I want to be a vet. Do I NEED to take pre-cal in high school?

[joanie_maine]

I agree with woodmort.

If you take AP math courses in High school, you can apply them to your college courses.

That way, you won't have to spend as much time on college pre-requisite math courses. Same with English, Languages, etc

Vet school is INTENSE!

Take AP High School courses!!!

 

[AquaEyes]

I agree with woodmort.

If you take AP math courses in High school, you can apply them to your college courses.

That way, you won't have to spend as much time on college pre-requisite math courses. Same with English, Languages, etc

Vet school is INTENSE!

Take AP High School courses!!!

I was once a pre-vet Animal Science major. I changed my mind before finishing, but I can tell you some things that go on with the major and getting into vet school. And while knowing multiple species does at first seem to be hugely more difficult than knowing one, when it comes to anatomy and physiology, you'll find that things fit in an organized way based on the evolutionary relationships of the species involved, and the differences can be categorized as variations on a theme or degree. Considering that many veterinary programs are founded upon livestock science, you'll be learning the basics on well-studied species, and you'll be able to expand and modify that knowledge as you get to others.

My first semester at Cornell was Biology 101 (lecture and lab, 4 credits), Animal Science 101 (lecture and lab, 4 credits -- anatomy and physiology of domestic farm animals), Chemistry 101 (lecture and lab, 4 credits) and an elective English course -- German Authors (3 credits). That was my 15 credits. Second semester was 102 of each of the sciences, and my electives were two more science classes -- Exotic Avian Husbandry, and Intro to Plant Breeding -- Crop Genetics. That semester I took 16 credits (the two electives were 2 credits each). Other than the choices in electives, that's your standard freshman year for "pre-vet" where I went first-time-around. Second year was Physics101/102 (lec and lab), Organic Chemistry 201/202 (lec and lab), two more animal science courses, and another elective for each semester. Plan on at least 4-5 hours a day reading, studying and doing homework.

Take as many advanced math and science courses in high school as possible -- not so you can "skip" them in college, but so that when you take them (even if you have AP credit) you have an edge on getting an A. When you are a science major and intend to go to grad school, it is generally "frowned upon" to use AP credit as a way to skip taking the course. If you're leery of taking Calculus now while in high school, realize that there's much more science and math to come later, so you may as well get started now. Oh, and I do hope your biology courses weren't hijacked by "Intelligent Design" or "Teach The Controversy" nonsense, because if they were, you'll be very confused when you take college science courses that build upon standard high school level curriculum that hasn't been edited by people who don't understand biology.

Start thinking about an internship NOW where you can work over the summer and get experience and a letter of recommendation. Without this by the time you graduate with your BS, your chances of being accepted to vet school are very low. And the more years you have, the better you'll look.

Vet school is VERY competitive because the profession wants to keep the number of incoming vet students low so as to avoid swamping the market with veterinarians. Unlike medical care for humans, veterinary care is seen as a "luxury" industry, aside from those who focus on livestock for Big Ag. I was told this by numerous professors, and the fact that only a handful of incoming "pre-vet" majors would actually continue to go to vet school (even at Cornell) was also reminded to us often. With so many people competing for so few slots, your undergraduate GPA will need to be very high to shoulder your way in to the cream of the crop of vet school applicants. I knew quite a few upperclassmen at Cornell who wanted to get into Cornell Vet School but were afraid they wouldn't make it -- despite having 4.0 GPA's, internship and other hands-on experience, etc.

I was one of the many who decided "this isn't for me" but I applaud all those who have continued. I later realized that what I SHOULD have studied the first time around was Ethology, but now that I'm in school again, and my 20's are in my rear-view mirror, I decided to follow another passion in Clinical Psych rather than start off in a subject that will require bouncing around the globe to conferences and for research (ironically, it's the second most competitive doctorate program, after DVM, but I have a tendency of wanting things that are difficult). The point is that being a vet isn't the only way to make a career out of studying or working with animals, but it's the one often cited to young people who have the passion. Think of it this way -- lots of people love kids, but that doesn't mean being a pediatrician is the only way to work with them. And also realize that, for most animals, the veterinarian is their least-favorite person.

Whatever you decide, good luck!