what school to complete bachelors at

[ksully92]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So..I was all decided on where I was going to transfer, but after reading this forum for a few days I have been officially going crazy about what undergrad school to go to! thanks guys.. 😛
Anyways...what schools would you recommend for completing my undergrad years? One of the vets I have been shadowing said they didnt care what school you went to, just what grades you had, but there seem to be different views on this forum so a little clarification please? I want to stay on the east coast, but other than that not really picky, but it would be nice if tuition could stay around 30k a yr. What are your opinions on WVU? I like the classes they offer plus they have lots of clubs and internships available it seems. I don't particularly like the 30,000 student population but...thats a small issue. Another one I really like is NCSU, another big one but I just love NC

 

[NStarz]

So..I was all decided on where I was going to transfer, but after reading this forum for a few days I have been officially going crazy about what undergrad school to go to! thanks guys.. 😛
Anyways...what schools would you recommend for completing my undergrad years? One of the vets I have been shadowing said they didnt care what school you went to, just what grades you had, but there seem to be different views on this forum so a little clarification please? I want to stay on the east coast, but other than that not really picky, but it would be nice if tuition could stay around 30k a yr. What are your opinions on WVU? I like the classes they offer plus they have lots of clubs and internships available it seems. I don't particularly like the 30,000 student population but...thats a small issue. Another one I really like is NCSU, another big one but I just love NC

Doesn't matter in the slightest. Undergrad is what you make of it. Think through everything that's important to you, and make a decision based on that. Vet students come from lots of schools.

 

[EllieGirl89]

So..I was all decided on where I was going to transfer, but after reading this forum for a few days I have been officially going crazy about what undergrad school to go to! thanks guys.. 😛
Anyways...what schools would you recommend for completing my undergrad years? One of the vets I have been shadowing said they didnt care what school you went to, just what grades you had, but there seem to be different views on this forum so a little clarification please? I want to stay on the east coast, but other than that not really picky, but it would be nice if tuition could stay around 30k a yr. What are your opinions on WVU? I like the classes they offer plus they have lots of clubs and internships available it seems. I don't particularly like the 30,000 student population but...thats a small issue. Another one I really like is NCSU, another big one but I just love NC

I'm in the camp of "it doesn't matter." I went to community college for 2 years, did well, then came to Ohio State for my junior and now my senior year, continued to do well (if not better), and got into OSUCVM for this fall. Do well, rock the GRE, get good experience and extracurriculars, and it doesn't matter =)

 

[Coquette22]

Thirded. I actually started my undergrad pre-vet work at what is considered to be The Pre-Vet School in my province. They had a Pre-Vet club, the veterinary pathology labs for the province, lots of animal science based courses, and in theory, it should have been great. I hated it and transferred to another school in my province. I have been so much happier, even though there's no pre-vet focus here at all.

Pick the school you'll be happiest at. Vet schools don't care. 😉

 

[ksully92]

thank you so much! this makes me feel alot better. One more question🙄
I am having trouble deciding between schools. WVU has alot more course options and if I go there I am pleanning on minoring in conservative ecology since I am interested in wildlife. yay or nay to this idea? will having a minor benefit me at all besides personal pleasure? or should I take more science classes to bulk up my resume? basically, will vet schools even look at my wildlife science classes?

 

[that redhead]

thank you so much! this makes me feel alot better. One more question🙄
I am having trouble deciding between schools. WVU has alot more course options and if I go there I am pleanning on minoring in conservative ecology since I am interested in wildlife. yay or nay to this idea? will having a minor benefit me at all besides personal pleasure? or should I take more science classes to bulk up my resume? basically, will vet schools even look at my wildlife science classes?

The response to this is the same as the others - do what makes you happy and what interests you. Taking more science courses is certainly beneficial (and I'm sure some of your conservative ecology courses will be considered science courses, depending where you apply) but again, do what makes you happy. Plan your future with vet school as Plan A and something else as Plan B, C, D, etc. If you don't get into vet school or don't get in your first try, having that minor may really help you obtain a job in the field of your interest.

The one thing to consider about WVU is that there is nothing to do there. Somewhere like NCSU may offer more culturally (places to eat, things to do/see, etc) than somewhere like Morgantown. If you can visit, I highly recommend it.

