animal science universities

KSUwildcat2009 said:

Obviously I'm going to tell you K-State is the best.   

In all seriousness though, I went to K-State because it felt right.  I walked on to campus, met with a few of the Animal Science professors, got a tour of campus, drove around town and it just felt right.  If you find a place where you have that experience you can be almost guaranteed that you will be happy with your decision.  All of the schools mentioned are good schools, but they also excel at different things.

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Yes! I had always wanted to go to kstate, but I knew it was "the one" after a visit! It sounds super corny but there really is the feel.  You will know what's right.  I can't picture myself doing anything other than an sci...people always ask me what else I would like to do, but nothing ever comes to mind as being a good fit for me.  I am going pre vet, but I am minoring in applied genomics and biotechnology.  I am also in the honors college.  Make your presence known!

Kstate steer planet get together sometime in the fall?

A degree of any kind is what you make of it.  Number one is go to class and get good grades.  Secondly, be involved in extracurricular activities, and take advantage of intern programs.  These days, the intern programs are the best way to get your foot in the door at any major corporation.

From listening to the others who have posted on here, I was the exception.  I got my BS in Animal Science at the University of Nebraska.  Spent 4 years managing our family farm and ranch, then made a change in my career path, and got a job at a Fortune 500 company.  My Animal Science degree was not what got me the job, it just fulfilled the requirement that I have a degree.  What got me the job was my GPA in college, my background in agriculture, business, and marketing, and lastly was how well I did on their evaluation test. 

Animal Science can be a well rounding degree if you choose to challenge yourself.  Don't take the easy classes.  Take lots of math, economics, marketing, and science classes.  One of my favorite classes in college was Advance Animal Breeding.  For those that are not familiar, it is not an A.I.ing class or a simple review of recessive genes.  It was actually a statistics class, including much of the statistics that go into determining EPD's and their accuracies.  It was a undergrad/grad class, and the guy that got the best grade in the class was a person getting his Masters in Statistics. 

Good luck, and remember to follow your passion.  This is your degree and the the only way you will succeed at it is by loving it.

Some of you had the same interest in Animal breeding i had when I did my first degree.  I am happy to see that you are advocating taking more math and hard science classes to prepares to do more challenging work.  I would add another requirement beyond statistics and a full year of calculus:  computer science and modelling. If you work in a lab of any sort setting up and maintaining the instrumentation software is a challenge on to itself.  The ability to handle this is a big selling point.
One thing I would like to see undergraduate programs do is copy engineering programs and offer co-op work/study programs.  The student gets experience and earns money while going to school.  Hopefully enough employers would support such a program to make it viable.  If you are in school now ask about establishing a co-op program. 

Excellent point on coop programs!

I graduated from Iowa State and have been a huge success.  LOL  I, too, wanted to stay close to home, so ISU worked out great for me.  Family is important to a lot of us.  If you end up at ISU and get lonesome for Shorthorns, we are 15 miles away and our family would welcome a visit anytime.

Any advice I would give would include keeping your options open.  My degree is in Ag Ed and my job experience includes sports writing, high school education, community college education, banking, and, of course, picking up rocks and cow crap.  I have enoyed each opportunity, with the possible exception of picking up rocks.  I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had for anything and have met so many wonderful people over the years at each stop.  Go for your goals, but take the time to meet new people, make new friends, and enjoy the experience. 

We've lived near Ames for almost 50 years.  One advantage of being so close to ISU is that you have the opportunity to see a lot of tremendous football players, most of whom play for Oklahoma, Texas, or Nebraska.  Unfortunately, no more Nebraska.  How I will miss Johnny Rodgers, Jarvis Redwine, I.M. Hipp, Jerry Tagge, David Humm, etc., etc. 

I really appreciate all the amazing advice everyone has given me. Its really give. It means so much to have so many people give you honesty and really want you to succeed. Thank you so much and please keep it comming!

chambero said:

I'll chime in here:

In reference to your original question, if you want to study animal science - I assume you mean cattle production - you need to pick a school that teaches to the environment you will be raising cattle in.  There is very little difference in quality amongst schools, but there are some difference in emphasis and expertise on the part of professors.  As much as I might prefer Texas A&M, it would make little sense for you if you are raising cattle in the midwest.

Individual professors can make "it work" for you.  You need to develop some relationships with professors before you ever get there.  My sons (13 and 10) are already going to every function possible at Texas A&M.  Some of the primary Animal Science professors already recognize them.  I'm also sending my oldest one to livestock judging camp at OSU in Stillwater this summer so he can start getting to know them.  If you haven't already been doing things like this, you are behind the curve before you even start.  If you have, go to college at those places you've already had contact with.

