What did you major in College as a Pre-Vet student?

[Vet Engineer]

Mechanical Engineering!

I loved my major, but I had no desire to sit behind my desk all day long, which not all engineers do (but most do). I think you should find something that interests you and major in it, tacking on the pre-vet requirements as needed. I think my degree really helped me stand out. Don't feel obligated to be a Bio/Chem/Zoo/AnSci/etc. major if that's not what you're passionate about. Plus it makes for a good back up plan.

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[twelvetigers]

Zoology first, then Microbiology because I don't think I could have made a "Plan B" career with a zoology degree. I adore micro though... I just got far enough with zool that I felt like I had to finish it.

 

[Chinola]

I am majoring in biomedical engineering and one of the positives is that many of the vet school academic requirements will be covered for me by just following my engineering curriculum. I was wondering if anyone had some advice for people with majors that pre-vet students generally don't choose... I'm worried that I might now have some of the positive attributes that, say, an animal and dairy science major might have when applying to vet school.

Also, does anyone have any input or experience on biomedical engineering and veterinary medicine? Thanks

At my university I knew a few people that were majoring in BME to "stand out" for med school or vet school. I know they were advised to drop the major out of engineering to a bio or something of that sort unless they were serious about being an engineer too. They were told that the pre-med/vet classes were hard enough that there was no reason to add engineering on unless they actually wanted to do something with it in the future.

However, if you love BME then that obviously doesn't apply to you. Just something some of my students mentioned to me (I was a chem TA). I think all but one of my BME majors dropped out of engineering within the first semester of trying to handle their pre-med/vet prereqs and engineering classes.

 

[bbeventer]

I am majoring in Zoology with a chemistry minor, I am enjoying for the most part besides the ecology requirement 🙄

 

[Pelagia]

I majored in Linguistics, actually, with a minor in bio.

 

[Marsala]

Entomology, specializing in acarology.
I also have a BA in history.

 

[hunterjumper12]

I will be graduating in May with a B.S. in Biology. I think it was definitely worth it (for me) several reasons.
1. I love biology! 🙂 I find it so interesting.
2. I think the majority, if not all, of my vet school prereqs were required for my degree. This made it easier on me, as I did not have to work them in or take extra classes.
3. It provides a pretty good Plan B if I don't get in vet school. I can go get a job in the real world 🙄(say what? haha), or I can go to graduate school.

The only think I even slightly regret is that I could have taken 3 extra chemistry classes and graduated with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Chemistry. But, those 3 extra classes included inorganic chem and physical chem. After finally making it through organic, I said "no thank you" to any other chem classes. However, I do think having the double degree would have made me more attractive to potential employers and/or graduate schools (if I had to use Plan B).

 

[nuevaburra]

Like everyone else said, if you like XYZ, go for it. 4 years is a long time to study something you hate 🙂

I majored in micro because it fascinated me, and I wasn't even planning on applying to vet school until this year. Still fascinates me, but I've decided research and academics aint my thang.

Then I spent a semester in grad school for civil engineering... decided, NOT FOR ME, and transferred to a masters program in microbiology. The engineering coursework is definitely different from the micro stuff, uses a different skill set, but I think that the hard work and quantitative thinking can't hurt you no matter what eventual career you end up in. But don't kill your GPA just to get an impressive degree that you don't care about!

 

[teatime]

I'm a non trad. I majored in Business Economics with an emphasis in Accounting, then went back to school for 2 years to do my pre-reqs. I think it has definitely helped me stand out a bit, in addition to some other aspects of my background.

I'd also like to comment on other's comments about having a degree you can "fall back on" if you don't get into vet school. Unfortunately, the reality is that people rarely end up having a career in the long run that has much to do with their bachelor's degree. So it's all a crapshoot anyway.

 

[squirrelsrule]

I majored in Biology, minored in psychology. At the time it was to get a job at six flags eventually as a killer whale trainer, but it fit pretty good for being a vet too, although I have a few prerecs. I have to take before applying, but they would have easilly fit into my degree if I had been planning to go on to vet school at the time.

I think you can choose any degree you're interested, just be sure to get the prerecs. done. However, one thing to consider is the advantage of taking extra science classes. There will be extras (like anatomy and physiology) that you have to take as a science major that you wouldn't have to take as an arts major and might not even have the time for after completing all the requirements for your major. So, there is an advantage to choosing biology or zoology. You'll have many more upper level non-prerec. classes to mention in the interview or in your personal statement that will help you when it comes time for vet school.

