Im a senior from north-west Ohio and im graduating come May 31st. Ive made my choice in what i want to do and be in life. My career goals include attending this wondeful Veterinary Technician School in Columbus, Ohio (Bradford) and then eventually going back to school to obtain a my VMD. Ive checked out the school many times and I love it! My program will take 1 1/2 - 2 yrs. I have been thinking about living on campus, but i really hate the idea of living with 3 other girls and not have my own room. I am a person who likes privacy. PLUS it would cost an extra $16,000 in tuition to live on campus. By not living on campus I will save that $16,000. BTW mommy and daddy arent paying for this lol. Ive been thinking: (1) about an online college. (2) about how long I should wait after high school to attend Bradford. (3) about finding an apartment closer to Columbus and the cost- utilities ect... (4) about transferring my job location to Columbus (currently work at a Red Lobster)
Higher Education (University +) - 3 Answers
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1
I have some questions and comments: - where would you live if not on-campus? If you can't commute from home, you will pay at least that much. - it's good that you checked out the Bradford school. However, some to many of those credits will not transfer to a pre-vet program--have you investigated how many would actually transfer? The Vet tech program is called applied science, which means it isn't as rigorous a program as a regular pre-vet program would be. - check with your local community and senior colleges about online programs. Don't do a for-profit online program as vet schools will probably not accept the degree or the credits. - check the Columbus Craigslist page for ideas on sharing a house off-campus in an area near the school. Unless it's very close, you would also need a car or have access to public transportation. You might find that the on-campus situation is quite a bit cheaper. - You could take off before attending Bradford, but I would have a definite purpose in having a "gap year". Also remember that your parents need to fill out your financial aid application form, not just you. Any money you earn in that gap year will count against you for FA purposes. One idea would be to work in AmeriCorps for nine months. You would work somewhere in the country on social projects, and would receive a $4,500 scholarship toward your college upon completion of the program. A good deal! - If you are a good employee at Red Lobster, they would probably help you transfer to Columbus. Remember though, that means you would probably need a car if you work off-campus. Figure that in your budgeting. Is $16,000 for 12 months or the whole program? That matters, too. You sound very motivated and goal-oriented! Congratulations, and I wish you the best in your decisions.
2
Don't do on-line if you can avoid it. Simply go down to your local CC and enrol. If you can enrol in HS then IMHO that will be even better. Take a standard pre med type sequence. Without a doubt this will be your cheapest option - CC subjects done at HS are usually free. Then transfer to your local state school (in your case Ohio state) to complete the final years of a professional degree in veterinary science: http://vet.osu.edu/home.htm They tel you the subjects you need to do to get in: http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/2537.htm You can probably do all of them at a CC - but check with Ohio state first. The site is unclear if they will admit you without a BS. So you may need to contact them about it. Also that is for a professional doctorate in veterinary science. They have Masters programs as well. Best of luck Thanks Bill
3
Let's examine the pros and cons. This looks like an excellent program. However, if your long-term goal is to become a veteranarian, this might or might not be a good start. Almost none of the credits you earn in this program is likely to count toward further education--to get to be a vet, you'll need to get a bachelor's degree (with lots and lots of science and math) and then get accepted to a graduate program--your AAS degree courses won't go toward that bachelor's and certainly not toward the DVM program. That said, it's hideously difficult to get into a veterinary program. You'll need to have not only masterful GPA and entrance exam scores, but most vet colleges want you to have large-animal experience, and letters of recommendation from practicing vets are also quite helpful. If starting as a vet's tech would get you the experience and some recommendations, it could be the surest way. And you'll retain the option of just finishing out your career as a vet's tech and not worry about further education if you find it fulfilling. As for practical stuff; I wouldn't trust a vet tech who studied online, and probably few vets would either. You should start your higher education ASAP after high school, otherwise you'll find your academic skills shrinking. Living on campus might cost you $16K, but what would living off-campus cost? You'll want to be fairly close to the school considering where gasoline prices are heading. I've checked briefly some apartment ads in that part of Columbus and it looks like you'd be paying $400-700 per month, and if you shop well you should be able to get utilities included in those upper prices. Now, does the on-campus housing include food and laundry and such additional expenses? Seems to me that you'd pay over $1000 per month either way, so the greater privacy off-campus might be preferable. Note: you might be near the flight path for the airport, if noise is a concern--if not, lower prices might be found in that corridor. And there's a Red Lobster on that side of town, right near I-70, not too far of a drive (gas prices, again, right?).
