What's your degree?

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Yeah, I can't imagine a BA being different than the BS....other than school variations.

I heard the reason for a BA instead of a BS at one time...it is strongly entrenched in the cultural identity of the college, so I doubt ours changes...but as far as I can tell, it doesn't really matter. Anyone who is going to question A vs S is going to want transcripts anyways.
 
AS Legal Office Admin (it's really a BS degree :laugh:)

AS Paralegal

Both served me well to gain good employment for the last 6 years, but now that I'm sick of working in law, I'm pursuing a BS in Animal Science.
 
I have a BA in Biology with a minor in chemistry from 2004

and as of this summer I will have a PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. YAY (for being almost done)!
 
B.S. Biology, Wildlife Management, PreVet and a minor in Chemistry
 
Undergrad and graduate degrees in social work
 
cozycleo said:
AS Legal Office Admin (it's really a BS degree :laugh:)

AS Paralegal

Both served me well to gain good employment for the last 6 years, but now that I'm sick of working in law, I'm pursuing a BS in Animal Science.
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I know exactly what you mean about being sick of working in law! My mom is a paralegal and I worked for FOUR LOOOOONG years as a part time gofer/receptionist...I hated being inside all day long!

In May, I will have my BS in Biology!! Time to fly away from the coop!
 
Double AB - Medieval Studies and Italian Lit.

You read that correctly.
 
BS Biological Sciences plus minor in Biomedical Sciences.

Currently in final semester of MS Biomedical Sciences.
 
where are all the microbiologists?

BSc Microbiology and Immunology (hons), minor Classical Studies
MSc Microbiology and Immunology (almost done!)
 
B.S. Biology, minor in Chemistry
Master of Agriculture/ Reproductive Physiology
 
Finally, another Immunologist. Is it me, or does this field suck!?

Amazing publication potential, but damn, its a friggin mess
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Uh oh, why do you say that? I really love Immunology and if I don't get into vet school this time around, will be starting a Master's.
 
Biology major (BS) with a biomedical emphasis.

Animal Science-Equine minor, Chemistry minor. Graduated from Honors program.

6 credits shy of my Spanish minor but couldn't get the literature classes to fit. 🙁
 
BA: Linguistics
Minor(s): Portuguese, Mandarin.

...yup...
 
I put the BS in my Chemical Engineering degree

Unorthodox, yes. But also, 100% acceptance rate to veterinary school...woohoo! (OK, there have only been 3 people, but they still boast a >90% acceptance to med school)
 
flyhi said:
OMG, i thought i was the ONLY one with a BA in Biology! My school did not offer the BA, but i refused to take Physics, so the Registrar told me they would have to give me a BA.

Sumstorm, how did you end up with a BA? Is this a normal option?

Note: i am taking Physics now....years and years after the fact. I knew it would catch up with me someday. :laugh:
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I have a BA in Molecular and Cell Biology(emphasis in Immunology). Our school don't offer BS for Biology degree....weird, since our curriculum is heavily lab base....😕
 
HopefulAg said:
Uh oh, why do you say that? I really love Immunology and if I don't get into vet school this time around, will be starting a Master's.
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Well, i guess it depends on what kind of immunology you go into.

Well, I take that back, it doesn't matter at all. But im looking at the field as a whole - It may be more doable if you are able to concentrate on one aspect of it.

The only thing I can recommend, drop the $160.00 on Fundamental Immunology, 6th by W.E. Paul.

Screw Janeway and Kurby, they are just going to give you some dogma and you will be begging for more (if only to make it make a little bit more sense).

Im convinced Immuno is about to (~10-15 years) go through a nomenclature revolution (like enzymology) - I mean, we have NK cells that are virtually identical to T's, 3 types of DC's that we dont know what they do, cyto and chemokines that CAN'T do everything there supposed to be able to do (but were supposed to accept it), Some of the most complicated double +/- feedback mechanisms I've ever dealt with, membrane receptors that do something different depending on what gamma sub-unit is attracted the dimer (and you have no way of knowing unless you lysis), a nomenclature system that is archaic (take a look at TNF's or TLR's) - some are named after function, other structure; cross species, may or may not have same name/structure/function.

have fun, god willing, im out :xf:

P.S. But, don't let that put you down, i'm not kidding, you can basically prove ANYTHING you want with immunology - its in such a mess you can get **** past reviewers that you wouldn't normally dream of - So you will have a nice pub record.
 
