My wife is getting her degree in animal science, and may go to vet school. She is still undecided. Yes they have a lot of hands on stuff. They actually have cows at MTSU that have permanent holes in their sides with a lid so you can stick your hand in there at anytime without having to dissect them. The cows just walk around in the field normal.

Even if you decide vet school is not for you, keep in mind there is nothing like a science or math degree, to which I am sure that Jacks4me will attest. I had a double major in biology (micro/physiology route) and chemistry as well as minors in math and physics (you almost have no choice with the chem major). The analytical skills these disciplines teach will prepare you for nearly any career. You may decide your interested in nursing,biotechnology, or even research. By getting the science now, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities.

BTW, I felt that the undergrad science program was way more demanding than the applied science grad program that I started soon after graduation. I also started the MBA program which still did not approach the level of difficulty of the undergrad science.

Good luck and keep us posted. I still am in contact with some of the science faculty for business purposes. Any advice on who to avoid, just post and I will respond.

Wow - thanks for all the responses.

Jacks4me - of course I remember you, Jeremy and I are often sorry that we lost your contact info because we keep thinking that we should call you to hang out. I might just take you up on the offer for help. I think the beginner survey classes will be hard, but not killer - but then again maybe I'm kidding myself.

greasemonkey - Is your wife at MTSU? Maybe we'll have some classes together. Also, it doesn't seem plausible that a cow can have a hole in it's side and still live. But since I'm just starting out in science, I don't really know anything. :)

gottago - I believe that a science degree is a valuable one, especially since mine is so useless - American Studies and fine art. I've thought about nursing but never seriously - I have two aunts that are nurses, that continually would try to push us into nursing. It didn't work with any of us. Ideally, I would like to get the vet degree and use it to help out my community - like offering low-cost spaying and neutering or something, but you're right - I don't know what will happen as I take more science courses. The person I'm taking for Bio now seems nice enough - he studies butterflies which I think is very cool (then again, being a fan of Nabokov, I read all of his butterfly research papers, as well as his books...).

cfrich, Just from reading your comments, I think you would be an excellent veterinarian. I also believe that really good ones are in short supply. I can understand your position having to go back and take a lot of undergraduate classes and your lack of hesitation to do what needs to be done almost inspires me. Good luck

It also was not a surprise for me to read that you were a vegetarian. I would like to be one, and I have considered it many times, but it would never work. That would leave me with bread, potatoes and corn to eat.

I remember visiting Mackinaw Island as a child and there was an MD up there that treated a man with a gun shot wound to the stomach (not abdomen)and the hole didn't heal. I don't remember specifics, but the MD watched the digestive process at work.

mmp84 - I have been working on some new things, craft-wise although that's slowed down a bit too. Not just because of the start of school, but I've been trying to reorganize my craft space. I was planning to put together a crafty post next week, actually.

memyselfi - Thank you for the encouragement. I sometimes need a lot of it, especially with this new venture. Becoming a vegetarian wasn't super hard for me, I'd stopped eating meat off and on since high school, and then (unfortunately for my husband, probably) I was just grossed out by eating meat - I haven't touched it in 6 and half years. I actually didn't eat many veggies before becoming vegetarian, I still don't eat a variety, but I've found some I really like and don't get sick of and stick to them.

time2relax - I watched the videos, so gross. but you're right that it looks like the cow is not bothered at all. Weird.

Sharon22 - you know, I seem to think that one of my nursing aunts has talked about this sort of thing. I'll have to ask next time I see them how this works.

greasemonkey - I think my husband is waiting to hear good stories. He's in the history department here and doesn't know many people in the sciences or ag, so it will all be new for him, too. I mean, he was impressed that I got goggles for bio lab (that's to show how not science people we are).

jacks4me - I'm so jealous! Jeremy and I always talk about wanting to learn an instrument, the other day we were talking up learning the accordian!