Very disgusting day yesterday

and the nice thing about alot of scholarships coming out are directed to students that intend to work in food animal medicine, like fort dodged animal health and NCB, Pfizer animal health, Academy rural vets and academy of vet consultants all have specific scholarships.  there are options with the armed forces as well, you would be amazed the number of vets they need domestically and abroad (just think of all those bomb sniffing dogs), plus they have a great loan forgiveness pollicy- a few people in my class are already enrolled in that. the other nice thing is loan forgiveness programs for working 2-4 years in a needed area, yeah the pay probably isn't great but eliminating that student loan payment every month is helpful.

as for getting in, you don't need a 4.0, (yeah it helps) but i know for sure a few in my class that didn't have a 3.0 and they got in b/c they are WELL ROUNDED, and shows a great work ethic are the reasons they get in. the GRE yeah its a crappy test but it still makes you think under pressure and gets you out of your comfort zone. that is what admissions committees are looking for someone who can think and excel outside there comfort zone and work hard.
keep working hard, summer and after school jobs at the vet clinic ( even if you don't get paid), work in the production area you plan to practice...... my old livestock judging coach always gave me this advice "Exploit your strenghts always win that category, and don't get beat in your weakness", sounds like you got the grades, talk to the admissions committee members (that is not secret knowledge) and ask them to review your application and go over some interview questions, most are more than welcome to do so (try the dean or associate dean of the college too)
hope this helps

JWW

SOrry I meant to add this. This actually happened to us this past summer and my husband was the vet. Our best calf to date died during that surgery. We were sick about it for days. It happens.

DL said:

The average starting salary for food animal vets is comparable to other species - the big deal is the average $100,000 debt vet students have

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This is what kept me from becoming a vet.  I was in the pre-vet program and the course load didn't bother me all that bad.  I kind of did an assessment of where I wanted to be in 3 years and school wasn't it and I certainly didn't want loans.  Instead I became a software engineer.  It's amazing how most of my prerequisites matched up with computer science.  I now have six years of programming experience and make just as much if not more than  a vet without the late calls.   It affords me my love of cattle and I think I have more time off. 

If this says something about my desire or determination so be it.  Out of all of the crazy Math classes I had to have for the computer science major I don't know how much I use it, but I know it didn't hurt my programming kung fu!  College is just a big hoop you have to jump through.  Tell me how much I needed to know about the Study of Indiginous People humanities class that I had to take that I thought was the most difficult course I ever had in my life!

DL said:

Some people spend more money on their dogs, some don't. Some people with elite bulls spend huge amounts on these bulls

The average starting salary for food animal vets is comparable to other species - the big deal is the average $100,000 debt vet students have

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I am in Kansas City so in a rural area the scenario may be much different, but I can tell you around here it is WAY more lucrative to be a small animal vet, most of the large animal practices survive because of the small animals.  The small animal vets in this area not only care for your dog they now offer burial services and the whole nine yards, most people with elite bulls don't spend as much in a year as some of these animal loving folks in this area.

There are plenty of ways to make more money than being a vet or a doctor, especially considering the amount of time you spend in school.  The vet/med schools both are designed to weed out those that don't REALLY want to do it.  They don't want the kids just chasing the $$$.  Nor do we as customers.  We want those with a passion for healing.

None of the professional degrees are easy - medicine, vets, engineering, etc.  They aren't supposed to be.

And I'll guarantee you that a 4.0 isn't required to get into most vet/med schools.  They'd rather have a kid with a 3. something that has done stuff.  Most want you to have some kind of internship with a vet.  If a kid really wants to get in, it can be done.

I've got a friend who is a vet and his wife is a doctor.  They had some serious student loan bills.  But they aren't hurting now.

I never minded the "goofy" college classes.  They are part of the curriculum for a reason.  Doesn't hurt a thing to broaden one's horizons even if it is something you couldn't care less about.  You never know when something might be useful in some way.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe their are only a dozen or so vet schools in the country. It's no surprise their is a shortage of vets!

jnm said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe their are only a dozen or so vet schools in the country. It's no surprise their is a shortage of vets!