No Imagination said:
have fun, god willing, im out :xf:

quote]


Haha!! Thats exactly how I feel! Jeez a PhD really takes all the life outta ya. I think back to the days when I was doing undergrad 'research'. I am soooo glad I'm getting out of this mess.
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BS in zoology, environmental tox minor
 
jenk, my college REQUIRES that all students complete at least 1 term of research, and a capstone project that is either a thesis defended before outside examiners, a major art project (such as a studio showing, a complete play, etc), or something equivalent in degree of difficulty/time requirement/etc

There weren't any science classes at my college that could be used for the degree (there were some non-major intro stuff) that didn't have at least a 2 hour weekly lab (and most of the non-major courses did as well....and some of the art courses/music courses had labs, not just studio work, as well.)

The BA had nothing to do with science rigor and much more to do with the well rounded education and something about historically the sciences, religion, and arts were incredibly close together...so we have a BA to indicate the emphasis on cross-subject study, and the belief that you can't be a skilled expert in one topic without having an incredibly broad base across all the field.
 
P.S. But, don't let that put you down, i'm not kidding, you can basically prove ANYTHING you want with immunology - its in such a mess you can get **** past reviewers that you wouldn't normally dream of - So you will have a nice pub record.
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Man I find that incredibly depressing. I genuinely find Immunology interesting (and can relate to some of your examples) but if there's that much apathy in the field, why bother? I'm not that interested in publications, just want the knowledge.
 
HopefulAg said:
Man I find that incredibly depressing. I genuinely find Immunology interesting (and can relate to some of your examples) but if there's that much apathy in the field, why bother? I'm not that interested in publications, just want the knowledge.
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Different strokes man. Some people may find the chaos welcoming, a chance to be on the ground floor of something big (like Molecular in the early - mid 80's or Biochem in the 60's). I don't. I stepped into it on accident. One friggin paragraph in my proposal opened a hornets nest.

Don't say you don't care about publications, because publications are the only thing that will separate a thesis masters from a non-thesis masters, and if you go for the former, trust me, you will want to be able to validate all the hard work you put in at the lab (no one will read your thesis after you publish it, sorry).

If all you want is the knowledge, then save the tuition, buy 3-4 good textbooks, and sit in your room and study for 5-6 months. If you want to apply that knowledge and disseminate it, you have to publish.
 
Well I want the grades with the courses as well. My GPA could use a boost for vet school.
 
well, One last bit of unsolicited advice if I may.

A) Make sure your PI knows what you want to do after grad school (You will need their support (no LoR from you PI is bad))

B) After you make you intentions known, never bring up vet school for the 2-3 years you are there. Do what you have to do, but forget about it. People don't want to hear it. Vent on forums if you must, what I do.

C) Concentrate on you work, your PI is the only one that needs to know that you are only doing graduate work for vet school.

There are a lot of ego's in academia. People will (maybe not so much as MS level) feel diminished knowing that you doing this just to advance your chances at a professional degree. Everyone does it, its cool, just can't be vocal about it.

If you are boarder line for admission, a graduate will probably push you over, but its not a silver bullet.

I'm throwing this out there, because it worked for me. I've also seen a few people have their dreams crushed by a-hole PI's who wont write a LoR for their students, or worse yet, write lackluster ones.
 
Oh come on guys, won't you miss grad school? 😀 haha

I love immunology, true, publication potential awesome. But it still takes an immunologist twice as much work to get a result than it does a geneticist. (I'm an immunologist working in a fungal genetics lab... had to figure out everything on my own).


No Imagination said:
Well, i guess it depends on what kind of immunology you go into.

Well, I take that back, it doesn't matter at all. But im looking at the field as a whole - It may be more doable if you are able to concentrate on one aspect of it.

The only thing I can recommend, drop the $160.00 on Fundamental Immunology, 6th by W.E. Paul.

