I am beginning to start the decision process, and two of my top schools are UCONN (animal science major) and the University of Kentucky (double animal sci/equine sci and management major). Through scholarships etc they both come down to roughly the same cost (worst case scenario UCONN is like 10,000 more than UK but they should be roughly equal in the end). I was accepted to UCONN’s honors program but not UK. I’ve toured UCONN and am going back in April, liked it when I was there and recently visited UK for Merit Weekend and loved it. Long story short I am at a stalemate. Anyone go through the an sci program at UCONN and have some opinions on it?
vetmed2822 - I saw your post & it made me sign up to Coll. Conf. so I could respond! (Have read many threads and gotten a lot of useful info, so hopefully I can help you.) Have a D in the UConn animal sci program- also honors. Toured a lot of schools when she was looking, investigated thoroughly, etc. Am extremely happy with UConn program. Many hands on opportunities exist, barns & livestock are readily accessible, department professionals are wonderful and very genuine people. You will get a first rate education! If you apply yourself, the opportunities for research are truly available- even as a freshman. UConn has a very positive energy, I feel. I’d strongly suggest on your visit to schedule an appointment with one of the professors or dept. heads and get your own feel for the people who run the programs for which you are particularly interested. (Is equine a focus?) fyi there is also a Pathobiology Dept. that is connected to the prevet track. You might want to explore this area on your visit, as well. Additionally, the honors program is worthwhile; no doubt you have read the benefits, especially the priority registration. In my opinion, an honors program can provide you with advisors and opportunities which can greatly impact your studies. Best of luck!
@momof200S This is so nice to hear! My daughter starts UConn in the Fall as an Animal Science student and she will have an equine focus. We are meeting with a professor next week for 45 minutes and she is spending the afternoon with a current student to do a mini Husky for a Day. I called the department with a general question several weeks ago. The head of the department called me back within 24 hours and gave me so much terrific information. It was Dr. Zinn’s idea to do the mini Husky for a Day with an Animal Science student. So far I have been very impressed with all I have seen. 1 question…are the kids in program close?.. I feel like that would make sense, as they would tend to have so much in common.
@TLD1267 I think you’ll have to ask one of the students if the kids in program are close. I know there are many different paths that individuals can take, so not everyone does everything the same & with the same students. UConn is a big campus and animal science students will be in many classes outside of their specific major with other students in sciences, math, etc. Certainly, there will be classes with primarily an sci students and opportunities to connect with other an sci students through many ag dept. clubs & other an sci activities. My D has a close friend in An Sci who has been on one of the riding teams, if that is an interest for your D. (I think your D can get a good idea of the connectedness of the students when she does her Husky for a Day visit and can ask a number of the students she will meet.) And yes, dept. head is tops!