<p>My son is interested in pre-vet/animal science. Does anyone know which school has a better program? He also got into Schreyer's honor college, and Clemson University. Any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>If he's gotten into Schreyer, he's an exceptional student. Congrats. PSU has one of the best Ag Colleges on the planet, notably in animal science. The resources there, as a land grant are huge, and Schreyer breaks it down some.</p>
<p>Generally PSU is not undergrad friendly, they're the cash cows there, driving a Big 10 grad school, research mind-set, imo. Nice town, lots to do, kids love it. Academically, I'm of the belief that an undergrad must be exceptionally mature, aggressive, and driven to get a stellar intellectual experience. Tons of TA's and huge classes. Tough to get any profs real attention ... and not because they don't care. Teaching undergrads is just very low on their score chart; it's not what they get promoted and tenured for doing.</p>
<p>UD is much more undergraduate friendly. Just look at their stats. Many will perhaps rightly make the argument that PSU sheepskin trumps a Blue Hen diploma. Perhaps. This is not so easy to assess, although for what you're looking at, and assuming your student is one bright cookie, I'd be inclined to think PSU.</p>
<p>Clemson is not even in the same ball park as the other two, imo. Altho it may have a good vet science program as a land grant. Generally though Clemson is not in the same playing field, altho I'm confident there are plenty of bright kids there.</p>
<p>Hi Whistle Pig, my son also applied to Bucknell University for Bio, still waiting to hear, which school do you think would give him a better chance at getting into Vet school. That is his ultimate goal.</p>
<p>Bucknell's a totally different animal. Great school, lots of personal attention, amazing response to virtually any all issues, nice location (unless one is adverse to rural, scenic, small college type towns), superb science facilities and faculty, etc. This is a totally different type of "experience," in many ways superior and others perhaps less so. If a student is really focused, driven, wants a very particular niche, a PSU/Delaware may be the place for him. Altho BU has an animal science major, and I hear students are very engaged and excited ...</p>
<p>This is my opinion, and no more ... IF one can afford the BU experience, it offers so much more, especially in terms of relationships and intellectual engagement. One can get those at the larger publix, but they need to be aggressive, motivated, and focused. Otherwise, they'll get what they pay for. And that's very often a true truth. PM me and I'll share more specifics about my observations, experiences, and feelings about your situation. Let me say though if your son has these options, he's a super young man, and has a win win win decision to make. Only those institutions that fail to enroll him will be the losers.</p>
<p>Wow, I totally, absolutely disagree w/ whistlepig. Here are the numbers for UG and G school enrollment
Undergraduate</a> and Graduate/First Professional Fall Enrollment</p>
<p>Our experience is that schreyers undergrad is totally about taking care of each students needs including research. Son had no problem w/paid reasearch as a freshman and beyond. Advisior is excellent and always gets back within a few hrs (usually 20 min.) President of his college gets back to him immediately. Honors classes are generally small and by the time you get to your jun/sen year classes they are small anyway. Has had TA's only for labs and has had some excellent profs.
Know one soph. in the vet program and she is working paid research. Talk to the kids who actually attend the school to get a better feeling. S turned down $$ at Duke and Swarthmore and could not be happier.</p>
<p>Hi Sax thanks for responding. This whole college thing keeps getting more difficult, son got into UD honor's college and $14,000 a year in merit money. As you know Penn State Schreyer's honors gives $3500 he did get a bit more from the specific program he applied to. He will be visiting next week, I want him to be happy and successful so I want him to choose the school he thinks will be the right fit. I am just trying to find out which one has the best program. Thank you again and any further imput you have about Schreyer's would be appreciated! Are the honor classes much more challenging than the regular classes or are they more interactive and engaging?</p>