To those who majored in a non-science field during undergrad

[lullabies]

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Did you have to take a lot of extra science classes to fill in the pre-requisites for vet school or did you spend more than 4 years in undergrad?

I am an incoming college freshman I am just wondering because I am spending my first semester abroad (and the classes I chose from were not science-related whatsoever and what I'm really worried is having to take a boatload of extra classes outside my major (major: advertising/global media, minor: business/marketing -- as you can see, it has no relation to the common pre-requisites) just to fulfill the requirements. I also don't wish to spend more than 4 years in college because I'm an OOS student at a private university and it's extremely pricey (to dorm and tuition LOL). D:

I'm worried if I should switch my major or not or perhaps if transferring back to my IS is a wise decision financially.

 

[lareinesoleil]

I majored in French with 3 minors, and then took all the pre-reqs for Vet School. I definitely spent more than 4 years in undergrad...but without the minors, it totally would have been possible to do it all in 4 years. That wouldn't have been the right decision for me, but it would have been possible with a lot of planning ahead to make sure that the necessary classes didn't conflict.

 

[jmo1012]

i think that as long as you fit your pre-reqs in, you should be fine as long as you do really well. i think the key for non-science/vet related majors is doing very well in the pre-reqs because you don't really have another comparable way to show that you are capable of handling the rigors of the vet school curriculum (even if your classes are challenging in different ways and you are capable of handling the workload).

if you have the time to take some upper level science classes then go for it, if not then focus on doing well instead 🙂

 

[Minnerbelle]

I think it would be a very personal decision between you and your parents (and how much tuition you're actually paying right now out of pocket) to see if transferring is a good idea. If you're really worried about money, but don't care too much about graduating with your current class, you could always take a semester/year off and take the lower level pre-req classes at a community college. Then you will still get a diploma from the school you go to, and can finish up your major there, but not have to pay as much to get your pre-reqs done.

You will have to take a good number of pre-reqs outside your major... but I'm not sure from your post exactly what you think is too much. I'd go and look at the pre-reqs for your IS as well as some OOS vet schools you're interested in, and make a 4-year plan and try to fit everything in. See what it looks like. Sometimes that will make people feel better or it'll make them panic. But it's a really good way to make the whole process concrete.

Kind of an overall average of what people need to take is:
2 semesters intro bio
2 semesters intro chem
2 semesters organic chem
1 semester biochem
1 semester genetics
2 semester physics
1 semester of math
1 semester of stats

Those are the most common, but every school is different. Others will require nutrition, public speaking, cell biology, physiology, etc... and some will have fewer..

If anything, seek out a pre-health adviser (even if they're predominantly for pre-med) at your college. Bring the list of courses you want to take, and ask them for advice on how to put that 4-year plan together. Regardless of whether it's for med school or vet school, the pre-reqs are similar, and they have a very good working knowledge of which classes students struggle in the most at that particular school, which classes are not good to take together in 1 semester, etc...

Also, as jmo said, enjoy the classes in your major that you like and are paying good money for! I was a hardcore science major and took the fewest number of non-science courses possible (though I did go to a liberal arts school so I had plenty of humanities requirements). There would always be a group of girls watching porn in the residence hall common room as a part of their women's studies/psychology classes, and I kind of felt like i missed out. lol.

 

[LetItSnow]

I'd go and look at the pre-reqs for your IS as well as some OOS vet schools you're interested in, and make a 4-year plan and try to fit everything in.

... and keep in mind that because of progression pre-reqs it will take you a minimum of four semesters (at best, I imagine) to get through vet-school pre-reqs. (Chem I -> Chem II -> Orgo -> Biochem) You can stack the Physics, Genetics, and Biology in and around those, but I don't think I can see any way to tighten things up beyond 4 semesters minimum (and realistically, probably 5-6). The best thing you can do is sit down with a course catalog and plot out when you'd need to take everything.

I'm with MB, though... if you really want to do your degree at the school you're at, that's great, but I'd look into doing the pre-reqs somewhere cheaper.

There would always be a group of girls watching porn in the residence hall common room as a part of their women's studies/psychology classes, and I kind of felt like i missed out. lol.

Wow. I totally went to the wrong school.

 

[Minnerbelle]

... and keep in mind that because of progression pre-reqs it will take you a minimum of four semesters (at best, I imagine) to get through vet-school pre-reqs. (Chem I -> Chem II -> Orgo -> Biochem) You can stack the Physics, Genetics, and Biology in and around those, but I don't think I can see any way to tighten things up beyond 4 semesters minimum (and realistically, probably 5-6). The best thing you can do is sit down with a course catalog and plot out when you'd need to take everything.

Yeah true that, which is why I think it would be really beneficial to have that schedule looked at by someone who knows about that particular school's curriculum (and professional school pre-reqs to a certain degree). It's easy to think you have it figured out, only to run into a big bump in the road. Some classes are really hard to get a spot in. Some classes are offered only fall/spring semester. Some classes are killers and a lot of students have to redo them. There's a choice of a really awesome professor and awful professor teaching a particular course, and the good one is going to go on sabbatical the semester you're going to take it. If you don't plan wisely, you can end up with a hellish senior year that may even bring your last 45 GPA down, or worse not let you finish your pre-reqs on time. If money is an issue, I highly suggest getting all your pre-reqs done before you graduate... but you don't want to do so at the cost of your GPA!

Wow. I totally went to the wrong school.

That's cause you have a weenie.

 

[Pelagia]

I majored in linguistics in undergrad and did the normal 4 years. My plan from the beginning was linguistics major and pre-med. I switched to pre-vet sophomore year, which had mostly the same requirements, plus a few extra. Even then, I was still able to graduate in the normal timeframe, and do "extra" things like an thesis and a semester-long internship. It's totally do-able! 🙂

 

[muddjumper]

I majored in Psychology and didn't decide to go the pre-vet route until the end of my sophomore year. I ended up doing three years of full time work and part-time classes after I graduated as a result. However, if I had decided earlier to go pre-vet (and hadn't minored in music, philosophy, and anthropology ), I think I could have finished in four years. And majoring in something that is more interesting to you (than, say, physics or something) can help your GPA. Though like Minnerbelle said, you do have to take into consideration scheduling conflicts and the possibility of having to retake a course or two, which will be harder to work around as you progress through a non-science major and have to start picking between an upper level business/advertising courses that you'll need to graduate and the biochemistry lab you need for vet school.