Best Schools for Veterinary Medicine

In the United States, there are a total of 28 veterinarian schools. Although there are many different schools of veterinary medicine to choose from, not all of them are created equally. If you are thinking about becoming a veterinarian, consider applying to one of the following three schools, each ranked on U.S. New and World Report’s Best Grad School List.

Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, Ranked #1

At the very top of the list is Cornell. Located in the State of New York, Cornell was the first school to award a degree in veterinary science in 1876. Over the years, the College of Veterinary Medicine has maintained its outstanding reputation as being one of the best schools that offers a degree in veterinary medicine. The College of Veterinary Medicine has remained at the top of the list of schools offering a veterinary degree. Currently, the school continues to rank at the top of the U.S. News and

World Reports list since 2000.

Each year, close to 5,000 students graduate from the Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Students who graduate from Cornell have their pick when it comes to where they want to work. Graduates from the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine can be found across the United States. Some have set up their own practice and others work for veterinary hospitals.

University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Ranked #2

Another school that follows Cornell closely is University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Although this school is second in the rankings, the school received a score of 4.2 and Cornell received a 4.5. As such, this school is intensely competitive. The school opened its doors in 1948. At that time, the main emphasis was taking care of livestock. Since then the school has expanded its program and now focuses on animals, birds, and fish. This school offers several different degrees in veterinarian medicine; in addition it has many different clinical programs for the student who wishes to specialize.

Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Ranked #3

Colorado State University’s veterinary program was ranked number 3. Although this school ranks third on the list of veterinary schools in the country, the school achieved an overall score of 4.1 and is highly competitive. The school has an outstanding veterinary program offering students the choice of several veterinary degrees. This school also has a Veterinary Teaching Hospital as well. The teaching hospital treats small animals, horses, and livestock. The teaching hospital offers 24 hour emergency appointments and also treats animals during the day. The school also has plans to expand its critical care unit in the near future as well.

If you plan on pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine, then you should consider the three schools discussed above. These schools have ranked the highest on the list for a reason. In addition to their outstanding reputation in the field of veterinary medicine, they each offer an outstanding curriculum and different degrees in the field of veterinary medicine.


Paul McGraw focuses his efforts on educational issues, particularly medical education. Those interested in pursuing nursing should view the resources available at practicalnursingonline.com.

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Do You Want to Go to Dental School?

After watching their older siblings, other relatives and friends struggle to find a job after graduating from college, many young adults are starting to seriously question whether their intended career is the right choice. Therefore, before they enroll in such a program, they want to know if dental school is a desirable option.

The Job Outlook

One of the major components that goes into determining whether or not a job is desirable is the employment outlook. Are there going to be a lot of jobs available when you graduate? Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 21 percent projected rate of employment increase exists in this field for the years 2010 to 2020. The average job growth for occupations is 14 percent, so the field of dentistry is clearly above average. Though, to be sure, the outlook differs according to region, so those looking to become a Dentist in College Station, TX will likely have different options than those looking in the Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, or New York City regions.

The Salary

When individuals attend college and dental school, they often have to take out a lot of loans. Therefore, they want to know that they are eventually going to be able to make the money back and pay off their debt. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has positive information to report in this field as well. The site notes that the median salary of a dentist is $146,920 per year or a rate of $70.64 per hour. These numbers are as of 2010, so you could expect a possible slight increase in the future.

The Ability to be Self Employed

The American Dental Association, in its article "Ten Great Reasons to be a Dentist," reminds dental students that they have the ability to eventually become self employed. Many people want to work for themselves, set their own hours and have high levels of control over their business. When you choose to work as a dentist, you will have the opportunity to do so. You will likely have to work up a reputation in the community at another practice or with a partner before you open your own practice.

