<p>I am currently trying to decide where to enroll next year, and I am into the UGA honors program and GT. I am a serious student and have been math/science focused in high school. Right now I am thinking I would like to go to vet school after college.</p>
<p>I will major in Biology (with perhaps a minor in environmental or ocean sciences)</p>
<p>I feel like I should go to UGA because it will be easier to get a good GPA there and it has a vet school, but I like GT better in terms of its social scene and the reputation for harder classes/a more academic focus (I feel like I would fit more there)</p>
<p>Always go with where you feel like you will be the happiest and it wil benefit you the most in the long run. I will say that there is no such thing as an “easy” Biology major. Attending UGA isn’t an automatic guarantee for a good GPA, especially if you are going into the Honors Program, which is essentially a liberal arts education coupled with the research opportunities of a large public research institution. With the two minors that are mentioned, I do believe that UGA has more options for what you are interested in overall. Since GT is an engineering school, a biology major might not be what you expect , especially if you want to go into a vet program. You sound like you want a background more so in animal health/sciences, which is why I would say UGA simply because 1) they have a vet school 2) they have a Pre-Vet track for undergraduate students 3) the opportunities to become involved in veterinary work before you finish undergraduate are higher than they would be at GT. I know a few honors students who are currently in graduate school and I am sure that you would fit right in with them as well as other students who are not in the honors program. The honors program is a very tight-knit group. At the end of the day, regardless of which school you select, everyone has an academic focus. Contrary to popular belief, UGA isn’t all about football and partying. Ultimately, students always want to get that degree!</p>
<p>Georgia Tech is an STEM school, not just an engineering school (though it is one of the best engineering schools on the planet). The natural science, math, business, etc. programs are what you would expect from any top-ranked internationally respected programs. There’s no “engineering” tilt to them, or whatever you insinuated above.</p>
<p>The non-STEM majors, on the other hand, have a STEM tilt. For example, public policy has a strong components concerning the environment, technology, and science education. The history major focuses on the history of technology and science, etc. But a STEM major like biology is exactly what you would expect.</p>
<p>The big advantage of GT Biology over UGA Biology is the non-vet opportunities at graduation. GT has a massively higher employment rate and higher starting salaries. The GT name also goes farther with grad school applications.</p>
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<p>GT also has an advisor and track for pre-vet students, as well, along with a pre-vet student organization. </p>
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<p>GT and UGA have very similar average GPA’s in Biology (about a 3.1). However, keep in mind that UGA’s high GPA reputation comes from a few majors (family studies, education, etc.) which do not include Biology. As a result, graduating at the top of your class or graduating with honors is more difficult at UGA. You need to be in the 3.55-3.60 GPA range to graduate with honors from UGA, a 3.15 graduates with honors from GT (in short, a 3.2 GPA from GT is impressive, whereas a 3.2 GPA from UGA isn’t).</p>
<p>Ah, where do I begin? Let me start by clarifying my statement, as I did not realize that it would be scrutinized so thoroughly. Georgia Tech is indeed a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) school with an internationally recognized Engineering Program. In saying this, my quote which CFB53B was so quick to point out, was poorly worded in the sense that biology is still a strong major regardless of where you go for your undergraduate degree. So I guess my full statement would be this:</p>
<p>Since GT is a STEM school, a biology major is a general degree. Not general in the sense that it is limiting, but rather you can do whatever you want with a Biology degree from vet school to medical school. UGA is different in the fact that they not only have a general biology program, but also multiple programs that have biology base with an emphasis on different career fields and interests. If you are determined to major in Biology, then like I said, go where you see yourself being the happiest. If you are determined to go to Vet school, then I would say explore the different major options at UGA that go beyond just Biology (opportunity to double and triple major if you truly are academically focused). You have Animal Health, Biology, Animal Science, and other more specific majors through the College of Agriculture. It really just depends on what you want to do.</p>
<p>CFB53B -
If you’re going to give information, you should probably provide publicly accessible facts to back up your statements to give them more weight.
