Large state school or LAC?? Still lost.

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hi everyone, I will be applying to colleges this fall and still having a hard time deciding which type of college would be best for me and my intended path of study. I am seriously considering becoming a veterinarian, thus pursuing a pre-veterinary path of study for undergrad and perhaps majoring in biology, biochemistry, or chemistry.</p>

<p>From what I have read, it seems that attending a university that also has a college of veterinary medicine is ideal for pre-veteriary students due to the availability of animal-related classes and better advising. </p>

<p>As a resident of Michigan, Michigan State University has been on my mind because it has a vet school, is pretty inexpensive (because I would be an in-state student), and is relatively close to home. I would be an MSU Honors College invitee due to my ACT score, and would most likely enroll in the Lyman Briggs college of sciences, as well. </p>

<p>However, I believe I would do much better at a smaller college, such as a liberal arts college. I highly prefer smaller class sizes, accessible professors, and classes not instructed by grad students or teaching assistants, but I am concerned that a LAC would not offer a good pre-vet program. Even if a small college could offer such a program, I am lost in finding science-oriented LACs. Although I would definitely prefer to attend a small college/university, I don't know which ones offer good biology/biochem coursework and am clueless as to how to determine such strengths of small LACs because they usually aren't included in "Top 10" rankings. </p>

<p>I understand that Cornell and Tufts are small and also have vet schools, but my parents are not interested in paying more than 30,000 per year, and neither of of these schools offer merit aid (even if they did I probably wouldn't get it.)</p>

<p>Can anyone please advise me in my decision? Would the MSU Honors College be substantially better for my intended course of study, despite my desires to attend a smaller college? And which, if any, college in and around the Midwest offer especially good science, specifically biochem, programs?? Any help would be much appreciated!! I am planning college visits right now.</p>

<p>(Stats if it helps: 32 act, 4.0 UW)</p>

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<p>I don’t know why you could not get all the biology, biochemistry, and chemistry you need for pre-vet at a liberal arts college. What a big university adds is more courses at the advanced undergraduate level, graduate programs, and more research activity. Those aren’t necessarily big advantages for a pre-vet or pre-med student. They may even detract from the faculty attention you want.</p>

<p>Consider where people who get science PhDs go to college. 7 of the top 10 colleges for per capita PhD production in the life sciences are LACs. 8 of the top 10 colleges for per capita PhD production in chemistry are LACs. ([COLLEGE</a> PHD PRODUCTIVITY](<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/ir/phd.html]COLLEGE”>Doctoral Degree Productivity - Institutional Research - Reed College)). So if LACs aren’t holding students back from getting science PhDs, why would they hold you back from succeeding in vet school?</p>

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<p>LACs may or may not offer all of the courses required for pre-vet. As I’ve noted before, some vet schools require specialized pre-reqs that are not offered at all universities, let alone LACs. Additionally, many LACs are located in rural areas that are not conducive to animal handling experience. Volunteering at the local vet clinic helps, but it’s also quite useful to have large animal experience. </p>

<p>That said, I have an extremely high opinion of LACs and agree with TK that there is no reason whatsoever to rule them out entirely. The most obvious solution is to apply to a mix of colleges - my own list included a range of colleges from ~1500 undergraduates to over 20,000 undergrads.</p>

<p>I would definitely apply to MSU in addition to other colleges. MSU has a very good program in animal science and an excellent one in zoology, and Lyman Briggs has a superb reputation.</p>

<p>Among LACs, I strongly recommend the Philly LACs - Swarthmore, Haverford, and (if female) Bryn Mawr. All three have excellent science programs and have access to Penn, including its top-notch vet hospital. </p>

<p>I also recommend Rhodes, which is literally across the street from an excellent zoo and coordinates internships for interested students, including many pre-vet students. </p>

<p>Another option is Macalester, which, like the Philly LACs, has strong science programs and is located near a good vet hospital (U Minnesota).</p>

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<p>Virginia Tech. It’s $31,000 yr. for out-of-state students.</p>

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<p>I live in a rural area. Believe me, there are plenty of opportunities to handle animals around here.</p>

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<p>[Academic</a> Programs](<a href=“http://www.myagnr.uconn.edu/PreVeterinaryStudies.php]Academic”>http://www.myagnr.uconn.edu/PreVeterinaryStudies.php)</p>

<p>Check out UCONN, plenty of animals there! Some days you can smell the cow manure when you are walking to class! </p>

<p>[Academic</a> Programs](<a href=“http://www.myagnr.uconn.edu/scholarships.php]Academic”>http://www.myagnr.uconn.edu/scholarships.php) Merit Aid, a possibility </p>

<p>[University</a> of Connecticut - Honors Program](<a href=“http://www.honors.uconn.edu/]University”>http://www.honors.uconn.edu/) Apply to the Honors Program </p>

<p>OOS runs about $40,000/year, with your stats you would probably get merit aid.</p>

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<p>Will your parents pay for vet school? If not, then will they set aside some money for vet school if you get a good scholarship for undergrad?</p>

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<p>I’m not sure if my parents would pay for vet school. Probably not because I have other siblings in college. I’m hoping to get a good scholarship from somewhere, although I am not entirely sure if my ACT is high enough.</p>

<p>I looked into Haverford/Swarthmore/Etc, and those seem to expensive. </p>

<p>What are your thoughts on Kalamazoo, Hope, or Denison? I figured I might get merit aid from Denison and Kalamazoo, that would lower the price. Hope is already pretty affordable.</p>

<p>Maybe MSU is just the best option…</p>

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<p>Denison would probably give you a scholarship though I don’t know how much (unless your a NMF). MSU is certainly a great option.</p>

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<p>I absolutely love Denison, and yes, you are likely to get some kind of merit aid from them. Son came VERY close to attending next fall. Here is the list of some of their merit scholarships. Some of them will have additional applications for the scholarships, so make note of that (S was offered the Paschal Carter):</p>

<p>[Academic</a> Scholarships - Denison University](<a href=“http://www.denison.edu/admissions/academic_scholarships.html]Academic”>Denison University | A top liberal arts college located in Ohio)</p>

<p>Also, you do have to have a personal interview with an admissions officer in order to be in the running for any of their merit scholarships (you can schedule one when you tour/visit, or put in a request to have one in your local area). I don’t know much about Hope or Kalamazoo, sorry.</p>

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<p>Kalamazoo College might be right for you. Right in Michigan, a beautiful cozy campus within a fun city, solid liberal arts program with a distinction in sciences might be a good foundation for vet school. You should visit the campus and get to know the programs before deciding on MSU. At K college classes are small and all taught by professors, and you really feel part of the college community. Excellent foreign study program too, which isn’t necessarily preparation for vet school, but is an experience that many students find valuable in learning more about the world and themselves. Here’s a little more info; definitely visit in person if you can.</p>

<p>[Kalamazoo</a> College | Colleges That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/colleges/kalamazoo]Kalamazoo”>Kalamazoo College – Colleges That Change Lives)</p>