Screw Janeway and Kurby, they are just going to give you some dogma and you will be begging for more (if only to make it make a little bit more sense).

Im convinced Immuno is about to (~10-15 years) go through a nomenclature revolution (like enzymology) - I mean, we have NK cells that are virtually identical to T's, 3 types of DC's that we dont know what they do, cyto and chemokines that CAN'T do everything there supposed to be able to do (but were supposed to accept it), Some of the most complicated double +/- feedback mechanisms I've ever dealt with, membrane receptors that do something different depending on what gamma sub-unit is attracted the dimer (and you have no way of knowing unless you lysis), a nomenclature system that is archaic (take a look at TNF's or TLR's) - some are named after function, other structure; cross species, may or may not have same name/structure/function.

have fun, god willing, im out :xf:

P.S. But, don't let that put you down, i'm not kidding, you can basically prove ANYTHING you want with immunology - its in such a mess you can get **** past reviewers that you wouldn't normally dream of - So you will have a nice pub record.
Click to expand...
 
No Imagination said:
well, One last bit of unsolicited advice if I may.

A) Make sure your PI knows what you want to do after grad school (You will need their support (no LoR from you PI is bad))

B) After you make you intentions known, never bring up vet school for the 2-3 years you are there. Do what you have to do, but forget about it. People don't want to hear it. Vent on forums if you must, what I do.

C) Concentrate on you work, your PI is the only one that needs to know that you are only doing graduate work for vet school.

There are a lot of ego's in academia. People will (maybe not so much as MS level) feel diminished knowing that you doing this just to advance your chances at a professional degree. Everyone does it, its cool, just can't be vocal about it.

If you are boarder line for admission, a graduate will probably push you over, but its not a silver bullet.

I'm throwing this out there, because it worked for me. I've also seen a few people have their dreams crushed by a-hole PI's who wont write a LoR for their students, or worse yet, write lackluster ones.
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Sorry to get in your stuff, but can I ask something. Why do you say never talk about it??

I want to go into medical micro with immunology.
 
Actually, my mentor also told me to keep my vet school ambitions quiet, at least during the grad school application process because our department likes people to stick around for a Ph.D.

I contacted him before applying to the program to say I was interested in working in his lab, and he has known about (and been supportive of) my goals ever since our first meeting which was about 8 months before I enrolled. I kept things quiet my entire first year, but now during the second year, most of my classmates are pretty open about whether or not we intend to stay.
 
You know what bothers me about that is its not their life. I felt that way when I got a position lately that I almost had to bend the truth so I could be accepted.

It always seems that if its "not good for them, they don't care about you". Even if you have great attributes and other reasons or whatever...
 
I understand what your saying....but how woud you feel if someone said 'I am going to vet school, but after that I am going to teach intro level biology?' Wouldn't that frustrate you? I would feel like they maybe shouldn't take the space if they aren't really interested in it.

Not saying that everyone doing this is using it simply as a stepping stone.... I hope many are planning on using thier research as part of thier future career, but it probably sounds like the former to many profs.

I would say this differs a lot depending on the program and the professors though.
 
But a DVM degree to teach intro level biology is way over kill whereas a Master's in Immunology could very much so help with your treatment of animals in the understanding of disease processes and the way drugs react to make them work (or not work in contraindications).
 
sumstorm said:
I understand what your saying....but how woud you feel if someone said 'I am going to vet school, but after that I am going to teach intro level biology?' Wouldn't that frustrate you? I would feel like they maybe shouldn't take the space if they aren't really interested in it.

Not saying that everyone doing this is using it simply as a stepping stone.... I hope many are planning on using thier research as part of thier future career, but it probably sounds like the former to many profs.

I would say this differs a lot depending on the program and the professors though.
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I know what your saying too. What if they didn't get into vet school or was still unsure they wanted vet school? Yes, you are right about using it as part of your future. You can use research as part as being a vet.

haha I still feel like its not their life to worry about what they do. Why would it effect them anyway if you didn't take a Phd where they are?
 
Ok, here's the issue in my mind as to why you should keep it to yourself.

