[Ben and Me]

Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.

Varsity riding team--school pays for all your riding expenses. We haven't been as competitive as other schools in our region recently, but we're also the most competitive academically in our IHSA region (except for UVA).

85% admission rate into medical school (90% with a 30 MCAT and 3.0 GPA)

100% into veterinary school in the last 10+ years (granted, we only have 2 or 3 apply each year...and I may be about break that 100% streak, haha). My good friend who just applied to vet school got either into or wait listed at all 9 schools she applied to...as a SC resident (which doesn't have a vet school).

All of the vets I've worked with in NC though told me to transfer to NCSU...and I do think they have a point--my grades in the classes I've taken at NCSU have been much better than my W&L grades were in similar classes. According to the NCSU CVM website, 38% of their class (on average) comes from NCSU grads.

But, NCSU is HUGE and I wouldn't have traded my W&L experience for anything...and I'm hoping being a W&L grad will help me stand out in a sea of NCSU Animal Science majors.

If you're interested in staying in NC and want liberal arts, Davidson is also great and has similar pre-health profession statistics. They don't have an IHSA team though.

PM me if you have questions...I also went to boarding school, but didn't decide to be pre-vet until about half way through college (I just graduated). I've done a lot of research since then, though.

[sketcher]

I went to Clark University in Worcester. It is a small, very liberal private college with a strong science program. There are tons of things to get involved in within the community which would help you on an application. It is somewhat an inner city school which has it's plusses and minuses. I rode on the equestrian team when I was there but I have to say it was not a competitive team, there wasn't much for funding so basically a group paid for their own lessons and showing and most of the kids weren't riders, if they had ridden at all previous to college..so if team competition is on the top of your list then this isn't likely the school for you.

They have a good pre-med program meaning that there is a pre-med advisor to help guide you through to make sure you have optimized your chances. I remember that the pre-med students who did the best were not necessarily science majors, one was an art major but also took all the prerequisite coursework for pre-med in the sciences and math. There was one straight-A+ student who did not get in..but she did not do anything else for 4 years except study and the schools want you to be well rounded (I'm assuming vet schools are looking for similar traits as med schools). I majored in Biochemistry and it is a very rigorous program, you would be well prepared for any graduate studies you chose to undertake.

Clark is about a 25 minute ride from Tufts large animal hospital (they also have a small animal hospital and a wildlife clinic) and I would imagine there are plenty of opportunities for volunteer work there.

[gloryeyes]

Smith! Smith! Smith!

I'm pre-vet, a neuroscience major, and I absolutely love it. I found it weirdly easy to complete my pre-vet requirements, especially since the only "general" requirement Smith has is that you take a writing-intensive course in your first year. All other requirements are for your major, and the rest...well...the rest is up to you!

The IHSA team (if I do say so myself) is AMAZING! You can bring your horse, though turnout is limited.

Feel free to PM me!

[To the MAX]

Hey! I want to put a good word in for my school, Washington College. It is on the Eastern Shore of Maryland - very beautiful. It's a small school, around 1200 people. WAC is a very good school and vet school is definitely a possibility after the education you'll get here. We have a riding team, it is small and we don't take ourselves too seriously, it's all about having fun! Our riders still win a lot, though! We ride out of a very nice barn, the horses in our region aren't always the best, but it makes you a better rider . Our trainer is really great, and the barn owner is amazing.
WAC also have a very active greek community.
PM me with any specific questions!

[cswoodlandfairy]

I would look into Sweet Briar College. It's private but small and all-girls which is a turn off to some but I love it! We have a 100% acceptance rate to vet school with some fantastic science teachers as well as an awesome riding program. Instead of just a IHSA or NCAA team they have tons of fantastic horses and great trainers with the abitlity to be on a team and compete or compete individaully at A shows, even with the schools horses. If you want any other information PM me. I'm from NC as well!

I second Sweet Briar. Though I am a little bias graduating from there. I brought my horse for all four years and LOVED it! Its small around 600 students or so. The smaller school enviroment was great! I knew all my class and still keep in touch with them today. It has a great science program and we have many that go pre-vet and go on to vet school. When I went in 2001, we had one of the top Bio-Chem majors for a small school. Most for my friends were pre-vet and work for Blue Ridge Equine or are current in vet school now.