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Listed below are the schools that basically have the same criteria for licensing in the US - I didn't count them but there are more than a dozen in the US

United States Veterinary Medical Schools and Colleges

    Auburn University

    Colorado State University

    Cornell University

    Iowa State University

    Kansas State University

    Louisiana State University

    Michigan State University

    Mississippi State University

    North Carolina State University

    Ohio State University

    Oklahoma State University

    Oregon State University

    Purdue University

    Texas A&M University

    Tufts University

    Tuskegee University

    University of California, Davis

    University of Florida

    University of Georgia

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    University of Minnesota

    University of Missouri

    University of Pennsylvania

    University of Tennessee

    University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

    Washington State University

    Western University of Health Sciences

Canadian Veterinary Medical Schools and Colleges

    Université de Montréal

    University of Calgary

    University of Guelph

    University of Prince Edward Island

    University of Saskatchewan

International Veterinary Medical Schools and Colleges

    Massey University

    Murdoch University

    University College Dublin

    University of Edinburgh

    University of Glasgow

    University of London

    University of Melbourne

    University of Sydney

some schools have pre-vet, such as cal poly san luis obispo, but don't have vet schools.

Last Sunday morning during children's time with the Pastor, he was asking the kids what their jobs would be when they grew-up. Right in the middle of all the "I wanna be"; Fireman, Policeman, Teacher, Ballerina (or total silence) my 4 year-old daughter shouted at the top of her lungs "Horsey Doctor go K-State".  (clapping)   I thought the roof was coming off the place, with laughter, as I slid under my chair. I know she'd rather stop at the Vet. clinic

than Wally-world!

I Think the JUCO programs in Kansas are fantastic for giving the Kids running start into the majors.

Just thought I'd add a comment to the vet shortage.  Some universities have created special  slots for students interested in large animal vet medicine.  For those interested, they should do a complete search of the land grant colleges.  I'll bet they also come w/ scholarship monies as well.  GM

I never realized Oklahoma State has such a poorly rated vet school.

carl s. said:

I never realized Oklahoma State has such a poorly rated vet school.

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HUH?? They aren't rated - they are listed alphabetically....

Oklahoma State has a really good vet school - I know some Texas Aggie vets whose choices in order of application were Purdue - Ok State - Texas A&M.  And that was from folks that did their undergrad work at A&M. 

Just reading the comments about all of the vet shcool stuff.  I am currently one class away from being elidgable for a Nursing program.  This didn't take all that long, nor did it cost that much.  I will be making in most cases more than a lot of large animal vets, with a chance to further my education and make much more, for far less time spent in college.  I enjoy sitting down with a good vet and talking/learning as much as possible about what they have learned during their years on the job.  But all that they have to do is rediculous for the amount they get paid.  I do wish there were more GOOD vets around.  I lived in an area that had two darn good vets and have recently moved to a place that is lacking to say the least.  Just wish there were more GOOD vets around.  Couldn't they specialize and not have to take all the extrea crap?? Just a question.

No - the license to practice covers all species and frankly if you can't use your brain and transfer what you learn from one species to another (ie "Couldn't they specialize and not have to take all the extrea crap??") they wouldn't be very good vets

I wasn't talking about your list, I was talking about the USN&WR list which that list caused me to look up.  It ranks them at 23rd and there are only about 30 vet schools in the nation.

carl s. said:

I wasn't talking about your list, I was talking about the USN&WR list which that list caused me to look up.  It ranks them at 23rd and there are only about 30 vet schools in the nation.

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ah, that list, well it is like any other list - what were the criteria they used? Sometimes the rankings are based on things that don't reflect the education available to the student - the schools that rank high think it is great - but I am not sure how meaningful it is in terms of picking a school - most would agree that Cornell and U Penn are the tops - everyone else falls somewhere below them with various strengths and weaknesses....

large animal vet is exactly what my 14 year old daughter is working towards we know the road os tough but she has had a love for it since she was 7

I was born in 59....1959....i always remember looking up to the vet when he came out to doctor something. Kinda like a celebrity. It takes a special breed to get into the deal I think.