' is all middle school and high school *parents* talk about. My little sister (10 years younger, grew up in DC while I grew up in midwestern town) grew up in exactly that sort of situation...she doesn't have a single friend going to a state university. Its a totally different world. I got great education at a well known liberal arts college, I'm sure the OP will get a fine education at Cornell, I have friends who got a fine education at our state university. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Minnerbelle]

huuuuuuuuuuh?? I don't remember anything like that on VMCAS or any supplementals from schools I applied to. Why would vet schools care where you could've-but-didn't go to undergrad?

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuh perhaps you should read the directions before you hit submit...

VMCAS clearly states:
"In this section, you will list information on all post-secondary institutions to which you applied and were admitted to, even the schools you did not attend." (note: emphasis NOT mine)

I dunno why vet schools care.

I got great education at a well known liberal arts college, I'm sure the OP will get a fine education at Cornell, I have friends who got a fine education at our state university. Different strokes for different folks.

I don't think anyone's disputing that. The problem is the OP asked for suggestions, and people gave advice. Apparently such advice was irrelevant to the OP, which is fine I guess... but OP went on to get defensive. That gets kind of annoying. (and personally, I think it's rather despicable for the OP to even consider not withdrawing her apps from other schools once accepted early decision).

 

[light10]

Oh crap, I totally missed that. And I thought (like everyone else, I'm sure) that I'd gone over all the instructions with a fine toothed comb. It still doesn't make sense that they'd want that info, especially in the section entitled 'previous enrollments' (obviously never enrolled at schools I didn't attend!)

At first, I was thinking it wasn't a big deal - since, as I mentioned, I did early decision for undergrad so its just one school. Then I remembered that I got accepted to numerous places when I was applying to grad schools.

Crap crap crap.

I'll stop derailing this thread now though. I have to call my schools anyway to ask about whether they want fall transcripts when all I have are 'in progress' (no grade) thesis hours.

(oh, and I agree that it's totally unethical not to withdraw other applications after a getting a binding ED acceptance)

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Are those the ones in the 50x room? They were always in the middle of our anatomy review sessions lol.

No, those are the resident rounds. Gross rounds for both students and residents are at 4pm in the necropsy building wetlab, but they will likely be at 1pm in the spring semester. We go through all out necropsy cases for the week, show cool pictures, show the tissues, etc. It's really laid back, half the time we are all playfully arguing about some lesion or something, like the geeks we are...

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Telling your kids you graduated from an ivy league, having that on a resume, you can't really compare that to a bachelors from a&m.

Wow. You're an incredible douchebag.

You're not even in college yet! You have no clue what you're talking about, except maybe your parents telling you how awesome Ivy League is and how state schools are inferior. You have none, nada, zip real world experience to back up such a ridiculous sentiment. Do you just pore over school rankings from afar and mentally gobble up every pundit's opinion as to a school's academic worth like a kitten lapping up cream? You have serious superiority problems....the real world will hit you soon enough.

I graduated from Virginia Tech and I am more proud of my state school biochemistry bachelor's degree than some hoity-toity Ivy League school with grade inflation. I am just as proud of my Virginia-Maryland D.V.M. as I would be if it was Cornell. And I would have NO problem telling my kids that. My education was just as good as any higher ranked school.

If you want proof, I beat out approximately 40-50 other applicants for my single residency spot, the vast majority of which were from higher-ranked schools since Va-Md is "low" on "rankings" ladder. I am very proud of my education. Don't you dare say that a non-Ivy League degree or a degree from a lower ranked school is inferior.

You have a LOT of growing up to do. There may be a difference between some backwater community college and Cornell, but saying that a degree from Cornell is better than a degree from any other good, high ranked state school is absolutely preposterous and immature.

 

[Coquette22]

It's a little outdated but maybe the OP might find this quote interesting:

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]But maybe the kids who got into Yale were simply more talented or hardworking than those who got into Tulane. To adjust for this, Krueger and Dale studied what happened to students who were accepted at an Ivy or a similar institution, but chose instead to attend a less sexy, "moderately selective" school. It turned out that such students had, on average, the same income twenty years later as graduates of the elite colleges. Krueger and Dale found that for students bright enough to win admission to a top school, later income "varied little, no matter which type of college they attended." In other words, the student, not the school, was responsible for the success. .

Cite: Who Needs Harvard?

I think there's been another study more recently that turned up the same thing, but I can't find it right now.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I know that the workload is a lot harder, but I know for sure that a degree from cornell is much more impressive than a degree from a&m, whether or not I want to become a vet! .....

:/ Someone gpa at A&M might be a bit higher than mine but a vet school admissions officers arent dumb and they would probably know that Cornell has a higher workload than A&M...

That is also absolute bullcrap. Where on earth are you getting these ideas?? The workload has nothing to do with the school's rankings. A higher ranked school does not unequivocally = bigger workload, or tougher classes, period. At Va-Md our fourth years are worked much harder than most other schools (and I know firsthand because I lived it, plus I'm now a resident who teaches fourth years students at another institution, and have also done multiple rotations at various schools when I was a fourth year) yet we are "low-ranked".

What makes you impressive to vet schools is not the NAME of the school on your degree but what you DID (externships, publications, volunteer work, clinic work, grades in pre-reqs, etc). You're right, admissions offices are not dumb - the vast majority KNOW to look PAST (and WILL look past) the school name and look at what you actually did.