As for the riding program, it is top notch! We have been IHSA champions for several years give or take. They go to many A rated shows and sometimes if they have enough interested will take a trailer to Fl in the winter during breaks. They have several teams, Jumper team, Field team, and the Hunter show team. The facilities were great there as well. Boarding can be harder now then it use to be is my understanding. I guess now they only have one kind of board, but its well worth it. They also have an array of top quality horses as well to ride and show.

If you have any questions please feel free to PM me! I can tell you all about my 4 years there! I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could!

[kaitums]

Delware Valley College in Doylestown, Pa is an awesome school and has everything you're looking for. My best friends just graduated from there, and i LOVE it. It's a great choice if you're planning to go pre-vet and do equine, they have an eq center, breeding barn, dairy farm, beef farm, swine and sheep farms, and all that all on campus.

Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ is pretty good too, and has some of the best instructors and professors in the country, and well over 100 school horses. I went there but had to leave due to personal reasons. I learned HEAPS there..and the onsite vet who is also a professor is a wonderful person to learn from. The IHSA team is very successful, as well as the IDA and H/J team, and the barn director Andrea Wells is pretty well known. Even though i had to leave, my instructor from last year still wants me to come up and work with him. All of the equine professors are wonderful and helpful.

(any questions on centenary, pm me)

[laurie13]

If you want great academics with an especially strong science program, I suggest Mount Holyoke. They have one of the top riding teams in the country, consistently make it to nationals, and they have "the best facilities on the east coast"-they quote this from magazines. It is gorgeous and the barn is right on campus. They also have the number one dressage team. The academics are top notch and its one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Unfortunately, many of the "horsie" colleges do not have strong academic reputations. You are better off going to a place with a great academic reputation and forego the equine studies major if vet school is in your future.

[Holly Jeanne]

I wouldn't mind going to a school where they didn't have the pre-vet program (like a liberal arts school) because I know that isn't a "major"...I just think it might be helpful because I know a lot of the schools who have pre-vet programs have connections with vet schools and other vets and also have clubs that have to do with becoming a vet.

Actually, many liberal arts schools will have these same benefits. Just look for a school that has a designated pre-vet advisor. You might also want to ask them if internships are available, particularly for academic credit.

I think someone already mentioned some Kentucky schools, including Midway but I'd also recommend looking at Georgetown College in Georgetown, KY and Centre College in Danville. Georgetown and Midway both have some type of equestrian program. Centre doesn't but does have a pre-vet advisor, a very strong science program, for academic credit internships, and an equestrian club. The advantage to a Kentucky school is, if my math is correct, you'd be a freshmen during the World Equestrian Games.

[To the MAX]

Delware Valley College in Doylestown, Pa is an awesome school and has everything you're looking for. My best friends just graduated from there, and i LOVE it. It's a great choice if you're planning to go pre-vet and do equine, they have an eq center, breeding barn, dairy farm, beef farm, swine and sheep farms, and all that all on campus.

Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ is pretty good too, and has some of the best instructors and professors in the country, and well over 100 school horses. I went there but had to leave due to personal reasons. I learned HEAPS there..and the onsite vet who is also a professor is a wonderful person to learn from. The IHSA team is very successful, as well as the IDA and H/J team, and the barn director Andrea Wells is pretty well known. Even though i had to leave, my instructor from last year still wants me to come up and work with him. All of the equine professors are wonderful and helpful.

(any questions on centenary, pm me)

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree about Del Val. It's a great school, (it was my first choice, and I know tons of people who go there) but even Del Val themselves admit that they are not the school to go to if you are going for pre-vet. Plus, the riding team is very, very large, so be prepared to compete against your teammates for a chance to show on the weekends. I would hate to take it that seriously. They always do very well, though.
I only know about Cetenary what I've been told, so I won't comment on that. They do have beautiful facilities though.