 

[rosyreef]

I double majored in biology ("pre-med") and Spanish, but my itty bitty undergrad college didn't have majors like microbiology and mechanical engineering, although I loved microb and did take some drafting/AutoCAD courses in high school when I was considering going to college for architecture (loooved those classes!)

 

[kaydubs]

I double majored in biology ("pre-med") and Spanish, but my itty bitty undergrad college didn't have majors like microbiology and mechanical engineering

Similar. We have mech engineering but no fun fun science majors. I'm just plain old bio (with a double in philosophy ) and an English lit minor I originally wanted to do writing & bio double major, but my brother told me I'd die.... Can't wait til May to graduate!!

 

[libster06]

I was Animal Science, with a minor in Poultry Science, but ther eis a wide range... someone in our class majored in Biochemistry, and others in Biology with Chem minors. Some don't even have a degree, but they've finished all their pre-reqs! So, the possibilities are endless...

 

[lareinesoleil]

French, with minors in Japanese and Art History. I just did all my prereqs without getting a science major. It took longer, but if there's some random kind of major you really want to do, it's possible!

 

[CurrySpice]

You can major in whatever you want to, but I accidentally majored in Biology through taking pre-veterinary prerequisite courses & fun electives. I was all set to be a Chemistry major, but even though I love the subject I don't want to be a career chemist. So, I took the easy road and just declared the bio major that I'd already completed so I could graduate in 3 years.

 

[Bacci]

I majored in Psychology, taking classes that really emphasized animal behavior/research. I'm lucky UW-Madison had so many behavior-based classes. I really, really loved it! And hopefully the adcoms love it, too. 🙄 Sometimes I worry about it looking as though I do not have the hard science background that one would consider desirable in a pre-vet student, but I guess we'll see. Nothing I can do now!

 

[Hopefully2013]

I'm an animal science major. I wish I'd really thought more about what I wanted my major to be instead of just going with animal science. Not that I don't like animal science, but after taking a few upper level biology courses I wish I'd chosen biology. If I wasn't a junior already I would switch, as it is I'm going to see about doing a biology minor or something if I have extra hours I need to fill my last year of school (to get my scholarship money, I need to take at least 15 a semester, and I'm ahead by a semester (as in, I'm a first semester junior right now)).

 

[bee83]

I have a degree in fine arts, with a concentration in photography. I hope to goodness it manages to set me apart a bit from other applicants! In a good way, I mean 😛
I took some pre-reqs while in art school, but going back to do all the bio and chem classes is a totally different experience for me. I wouldn't necessarily recommend getting an art degree before vet school, but for me personally it was the best thing I possibly could have done for myself 🙂

 

[HawkeyeVet]

I just graduated in December with a double in Spanish and International Studies... one class short of a bio major and one class short of a chemistry minor. But like someone said before, there was NO WAY I was coming back for another semester just to say I was a triple major with a minor. After changing my major a thousand times (everything from "pre-pharm" to music haha) and FINALLY figuring out I wanted to do vet med, I just kept the majors that I had and added in the necessary science classes.
My honest suggestion, although I'm sure many will argue with me, is to NOT major in animal science/bio unless that's really the only thing you're interested in. What they're really looking for is a person that's well-rounded and stands out from what could be called a 'typical' applicant.
But then again, I'm still baffled about what they're looking for. Some people that I would expect to be accepted without hesitation have been rejected or at best waitlisted.

 

[jlindp]

I graduated last year with a B.S. in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences and a double minor in Biology and Animal Science. My concentration was "Vertebrate Zoology," which means my course load was geared toward professional school (i.e. I had to take most of the same courses as a Biomedical Sciences major). It was the best decision I ever made. It kept me on track for vet school, but I enjoyed every minute of it since I had the opportunity to take interesting electives such as ornithology, parasitology, animal ecology, and field herpetology. I'm currently deciding on whether to get my Master's in Wildlife Sciences or in Epidemiology. I'm very interested in conservation medicine, but in veterinary epidemiology, as well. I know I won't have the detailed education in those fields in vet school, which is why I'm seeking another degree first. Sadly, due to horrible family circumstances, I'm limited to only applying to graduate school in Texas. 🙁

 

[drforwhiskers]

I'm a double major in Biology (B.S.) and Wildlife Science (B.S.). I know how competitive vet school is, so if I don't get in I still want to be happy (and work with animals 🙂) I don't feel animal science would give me many options I was happy with.