An Understanding of the Sciences

You also must consider your own strengths, abilities and weaknesses when you are deciding if dental school is the right option for you. Making a high salary and owning your own business certainly seem like two positive points; however, if you do not have the necessary tools to become a dentist, your endeavor is likely to fail. Evaluate how well-versed you are in the sciences and other disciplines related to the field of dentistry. Be prepared to take some extra courses if you have not succeeded in these types of classes.

A Passion for Dentistry

Ultimately, you also need to want to be a dentist in order to succeed at dental school. No matter how much money you make or how excellent of a schedule you have, your time spent at work is going to be miserable if you do not enjoy the job. Enroll in a college that has a pre-dental program, so you are able to take some courses in the field. If you are unable to find a college with such a program, you must at least look into taking some other classes that are related to the field in order to determine if this is the occupation for you.

Basically, whether or not dental school is a desirable option depends upon what you think. In terms of salary and job availability, yes, it is. However, if you do not like the field, then it is simply the wrong career for you to pursue.

This piece was composed by Reginald Wadsworth, a freelancer who focuses on education, professional training, employment trends and other topics. Those concerned about their oral hygiene should consider obtaining the services of an experienced dental professional with impeccable credentials and an established track record of success.

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Interior Design Career: Licensing and Certification

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"You should be an interior designer.” How many times have you heard that when someone walks into your home and sees the beautifully decorated rooms? Or how many times have you watched the professionals on home and garden programs, or flipped through a magazine, and thought, “I could do that!”

With the proliferation of TV shows, magazine, books and online sources these days, it seems like almost anyone can call themselves an interior designer or decorator. However, what many people may not realize is that in order to be considered an interior designer in most states, you need to hold a license, or at least be registered with the appropriate regulatory agencies.

Reasons for Regulation

If you’re not familiar with the interior design profession, you might be thinking, “Why do designers need to be licensed? Aren’t they just choosing furniture and decorating rooms?” And while yes, those tasks are certainly part of the equation, they are just the tip of the iceberg.

Professional interior designers do more than just paint and hang curtains, especially when they are hired for a major remodeling job. Designers need to have a fundamental understanding of the principles of architecture, as well as building codes, plumbing, electrical work and other regulations, in order to manage projects. Without that knowledge, the outcome could be dangerous -- even disastrous. Requiring those who carry the designation “interior designer” to meet certain requirements helps to protect consumers, and ensure that buildings meet the minimum safety standards set by the government.

State Laws

Each state has its own laws and regulations regarding the practice of interior design – and about half don’t have any laws at all. However, of those that do have laws, most place strict restrictions on who can use the term interior designer and some actually limit the practice of interior design to those who meet the state licensing requirements.

To determine your state’s requirements, contact the licensing authority, or the American Society of Interior Designers, a professional organization that maintains a comprehensive listing of state requirements.

Getting Certified

Qualifying for licensure in interior design is much like earning a license in other fields. You can only qualify for the designation after meeting strict education, experience and testing prerequisites.

Of the states that do regulate the profession, most require at least two years of education in interior design; some states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada and Virginia, actually require four years. Some states specify a minimum number of years of combined education and experience, but all states require at least six years of experience.

In addition to completing an education at one of the accredited interior design colleges, most states require licensed interior designers to pass an examination covering the fundamentals of the profession. The most commonly required exam is the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam, a multi-day exam that’s limited to those who hold a degree and have a minimum number of years of experience.

While the NCIDQ is generally required by state licensing boards, there are other certifications that designers can seek within their areas of specialization. For example, those who work in the kitchen and bath design field, and meet the education, experience and training requirements, can seek the National Kitchen and Bath Association certification, while those who work exclusively in residential interior design can seek certification through the Council for Qualification of Residential Interior Designers.

A growing field of design is “green,” or environmentally friendly design, and experienced designers can seek certification in that area as well. The National Association of Green Designers sponsors a certification for those who specialize in eco-friendly design, the Certified Green Designer designation, which indicates the designers’ commitment to environmentally friendly design and use of sustainable materials.

