Which major is better: Zoology or Biological Science

[Two]

I know there have been similar questions on this forum about the majors that other users have, but I have a more specific question. Which major for a pre-veterinary student is better: Zoology or Biological Science? I am considering on switching my major from Psychology to one of these two majors and I cannot decide. I emailed some advisors at FSU (They only have a Biological Sciences major) and they said that Biological Sciences is the better choice because you get more pre reqs done than with a Zoology major. UF advisors told me that Zoology is the best choice because it deals more with animals. Which major would help me the most? Which is the easier of the two? Which Bachelors Degree can I do most with if I decide to not become a veterinarian?

Thank you so much for your help 🙂

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[twelvetigers]

It does not matter for vet school.

Now, if you wanted a job, I would hesitate to suggest either one, unless you want to be a game warden or manage a fishery. That's just my opinion as a zool major, though. I'm going for another B.S. this fall, but in microbiology. I think that would allow for a much better backup plan for myself.

Major in whatever interests you the most!

 

[sunnyshine]

Veterinary colleges, for the most part, have no preference in your major. They care more about how well you did academically inside of your major. This being so, I suggest that you study in the subject that you feel more academically confident in. That's for vet school. For employment I would have to pick biology simply because it is a broader major that encompasses more fields of study and thus it has more possible job opportunities.

 

[BlacKAT33]

Now, if you wanted a job, I would hesitate to suggest either one, unless you want to be a game warden or manage a fishery. That's just my opinion as a zool major, though. I'm going for another B.S. this fall, but in microbiology. I think that would allow for a much better backup plan for myself.

You mean you'd hesitate to suggest zoology major for your reasons stated above right? Because biological science major has a wide range of jobs, and it is basically comparable to the microbio major you are getting. I know you stated that too but I was just confused by the part bolded above.

I agree with mostly everything posted already. The major does not matter. In terms of job opportunities I would suggest the bio major. I was a bio major too 🙂 and I feel a lot more comfortable with my resume and seeking out jobs than my animal science friends. If i didn't get into vet school i would have had a strong back up plan with the courses i chose to take.

 

[twelvetigers]

Umm, yeah. Not sure why I said either one.

 

[Braki]

My university recommended a Zoology major, although it really doesn't matter in the end. I am happy that I chose a Zoology major though, as I found the material more interesting than I would've with a Bio Sci major.

 

[Polar Opposite]

I am happy that I chose a Zoology major though, as I found the material more interesting than I would've with a Bio Sci major.

I agree, the fact that it was interesting really helped entice me to go to class on those nice, breezy spring days when going to class just didn't seem like a top priority...🙂

 

[badcats]

Also keep in mind the emphasis that some degrees have. For example at my school you can get a ZOO degree with an emphasis in function (take neuroscience, phys, anatomy, parasitology, etc.) and another where the emphasis is in conservation (take classes like herpetology, mammology, onithology, etc.) The second one is a more traditional ZOO degree (and less useful unless you want to do a grad program) whereas the first would actually cover prereqs and provide more applicable upper division science courses.

I guess the point is determine what is important to you. Like BlacKAT said, the bio degree will be more flexible, both in courses you can take for completion and in jobs after undergrad.

 

[Tco87]

Yeah, I agree with what everyone else said about adcoms not caring about what your major is. You should just focus on what the degree will give you personally.
I would say look at the courses that you're required to take to get the Bio major vs. the zoology major. Which one will let you take more courses that you think will be interesting or helpful?

 

[Minnerbelle]

I agree with mostly everything posted already. The major does not matter. In terms of job opportunities I would suggest the bio major. I was a bio major too 🙂 and I feel a lot more comfortable with my resume and seeking out jobs than my animal science friends. If i didn't get into vet school i would have had a strong back up plan with the courses i chose to take.

haha, my younger sister was a zoology major, and she'll be going to grad school for it studying dolphin behavior (so jealous!). as she was graduating, her school's career center contacted her and asked her about her post-grad plans. when she answerd, the woman went "in my 20 years working at this college, you are the very first person to go to a grad program in zoology." 🙄

though i have to say, having a BA in Biology did land me a research tech job, but it's very sh*tty pay and it's not something I'd want to continue unless I was pursuing a higher degree. I had to spend about half of my take home pay on rent and utilities 😱. If I were concerned about a plan B career that I can pursue with my undergrad degree, I think I should've done something like bio engineering.

 

[HopefulAg]

I think this is kind of comparable to my decision between Animal Science and Biomedical Science, so I will address it from that point of view. I may be off base as I don't really know what a Zoological nor a Biological Sciences program consists of.



I chose BIMS instead of ANSC and kind of regret that I did. I recommend ANSC to others starting out. I thought the electives required for BIMS were interesting and will be helpful in vet school, however the impact they had on my GPA wasn't exactly negligible. Flip on over to ANSC and the classes I took from that department, when I was able to substitute, were a lot easier and just as interesting. In fact, I didn't make a single B in any of the ANSC classes I took, which definitely helped my GPA.

So while I feel that it will most definitely help me in vet school, having already taken Physiology, Anatomy, Parasitology, Immunology, Phamacology, etc., it's all kind of moot if it kills your undergrad GPA to where you can't get into vet school.

I can't really comment as to whether having taken those classes helped me get in in any way. I suppose they might've liked it from a rigor stand point but again, I don't know to what degree. I just know how much it hurt my GPA.