As much as I love cattle and as much as my young sons do, I will do everything possible to encourage them to major in something besides animal science.  Everything others have posted about limited opportunities is correct.  I explain it this way - if you major in something with "Ag" in the name of the degree, it is very unusual for a non-ag company to give your resume a second look.  However, you can get jobs with ag companies easily with degrees that don't have the name "Ag" in them.  For example, you can get a job with big-time Ag Company (i.e. Cargill) with a B.S. in Marketing.  Big-time advertising company won't hardly touch anyone with a B.S. in Agricultural Marketing with a ten foot pole.  You are unlikely to ever get to the interview process.

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All good advice. Your kids are lucky to have a parent that takes that kind of initiative to ensure their success.  I will say though, among all the Bachelor of Business Administration degrees, Marketing is the least sought after by employers: Accounting, Finance, Information Technology (Systems), Management, then Marketing. 

If you're looking at either nutrition or genetics, you might want to look at the University of Illinois.  I'm going to be a senior in the fall, and I have loved every minute.  There's no denying that some of the classes are fairly difficult, especially the chemistry classes, but it is hard to beat having access to great professors.  In nutrition, Dr. Shike and Dr. Felix are very good, and in genetics, you would have access to Dr. Beever. 

No matter where you go, I would highly recommend getting your gen eds out of the way at a community college.  Also, check the foreign language requirement and get that out of the way also.  In the end though, it's all a matter of comfort.  If you are happy with the school you choose, you will make the most out of the experience and that is the most important thing. 

You really need to check as many out as you can.  You need to have a good feeling about where you are going?  I've seen a lot of choices.  Everybody has an opinion.  Not all are based on facts.  I've looked at different studies, lists, etc. and find Iowa State near or at the top.  Texas A&M - No, Texas Tech ranks high.  A&M only gets recognized because it has a vet school.  Out east you have good An.Sci program and vet school at Cornell.  And why weren't Minnesota, Wisconsin or Illinois on your list?  All rank high in Animal Science, Pre-Vet and as Vet schools.  WI is at home and the other two are neighboring States with reciprocity. 
<cowboy>

I am entering my senior year at Western Illinois University majoring in Animal Science. At WIU there are several on hands experiences dealing with livestock. we have an active swine department where there are alot of on hands experience and we also have a pig sale. Also there is the bull test we have and sale every March. Now i had the opportunity to take classes with both Dr. Egnell and Dr. Nimrick who are both highly knowledgable in Animal Science but both have retired. You still have Mark Hoge there that you will learn alot from.
Im not saying you should go to WIU, there were just some that may have not liked or were saying it wasnt worth their time. Animal Science is not my only major. I am double majoring in Animal Science and Law Enforcement with a minor in Ag economics.
If i do choose to continue my masters i would choose K-State.

My bottom line is that Animal Science is not a waste of time major. There is alot to do in that field. Many jobs that Trans Ova offer tend to require Animal Science degrees and with your focus on genetics, Trans Ova would be one of my top companies i would be looking at in pursueing a job in after college.

Also, if that is your passion, go with it. too many times you see people who down road have regrets because they didnt like the field they were going into so if this is what you want to do go for it!

Get a Business degree, minor in one of these other electives mentioned

If it were me I would try Oklahoma State of Kansas State. Both have excellent beef and animal science programs.

Garrett said:

I am entering my senior year at Western Illinois University majoring in Animal Science. At WIU there are several on hands experiences dealing with livestock. we have an active swine department where there are alot of on hands experience and we also have a pig sale. Also there is the bull test we have and sale every March. Now i had the opportunity to take classes with both Dr. Egnell and Dr. Nimrick who are both highly knowledgable in Animal Science but both have retired. You still have Mark Hoge there that you will learn alot from.
Im not saying you should go to WIU, there were just some that may have not liked or were saying it wasnt worth their time. Animal Science is not my only major. I am double majoring in Animal Science and Law Enforcement with a minor in Ag economics.
If i do choose to continue my masters i would choose K-State.

My bottom line is that Animal Science is not a waste of time major. There is alot to do in that field. Many jobs that Trans Ova offer tend to require Animal Science degrees and with your focus on genetics, Trans Ova would be one of my top companies i would be looking at in pursueing a job in after college.

Also, if that is your passion, go with it. too many times you see people who down road have regrets because they didnt like the field they were going into so if this is what you want to do go for it!

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WIU's ag program will have an almost 100% turnover of teachers within the next 2 years- as opposed to 4 years ago.  The quality, I'm sure will suffer.