 

[SSeventTT]

I agree with that redhead, that is can be very useful to have a minor. Additionally, having a minor that is not bio or chem which pre-vet students generally have is also a plus. Vet schools do not require minors, but certainly will look at the variety of classes you take. Also, just out of personal option I think you should go to the school where you can picture yourself being the most successful. Many schools do not even have pre vet but as long as you take the require classes and have a balanced transcript and resume you are still in good shape for applying. It's also a good idea to take not just science classes so you can find other interests for you back up plans as well as specialization within vet school, such as psychology of animals or sustainability in your practice, etc etc

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

The one thing to consider about WVU is that there is nothing to do there. Somewhere like NCSU may offer more culturally (places to eat, things to do/see, etc) than somewhere like Morgantown. If you can visit, I highly recommend it.

Nothing to do in WV? Oh man, you haven't lived 😉 If you're outdoorsy and love hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, rock-climbing, canoeing, there is TONS to do in WV, even around Morgantown. Beautiful scenery. However, if you're more of an "indoor person", then yeah, might not be for you. It doesn't have the happenin' clubs and tapas bars 😉

Having a minor certainly won't hurt you. But if it starts to cut into your major, reconsider. Its just something you figure out as you go along. But by all means, go for it.

 

[that redhead]

Nothing to do in WV? Oh man, you haven't lived 😉 If you're outdoorsy and love hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, rock-climbing, canoeing, there is TONS to do in WV, even around Morgantown. Beautiful scenery. However, if you're more of an "indoor person", then yeah, might not be for you. It doesn't have the happenin' clubs and tapas bars 😉

Oh, definitely, and I would much prefer outdoor activities like those than a bar any day! I was commenting in terms of bars, museums, concerts, etc. Especially during the cooler months when a lot of outdoor activities become less pleasant 😉

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Oh, definitely, and I would much prefer outdoor activities like those than a bar any day! I was commenting in terms of bars, museums, concerts, etc. Especially during the cooler months when a lot of outdoor activities become less pleasant 😉

That's true. OP, if you're looking in the WV/VA area, Virginia Tech (ok, ok, my alma mater so I am biased 😉 ) is both a great community and has a lot of animal related stuff going on. And Virginia has relatively low tuition compared to many states (last time I checked).

 

[rosyreef]

Might want to also consider what state you currently have residency in and apply to a school where you'll get in-state tuition. Wouldn't hurt to consider the high expense of vet school later on, especially considering how high undergrad out-of-state tuition can be.. couldn't hurt to take that into account, although the school and its atmosphere are also very important.

 

[crazycatduncan]

http://www.findlay.edu/academics/colleges/cosc/academicprograms/undergraduate/PVET/default.htm

Let me know if you want more info!

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Might want to also consider what state you currently have residency in and apply to a school where you'll get in-state tuition. Wouldn't hurt to consider the high expense of vet school later on, especially considering how high undergrad out-of-state tuition can be.. couldn't hurt to take that into account, although the school and its atmosphere are also very important.

Oh yes! Expense, to be honest, is also very important. You rack up quite a bit of debt in vet school, let me tell you. Unless you absolutely hate your in-state school(s), I would make them my first choice.

 

[heylodeb]

😀 Gotta play a different fiddle...

The school you attend DOES matter, however, it will not disqualify you!

Too tired to make much sense but basically, I spoke to UPenn about my undergrad uni and they straight up told me that if there was an applicant with the same stats as me and they went to a school rated better in the "Barron's" guide, that student would get the interview or acceptance letter.

That being said, I applied to 4 schools this year and have been fortunate to get interviews at 2 of them so far. (UPenn, however, has not shown any signs of interest)

so it may be a UPenn thing but there is a bias to the "better" schools....

(Dear UPenn, It's ok though, we can still be friends, just send me that interview invite and we can be besties forever! 😉 😍)

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

That's one UPenn person's opinion, though.

As someone who has been through veterinary school, made good friends with many clinicians and professors that are on adcoms at four different schools during my rotations and job, and having actually participated in the interview of both residents and students, I can say that rankings are NOT as important as everyone suspects they are.

Sure, if you go to a school known for poor academics (we're talking bottom of the barrel), you're going to get downsized. But if you go to a public school over a private one, for example, or one ranked #50 versus #5, they don't give a hoot as long as you performed with top marks, with good experience, etc.

 

[twelvetigers]

UPenn is the only school that has told several forum members the same thing that heylodeb posted about above. (I've seen it at least 3-4 times during my time here... please don't make me find the threads or anything, lol.)

No other schools have, as far as I know, ever mentioned the prestige/ranking of your undergraduate institution as being important in any substantial way. The only thing that other schools may mention is rigor, which has more to do with the courses you take and the credit hours you fill each semester or quarter than it does the school you're attending.

