Full-Time and In-Person Student
Tell us about your background (education and current work experience).
I graduated in 2021 from the University of Findlay (OH) with a BS in Animal Science, with a Pre-Veterinary emphasis. I spent the last three years working with Case Western Reserve’s Animal Resource Center, first as a husbandry technician, and later as a veterinary assistant, where I got to work with a multitude of species! Now I’m attending U of I’s Master of Veterinary Science program, while working full time as a vet assistant with the Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Intermediate Care team.
How did you become interested in the Master of Veterinary Science degree program?
After I didn’t get into vet school last cycle, it was recommended that I take a few post-baccalaureate classes or a master’s program to increase my GPA and experience. A few Google searches brought me across the MVS degree, and it checked all the boxes!
What sets the MVS degree/program apart from other programs you’ve either participated in or considered?
The MVS degree at U of I offered a well-rounded course list that allowed me the freedom to explore my interests while targeting skills I could utilize in any animal science career. With the accelerated timeline that I was looking for (1 year), I was really excited that they offered an in-person degree option. The face-to-face interactions with faculty and fellow students truly help solidify the material covered while allowing us substantial networking opportunities around campus.
Additionally, I toured the vet school campus and the “Champana” community a few years ago, and it immediately felt like a second home. I knew if I was going to succeed in any fast-tracked opportunity, I would be able to have the support and resources available to do so here.
Tell us about a course in the program that impacted you. How was the content useful?
I’ve had a few impactful courses! I just started VCM 568 “Livestock Systems I” with Dr. Jim Lowe on campus. So far, we’ve had some deep, thought-provoking discussions about the concepts of company/ production goals and the psychology of managing any livestock operation.
I also liked taking BADM 509, “Managing Organizations” through the business college as an approved elective for my degree last fall. While I historically struggled with online courses, the U of I faculty and staff truly put the effort into engaging with the students and connecting us to the material, and each other.
Right now, my goal is to be a well-rounded professional, and adaptable to any career path I might find myself in. I hope to stay in animal science and medicine, as I love the hands-on aspect of problem solving, but I would be open to moving into administration one day if the opportunity arises.
In alignment, material from these courses has helped me develop into a better coworker and team member for group projects. Science is my forte, and the MVS courses do well to cover those in-depth. But, the opportunity to take a “break” from the science-intense course work was a welcome challenge and I believe what takes this program to the next level!
The MVS degree helps students “discover what’s next” in their career. What’s next for you?
Taking a full-time course load in a master’s program can be intense. With the MVS, I’m finding it just as rewarding! It is solidifying that animal science/ medicine is the industry in which I’d like to develop a career.
I’m currently waiting to hear back from a few veterinary schools to see if I’ll be starting as a student this fall. However, the MVS program is truly reinforcing my confidence that I would succeed in a rigorous professional degree program, whenever that time comes. If I end up applying in the next vet school application cycle too, I’ll be going into the process feeling more prepared than before.
What is one thing about the program you would say to someone considering this degree?
Go in with an open mind! I feel like some of my cohort, myself included, came in with the idea that this would “just boost the GPA.” While straight-A’s can help your overall GPA a little (as a veterinary school hopeful), but that isn’t the sole purpose. The lessons surrounding industry and life you come across have much more impact if you’re willing to be receptive to them.
As with any post-baccalaureate program, there’s a lot you’ll have to do and figure out on your own, and that’s ok! It’s not undergraduate, the professors won’t hold your hand, but they are readily available and willing to guide you if you need it. It’s an incredible balance of challenging and supporting the students that I believe the majority of the MVS program faculty and staff have mastered.