The Ph.D and to a lesser extent MS program is a Master/Mentor position. You are being trained to be a researcher/teacher. The department is PAYING you to be get your degree and go into your select field (or one very close) to propagate the science. This is the direction 'they' took, and they feel this is the 'best' field. You can be open about it, but your colleague's will likely not appreciate your honesty.

Obviously it is a trust/respect issue between you and your PI, and that is why you should be open and forthcoming with him/her.

But, like Sumstorm said, getting a MS or PhD in a field and then going into vet school, is a waste of a degree and knowledge in their eyes. It is MUCH more an issue with Med. Students, who will be making 2-3x what you would make in academia, but the same holds true.

My Ph.D MIGHT open some doors in a few select residencies, but the one(s) I am interested in are not particularly comparative, so my degree is likely going to be wasted as a DVM.

Now, thats not really true for me, but I want Lab Animal/Industry, so for me, the degree may help, but i'm probably 1%.

This is just my opinion, but if you go the graduate route, your main concern needs to be fulfilling your graduate requirements, not increasing your chances at vet school.

Ohh, and don't even think about applying before your finish your degree. Thats a big 'no-no', most med schools have a policy of refusing applicants who are in the middle of a graduate degree, and im sure its not much different for vet schools.

HopefulAg said:
But a DVM degree to teach intro level biology is way over kill whereas a Master's in Immunology could very much so help with your treatment of animals in the understanding of disease processes and the way drugs react to make them work (or not work in contraindications).
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Sure, but your getting a DVM, they want and expect you to do something for the field of veterinary medicine. The worst thing you can do on an interview is say "After I get my DVM I'd like to do _______________________ (Insert something that doesn't require a DVM to do). Its the same thing as a graduate degree. While having a MS or PhD might make you a better DVM, thats fine from the Vet schools perspective, but irrelevant from the graduate schools.
 
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WildlifeSaver said:
I know what your saying too. What if they didn't get into vet school or was still unsure they wanted vet school? Yes, you are right about using it as part of your future. You can use research as part as being a vet.

haha I still feel like its not their life to worry about what they do. Why would it effect them anyway if you didn't take a Phd where they are?
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If your unsure, in all honesty, I think you should take the time to figure it out before entering a program, whether that is a PhD/DVM/MD etc. I think one of the biggest issues in education is that we don't enable individuals to determine the route they want to pursue...we press for people to move from HS to college to grad/med without a break, without exploring life or the world, or themselves.

Actually, I think any time someone puts a lot of time and energy into another person, opens thier research and knowledge to them, and such, they do care. I know that the professor I worked with for my thesis continued to collaborate with his former PhD students well beyond their completion of the PhD...including joint publications, grants, etc. So, from thier perspective, it is an investment in a lot of ways...and I don't think anyone likes to heavily invest themselves in something that gives very limited returns. If you don't complete the degree you started, for them and the university, it means they failed to produce on a certain level, after investing in you...and denying that investment in someone else.

Saying 'why should they care' is like saying to a vet 'why do you care how they treat thier pet? it is thier pet, thier lives' and yet I am willing to bet that most of us do care what clients do with thier pets, or the animals in thier care.

And while it is possible to use research in vet medicine....would you limit those who have done such research...who want the degree to give them an edge, to only practicing in fields of vet med that can use that skill/knowledge?
 
BA (Honors) Sociology '03
HNC (UK equivalent of an AA) Equine Studies-business focus '04

I did see one other social-type person on here-- yay for liberal-arts-turned-scientists 😀😎
 
I'm in my second year of getting a BS in Zoology.
 
No Imagination said:
Ok, here's the issue in my mind as to why you should keep it to yourself.

The Ph.D and to a lesser extent MS program is a Master/Mentor position. You are being trained to be a researcher/teacher. The department is PAYING you to be get your degree and go into your select field (or one very close) to propagate the science. This is the direction 'they' took, and they feel this is the 'best' field. You can be open about it, but your colleague's will likely not appreciate your honesty.

Obviously it is a trust/respect issue between you and your PI, and that is why you should be open and forthcoming with him/her.