 

[clairbear]

When I was applying to undergrads, I emailed UPenn and asked them how much it mattered (because my undergrad is pretty small and not very well known) and they said it wouldn't hurt me as long as the school was listed as "competitive" in Barron's.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I actually had to google what the heck Barron's was. Yet another example of how useless it must be....lol

It reminds me of the BCS Bowl system sticking it to Boise State last season because they were "small" and "not as well know" and "not heavy hitters" (and we all saw how fantastically they played). Rankings are so inherently biased. The number of criteria as to what constitutes a competitive school are almost endless. And some random people wanting to sell books to stressed out kids and parents decide to arbitrarily pick some and make them the be all and end all. Phooey.

 

[rosyreef]

It reminds me of the BCS Bowl system sticking it to Boise State last season because they were "small" and "not as well know" and "not heavy hitters" (and we all saw how fantastically they played). Rankings are so inherently biased. The number of criteria as to what constitutes a competitive school are almost endless. And some random people wanting to sell books to stressed out kids and parents decide to arbitrarily pick some and make them the be all and end all. Phooey.

Irrelevant but.. didn't Boise State only play one top ten-ranked team last season? Sure, they played fantastically but.. against what "heaviest" hitting teams? 🙂 I definitely agree about university rankings though.. and have never heard of Barron's either.

[2 minutes later] Hm.. probably should have emphasized my opinion on "college sports rankings" versus "university educational rankings"

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

LoL well without getting into the whole Boise arguement, you gotta admit they were a much better team that what people gave them initially. They had a crappy schedule, which wasn't their fault, but they absolutely stomped em to make up for it.

Just like how smaller schools may have great academics, etc, but not enough funding or recognition even though they rock - and bigger, more prominent schools therefore do not consider them 'competitive;

Anyway ya know what I mean.

 

[rosyreef]

Anyway ya know what I mean.

Yesss I do! 😛 true true

 

[Coquette22]

Too tired to make much sense but basically, I spoke to UPenn about my undergrad uni and they straight up told me that if there was an applicant with the same stats as me and they went to a school rated better in the "Barron's" guide, that student would get the interview or acceptance letter.

Assuming this is true, is there EVER a case where two vet school applicants have exactly the same stats? It just seems like it would be such an unlikely scenario for two people to be the same in every possible way except the ranking of their undergrad school.

 

[BClove21]

I am going to have to say that it does not matter where you go it is what you make of it. Vet schools in general really don't care where you go, as long as you have the requirements. That being said, I go to Virginia Tech (it is my instate school) and have had some amazing opportunities that I would not have had had I gone to the school I had initially wanted to go to (UNC Wilmington). I picked up animal science as a minor my sophomore year (I am a bio major) just because I wasn't able to get the bio classes I wanted, and I absolutely loved it. The great thing about it is that most of my classes I needed for my minor counted as bio electives (that's how they do it at Tech at least). I would have never gotten the hands on experience with large animals that got with my animal science minor if I had gone to other schools without these programs. I now am totally interested in large animals, and sheep especially, because of my minor and the opportunities it gave me. I grew up in the suburbs and rode horses but didn't have much experience with large animals. Yes I could have, and probably would have found places to give me some large animal experience, but I definitely would not have been able to get as much as I have, outside of school. This was counting as schoolwork and experience at the same time and the depth of the knowledge I got was wonderful because I was being graded on it. If you don't already have the large animal experience, I would highly recommend going to a school with an animal science program and every new pre vet bio major I meet I tell them they should really look into animal science. The first week of school freshman year I asked my advisor if I should get an animal science minor and he told me it wasn't necessary and I wish I could go back and tell him he was totally wrong, but he retired after my freshman year.

 

[kaydubs]

I actually had to google what the heck Barron's was. Yet another example of how useless it must be....lol

Loved this. I only knew about Barron's from prep books (they're the same entity, yes?)

I am going to have to say that it does not matter where you go it is what you make of it. Vet schools in general really don't care where you go, as long as you have the requirements.

👍👍 Similar sentiment. I ended up going to an undergrad based on its stats & my best friend at the time (bad reasoning, but don't give up on me yet!). It's a small Jesuit institution in northeastern PA (can you guess it??). Honestly, it is definitely about what you make your experience to be. I'm a bio & philo double major with a English lit minor graduating May (WOO-can't wait til May 29th - I'll be booking down that aisle like nobody's business!) and my professors made my life as an undergrad. Science is great but I love philosophy and I wouldn't have gotten as great of an experience in my opinion without staying where I am. Also, don't be afraid to transfer, ksully92, if WVU doesn't work out like you planned. Have you applied to undergrad yet/been accepted??