Cattle Cards said:

You really need to check as many out as you can.  You need to have a good feeling about where you are going?  I've seen a lot of choices.  Everybody has an opinion.  Not all are based on facts.  I've looked at different studies, lists, etc. and find Iowa State near or at the top.  Texas A&M - No, Texas Tech ranks high.  A&M only gets recognized because it has a vet school.  Out east you have good An.Sci program and vet school at Cornell.  And why weren't Minnesota, Wisconsin or Illinois on your list?  All rank high in Animal Science, Pre-Vet and as Vet schools.  WI is at home and the other two are neighboring States with reciprocity. 
<cowboy>

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FYI.  Iowa State students graduate with some of the highest student debt in the nation. The administration knows this and are trying to change it, but it probably won't happen in the near future.  Starting out with high student debt is something to avoid.

Shorthorn Girl, a lot of people have brought up a lot of really good thinking points.  At the end of the day, it is your decision and yours only.  You are the one who has to be happy with it.  A very smart person told me when I was thinking about grad school and possibilities of continuing to a PhD that you should think about what you want to do and what do you have to do to make that happen.  For me, I want to teach at the university level to kids who are interested in production agriculture and applications of genetic technologies to better the industry.  To do that I have to get a PhD because almost every university requires professors to have a doctorate degree in their chosen field.  So if it helps, think about it in that sense.  And if you don't know what you want to be doing in 5 years or 10 years or for the rest of your life don't sweat it, but now is the time to at least start that conversation with yourself.  If you have a specific goal like I had, it will help you not only make decisions along the way but also keep you on track.  

Garrett makes a really good point too.  Dual majors are very popular, and you can talk with your advisers about what classes to take that will count towards both degrees.  They also keep your options open if you are unsure what you want to do, moreso than just a minor would.

Forgot to mention Purdue University...but as I stated and someone else mentioned, you have to decide.  I saw the comment about Iowa State, but if you're getting a scholarship, thought you mentioned it, then the debt ratio mentioned is not a problem.  Again, visit as many as you can, look around and see if you can picture yourself there.  Me, I actually went to UW-RF who, at the time, had some of the best in the midwest on staff...
<cowboy>

Cattle Cards said:

Forgot to mention Purdue University...but as I stated and someone else mentioned, you have to decide.  I saw the comment about Iowa State, but if you're getting a scholarship, thought you mentioned it, then the debt ratio mentioned is not a problem.  Again, visit as many as you can, look around and see if you can picture yourself there.  Me, I actually went to UW-RF who, at the time, had some of the best in the midwest on staff...
<cowboy>

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When I was checking into schools- Purdue was the most expensive one i came across, but then again Iowa never was in the discussion. 

In today's world... I don't think it matters where you go- as long as you take the right classes, and get the right degree- and then know the right people to get the job you want.  Each school will pretty much do the same things- just have a different set of teachers, and methods.  Is there an AnSi focused U, that doesn't have atleast a minor Ag farm with it_?  I doubt it.

Ohio State all the way

As someone who graduated from undergrad this past May, I will share my perspective here in hopes that it gives you something useful.

I was raised in the Deep South and wanted to stay fairly close to home for school, and I wanted to go into animal science.  I chose Mississippi State which was about 3-4 hours from home.  Outside the classroom, MSU was the BEST decision I ever made.  I had a great college experience: the whole growing up, making lifelong friends, and just having fun.  However, inside the Animal Science department was less than extraordinary.  I felt like our department was geared primarily towards getting students into vet school and less towards production ag and the kids who wanted to make a career of it.  As a student interested in similar fields to what you seem to want to pursue (Animal Breeding/Genetics), it was a little bit of a disappointment to feel like a minority (production ag kids) within the Animal Sci department.

If I was 18 again, I think I would look more for a school that has a better track record of preparing students for production ag careers and less about getting dog and cat vets into vet schools.  Also, I wouldn't let location be a huge factor in my decision.  Sure, it's nice to be close to home.  But in reality, once you get involved in organizations, or if you are a big sports fan, you aren't going to spend many weekend going home no matter how close you are.  As a freshman, I went home about once every 3 weeks.  By the time I graduated, I was lucky to get home twice per semester due to a busy schedule (and spending too much time watching SEC football and baseball )  As somebody posted earlier, you will know when you have found that special place because it will just feel like home.  MSU felt like home the first time I visited, and that is what drew me in.  Kansas State felt the same way the first time I visited there as a college junior.  If I were 18 again, I think I would spend my 4 years in Manhattan.

Purdue is a state school- we're not talking Notre Dame here..

If I were to go back, good chance I will,  I would like to go to North Dakota State University or Nebraska - to the best of my knowledge, they have the best beef cattle production programs.  I wouldn't go to TX A&M if it were free!