This discussion was created from comments split from: Best Undergraduate College for Future Veterinarian?.
My daughter is an aspiring veterinarian, and she is seeking input/advice regarding best undergraduate programs for animal sciences, pre-vet or biology in the SOUTHEAST. She’s been accepted so far to NC State, Auburn, UofSC, LSU, UM, Ole Miss, and she is still waiting on UF, UGA Clemson and Florida State. We are slowly visiting some of the top choices, but it helps to know if certain schools are known for their agricultural schools, pre-vet clubs, possible study abroad opportunities for aspiring vets, etc. Thanks in advance for any information.
@jloheac Any of those schools would be fine. My son preferred a college with a vet school because of opportunities to work or get veterinary experience at the vet school’s facilities. (NC State, Auburn, LSU, UF, UGA from your list - all very good) That is a personal preference. It worked out well for him (he will be starting vet school this fall). Key factors:
- EXPENSE go to the cheapest school because vet school is expensive! Look in state.
- Make sure the school has a backup program in case she decides veterinary medicine is not for her.
- Go to the school where she feels she can make the best grades. Vet schools care a lot more about grades, animal and veterinary experience, and some GRE scores than about the prestige of the school.
- Look for a school where they do have pre-vet clubs and activities and places nearby she can get experience.
- Look at the vet schools she will eventually be applying to and make sure the school has all the courses required for those schools. Not all vet schools have the same requirements.
- Go where she will be happy. Going into vet school stressed out is NOT a good thing.
Good luck!
The University of Vermont (UVM) is another school to consider.
Veterinary school is insanely expensive given how well you get paid at the end of the road. Veterinarians are paid well enough to do fine if they can get out of vet school with a DVM and little or no debt. However, the “little or no debt” part is tough.
I agree with other comments above that you should look for a school that will leave you with no debt at all. Even better would be if you could leave some money in your college fund. You also want to get quite a bit of experience working with animals. The pre-vet students that I know have an enormous amount of experience dealing with animals from a wide range of perspectives.
What is your home state? I ask this because if your state has a veterinary college, that is the best chance for acceptance post grad as state veterinary schools are mandated to hold a specific number of seats for their instate residents. You also want the cost of attending undergrad to be lowest possible. Vet schools look for high GPA-especially in science and math classes, they each have individual requisites, they want to see a specific number of direct/hands on hours/experience under the auspices of a veterinarian, (this is easier to obtain if she were to go to an undergrad school that has an affiliated vet school), they also want someone with excellent communication skills and leadership in areas other than vet related. If she is out of state at an undergrad school that also has a veterinary college, it does not give her a leg up as she will still be considered OOS.
I would recommend uvm.
Hi @jloheac - I have a high school senior daughter who also hopes to attend vet school in the future. We live in Georgia, so she’s applied and been accepted to UGA. She hasn’t decided yet - she has some LAC’s she’s still considering too - but we just went to an admitted students day at UGA that left me with a great impression of their pre-vet program. The Animal Health major is within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Science which is a relatively small college within the university. It sounds like the kids in that college, which would include many pre-vet majors, get a lot of great, personalized assistance throughout the undergrad years and particular assistance and advice in gaining admittance to vet school. The college has specific scholarships, study abroad opportunities, and research opportunities just for its students, as well as guidance in finding jobs and internships working with animals as undergrads. Also, Animal Health majors at UGA have the opportunity to apply to vet school after their Junior year.
I agree with the other posters that cost and the ability to obtain a high GPA should be the determining factors, but if those things weigh in UGA’s favor for your daughter, I believe it has a great pre-vet program. I’m sure the same is probably true of Auburn and the other schools where your daughter has been accepted, but I just wanted to put in the plug in favor of UGA. 