Junior with 94 unweighted GPA is looking for a small liberal arts school where he can get a liberal arts degree and also continue contact with animals, especially mammals. He’s interested in pre-vet but his math/science grades are Bs compared with As in humanities. And he just hasn’t had enough expose to enough biology classes to know if vet school is a realistic or desirable option.
Large public universities are less appealing – he wants a smaller school with smaller classes.
Options we’ve found include:
-Hampshire College
-Smith / Mount Holyoke taking advantage of the consortium with Hampshire and UMass
-Maybe Bucknell or Franklin and Marshall but these seem more pre-professional and less liberal arts. And too Greek for his interests.
-Warren Wilson
What are we missing? Are there places where it’s possible to get animal contact off campus? How would we figure that out?
Other background – goes to a small public HS in NYC; has summer work experience with dogs, chickens, horses, cows, and goats. Also strong music background from age 4. Won’t qualify for Berea.
I am not well informed about the admissions policies at traditional women’s colleges, but as you’ve used the pronoun “he” to describe your child, check on the policies at Smith and Mount Holyoke, as those are both women’s colleges.
The first school that I thought of was:
Delaware Valley (PA ): About 1800 undergrads
Some other schools that might be potential fits include:
Ohio Wesleyan: About 1400 undergrads
Berry (GA): About 2200 undergrads
SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry: About 1600 undergrads and students can take classes at neighboring Syracuse
SUNY Oswego: About 6k undergrads
U. of Mount Olive (NC): About 2k undergrads
If you’re open to going further afield, these are some other schools that might be of interest:
Southern Illinois - Carbondale: About 8k undergrads
U. of Idaho: About 8800 undergrads
U. of Wisconsin - Platteville: About 6k undergrads
U. of Wisconsin - River Falls: About 4800 undergrads
Not a small liberal arts school, but UVM is famous for their Morgan horse program as well as their dairy cow program. Skidmore is in the horsiest county of NY. Can’t really think of a LAC with an emphasis on animals . . .
There are a few parents of veterinary students on the board, they know much more! @momocarly is one.
My son just graduated veterinary school. I know people come from all schools. I’m not that familiar with the LACs. I have heard people from Wheaton, Delaware Valley, Ohio Wesleyan seem to have had good experiences.
I would look at the schools you are interested in and see if they offer the prerequisites that veterinary schools you are interested in require. That has been the biggest problem I have seen with students coming from LACs have. Also make sure the school is near somewhere you can get experience and work with animals/veterinarians. Look at a school that has experience in pre vet advising not just pre health or be prepared to do lots of research yourself. Good luck!
I agree with momofcarly’s point about making sure LACs have all the vet pre-reqs.
Adding Utica College, Carroll U, Earlham (more known for equestrian major, but have a anthrozoology minor), Canisius college, University of New England.
IME Bucknell is not a fit for a male who doesn’t want Greek Life. He should visit any of these smaller schools, they do tend to be fit schools…for example Hampshire, Earlham, and Warren Wilson.
My S23 toured F&M as an admitted student and got to hang out with all the animals. I thought for sure he was going to accept admission there on the spot, but instead he chose Bard because of his passions in music and their broad liberal arts curriculum. And he’s very happy there.
IIRC students are able to volunteer to care of the animals and can pretty much devote their time at F&M to that effort. This is a very rare opportunity at a high quality LAC in the Northeast, where we are from.
Otterbein University in OH may be a fit. Not a liberal arts college per se but lots of offerings and 3000 students. They have a strong equine program but also partnerships with the Ohio Wildlife Center and the Columbus Zoo. They offer a zoo and conservation science major in addition to all the pre-vet class offerings. My understanding is that there are lots of opportunities for animal contact.
If he’s looking at Franklin and Marshall could also look at Dickinson, they have a college farm that includes some animals. Rhodes is very close to the Memphis zoo- I remember on the tour they said students can volunteer/intern there. Also, I went to a small LAC and have two classmates who are vets- our campus didn’t have any animals, one of them interned at a local vet’s office. They were able to get animal experience over the summer.
Have you run the Net Price Calculator at Franklin & Marshall and/or Bucknell? If so, was the price affordable? If not, what is the budget for each year of college?
Are West Coast schools under consideration or no? In Portland, the Oregon Humane Society is a great place to volunteer and get to spend time with dogs, cats, and small animals. My daughter has volunteered there since middle school and loves it. It’s in North Portland, a short bus ride from University of Portland, which is a liberal arts college with a pre-veterinary advising program. My older daughter attends University of Portland with fantastic merit aid. It’s a Catholic university, but we’re not Catholic and neither are the majority of students and she feels very comfortable there. There’s more of an emphasis on service than on religion. Portland is a very dog-centric city, so there are tons of vet offices and many other rescue orgs, which could all be great for internships, volunteering, etc.
My daughter attends Trinity U in San Antonio which is next door to the San Antonio zoo. There are several opportunities for the students to intern and volunteer there. My daughter likes to do her homework there on nice days, it’s a 10 min walk from her dorm.