Concur with others. Cost is a huge factor unless you are lucky enough to be able to afford 8 years of school without loans. You should get a good animal science degree at any but I would choose one of the flagships you listed. They have good programs and flexibility if she changes her mind. My son enjoyed his animal science degree and a mini faculty led study abroad program. See if any of the schools offer that.
My son graduates in May and just completed his 3rd trip abroad with undergrad or the vet school. He is so happy now that we kept his debt very low. He now has more flexibility in job/internship choices. You have good choices. Good luck!
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I’ve never heard of this…could you explain?
I’m sorry, I meant most of the schools listed. Especially land grant schools with farms and robust animal science programs. It’s basically a relationship with a veterinary school offering various opportunities. Sometimes there is an opportunity to apply early and secure a vet school acceptance conditioned on continued performance at a certain level (Tufts vet school has this arrangement with Tufts Undergrad, UMASS, and I think WPI), and now this year with UVM). It could be a set aside for a certain number of students regular admission or an opportunity to attend for a combined 4th year BS/1st year vet school. UMASS has this arrangement with University of Edinburgh and University of Melbourne.
UMAINE students can apply to the Facilitated Early Entry Program for Animal Science Students (FEEPASS) program with University of Glasgow. They do not shave a year off as it is still 8 years, but they begin the first year of a 5 year vet school program in Glasgow during their 4th year of undergrad. UVM offers this with Glasgow as well. They used to have it with Edinburgh but I don’t see that is the case right now.
When we were deciding last year, UNH did not have any such relationships, but they do have a few of Cornell Vet School grads on the faculty and UNH & Cornell run the Shoals Marine Lab together.
URI has a relationship with Ross Veterinary School in St. Kitts. Guaranteed set aside for x number of URI Grads, fee waiver, not sure what else.
So it is stuff like this. Vet School is highly competitive and application fees are expensive so, while there are no guarantees, it is helpful if a program has some relationship with a vet school that facilitates early acceptance, accelerated entry, and/or priority consideration.
These are not the only programs, we were just focused on the New England Land Grant Universities. This is one reason why I always recommend land grant universities with farms and significant ongoing research.
I hope this gives you an idea what I mean. Googling an undergrad program and articulation agreement can usually point you toward something, or inquire with the undergrad animal science program of interest. In the case of US - US agreements that might also occur at the state level between a state without a vet school and another state with one. Not as familiar with those and if there is cost savings. I presume there would be some discount.
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Thank you for all this info. One thing we have heard at all schools we’ve visited for this major is that many start out with the desire to go to vet school but typically a much smaller number end up going. One school put it this way for many students their love of animals does not equal their love of the math & science that is required in this major and in vet school.
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Wow, that is NOT how UNE is at all, it’s too bad it’s being perceived that way. It is a wonderful, four year university full of great opportunities, at three campuses, Biddeford/Portland and Tangier, Morocco. They have some separate online programs, mostly certificate, masters, etc). The last thing I want for my kids post covid is an online school. (Which is why Unity is off the table for my younger one, DelVal is at the top of her list).
I will express to UNE that they may want to change their marketing. I cannot express enough how much my older daughter loves it there, she’s even having the opportunity to work in a neurology lab as an undergrad. It’s been nothing short of awesome for her! My “little” one just doesn’t want to follow in her footsteps even though they have an outstanding animal behavior program lol!
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Sorry for my misinterpretation. It’s glad that your daughter loves it.
In my opinion it is likely not a perception shared by people who are actually involved or more familiar with these sorts of schools and or programs. I wouldn’t be concerned. Glad your daughter is enjoying her experience.
My younger daughter is looking at zoo science or wildlife conservation at DelVal, thank you for all this insight as we are not very familiar with the school yet but looking forward to visiting again soon!
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My younger one is at an Aggie school, looking for animal studies or behavior/zoo science/wildlife conservation, specifically not animal science as usually defined and not looking for vet school paths. So it’s interesting the overlap with UNE, their marine bio program is amazing and their animal behavior is well regarded, but no they do not have livestock, etc, which is more animal science at most large/flagships.