Pretty sure that maybeGAvet said that they are interested in vet school, so what good is a “big advantage” if you can’t apply it to the question being asked? Employment rates and starting salaries at GA Tech have nothing to do with this particular question unless of course there was no specific interest indicated (Vet School). “The GT name goes farther with grad school applications”, is the only applicable advantage that you indicated for this particular situation, since vet programs are professional/doctoral programs. I refer you back to point one. How would GT’s name have any more weight that UGA’s name (or any other school, for that matter) on an application for veterinary school? Both have biology majors and both are prestigious institutions in their own rights. As I stated, one advantage that UGA holds is that they have specific majors outside of Biology that are great for those who wish to go to vet school but are interested in a specific field within a vet program (large animals, marine animals, etc.).
GT does indeed have a pre-vet track and student organization. I Googled “Georgia Tech Pre-Vet Club” and couldn’t help but laugh at the first link that popped up: [University</a> of Georgia Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club](<a href=“http://pre-vet.uga.edu/]University”>http://pre-vet.uga.edu/) <—great resource by the way
I did find some info on GA Tech’s Pre-Vet Club (Pre-Veterinary Medical Association Club) here and there. Did find that they do have several events in which they invite speakers from the UGA Veterinary School to speak about admissions process for vet school. Imagine that.
A high GPA reputation because there are only a few majors represented? That’s funny, I would love to see where you got that information. I say this, because there is this little thing called FERPA that prevents institutions from releasing such information without prior consent. Then again, maybe schools are able to release that information but I have been hard-pressed to find it outside of one site that stopped reporting in 2007. </p>
<p>GA Tech is a great school. UGA is a great school. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. In terms of preparation for vet school, UGA would seem like the logical choice, but as I stated before, it all depends on what the student likes and dislikes.</p>
<p>Clearly you don’t understand FERPA. Schools cannot release individual grades, but they can (and do) release aggregate grade and salary information. The only requirement is that the “group” contains five or more students.</p>
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<p>Of course they would invite UGA Vet school speakers. There are only a few dozen Vet schools in the country, and UGA has the only one in Georgia. That doesn’t mean that being a UGA undergraduate gives you any special advantage.</p>
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<p>More than 50% of pre-health students do not continue on to a professional health program after graduation. Having a better “Plan B” is an advantage for someone that changes his mind in four years.</p>
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<p>That’s where you argument falls apart. UGA is not respected outside of Georgia and is seen as a party school with a good band scene. And considering that there’s only one Vet school in Georgia, it’s a good idea to hedge by choosing a school respected for academics outside of North Georgia.</p>
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<p>And Georgia Tech does not? Regardless, if your goal is professional school after an undergraduate degree, you do not want to double or triple major. You want to finish a primary degree with as high of a GPA as possible from the best school possible, then apply for professional programs.</p>
<p>OP- contact the UGA honors college and arrange another visit. Attend some classes. Maybe you can spend the night with a Biology major at Myers. Do the same for Tech…</p>
<p>Attend where " feels" right. You are always going to get the GT is great and UGA is a party school argument. Not many students have attended both schools. Hard to get an unbiased perspective.</p>
<p>Many students turn down tech to attend UGA and vice versa. From my d’s experience UGA was a better fit for her major. She is in honors and is working hard and definitely being challenged in her classes.</p>
<p>As for the social scene, Athens has many options. D has found a great group of kids in Myers that she socializes with. Re read the post by UgeatUGA, many good points!</p>
<p>College is what YOU make it. I am sure you will thrive where ever you choose!</p>
<p>We have three kids. The first two went to Harvard. Number 3 is a HS senior with similar stats to his sisters’ and nice hooks. He’s also a math and science guy - finished the local HS math curriculum in middle school and began university math at age 13. But the Ivy vibe never appealed to him and he’s passionate about marching band. In addition, our assets changed to the point that we’re now just out of reach for need-based aid. GT seemed like the obvious choice.</p>