[LD1129]

I agree with this! i went there for 1 year (Equine Major) and it turned me off of horses for 3 years! Del Val has some strange rules (not allowed to do anything but hand graze your own horse if you bring it with you) and others. The breeding barn is all Standard breds and had one hell of a nasty stallion when I went. The other stallion was a bit better with his manners. Some of the teachers were great some were horrible. The barn was dressage when I went but I heard that it has turned more hunter/jumper. Like I said I made it one year and that was it! Their pre-vet is not up to par with some of the other schools mentioned and dont bother even trying to ride on the team they are very strict with the rules.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree about Del Val. It's a great school, (it was my first choice, and I know tons of people who go there) but even Del Val themselves admit that they are not the school to go to if you are going for pre-vet. Plus, the riding team is very, very large, so be prepared to compete against your teammates for a chance to show on the weekends. I would hate to take it that seriously. They always do very well, though.
I only know about Cetenary what I've been told, so I won't comment on that. They do have beautiful facilities though.

[jerseypony]

I have to second the suggestion of mount holyoke. Gorgeous facilities, great team that tend to win, a lot. And they have an excellent academic reputation. If you want to study equine studies, then centenary or del val would be good choices. But you want a respected science curriculum, then a school like mt holyoke would be the best of both worlds. Vet school is harder to get into than med school. So you want to give yourself all the advantages you can. And pre-vet isnt a major, there are just certain requirements in the courses you take that you need to fulfill. I've known english majors that went on to vet school, bc they took the required amount of science classes, although it is a lot and you will prob have to either major or minor in something like biology. Good luck though!

[kaitums]

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree about Del Val. It's a great school, (it was my first choice, and I know tons of people who go there) but even Del Val themselves admit that they are not the school to go to if you are going for pre-vet. Plus, the riding team is very, very large, so be prepared to compete against your teammates for a chance to show on the weekends. I would hate to take it that seriously. They always do very well, though.
I only know about Cetenary what I've been told, so I won't comment on that. They do have beautiful facilities though.

I never actually went there lol so i trust what you say i do agree with what you say about the team though, that is very true.

[HunterJumper106]

Thank you so much everyone for all of the advice and recommendations! When I show my Dad the list of all the schools I want to go to and visit next spring he just might have a mild heart attack

The academic part of the school is probably more important to me than the riding part because, as jerseypony said, vet school is MUCH harder to get into than med school because I believe there are only 22 schools in the country (not 100% sure about that # but it is somewhere around there). So the academic aspect of the school is really important (parents want me to go to an ivy league school or a very good private/public school). However the riding aspect is very important to me too. I would love to have a school that I could ride at, as a get away from "school". Plus riding is and will forever be a major part of who I am so if I can continue that on a fun yet competitive level in college it would be great.

Does anyone know if you can be like an animal science or biology major and an equine studies minor??

[jerseypony]

There are actually 26 vet schools in the country. I was a bio major and I actually completed a pre-vet curriculum. Make sure you visit the websites of some of the vet schools you are thinking of, bc they vary slightly in their prerequisites, like some may require statistics while others, just calculus. A bio major and equine studies minor will prob not look as good to a vet school as another combo bc they are both sciences, vet and med schools like to see diversity in your studies. They also like english majors/minors bc it shows that the person can write. A lot of what you learn in an equine studies curriculum can be learned by working with horse professionals. Equine studies is a good way to get a career in the horse world, but not a good way to get to vet school. I have a lot of friends who went on to vet and med schools and I am on my way to grad school for molecular genetics. My advice, go for a great school that you can also ride at, not the other way around. If you are serious about your academic and your riding education, then schools like mount holyoke are a great plan. Feel free to PM me if you want more info. I know waaaaay too much about college admissions

[00Jumper]

Wrote a better post later on because I fail at remembering what I've posted in.

[FarnleyGarnet]

They have an Animal and Poultry Science undergrad major and and Equine Minor, Virginia Maryland College of Regional Veterinary Medicine is ON CAMPUS, they have an IHSA hunterseat and western team, an IDA team, Equestrian Club, riding facilities on campus, a sport horse breeding program, etc. Your riding classes even count for college credit!

