Preprofessional Health Advising Office

San Diego State University
Preprofessional Health Advising Office

FALL 2012
BIOLOGY 250C
Schedule #20396
GMCS-328 / Wed. 3:00 p.m.

TOPICS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

Barbara Huntington, Director
email: bhuntington@mail.sdsu.edu
Preprofessional Health Advising Office GMCS-323

Course Purpose: This seminar course is designed to teach you about the SDSU preveterinary program and the process for admission to veterinary school. A variety of specialists and professionals from the veterinary field are invited to speak in this class to give you a realistic view of the profession. This class is run by students with the professor acting in the role of facilitator. There are specific requirements to pass the class, but your input and enthusiasm are vital to making it a strong learning experience for you and your classmates.

Optional/Recommended Texts (wait to purchase until after the first day of class):

Huntington, Barbara and Masse, Linda, 2003. Writing About Me: A step by step guide to developing a powerful personal statement for your application to schools of medicine, dentistry, chiropractic, optometry, pharmacy, physician assistant, podiatry and veterinary medicine.

AAVMC. Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements in theUnited States and Canada (Latest Edition). (VMSAR) Williams & Wilkins

Learning Objectives:

As a result of this course, students will:

Gain a realistic idea of the requirements for admission to veterinary medical school.
Be aware of the timeline for the preprofessional health undergraduate process.
Learn about opportunities for gathering experience in veterinary medicine from the Preprofessional Health Advising Office.
Gain role models that will be able to provide information regarding the wide variety of veterinary specialties.
Gain experience in the veterinary medical school application process (VMCAS).

Course Evaluation: C/NC based on:

1) Attendance (based on weekly journal)

Since it is not polite to invite a speaker and then have no one show up because of studying for a final in another class, ONLY ONE UNEXCUSEDABSENCE IS ACCEPTED. It must be made up by submitting a one-page paper on the topic that was missed no later than one week after the absence. Excused absences (illness, death in family) must be submitted in writing to Barbara Huntington. Submission of your journal each week at the end of class substantiates your attendance.

2) Timely submission of assignments and speaker evaluations.

Homework must be typed and is due at the beginning of each class and the weekly journal must be submitted before leaving class. In cases of excused absences, homework will be accepted up until the next class meeting. Please retain copies of all assignments.

Use this guideline for papers assigned in this class: Writing Guideline

Health care professionals are held to high ethical standards. Please be aware of the school's policy on academic dishonesty requiring professors to report all cases of academic dishonesty.

Course Evaluation: One unit course. Credit/No Credit

3. Course Work

Writing Assignments: These will be collected at the beginning of the period and require the following format:

4. Complete the speaker review sheet : Link

Please retain all copies of assignments.

Date Due:	Homework Assignments
September 7	Access the VMCAS application and print off the first page where you input your name. The application can be found at: http://www.aavmc.org. Write at least one full double-spaced page on why you want to be a veterinarian. If you have not opened a file in the Preprofessional Health Advising Office, go by GMCS-323 to sign up for orientation. (optional, but STRONGLY recommended.)
September 14	Post to the Forum your Top 5 Veterinary Schools and 3 reasons why you chose each school
September 21	Write at least one full double-spaced page on how do you deal with stress, how you relax, and who you turn to if you're stressed?
September 28	Access the VMCAS application, complete it, print off the entire application, and turn it in. (The application goes off-line on October 3). The application can be found at: http://www.aavmc.org.
October 05	Write at least one full double-spaced page on how you feel about the use of animals in vet school?
October 12	Write at least one full double-spaced page on where do you see yourself (in relationship to veterinary medicine) in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?
October 19	Write at least one full double-spaced page on: If you were tied with one other person for the last spot in a veterinary school, what would you tell the admissions officer to convince them they should pick you over the other person? Also begin to think of ideas for your personal statement
October 26	Bring and prepare to discuss the introduction and general bullet points for your personal statement.
November 2	Name five adjectives that describe you and explain how they apply.
November 9	Bring three copies of your personal statement (2-3 pages double spaced) to class. (1 for peer review, 1 for Barb's review)
November 16	Write at least one full double-spaced page on the following question: As a client, name three characteristics you look for in a veterinarian. Explain your reasoning. Please give examples. (This will help you get started with the application process)
November 23	Write two pages on a topic of interest in the field of veterinary medicine whether it be an illness or a procedure you would like to learn more about. Please include 2-3 scholarly articles. This assignment will be due at 11:59 pm.
November 30	In your vet experiences, what is the most difficult situation you have faced and how did you deal with it?
December 7	How do you feel about the impending "overpopulation" of women in the veterinary field?
December 14 (3:30)	Students are required to go to final exam times. Come by to pick up your VMCAS application and complete an evaluation of the speakers. Bring in a list of inerview questions we can review in class. Another class will also be in the room.

Speakers

	Biology 250C TOPICS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE Schedule of Speakers
Date	Speaker
August 29	Introduction--Review syllabus--VMCAS and veterinary schools--Get to know each other.
Sept.5	Penelope Milne--Dog trainer
Sept. 12	Holly Mullen, DVM, DAVCS---Veterinary Surgery
Sept. 19	Kim O'Bryan--UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Sept. 26	Todd Cecil, DVM--Exotics
Oct.3*(Meet in Library)	Sue Hollander, Science Reference Librarian Meet in the library, LA-78.
Oct. 10	Jim Kubiak--The Breeder's Assistant
Oct. 17	Anne Serdy, DVM - Small Animal Veterinarian
Oct. 24	Summer Griffin, DVM (SDSU Alum)- Small Animal Veterinarian, Member of Charter class of Western University.
Oct.. 31	Craig Chandler, DVM--Large Animal Medicine--East County Large Animal Practice
Nov. 7	Patrick Melese,MA, DVM, DACVB (Behavior) --Animal Behavior
Nov. 14	Brian Joseph, DVM--The Living Coast Discovery Center
Nov. 21	Submit assignment in lieu of class meeting. Have a good Thanksgiving!
November 28	Kent Osborn, DVM--Veterinary Pathologist
Dec.5	TBA
Dec. 12	Students are required to go to final exam times. Come by to pick up your VMCAS application and complete an evaluation of the speakers. Bring in a list of inerview questions we can review in class.

Samantha Rudolph

Samantha Parks

Sunny Suwannabart