2 answers
Amy
Student
Arlington, Texas
1
Question
Updated
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What classes should I take my sophomore year of high school if I want to be a Veterinarian.?
I am currently a freshman and I am wanting to be a vet. I'm currently taking Principles of Agriculture.
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2 answers
Aman Kumar
Software engineer
16
Answers
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Updated
Aman’s Answer
It’s great that you’re already thinking ahead about your future as a veterinarian! Here are some classes you should consider for your sophomore year to help you build a strong foundation:
1. BIOLOGY: This is essential because you’ll need a strong understanding of how living organisms function. It’s a key subject for veterinary medicine.
2. CHEMISTRY: Start with an introductory chemistry course if it’s available. Chemistry is critical for understanding medications, treatments, and the biochemistry of animals.
3. MATH: Stay on track with your math classes, particularly algebra or geometry, as they will help develop your analytical skills, which are important in any science-related field.
4. ANATOMY OR ZOOLOGY(if offered): These courses will give you a head start in understanding animal structures and systems.
5. AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE:Since you’re already taking Principles of Agriculture, consider continuing with more advanced courses in animal science or veterinary science if your school offers them.
6. ENGLISH: Strong communication skills are essential for any career. Taking advanced English or composition classes will help you write reports, communicate with clients, and even handle public speaking in your veterinary career.
7. EXTRACURRICULARS: Get involved in clubs like FFA (Future Farmers of America) or 4-H, where you can gain hands-on experience with animals. Volunteering at animal shelters or shadowing a veterinarian can also give you valuable insight into the profession.
These classes and experiences will help you not only get into a good college but also prepare you for the challenges of veterinary school. Keep up the great work!
1. BIOLOGY: This is essential because you’ll need a strong understanding of how living organisms function. It’s a key subject for veterinary medicine.
2. CHEMISTRY: Start with an introductory chemistry course if it’s available. Chemistry is critical for understanding medications, treatments, and the biochemistry of animals.
3. MATH: Stay on track with your math classes, particularly algebra or geometry, as they will help develop your analytical skills, which are important in any science-related field.
4. ANATOMY OR ZOOLOGY(if offered): These courses will give you a head start in understanding animal structures and systems.
5. AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE:Since you’re already taking Principles of Agriculture, consider continuing with more advanced courses in animal science or veterinary science if your school offers them.
6. ENGLISH: Strong communication skills are essential for any career. Taking advanced English or composition classes will help you write reports, communicate with clients, and even handle public speaking in your veterinary career.
7. EXTRACURRICULARS: Get involved in clubs like FFA (Future Farmers of America) or 4-H, where you can gain hands-on experience with animals. Volunteering at animal shelters or shadowing a veterinarian can also give you valuable insight into the profession.
These classes and experiences will help you not only get into a good college but also prepare you for the challenges of veterinary school. Keep up the great work!
Michael Torio
Consultant - Data Reporting & Analysis (HQ Finance)
338
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi Amy:
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare for a Veterinary career. Physics, chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. Also, if an Animal or Wildlife course is offered, it will be in your best interest to take this class. For math, algebra, calculus and statistics will be needed. The combination of these concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As a Veterinarian, communication is essential and critical when dealing with clients and patients. A college course in Public Speaking, Communication and English will help with one's communication and writing skills. Another recommendation is to seek the advice from your high school guidance counselor and teachers. They can help guide your educational pathway to become a Veterinarian.
While in college, here are some undergraduate degrees to major in order to become a Veterinarian:
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Zoology
- Physics
- Animal or Wildlife Science
- Chemistry
It will be best to seek advice from your high school guidance counselor as well as teachers to help you focus your interests for a specific major in college. Another recommendation is to visit your local animal hospital and speak with the Veterinarian for additional advice. The Veterinarian can provide you with his or her educational background, experience, insights, etc. on how he or she became a Veterinarian.
A Bachelor of Science degree (four year undergraduate course work) will be required at the college level. Afterwards, one's education is continued until a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (D.V.M. or V.M.D) is earned which will be another four years of study. Then, both the national and state exams are required for one to earn the licenses to practice Veterinary medicine.
According to U.S. News & World Report, here is a link to the Best Veterinary Colleges and Universities in the United States:
- University of California - Davis
- Cornell University
- Colorado State University
- North Carolina State University
- Ohio State University
- Texas A&M University - College Station
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Wisconsin - Madison
- University of Florida
- University of Georgia
- University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/veterinarian-rankings?_sort=rank-asc
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and acceptance to the applied college of choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
Best wishes for your education and career path as a Veterinarian!
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare for a Veterinary career. Physics, chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. Also, if an Animal or Wildlife course is offered, it will be in your best interest to take this class. For math, algebra, calculus and statistics will be needed. The combination of these concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As a Veterinarian, communication is essential and critical when dealing with clients and patients. A college course in Public Speaking, Communication and English will help with one's communication and writing skills. Another recommendation is to seek the advice from your high school guidance counselor and teachers. They can help guide your educational pathway to become a Veterinarian.
While in college, here are some undergraduate degrees to major in order to become a Veterinarian:
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Zoology
- Physics
- Animal or Wildlife Science
- Chemistry
It will be best to seek advice from your high school guidance counselor as well as teachers to help you focus your interests for a specific major in college. Another recommendation is to visit your local animal hospital and speak with the Veterinarian for additional advice. The Veterinarian can provide you with his or her educational background, experience, insights, etc. on how he or she became a Veterinarian.
A Bachelor of Science degree (four year undergraduate course work) will be required at the college level. Afterwards, one's education is continued until a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (D.V.M. or V.M.D) is earned which will be another four years of study. Then, both the national and state exams are required for one to earn the licenses to practice Veterinary medicine.
According to U.S. News & World Report, here is a link to the Best Veterinary Colleges and Universities in the United States:
- University of California - Davis
- Cornell University
- Colorado State University
- North Carolina State University
- Ohio State University
- Texas A&M University - College Station
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Wisconsin - Madison
- University of Florida
- University of Georgia
- University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/veterinarian-rankings?_sort=rank-asc
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and acceptance to the applied college of choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
Best wishes for your education and career path as a Veterinarian!