<p>But S never felt good about Tech either. Having spent most of his youth focused on math, he wants to branch out and dabble in a number of liberal arts disciplines. Tech is a great school if you know exactly what you want to do with your life, but it isn’t a place for dabblers.</p>
<p>At this point, he’s got it down between UGA Honors and another nationally-renowned honors program. We’re going back to Athens tomorrow for an Honors Accepted Student Day, after which I anticipate that he’ll choose UGA, live in Myers, and march with the Redcoat band. It just feels right to him, and I’m thrilled for him. I’m all about the value of having a talented peer group, and the UGA Honors peer group has stats comparable to students at the top academic institutions in the country (the average SAT is 1473 / 1600). </p>
<p>I’m delighted that his sisters went to / go to Harvard. They wanted to get out of the South and enter the fast lane, and it was right for them. A year from now, when he’s been at UGA and in Honors for an academic year, S will probably say that he couldn’t imagine being elsewhere. And I’m sure that he’ll still feel that he made the right choice in not choosing Tech. But that has nothing to do with Tech - it has everything to do with him.</p>
<p>Gadad, My daughter is in UGA honors and also a member of the Redcoat band. She has really enjoyed her freshman year experience. I hope you have a great visit and I am sure that your son will choose the place that is best for him.</p>
<p>Gadad, just wondering was the Honor’s Accepted Students Day at UGA helpful. I’m on a wait list for the next one, and am wondering how important it is that I attend</p>
<p>It’s certainly not mandatory to attend, but it may help you decide between your options. The first 45 min. was with a panel of four advisors - one who focuses on prepping for major scholarships and one who heads up undergraduate research opportunities. The students then went to an honors class and to lunch, and came back after lunch for a 45 min. forum with four Honors students and a tour of Myers Hall. My son was very impressed - he enjoyed the class and we all thought the students were amazing.</p>
<p>I don’t know that the wait list is technically that. I think that the online reservation form for these events cuts the size off at the number of people who can fit on a shuttle bus for campus tours. In the case of the Honors Admitted Students Day, there’s no campus tour, but I think the program puts you on a waitlist anyway. I emailed Greg Rountree with the Honors Program to ask about it and he emailed right back and said he’d put us on the reservation list.</p>
<p>From what I can tell, Chronome was recently rejected / wait listed from GT and is a little upset. I wouldn’t put too much weight into his comments.</p>
<p>BanjoHitter- are you a tech student that disagrees? it would be helpful for my decision making if I could know how a tech student feels about being a biology major?</p>
<p>Haha BanjoHitter, you’re funny. I wasn’t phased at all by my GT waitlist. The only reason I applied was because I liked the campus and could get instate tuition. I’m not even pursuing the waitlist.</p>
<p>She says that even though GT is phenomenal at Engineering (and that’s where it is known to be hard), Biology is just as hard, if not harder. And GT isn’t even known for Biology. She hates it because she has absolutely NO TIME for herself or to find a boyfriend or a social life, etc. She says that it’s completely studying, studying, studying 24/7. And she says that it’s that way for everyone. There is pretty much no social life there and that’s unfortunate because social life is definitely a big part of the college experience.</p>
<p>I know a biology major at GT. She loves it and has time for clubs, community service, a social life and has a 4.0. She got the IB Diploma in high school, so she learned how to manage her time while taking challenging courses.</p>
<p>I can tell you that everything Chronome said is misleading. Campus has a thriving social life for all majors, including Biology. The classes are more difficult than those I’ve taken at other campuses, but that’s to be expected from a top school. Like anywhere, I suppose it’s possible that someone studies 24/7, but that’s very rare and is someone that really shouldn’t have been admitted to GT. </p>
<p>The school, including the Biology department, as well known and that provides a strong boost in grad school admissions - people are impressed when you say you go to Tech, and the school is well known all over the country and the world. The real draw is that there are employers that hire from GT that you’d never see at other schools. These employers go to the “very top” schools to hire, and come to GT for engineering students (but also hire non-engineers while on campus). These are the types of companies that hire you at six figures, put you on a fast track to Harvard Business School, and give you senior executive mentors from top companies. The career options really are truly amazing and you wouldn’t even know these career paths existed outside of a school like GT.</p>
<p>But if you’re going to Vet Med school, and you are dead-set on that career path, you should go to UGA. You can actually get exposure to the Vet Med program at UGA and the school is known in the Vet Med school circles.</p>