Hey, i need help. (not mental)

Right, well, i was looking at some courses for when i leave school. Still a while a way yet but as you prob know, i really want to farm!

I looked at farm management degree's, diplomas etc. I also looked at vet degree's, and i have decided that a future career is between the two. I really want to get into agriculture but i am not sure if its the right career path? If i did, it would be Farm Management or Agronomy, the latter being the least favoured. I also looked at Vet courses, i have an interest in animals and really fancy being a vet, but it would either be an equine vet or a farm vet as there is no way i wouldnt be able to be associated to agriculture.

What are your thoughts??? I should be able to get the grades for either (i say should, its not definate as the vet course is a really high grade course but it shouldnt be a problem).

Any advice or thoughts on the matter?

Cheers

Matt.

Hey, I am currently studying a BSc Agriculture wtih Business Management degree, and it covers all aspects of farming and i can choose which modules i want to take whether that is livestock or arable.  I also have the choice to take short courses like a vet med course and animal husbandry.  If i had the grades to get into veterinary college then i probably would of gone but the only thing that would put me off is that you are there for 6 years.  i would suggest that you go and visit all the colleges and universities that you are interested in, i know you have said that it is still a while until you go the sooner you start looking the better.  Plus i would go and ask your local vets whether you can gain some work experience with them, this may help you to make a decision.

I hope this helps

ag girl - thats great! What Uni/ college is that at? To be honest, i am really into arable and thats what i would miss if i was going into vetinary!

That course sounds really good, what career you fancy taking after it? The 6 years is also putting me off , as well as bot being involved in arable farming.

Thanks for the response though, it really helped!

There are grat employment opertuniteys on VERY LAGE (5000+ cows milking at any one time) dairy farms for quolifide vets in the US making prity good money. If u do A levals then u can always go onto do an Agricolture diploma/degre and after that if you are still interested in being a large animal vet go and do it. just my $0.02

 If you are in two minds, aim for vet first. Most courses are 5 years I thought.

If it turns out not to be for you, then go for the Ag. Its easier doing it that way round than the other! 

I am currently at Writtle College, Essex but i know the Scottish Agriculture College does it as well, and possibly Harper Adams and Royal Agricultural College.  If you are really into arable i think doing an agriculture course may suit you better.

I would do your a levels to suit the vet career (in otherwords aim high) and whilst doing them try to take work experience in both sectors so that when you finish your 2 years A levels at 18 you are in no doubt as to which further education course would suit you, i was dam stupid, i left school at 16, did Youth Training and got myself kicked out of college for being abusive to my employer on whose farm i was on, all i did was tell him to stop treating me like crap and a slave and walked off! I just then got myself a GFW job and er er worked my way to what i am today, whatever that is! I wish now id done A levels as at 31 ive just realised that if i ever want to leave agriculture then i have no education to fall back on and when you work the stupid hours i do night school is not an option so before you throw yourself into work Matty get your education, farming will wait and it not always the dream you belive it will be

THANKS!! That really is a big help! The responses have been great, i am proposing, going to sixth form, doing the relevant A levels, going to uni to study either Ag business management OR vetinary. Its probably going to be ag business management but i am keeping my options open just incase.

Thanks alot, any more opinions will be appreciated!!

When I was at college, I applied for vet school, and got accepted, but later turned my place down in favour of another degree. Most vet schools are 5 year courses, the exceptions to this are Cambridge and London, who do 6 year courses. You will need A-levels in Biology, Chemistry and either Maths or Physics, although preferably both, and you will need to have achieved A grades in all subjects. In addition you also "need" experience working with at least five different species of animals, eg, sheep, cows, horses, dogs, birds. I use the term need loosely, as although they do not say this on their criteria, I can assure you it is a big part of the selection process - the more animals you have worked with the better. You also need to have spend at least 4 months worth of time in veterinary practises (this doesn't need to be a four month stint, I spent several weeks of each summer and easter holidays at local practises). The more practises you can get to the better. Start now, write letters to local vets. Some wont let you observe operations until you are over 16, but most will let you at least sit in on consultations etc. 

Also look up the vetsix conferences - these are very good to attend, a lot of influential members of interview panels take lectures over the three days, and it is good to get your face seen. I am not sure what the age limit on these is, I think you have to be over 16, but it is worth having a look at them just incase.

When it comes to interviews, you will need quite in depth biological and chemistry knowledge, as well as recommendations from vets that you have worked with. But that is a long way off yet. If you want any coaching let me know, as I have been there, done it and got the T-shirt.

As someone else has already said, if you are unsure it would be good to aim for a vet degree, that way if you change your mind, you will still be able to go for an ag degree. If you do it the other way round, you will not have sufficient grounding to allow you to apply for a vet degree.

Another option, which has now become common place is to complete one degree, and them apply to vet college as a second degree. This results in a four year course to achieve a vet degree (rather than five years) as years one and two are lumped together in one year. Of course, this would mean a total of 7 years studying, although you don't have to go straight into a vet degree - you can always go back to it later in life.

Good post from Zoe, one thing to correct is that all vet degrees are 6 years, Cambridge and London are 7. You need to have a full house of A grades, and as much experiance as you can get.  

 Wanted to do it myself, but then didnt think I could get the grades and there are other things in life which give me more excitement than animals, so doing a different degree instead. A worthwhile career, the guys who I know who have done it enjoy it, but there are some years at uni which are really hard and not very interesting.

I'm sure they only said 5 on the prospectus? Willhave a lil check again!

Thanks for the responses- if you dont mind me asking, whatcourse did you go for instead?

Thanks

Matty.

Check your prospectus. Im nearly 100% its 6 years. Doctors is 5, vets is one year longer.

 Im doing a management degree, no relvence to farming what so ever, but I love buying and selling stuff, so that was my reasoning. Its general enough to allow me to go into farming at the end with a different point of view than most farm managers, or I can go into management straight after uni and quickly pay off my student loan. The wages in agriculture arnt enough really.

 Cj Tj, i'm afraid i have to disagree with most of your points. Most vet courses are 5 years. There are some that are 6, but only a few. Postgrad vet courses may only be 4 years. 

A full house of A grades isnt necessary either. Nottingham Uni are one of teh first universities to restrict A level grades to B and above. If you have decent grades, better relevant experience, and you can sell yourself for who you are (dont bother lying because they will catch you out) you will be chosen over the sparkliest shiniest straight A grader.