As the UNE perception, I’m reaching out to see if perhaps some online data/marketing needs adjusting because again…wow…online school it is not. So much irony, it’s small so classes are in person, and if you’re out it’s obvious unlike larger schools where you can watch a playback or something. I definitely feel like my daughter is getting a top notch education.
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I’m in Northern New England and I do not think UNE has that reputation here, there are great opportunities for health sciences there. We briefly considered it for Marine Bio, but UNH and UMAINE-Orono both had stronger programs and were significantly less expensive.
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We looked at UNH and UMaine Orono, not for my animal lover but for my psych/neuro kid. Neither of my kids wants a big school but both schools do both have great programs! After merit awards, they were all around the same cost for us. We are out of state for both NH and ME.
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Please don’t go by or worry about my perception. They have less majors than other schools and it’s less comprehensive - and they do have a lot of online programs. I formed an opinion, apparently not correct in your view and that’s fine.
I am not their target market. I am observing from afar. It’s a very regional school drawing very much from the NE and I am not there.
In the end, your student is there and having a wonderful experience.
Nothing else matters.
Good luck to them.
I actually grew up near UNE and my dad and sister live in the community. My sister owns a local business and my childhood BFF is an alum of UNE so I was pretty familiar with the school. In the end D24 really wants animal science not animal behavior and wants access to on campus barns & livestock which UNE doesn’t have. Still she loved the campus, students, and professors we met with were all fantastic. As a parent of twins I’ve visited countless schools and UNE’s open house was by far the best open house experience we had of ANY school, really impressed us all around.
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I thought I would post a follow-up as many of you were kind enough to share thoughts and some are contemplating similar schools.
We attended accepted students day at Delaware Valley University this weekend as it was the only school we had yet to visit. D24 decided she could now eliminate the school from consideration, so the trip was helpful in that regard. The trip was not a total bust as Bucks County, PA is really a beautiful area.
As for the school we were told 30% commute and that of the 70% who live on campus half of them go home on weekends. The animal science & zoo science degrees are their most popular and the barn facilities were nice but I’m not sure I would say they are an “easy walk” from the main campus but that is just my opinion. One student we spoke to said it is not uncommon for students to be late to class down at the barns if they have a class right before because of the time it takes to walk over (so I guess schedule accordingly!). He said if they let the professor know it’s “not a big deal”. Also, I’ve learned to ask about the use of online classes (D24 hated online learning during the pandemic) and our tour guide (a sophomore) stated she has had some (sometimes it may be the only option she said). We didn’t hear much about academics, no mention of research opportunities or even what students are doing after DelVal.
At the end of the day there were just too many things about DelVal overall that my daughter had concerns with as did I. I’m still glad we visited because I am a firm believer that you need to see a place yourself and talk with students and staff to get a feel and make your own decision. I would still encourage anyone with a kid interested in this major to check out the school as they seem very generous with merit aid and it could be a dream school for some just not my daughter. It’s not typical to find a small, private college with this kind of program especially in the northeast.
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Thanks for this. I’ve noticed a lot of suggestions about this school in other forums. Family went there eons ago and I was skeptical that this was a strong program for pre-vet (as opposed to agriculture/dairy management, etc), but I had no current information.
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Thank you for following up with your experience at admitted students day. My younger daughter is looking to compare DelVal, Eckerd, Warren Wilson, and i have Otterbein on her list.
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Thanks for the update! It’s good that you were able to confidently cross one off the list. My kiddo is all in for DelVal and I just hope it is a very positive experience for her. It’s a good school for her, but not the one I would have picked! (Which is kind of her MO! Typical for the youngest of 3, right? 
) Keep us posted on where she does end up!
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Best of luck to your daughter!
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Just thought I would share that my daughter made her decision a week or so ago and will be attending UMaine in the fall to study animal & veterinary sciences. She is still technically on the waitlist at UMASS and if a spot opens up she may consider it but overall is very happy with her decision.
I think given her options UMaine was a great choice and really ticked most all of her boxes of what she was looking for. And they are very generous with merit for out-of-state students in our experience so it’s works out to nearly the same as if she was an instate student here where we live.
To those whose children are looking at this major my lessons learned that I would pass along is to cast a wide net and expand your geographic search. And be prepared for anything! Thanks to everyone who shared thoughts on my original question.
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