Jesus Christ. Excuse my rant, but this crap drives me nuts. Take it from someone almost a decade older than you, kid. Get that ego in check. You seem driven and that's good, I admire that - but having such an attitude will NOT endear you to professors, clinicians, or clients.

 

[RaiderTXgirl]

Wow. You're an incredible douchebag.

🤣🤣🤣

Sorry, but I think you spoke for many of us. (Especially those of us that are too stressed out with interview invitation season to put up with stuff like this)

I know some might defend her based on her age, etc., but come on. At some point, you just gotta get a reality check. Time to grow up....

Anyway, carry on.......

 

[breenie]

🤣🤣🤣

Sorry, but I think you spoke for many of us. (Especially those of us that are too stressed out with interview invitation season to put up with stuff like this)

I know some might defend her based on her age, etc., but come on. At some point, you just gotta get a reality check. Time to grow up....

Anyway, carry on.......

I mean, presumably she's 17 or 18. I'm 20. I don't go around posting crap like this on the forum, and I only have a 2 year head start on life. 😉 So, from one of the youngin's... Age isn't an excuse.

 

[RaiderTXgirl]

So, from one of the youngin's... Age isn't an excuse.

My point exactly! 🙂

 

[psilovethomas]

I mean, presumably she's 17 or 18. I'm 20. I don't go around posting crap like this on the forum, and I only have a 2 year head start on life. 😉 So, from one of the youngin's... Age isn't an excuse.

+1. 👍 Or maybe some of us just mature faster than others? The OP has a rude awakening comin' to her next fall.

 

[superkelpie]

I mean, presumably she's 17 or 18. I'm 20. I don't go around posting crap like this on the forum, and I only have a 2 year head start on life. 😉 So, from one of the youngin's... Age isn't an excuse.

Agreed. I'm 16, and personally, this whole thread seems like a defense on "why Cornell is better than A&M". I'm going to apply to Cornell on the off-chance that I get a scholarship (which I won't since I'm not in ROTC...) but I'm super excited and proud that I'm probably going to go to Texas A&M even though I could go to a "prestigious" college with my class rank. Less debt later=happier me.

 

[SilverSpyderGT]

**Also, Cornell's brochure of getting into vet school:
Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Take your time and research your choices. Use a college guide and apply to the most competitive colleges into which you believe you can gain acceptance. Your undergraduate preparation is critical to your success in gaining admission and doing well in our DVM curriculum.

I don't think that cornell is the only college that views applications in this manner, as you have stated.
I know I'm taking a risk, and I'm glad you made me realize I could completely faiiiillll, but ..youre right. Its my decision, and I'll just choose the one that has made me the most happy.

I have to point out a flaw in this argument - the brochure from which you copied this is from a "prestigious" institution who is lobbying for your (or your parents') tuition dollars. They will tell you whatever they need to to make you think, "Oh, my gosh, if I don't go to Cornell, I'll never get into vet school!" The other posters above me are right - you can be very adequately prepared for vet school applications regardless of where you go to school.

I feel like we are beating a dead horse.

 

[goldnretrivrgrl]

I feel like we are beating a dead horse.

Yeah, I think the OP ran away a while ago. 😳

 

[Pandas are love]

Actually I haven't run away? Lol, sorry I'm busy doing many things and preparing for college? haha.
Yes, I do admit that I did sound pretty offensive to people who have attended other schools. And yeah, whatever, doesn't really matter. Most of you guys are grown adults, so its not like this should bother you much.
Like someone else told me, it may not be the most practical, but it's what I want to do. There's nothing wrong with A&M, but to me, personally, it's not as good for me as Cornell is, and no it does not have to do with ranks, but which the general feel of the college. I have visited both, and it might be the size or location or the people, but I felt more comfortable at cornell. And I guess you guys would say that A&M is more comfy to you guys, and thats fine. We all have our different opinions.
Yeah, I was trying to defend my own opinion, because saying that going to any undergraduate school, and telling that to someone young, is the same thing, is a pretty preposterous thing to say. Yeah I do want to be a vet, but doesn't mean that my mind will always be the same. Like I said, a degree from Cornell will take me considerably farther than a degree from A&M. FOR ME. not for you guys, I don't know any of you so of course I was saying that for myself.. the chance that I don't become a vet, I can at least have a good degree from a reputable college. Why do I say I would choose to have a degree from Cornell than from A&M? because I plan on living in NYC or in the surrounding areas in the future.
But anyway, I saw a comment about Cornell being the lowest ivy? I guess you could say that its the easiest to get in because they do accept more students than others. But honestly, does it mattter that its the lowest ivy? what is A&M then? the highest ivy?
I first made this post because I didn't know, I didnt even think cornell would have accepted me, so I wanted to have a good plan B. Now that my plan A works, I guess like you said this post has become pointless haha. Yeah I'm young, just turned 17, immature, stupid, call me whatever you want. But I could never live down having turned down a place I really admire for my state university. I would have fun in either place, but if my dreams to become a vet are really genuine, then I'll do it nonetheless. And if it doesn't work out, I still got a better education than I would have at a state college.
Anyway, gotta go do more college preparation :] gl to all vet school applicants!