But, like Sumstorm said, getting a MS or PhD in a field and then going into vet school, is a waste of a degree and knowledge in their eyes. It is MUCH more an issue with Med. Students, who will be making 2-3x what you would make in academia, but the same holds true.

My Ph.D MIGHT open some doors in a few select residencies, but the one(s) I am interested in are not particularly comparative, so my degree is likely going to be wasted as a DVM.

Now, thats not really true for me, but I want Lab Animal/Industry, so for me, the degree may help, but i'm probably 1%.

This is just my opinion, but if you go the graduate route, your main concern needs to be fulfilling your graduate requirements, not increasing your chances at vet school.

Ohh, and don't even think about applying before your finish your degree. Thats a big 'no-no', most med schools have a policy of refusing applicants who are in the middle of a graduate degree, and im sure its not much different for vet schools.



Sure, but your getting a DVM, they want and expect you to do something for the field of veterinary medicine. The worst thing you can do on an interview is say "After I get my DVM I'd like to do _______________________ (Insert something that doesn't require a DVM to do). Its the same thing as a graduate degree. While having a MS or PhD might make you a better DVM, thats fine from the Vet schools perspective, but irrelevant from the graduate schools.
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Do departments always pay for those advanced degrees though??? I thought they didn't unless certain circumstances. Like, for instance, some schools will pay for a Phd portion if you go dual degree in ver or human med..

Its also interesting to know that they wouldn't like to know you are leaving them, but what about if you plan on going into this reserach with real interest and going forth to apply it in your future?? They hold againest you still??? I thought that would be a good thing to tell them you are doing vet and doing scientist at one point or another in a dual or seperate before vet school.. hmm

IF you want those weird very few jobs in the world that vets play in, a Phd in the area or related will just open doors for perspective jobs for you. For me, I am getting a advanced degree before or a dual degree program is what I want to do. Otherwise, I won't get considered for those jobs that say DVM/VMD and MS or Phd in ____or related study.
 
AB
Major: Political Science
Minors: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy and Cultural Anthropology

So basically I had a second major in anthropology.
 
B.A. Psychology, expected may 2010
My school does not have minors or concentrations, but every senior is required to complete a full year thesis, and mine will be in the neuroscience field.
 
WildlifeSaver said:
Do departments always pay for those advanced degrees though???
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Most do - Certainly for a PhD. MS is largely dependent if you are thesis based or not. Most large schools offer TA or RA's. If not, you can always tutor (which is a nice way for making extra cash, but that has to be on the D/L as well. Sometimes you are just not allowed to do it if you are on an assistantship, sometimes its frowned upon if you are a TA - DEF. not your own students!)

WildlifeSaver said:
I thought they didn't unless certain circumstances. Like, for instance, some schools will pay for a Phd portion if you go dual degree in ver or human med..
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Those dual degree's are a little different then my experience, and you can ignore everything im saying in respect to dual DVM/PhD/MPH/MS degrees. They are a separate beast all together.

WildlifeSaver said:
Its also interesting to know that they wouldn't like to know you are leaving them, but what about if you plan on going into this reserach with real interest and going forth to apply it in your future??
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These aren't hard set rules, just my experience and opinion. I kept my desires to myself and a very small circle, and I think it worked to my advantage. If you feel strongly about being upfront with everyone, by all means, but its non of their business. What you do or don't do with your degree when you are done is your business, but you need your entire committee's blessing to get that degree.

If you think that the average committee member is above screwing you - over something petty, think again. It doesn't take much for one of them to say "I'd like to see you show that that protein is being up-regulated with an ELISA", gratz, you just got 3-4 months added before you can graduate.

Least ammo you give them the better - and I got hammered about my vet school ambitions on my prelim defense (some people spoke).
 
No Imagination said:
Most do - Certainly for a PhD. MS is largely dependent if you are thesis based or not. Most large schools offer TA or RA's. If not, you can always tutor (which is a nice way for making extra cash, but that has to be on the D/L as well. Sometimes you are just not allowed to do it if you are on an assistantship, sometimes its frowned upon if you are a TA - DEF. not your own students!)