I love it, hopefully admissions love it too! (I'm a 2015 hopeful!)

 

[spicykimchi]

Cal Poly Pomona actually has a Pre-Vet major. Nobody going to that school would imagine taking any other major, would they?

 

[IcanHazKittayz]

I majored in Italian. I am so glad I did because I had the chance to study in Italy. The only downside was I had to piece together a lot of the vet pre-reqs after I graduated. Overall it was definitely worth it!

 

[Tator17]

I'm a non-trad and my degree is in marketing from, oh... a ways back. I've never really enjoyed business, and the corporate world is definitely not for me.

The one benefit to having that major and going into business is that I've been able to support myself and take my pre-reqs for vet school without taking out loans. So I guess once I figured out what I really wanted to do, having a degree in marketing wasn't so bad. 🙂

 

[littlesooyon92]

me too! my school doesn't have animal science
majored in biology

Although, I could go to a 4 year that has animal science, my situation with money and commuting only gives me one choice, is it a big difference if I don't major in animal-related fields?

 

[littlesooyon92]

I'm a non trad. I majored in Business Economics with an emphasis in Accounting, then went back to school for 2 years to do my pre-reqs. I think it has definitely helped me stand out a bit, in addition to some other aspects of my background.

I'd also like to comment on other's comments about having a degree you can "fall back on" if you don't get into vet school. Unfortunately, the reality is that people rarely end up having a career in the long run that has much to do with their bachelor's degree. So it's all a crapshoot anyway.

That's what I am thinking about!!!

Getting a undergrad in business, and if I don't get accepted... I would move on with getting a Masters in Business although... I would REALLY WANT TO get into VET SCHOOL.

How did you go through undergrad in business while managing pre-reqs for vet school?

Did you get accepted? What are you doing now ? 😀

 

[meow head]

Although, I could go to a 4 year that has animal science, my situation with money and commuting only gives me one choice, is it a big difference if I don't major in animal-related fields?

I'm majoring in neuroscience. Choose what interests you most. As long as your coursework is challenging (specifically your science classes), I'm sure you'll be just fine. If you are more interested in one of these majors, your grades will probably reflect that.

 

[bunnity]

environmental studies.

 

[Chinola]

That's what I am thinking about!!!

Getting a undergrad in business, and if I don't get accepted... I would move on with getting a Masters in Business although... I would REALLY WANT TO get into VET SCHOOL.

How did you go through undergrad in business while managing pre-reqs for vet school?

Did you get accepted? What are you doing now ? 😀

I have a friend that went to undergrad with me and did her degree in business. She took all of the pre-vet reqs during her 4 years of undergrad. She just started at the Ohio State University so it's definitely possible to get a degree in business and go to vet school!

 

[Chinola]

Although, I could go to a 4 year that has animal science, my situation with money and commuting only gives me one choice, is it a big difference if I don't major in animal-related fields?

You don't need a major related to animals to get into vet school. My undergrad had absolutely no animal related courses. I took my Animal Science and Animal Nutrition requirements for my vet school (UF) through distance learning at Oklahoma State University the summer before I started vet school.

My majors were biology and English.

 

[hopefulinva]

I'm a double major in Biology and Business Management (with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology).

I lovelovelove Biology, it was what I would have wanted to do even without planning to go to vet school - my one regret is waiting until my senior year to take Microbiology. It's a prereq for a ton of courses I no longer have room in my schedule to take, and it's also a focal option for Biology majors - if I was smarter, I would have taken it earlier and picked up the option!

The Management degree came later, after I was so aggravated at being turned away from my required classes as a business minor, I decided to just turn the thing in to a major. It turns out I like it, and the information in the classes is really useful. =)

 

[Bisbee]

My degree is in nutrition, but that doesn't stop me from sometimes sitting in front of the TV and eating mindlessly from a big bag of cheetos! But on a more serious note, the whole nutritional biochemistry is so fascinating. Also, having gone through the program, it's really amusing to listen to all the long-held nutrition myths out there. People have so many misconceptions and old wives' tales about healthy eating.

 

[EllieGirl89]

I have a friend that went to undergrad with me and did her degree in business. She took all of the pre-vet reqs during her 4 years of undergrad. She just started at the Ohio State University so it's definitely possible to get a degree in business and go to vet school!

I think I know who you're talking about =) That's pretty cool.