Of course, completing all of the licensing requirements for your state doesn’t always mean you are licensed for as long as you practice. Most states require continuing education or professional development courses to keep the license current.

In the end, states enact certification and licensing requirements to protect both consumers and designers. Earning the right to call yourself an interior designer is a major achievement, and one that all designers and students should take seriously.

Image from Flickr’s Creative Commons

Yvette Conolly is an award-winning licensed interior designer. The owner of a successful residential design firm, she serves as an advisor to aspiring designers. Her work has been featured in several magazines.

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10 Ways to Narrow Your Career Focus and Major

Conduct career research to guide college endeavors

Most college students will change their major at least once, if not more often. This isn't bad if it's the first week of school, but if a student changes his or her career course three years into college, they're going to suffer setbacks in several forms by having to pay for extra courses to fulfill the requirements of a new degree. The unfortunate truth for many college entrants is that they begin their post-secondary education without any idea of what they want to specialize in. 

In many cases, these students could have saved themselves time, money and stress by doing research early on in their professional pursuits - even while they were still in high school.

Taking your career into your own hands

When refining one's interests and targeting specific fields of interest, one of the worst things a high school or college student can do is place their future in the hands of a school guidance counselor. Considering the average of 457 to 1 counselor-to-student ratio is nearly twice the recommended ratio according to the American School Counselor Association, it is unrealistic to expect high performance by counselors under such conditions. Counselors are often tasked with a number of wide-ranging responsibilities not related to career

counseling. Counselors are often trained to provide interventions and one-on-one counseling to students, but unfortunately, the constraints just detailed prevent them from providing comprehensive, effective guidance and advocacy for every student’s college planning. Discussing future prospects with a school counselor can still be beneficial, but if students and parents want to maximize their benefit, they need to be proactive.

In addition to resources like the College Readiness Indicator System, which is designed to support school counseling efforts by using data analysis to determine how ready for college a high school student is, parents and students alike need to actively conduct research and explore their options. Going on school visits, meeting with prospective college advisors, and doing other legwork can provide much more "guidance" than a school counselor has the time to offer.

Do some research to narrow down options

That doesn't mean anyone has to map out the rest of his or her life at age 17. But narrowing down interests ahead of college can help a person focus general education in a way that best serves the most likely career paths. For example, if a student is interested in math and science fields, taking prerequisites and general education courses that work toward a Master of Science degree can make things easier once that specific degree path is determined.

Some career paths can be more complicated than others. The engineering field, for example, features a range of degrees and specialties that often appear similar on the surface but can be widely divergent from one another when the details are examined. Many students eventually entering into a construction management degree program settle on this career path after exploring their options in the field of engineering and construction.

Free resources

Because most college students want to prepare themselves for a profession likely to exist throughout the course of their working years, job outlook is a key consideration when narrowing a career search.
The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics is a great resource for learning more about any profession a student might consider. From taxi drivers to government officials, a number of resources provide information spanning several aspects of each job, including the average pay, working conditions, education requirements, additional training, and -- most importantly -- the job outlook for that profession.

Construction management, mentioned above, is projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to enjoy an average job growth of 17 percent between 2010 and 2020, a figure slightly above the national average for all jobs. That means students earning a construction management degree may experience average or slightly above-average job opportunities over the next decade.

In addition to job research, other methods of personal discovery are available, including job shadowing of construction management personnel to aptitude tests that gauge a student's interests and skills and suggest fields that may be a good fit for them.

Putting the journey ahead of the destination

Of course, there's a reason colleges force students to sample courses from a variety of professional paths and interests. It can be hard for students to know what they want to do when they don't know all the options available to them. The ultimate goal for both students shouldn't be choosing a career path as early as possible. Instead, early active exploration and research should be the emphasis. With those goals in mind - and a little patience backing those efforts - the career will come in time.

Guest Post by Joe Baker 
You can reach him at josephbker@gmail.com 

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