I loved my 4 years there (graduated in 2004) and would go back in a heartbeat! I will be a Hokie until the day I die. I still have strong ties to the Equestrian Team there (I showed IHSA all 4 years)... let me know when you're coming to visit and I'll get you set up with a tour of the barns! I have several friends in Vet School there who LOVE it too!

Despite the media attention following the tragedy there it really is a wonderful place filled with students and professors who LOVE Virginia Tech and Blacksburg. It's a very close knit community that has only gotten stronger since April 16th. One of the victims, Emily Hilscher, was a member of the Equestrian Team and the Animal Science Department and the school has done an excellent job honoring her memory with scholarships. The IHSA has even created a scholarship in her memory.


Here are a few links:
Equestrian Club
http://www.equestrian.org.vt.edu/
Equine Science at Virginia Tech
http://www.equine.vt.edu/
Animal & Poultry Science at Virginia Tech
http://www.apsc.vt.edu/
Biology at Virginia Tech
http://www.biol.vt.edu/
VMRCVM (Vet School)
http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH!

[chicagogirl]

Don't forget Brown University! You can do bio/bio-chem, etc. and they have a great riding team. They also finished in the top 5 at IHSA nationals this year.

[Megz]

I saw someone had mentioned Midway College in KY. They have a biology program and minors in horsemanship and Equine journalism. I applied there before I decided not to major in equine studies (now an accounting major). They are a small, private womens college. I'm not sure if they have a lot of students go on to vet school, but it is worth taking a look at.


and just to mention my own school, I will say that Michigan Technological University has a good pre-med, pre-vet program. we don't have an equestrian team so you'd probably not have much of a chance to be around horses (unless you find some horses to ride in the area like I did), but the bio program here is tough and keeps you busy with many opportunities to work in the labs and do research.

[Hunter Princess]

I just graduated from DelVal...and I probably wouldn't recommend it for pre-vet, granted I almost went that way, but then turned into an Equine Studies/Business major instead. There are a fair amount who do go there for pre-vet, but a majority of them don't end up going to vet school, or have a rough time getting in. I learned so much from that college and am planning on being a very active alumni so I can give back to my school.

I will comment on the barns and team though. I rode on the team for 2 1/2 years and got a lot out of it, although in the end I stopped because of the favoritism that I felt was happening on the team, and was sick of competing with freshmen to show when they weren't even supposed to be able to show, but I digress. I learned a lot about riding different horses at DVC, and ended up learning so much from a training project I had in my senior year. The breeding barn has different rules, and LD1129, I'm not sure what stallion you are referencing, but currently we only stand Magical Mike, and in the past have had Quentin Hanover and Arturo, both whom were euthanized for different reasons.

I wish you good luck in your college search and hope you find one that suits your needs and enjoy spending time at. It's great to focus on academics, but don't forget about the campus in general and the area around the college

[LD1129]

The two stallions at the time were Christmas List (PITA) and Brody who was much nicer in personality but ugly as sin!

I just graduated from DelVal...and I probably wouldn't recommend it for pre-vet, granted I almost went that way, but then turned into an Equine Studies/Business major instead. There are a fair amount who do go there for pre-vet, but a majority of them don't end up going to vet school, or have a rough time getting in. I learned so much from that college and am planning on being a very active alumni so I can give back to my school.

I will comment on the barns and team though. I rode on the team for 2 1/2 years and got a lot out of it, although in the end I stopped because of the favoritism that I felt was happening on the team, and was sick of competing with freshmen to show when they weren't even supposed to be able to show, but I digress. I learned a lot about riding different horses at DVC, and ended up learning so much from a training project I had in my senior year. The breeding barn has different rules, and LD1129, I'm not sure what stallion you are referencing, but currently we only stand Magical Mike, and in the past have had Quentin Hanover and Arturo, both whom were euthanized for different reasons.

I wish you good luck in your college search and hope you find one that suits your needs and enjoy spending time at. It's great to focus on academics, but don't forget about the campus in general and the area around the college