I'm browsing my college options now, as a HS junior, so I can be ready for applications next year.

 I came accross the University of Findlay and absolutely fell in love with their equine studies and pre-vet program. And I mean "drooling" at the prospect. I could bring my horse to school,e ven I loved the curriculum and everything about it.............that is..................

everything BUT the tuition.................30 k.....................Unless I get a scholorship, there's just no way. I have an ACT score of 27(only took it once, will take again in april) and a gpa of a 4.75 w/ AP credits to boot, but I'm not sure if thats good enough for a scholorship, though.

I had been planning on attending LSU as a animal science/pre-vet major, and then attending their vet school. This way, I can get TOPS (4yrs paid for free) and can drive (w/i close driving dist.) and be able to see my horses every day. But, they don't have a program like Findlays........

 So, I was wondering, does anyone know of any other colleges (preferably southish) that offer a program like findlay's equestrian one? Maybe with a little lower price tag and maybe some chances at scholorships. Also, for those that have been or are going through college, what would you do? Do you think I should in essence "throw away" my TOPS money and try and get a scholorship out of state or just stick with LSU....

 

Thanks to any replies

 

Have you looked into Virginia Tech? They have a vet school on campus and an Equine program you might interested in. The major (with the pre-vet option) is actually called "Animal and Poultry Sciences, Equine Emphasis, Biotechnology option" (haha). They have an equestrian team and several riding classes (Which are 'required'!) and a Horse Production class where you get matched with a broodmare and learn about mare care. Then when the babies are born you're in charge of working with the babies. There's another class where you take the babies further along with ground work and in the fall there's an annual "Hokie Harvest Sale" where they're auctioned off. A lot of amazing breeding farms donate breeding to their stallions so several off the babies have gone for like, $15-20,000, unbroke! You can't keep your horse on campus but Virginia is horse country so there are SEVERAL stables to choose from closeby. I may be a little biased (I LOVED my college years!) but I would recommend looking into it!

 

 

 

Try Southern Nazarene University.  They have an award-winning IHSA team with great coaches.  You can keep your horse at the stables just two miles from campus.  They have some great scholarships for students and they have a pre-vet program.  I don't know what the out-of-state tuition is, but what I have paid is well under the $30K that you talked about at Findlay. 

Yeah, I fell in love with Findlay a couple years back too- that is until I saw the tuition lol!

You can check out Michigan State equine management. As for down south, I think Texas A&M had a equine-related program - though I'm not too sure about that one. You might want to check it out just in case.

Good luck!

If you LOVE Findlay apply.  You'll want to apply to 5 or 6 schools anyway.  Any school will send you a financial aid package showing what you are going to receive in aid BEFORE you have to make your final decisions.  You never know what Findlay (or any other college) might offer you, and if you don't at least apply and see you'll have to wonder "what if".

Ok, I may be a little biased too. I went to Findlay (Pre-med...until I decided to be a Vet Tech instead) and I absolutely loved the school. You do have to take into consideration that it's a private school which translates into smaller classes and more individual attention. When you get into the bigger schools, you don't always get that one-on-one attention which is always beneficial. Although I personally never went through their equine program, I have a friend that's in it now and she LOVES it. And, starting at day 1 they got hands on experience with the horses. There was none of this "gotta take your 4 years of pre-req's first before you even get to think about touching an animal". I forget how much longer she has, but this fall her class started breaking their colts (she had to locate a colt, have it transported to school and start it from the ground up). I've heard a lot of great things about Findlay's equine program, so don't settle for less if that's what you want. Unfortunately, you may be stuck with some student loans to pay off when you get done, but at least you'll have the education you want and hopefully a job that you love...that's the important part. You can also google "government grants/scholarships" to see what's out there. Apparently there is a lot of unclaimed scholarship money available, people just don't know where to look. And since you have a little time yet before you start college, do A LOT of research. You may be surprised at what money you may find out there.

 I also have another friend that goes to Kentucky (and she's on their equestrian team) and she loves it there too. She's actually in their Pre-med program, but they have an equine program too. She, in fact, got a part-time job at the KHP and also worked at Rood and Riddle for awhile (on foal watch) so the career opportunities are endless when you meet the right people.

 And, if you can, make sure you take advantage of the tours that all the colleges offer. What looks good on paper isn't always what you see when you get there. Make sure you visit your college prospects. Remember, YOU are choosing what college you like best and what offers YOU what you want...it's not the other way around. And don't settle for less.

Good luck and let us know when you have made a decision.

Go to Amazon.com and google "horse schools"  -- there is a whole book on them.  Go buy it and check it out.

Another thing to keep in mind is that vet schools tend to prefer applicants from within the state.  So, if you want to go to LSU's vet school, you probably want to do your undergrad in LA.  I know from the HS side, you can see shiny college brochures with pictures of horses galloping across them and fall in love.  But honestly, college is what you make of it, and your experience will have many things in common no matter where you are.  Horse programs are so widespread now, it's really not that hard to find one in your state.

Also, having watched my best friend go through vet school, I can tell you: VET SCHOOL IS HELL and excruciatingly competitive, so I hope you're already working in vet clinics.  And your specialty going in may not stay unchanged -- she entered wanting to be a horse vet but ended up in small animal, so keep your options open.  Good luck! 

Thank you for all the replies. I'm personally looking into each and every one of them

Currently, I am in the Allied Health program at my school. We do 2 hours of volunteer hours a month this year, and next year we do a full blown internship with the medical site of our choice. Kind of like senior project. After next yaer, I will have almost 200 volunteer hours at an equine vet office logged. I'm hoping that those will help me in vet school admission.

I'd also look into William Woods University (in Missouri) and Hollins University (in Virginia). Both of them are smaller liberal arts colleges that specialize in equine studies that I've heard numerous good things about. Not sure what the tuition will be like there but a lot of the more expensive schools also offer bigger scholorship/financial aid packages.

If you already have the assurances of four years of college beign paid for take it!!!!!! I'm in college and even going to a community college it's not cheap, you shouldn't have to pay 30K for college. Yea, I think findlay has a great program but students loans are nasty to pay off and if you can do without I highly reccomend it even if it means goign parttime. I like the idea of a really good equestrian program too but is that worth 30K? I if I had four years paid for I'd take it in a heartbeat. I know it's not overly excitign but keep in mind what the 30K covers. I'm not familiar with findalays program but if that's only tutituion per year not counting your books lodging ect you'll need more than a scholarship.

 If you want scholarships you can try Fastweb.com and Scholarships.com. They offer lots of options but I don't know anyone who has actaully won one of their scholarships. you may already have looked at them but just thought I'd throw it out there. Check with your local breed associations ect they often offer scholarships.

Not saying you should go where you'd like too but I wouldn't go unless you can make sure you can pay for it.