question about schools in England

[udontno]

Lately, I've been looking into colleges. I had to for a school project. I want to be a veterinarian. I found a college in England that I liked a lot, but I'm not quite sure how the schooling works there. Would I be able to apply right out of high school? I've looked at the required courses and unless I took them in summer school at some college, I wouldn't be able to apply directly because I wouldn't meet the criteria. One of the reasons I am interested is because you can earn the degree in 5 years, vs. the 8 years over here in the states. What do you think? Does it seem like a totally bad idea? Any information would be appreciated.

[Lena]

A vetinarian degree takes around 6 years in England. Its a great idea, and worth looking into - there are some great uni's here that specialise in the degree.

You would definately have to research the application requirements. I have a feeling you would probably have to take a couple of extra courses to get in, because in the UK we specialise in three or four subjects after the age of sixteen, then at 18, we launch straight into one chosen subject for uni. Thats why the time it takes to do it is faster here - you're not messing around with extra subjects in the first couple of years of your degree. However that does mean you might need to take a couple of courses before your degree (it seems those would be bio, chem, phsyics, maths) so that the uni's here are satisfied with your competency/qualifications in those subjects (however, check with the universities).



http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/education/BeAVet.htm



(That website is a little out of date - there are more uni's that offer a vetinary degree than that. Durham, for example).

[udontno]

Oh, that's a good link. Thank you.

Gosh, I wish the US was like that. It would make things easier. Thanks for the info, I'll definitely do more information in it and see if that's something that will be an option for me. I could always apply to the school of my choice in the US, take the things needed for the school in England and if I don't get in there, I'm still safe.

Do you know that if I was to apply during whenever I apply lol, if I could take the needed courses over the summer and they'd let me in? Or would I have to have them at the time I apply?

[Lena]

I think you would need to be at least doing them when you reply - when they make you an offer, its on the basis on the qualifications you're about to be awarded - so you'd need evidence of working towards those qualifications.



The organisation you apply through is UCAS:

http://www.ucas.ac.uk/ and from what it says, you have until 30 June (though thats leaving it very late).

[udontno]

Okay, thank you Lena.

I'll keep all of this in mind. I won't be able to apply for a while, because I'm only in 9th grade. The career project I had to do made me think of all of this... Thanks.

[Fishhead]

I live in the US and I've looked into going to school in England (among other places). If you're only in 9th grade right now you'll probably be able to get any extra classes you need in school. I've taken 3 extra sciences and 4 extra maths by taking those classes as electives. They aren't required for me to gradate, but I wanted to take them. If you're really serious about wanting to do that, you can. You just have to be willing to give up extra time because those classes require lots of studying, whereas taking blow-off electives don't.



Sorry if that message was confusing. If you have any other questions I'd be happy to look a few things up for you.



~Danica

[udontno]

I understand what you are saying Danica, but some of the classes I say that I would need aren't available at my high school, that I know of.

[Fishhead]

What classes do you need? What website are you looking at to find that information?

[udontno]

I spent a good thirty minutes looking for the page I saw, but I couldn't find it. It was on a school's website though, I remember that.