I’ve had a dilemma for quite some time over choosing a major. The competition is between animal science and biology. This wouldn’t be as difficult if my financial aid wasn’t so different. I should first say that I’m interested in animal agriculture. For the last year, I’ve been involved with the goat industry, and I absolutely love it! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find a college with an animal science program for an affordable cost. The least expensive university I found was Murray State University. They have yet to provide a financial aid offer, but after some estimation, I’ve been able to predict a cost around $6,000. One major drawback is the retention requirements for the scholarship I’m getting. The scholarship requires participation in the honors college, which itself requires students study abroad however, the scholarship doesn’t cover the cost for the study abroad program. This would be close to $30,000 after four years, but they do have a respected animal science program. Another college, Lindsey Wilson College, no more than 30 minutes away from my hometown, giving me exceptional financial aid. My cost would only be $3,000 a year, or $12,000 for four years. The only drawback with Lindsey Wilson is their lack of an animal science program, but they do have an outstanding biology department who offers an enviromental and organismal biology track and a pre-veterinary medicine track. I’ve reached out to Lindsey Wilson’s career office to see if they could goat farms in their community looking for help if I were to go there, but I’m still unsure whether biology would satisfactory for entry level positions in animal agriculture. Does anyone have any suggestions or insights into my decision? Any advice will be well appreciated!
What state do you live in? Does your state flagship offer an animal science major or minor? If not, some states in geographic areas enter into an articulation program where they offer OSS students close to instate tuition for a program not offered by the state where they reside. If you live in Kentucky, what about their animal science program in their agriculture program?
Murray State University is in Kentucky. In fact, their one of the best programs in the state. I have looked into the University of Kentucky, but their the most expensive college in the state at $23,000 a year. Their financial aid offer was only $16,000 a year. Because my parents aren’t helping me pay for college, I have to be careful where I choose to go. I do have the Kentucky Office for the Blind willing to give me up to $6,800 a year depending on other aid I receive, so Murray State may be the way to go. I’m afraid of their study abroad requirement though. I don’t know where I’d find the money for that expense.
Murray State sounds like it will offer what you need for an entry level position in animal agriculture. The honors program requirement of study abroad mentions that the program can be as little as 9 days in length. Perhaps this requirement is something that you can speak to the Kentucky Office for the Blind. They may be able to cover that cost when you are ready to travel. If there is no requirement as to when you will have to study abroad, it would give you time to appeal the cost of the program to be covered by aid. When do you expect to hear from their financial aid office?
The Kentucky Office for the Blind cannot pay for costs associated with study abroad programs. The financial aid office does offer assistance for study abroad programs during the fall and spring semester however, their funding is limited. My major would not offer a study abroad program during the fall or spring semester. Agriculture abroad is offered during the summer and winter, but at no other time other than a new program offered for spring break in 2019. Murray State University reccomends students to study abroad during their sophmore or junior year. One suggestion I assume could be made is to find a job and pay on the trip in gradual installments however, I do not have this option. My family income exceeds the minimum requirement for the federal work study program, and as a student without a driver’s license, an off campus job would be difficult to find and mantain. Another option could be seeking government assistance for my disability, but I do not qualify for this program either due to not being legally blind. A final option would be my family paying the cost for the study abroad program, but they are unable to help me afford college in any way, yet alone a trip abroad. I feel as though I have no other option but to take out a private loan which would be a significant financial burden after graduation if I decide to attend Murray State University.