UMD vs UCONN Animal Science

Pre-Vet & Veterinary Medicine
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Hi! My son is trying to decide between UConn and University of Maryland College Park. He’s going to be an animal science major. He really liked the atmosphere of both schools, but definitely liked the fact that the farm at Maryland is directly on the campus as opposed to like a 20 minute walk. UConn was generous with their merit (12,000/year) MD not so much as in none.
Any pros or cons or insight to the schools will be welcomed.

We are out of state for both. The difference is price would be about $9,000/year more if he went to UMD. I just don’t know if it is worth $36,000 plus interest more in loans. Plus he plans on going to Vet School after graduation which is a whole lot more money. He loved MD and really likes UCONN. I am just not sure if UMD is worth $36,000 more. We are about an hour from UCONN and 7 hours from UMD. Thank you!

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You sold me at Vet school and $36K plus interest and don’t forget fees - you don’t net what you borrow.

He’ll have better basketball too!!

Good luck to him.

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Tagging @DadTwoGirls and @BoroDad, who I believe both have kids who did/are doing pre-vet/animal science majors.

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So, my S16 graduated UConn PoliSci/Econ and my S24 is attending UMd this fall for humanities. Neither were science/pre-vet but several of my S18s friends were pre-med/dental and all got into programs.

I can speak to the differences between the schools only a bit.

  • UConn is really remote and UMd is not. So, kids have to make their own fun on campus and don’t have the suburban sprawl and DC.
  • Not sure if you are honors scholars Carillon etc at UMd or honors at UConn but that does help in our experience. My S16 at UConn didn’t really find his friend group until he joined a fraternity sophomore year (though they are think as thieves to this day). myS18 in Pitt honors had instant friends.
  • Food was OK at UConn. Not sure about UMd yet. Dorms about the same. UConn freshman prison cell is every bit on par with the UMd prison cell.
  • UConn campus is just not as huge as UMd and the new downtown area helps but again, nothing else really around.
  • I think UConn might have the edge on cows. My S18 literally used to joke about two things UConn had an over abundance of - cows and wind. :wink: hahahaha. But pre-vet, maybe that’s good?!?!
  • Basketball at UConn as you know is both (a) a religion and (b) on campus, but football is neither. Have to travel 30 min for football tailgate.
  • I suspect the advising is better at UConn. My son had a number of good discussions as he changed majors 3x. I have not heard anything great about UMd - just about what you’d expect at a large flagship. Make an appointment, usual end up taking to someone different (aside from dept advisors)
  • My S16 at UConn really wanted a more urban setting and in retrospect said he should have gone to Rutgers, Pitt or UMd instead, but UConn with merit was the same as instate Rutgers while Pitt and UMd had loans so he went cheap. But if yours is looking for something more contained, OK with rural, then YMMV
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Oh btw same boat on loans at UMd so we are looking at ways to cut UMd loans down.

  1. Study abroad is likely cheaper than OOS tuitionR&B especially at certain locations. A friend with a recent UMd grad (Smith) said they saved a bunch that semester

  2. with APs CLEP tests and possible community colleges courses, my S24 could readily graduate in 6-7 semesters. If nothing else, he could certainly go part time for the last semester with 1-3 courses paid per credit (as both of my older sons could have/did) then we don’t pay full freight

  3. We applied to some department scholarships in ARHU - waiting. The Ag school already awarded theirs but maybe you can do that next year?

So, together, we feel there is >50% chance we aren’t paying all of those loans.

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This is all great info!! Thank your taking the time to reply. He did get into the Carillion program at UMD but has zero interest in doing it. He does like the idea of more of urban school but doesn’t know how much he would utilize that. So much to consider…

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Great suggestions! Thank you!

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I just thought that I would throw in my thoughts, as the parent of a student who has a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and who is currently getting a DVM (she is almost through her third year of a DVM program).

We did not specifically look at U.Conn or UMD. I have heard good things about both of these schools. I think that either of them could prepare a student very well to apply to DVM programs and to get a DVM.

Debt is a major issue for almost anyone who is thinking of getting a DVM. The problem is that while being a veterinarian is a good career for some people who are drawn to it, being a DVM does not pay well enough to pay off the cost of getting a DVM. My daughter has reported a few times that most of the students in her program are taking on too much debt, and most do not want to talk about it. As such I would try to avoid debt for a bachelor’s degree if this is reasonably possible. If debt is necessary, then try to take on as little debt as possible. To me this sounds like a vote for U.Conn in this specific situation, which I also think is a very good university for a pre-vet student.

One thing to think about after getting a bachelor’s degree: It is possible to move to a state that has a good in-state public DVM program, work for a year to establish residence, and then apply to the now-in-state DVM program. Similarly it is possible to move to a WICHE state, establish residence, and then apply to the various WICHE DVM programs. This will take at least two years (one year to establish residence, then you need to apply to DVM programs nearly a full year before the program starts). However, it can save $$, and also can give the student time to gain additional experience in veterinary situations and to make sure that they want to do it.

For those who have not (yet) gotten their DVM, but who work as a vet tech, again the job does not pay particularly well. Avoiding debt is again a good idea.

I think that being closer to home is also a plus.

There is a lot more that I could say about being a pre-vet student, but I do not know if any of it is relevant to the choice between U.Conn versus UMD. The required pre-vet classes overlap with premed classes (I think that the required classes are the exact same classes), and will be academically challenging and full of very strong students. Getting experience with animals, some of it in a clinical / veterinary situation is important. My daughter and I both think that her very extensive experience with animals, big ones and little ones, was a large factor in her being accepted to multiple very good DVM programs. Also, it takes quite a few different sorts of talent to succeed in getting a DVM. Of all of the various different talents that my daughter has needed, being very determined to succeed on this path may be the most important. It is a long and tough path. For my daughter, and for some other students, I believe that it is the right path. It is not for everyone.

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If your kid is serious about Vet school, then graduating early is not always the wise move.

He graduates in 3 years- he will be applying with 25% less of everything- fewer college classes, fewer professors who know him and can advise, recommend, suggest; fewer relevant EC’s and activities; less time to work an actual job (as a tech in a vet practice; doing routine pet care in an animal shelter), less time to evaluate other possible career paths before committing time and money to the degree.

If the only way to make undergrad affordable is by graduating early- this seems like a bad idea.

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Totally agree with @DadTwoGirls ! I also have a son that was animal science and graduates from veterinary school a week from today! We didn’t look at those schools but have heard good things about both. The barn being further away is a lot less of a problem than you might think. Ours was about a 10 min drive away. My son and several of his friends had cars and drove a lot of their classmates to the barn when needed. No one seemed to have trouble getting there.

I would look at the total cost of living for each school too. It may make a larger difference between schools. Go with your cheaper option between these two.

Addressing some other comments. My son only did 3 years undergrad and has been fine in vet school (graduating top of his class). He just had to strategically map out his plan and stick with it. He was president of his large fraternity and had a life too so if you want it you can do it. He is a big city kid but loved his more rural/college town campus. Less distractions but still found fun things to do and drove with friends a couple hours to the big city when he needed that atmosphere. Good luck!

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