So between LMU and CSULB, Which would offer a better program for a biology major leaning towards zoology and ultimately wildlife veterinary medicine? As well as the two schools stated above, would other schools in California(I am a CA resident) would be a good fit for my desired major and career plans?
Both LMU and CSULB would offer the required courses needed to apply to Vet school. You would need to check each schools Biology/Zoology offerings to see if there is a glaring difference between each schools program.
I would look at UC Davis, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as other possible schools.
For UC Davis, look at Animal Biology. For Cal Poly Pomona, they have a Biology/Zoology concentration. For Cal Poly SLO, they have a Biology/Wildlife and Conservation Diversity concentration.
For Vet school, what is important is completing the Vet school pre-req courses to apply, having a High GPA, high GRE score and many hours of hands on animal experience.
Here is an FYI link for UC Davis Vet school which breakdowns the # of admits among the California and Out of state schools for the past application cycle to give you an idea of what schools to target for Undergrad.
https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/admissions/application-statistics-class-2022
Just remember that Vet school is highly competitive so have a backup plan just in case.
both are good schools - LMU is much smaller and for most people a LOT more expensive - but you get the private school experience. Is it worth the price? that’s a personal decision.
If you can afford both, tour them, one will feel more like home. There are lots of other options.
FWIW, the Life Sciences building at LMU is only 1 or 2 years old, and it is gorgeous. Completely state of the art with shiny new labs. I was just on campus at CSULB, but didn’t check out the Life Sciences buildings, but if they haven’t moved, they’re going to be much older (not that they’re bad at all, just that shiny and new and state of the art is almost always a good thing).