Caitlin Warren had a plan to become a veterinarian from a young age, and now having just completed her junior year at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, she is enrolling in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program at UW-Madison this fall, thanks to a new articulation program created by UW-Platteville.
Warren is the first student to take advantage of UW-Platteville’s newest 3+1 articulation agreement, which allows UW-Platteville students to complete their fourth year of an undergraduate degree from UW-Platteville by successfully finishing the first year of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at any American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited veterinary college. The first year of credits at the veterinary college transfer back to UW-Platteville, fulfilling the student’s requirements for a UW-Platteville bachelor’s degree in animal science.
This innovative work by our animal science group in the School of Agriculture is just another example of how, through partnerships and collaborations, we benefit students.” – Dr. Wayne Weber, dean, College of BILSA
“Higher education is absolutely key to many career pathways,” said Dr. Wayne Weber, dean of UW-Platteville’s College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture. “In the case of a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, this agreement is a tangible opportunity for students to effectively and efficiently complete a Bachelor of Science in animal science and the DVM, reducing years to degree and overall costs. This innovative work by our animal science group in the School of Agriculture is just another example of how, through partnerships and collaborations, we benefit students.”
Warren, who is originally from Portage, Wisconsin, said she chose UW-Platteville for its Animal Science program and the smaller-sized campus and classes, which meant more access to professors. This individualized support from faculty ended up being key in setting her up for the successful transition to veterinary school.
“As early as my first semester, during freshman registration, Dr. Hampton [Dr. James Hampton, associate professor and program coordinator of animal science] signed me up for all of the basics that would be prerequisites for everything else in animal science. I had chemistry, biology, introduction to animal science and statistics. It was tough, but I did well enough and that set me up to be a little bit accelerated. During my sophomore year, Dr. Hardyman [Dr. Krista Hardyman, associate professor of animal science and assistant director of the School of Agriculture] set up a three-year plan to get all my credits in and apply for veterinary school, and a four-year plan, in case I didn’t get in. The professors were always available to help and talk through my options. At UW-Platteville, it’s really easy to create those connections and relationships with professors, because of the small class sizes.”
While a Bachelor of Science is not required for admittance to veterinary school, as long as pre-requisites are met, Warren said earning her degree from UW-Platteville is significant.
“As I began to learn about the possibility of this new agreement, I realized how much I wanted my Bachelor of Science degree. I have spent three years of my life at UW-Platteville working really hard, and that physical representation of a degree means a lot to me.”
In addition to earning her degree, Warren said the experiences she gained at UW-Platteville will play an important role in her success in veterinary school.
“I really feel that getting an animal science degree is so helpful if you are passionate about getting into veterinary school,” said Warren. “I have learned so much from my core animal science classes, like anatomy, physiology, nutrition, genetics and microbiology. Those are all topics I’m going to learn more about in vet school, and now I have dabbled a little in all those areas. The hands-on experience of the animal science degree was awesome.”