"I don’t know what to say, Lauren. We just don’t have much to offer pre-veterinary students. You should have gone to Auburn. How did you end up at UAB anyway?”
I thought back to my very first visit to UAB, and the interview I had with the undergraduate neuroscience director at the time, Dr. Carl McFarland. I thought back on all the amazing opportunities UAB had provided me with- from research to internships to leadership opportunities. The decision I made not to transfer to another institution despite UAB’s lack of pre-vet resources was very easy and clear cut.“I don’t know”, I responded after several seconds. “I think I was just meant to be here.”
In truth, it was the support I received through the neuroscience program that made me believe what I wanted to do was possible- that I could switch from pre-med to pre-vet halfway through my college career and still graduate on time and get into a veterinary school the fall after graduation. After I made my decision, my advisor and I wasted no time in conducting research. We began looking up different veterinary schools, learning what pre-requisites and entrance exams I needed to add to my neuroscience curriculum, and what animal experiences I could obtain in Birmingham. Thankfully, UAB offered nearly all the classes I needed, and I was able to find a veterinary hospital nearby that allowed me to volunteer. We worked out a plan to complete my courses while obtaining as many hours of experience as possible.
However, after getting my courses and general experience in order, I decided I needed to add something more diverse to my resume to get into veterinary school- something that would make up for my late decision to pursue veterinary medicine. I took these concerns to my advisor, and he suggested a study away trip. Through the numerous study away programs UAB offers, I was able to find the perfect biology trip to Costa Rica. There, I was able to study wildlife conservation as well as ecotourism. In addition, Dr. Gavin helped me obtain an internship with the Animal Resources Program. Although I had worked in a lab before, this internship gave me the unique opportunity to see the role veterinarians play in academia. I observed the amazing lengths vets go to insure the safety and wellbeing of animals such as tree shrews, dogs, and nonhuman primates who are being used in groundbreaking research.
The experiences that I have gotten during my time at UAB and in UNP have allowed me to be both confident and determined in my journey to become a veterinarian. I am so ecstatic to say that all of the hard work paid off and I will be attending the University Of Florida College Of Veterinary Medicine in the fall! I’m indebted to UAB and UNP for encouraging me to follow my true calling- regardless of how insurmountable the obstacles may seem. Without their help, I would not be where I am today.
I also married the love of my life (a fellow UNP student) about eight months ago. I guess you could say UNP fosters relationships of all types!