Those dual degree's are a little different then my experience, and you can ignore everything im saying in respect to dual DVM/PhD/MPH/MS degrees. They are a separate beast all together.



These aren't hard set rules, just my experience and opinion. I kept my desires to myself and a very small circle, and I think it worked to my advantage. If you feel strongly about being upfront with everyone, by all means, but its non of their business. What you do or don't do with your degree when you are done is your business, but you need your entire committee's blessing to get that degree.

If you think that the average committee member is above screwing you - over something petty, think again. It doesn't take much for one of them to say "I'd like to see you show that that protein is being up-regulated with an ELISA", gratz, you just got 3-4 months added before you can graduate.

Least ammo you give them the better - and I got hammered about my vet school ambitions on my prelim defense (some people spoke).
Click to expand...

Ok, I just learned a new dimension of information. Thanks
 
BS Animal and Pre-Veterinary Sciences

(yes that is the exact way my major is listed on my degree)



DVM👍
 
Here's my take on the current discussion, and I do realize that my situation may be a little bit different than most others for the following reasons:

1) I'm at a university with a vet school and my lab is in the school of vet med.

2) My MS thesis mentor was one of my DVM interviewers.

3) I want to go into veterinary academia in the field of my MS research, and plan on applying to DVM/PhD dual degree programs.

4) Staying here (possibly even in the same lab) for the DVM/PhD is my 1st choice by far.

5) I will finish my thesis before I leave.

So due to a combination of the above-mentioned reasons, my applying to vet school next year is already known to my mentor. She actually gives me unsolicited advice on it sometimes as well. So I don't think it's a completely taboo thing to talk about in all situations, at all. It depends quite largely on your individual reasons for getting the degree and the circumstances surrounding your specific case.

If you are only doing it to get into vet school and are not interested in the field, it's unlikely you'll make it through satisfactorily in the first place. As No Imagination reiterated, it's a matter of focusing on finishing the degree requirements: the coursework AND more importantly the research. You have to at least act like you're interested in it (hopefully you actually are!) and not blow it off and treat it like a means to an end. This is where your actions matter much more than your words. If I acted like I am only doing this to go to vet school, then it's a problem. If I say that I'm going to apply to vet school, it isn't, at least for me. Fortunately I am enamored with my field and never really had the "means to an end" attitude to try to suppress. 😍
 
Ok, I just learned a new dimension of information. Thanks
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Yah I had no idea the 'Master's committee' people (those that run in that circle, that is) were so anti-EverythingElse. Wonder if it's like that everywhere.


I guess if I apply to grad school I'll just leave off that I want to go to vet school and put an interest in Immunology/further my studies/whatever.
 
I have to agree with a lot of what No Imagination has said. I'm doing my PhD in Micro/Mol Genetics. I entered into the PhD truly interested in doing research, and my PI has trained me to be a PI on my own someday. I could do that. But its not where my heart is anymore. Now I'm about to graduate in the next 6 mo or so. Back in September I sat down with my PI and I told him I was going to apply to veterinary school and that I was leaving science. He is a good guy and is really supportive (he lets me take Wednesdays and Saturdays off to shadow a vet, that is AMAZING of him, but he knows I work 7 days a week anyways), but he did tell me to not tell anyone else for now. It's better in terms of politics with the rest of the dept if they continue to think I"ll be going into research with a postdoc after all of this. Despite his supportiveness though, I do know its hard on him. He tells me all the time that he hopes I'll still stay in research even after I get my DVM. and I do want to be involved with research somehow, but not in the capacity that a PhD would lead me to.
 
I think what NI and GellaBella are saying applies really mainly to PhD programs, to be 100% honest. Most MS programs are not funded by the department in the same way that PhD ones are (at least here this is the case) and while they are still investing time and resources in you, it isn't quite as much. I got my funding through a different department, on my own, for my first two quarters, and I know this is the case for most of the Masters students here I've talked to.
 
BS in Chemistry(ACS) and completing the Pre-Vet Program
 
Completed the degree requirements for a BS in Psych 22 years ago, but dropped out during my senior year. 3 years later, graduated with a BS in Business from a different school.
 
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