Jennifer Polhemus ⋅ Santa Monica, CA Precision Research (self-employed) ⋅ 25 years experience

I agree with the prior answers.
Create a map of the coursework you need and how it applies directly to the BS requirements at the 4-yr school. The community college may have an "articulation map" that has done the work for you. Don't spend time taking classes that don't fit a specific requirement. Schedule out your classes for the first 3 terms or so, so you can see where you are going and keep the short-term goals in mind.

IF it's been a while since you were in school, start with a math class -- gets your mind working like a student, teaches you logic and other skills you'll need, and the homework is set to a specific schedule, so you won't get behind. Put some time into studying for the math and English placement exams, to try and avoid having to take non-credit classes before you begin working on the BS.

What are you doing RIGHT NOW to prepare yourself to begin college? Might be hard to hear this, but cut way down on the TV and video. There are only so many hours in a week, so the reason more people don't read is because they spend their time on other leisure activities. With your goal, you can't afford to spend much time with activities not geared to advancing your studies.

Read a weekly news magazine (I like Time, & student subscriptions are inexpensive) to keep you informed and to read great writing; you can skip a few articles, but read 75% of it every single week. AND you should be reading a good novel or nonfiction work -- set a goal of one a month? This will help increase your reading speed (making college easier), and at the same time enrich your life. For nonfiction, try "Boys in the Boat" or "Unbroken." For fiction, read literature, not pulp. "The Things They Carried," or even Harry Potter would be good choices. If you haven't read a novel for awhile, you could begin with a John Green book as a warm-up. And you need to READ the books; listening to a separate audiobook (while working out or driving) would be an extra step, not a replacement for real reading.

If your life partner is a TV-nut, try to get cooperation. It's much harder to develop student discipline when there are distractions surrounding you at home.

Lastly, treat your community college experience like you are already at a 4-yr school, because you are in a 4-yr school, in terms of what you learn and what it will count for later.

Best wishes, Jennifer

William Bahrt ⋅ Sequim, WA Arizona Public Service Company ⋅ 15 years experience

The answer you received from Daryl Harrison was spot on. The main suggestion that I have for you in planning your education is to first, select the university that you would like to go to for your bachelor's degree and then find a community college that has a connection with that university. Often times, after you have completed your required basics, the community college will certify your completion of your basic classes and the university will accept that certification and will not come back on you for courses they will not transfer. The second thing to remember is that the veterinarian program is much harder than an M.D. program. Investigate carefully the vet programs offered by a variety of colleges and universities. Then make an informed decision on the program you wish to attend. Don't let the program rule you; you rule the program. During the time I was an academic adviser, I used to counsel my students to research carefully what was required to complete the course of study they wanted to take, and then when they came to register for classes, they they knew what was important instead of relying on the advice of a counselor who really did not know what was important.

Daryl Harrison ⋅ Thurston, NE Harrison WOC Services ⋅ 25 years experience

Hi Paul,
Your concept of using a Junior College to get your basic required courses out of the way at a reasonable price is right on target. Your question of which JC is best in your region is the next logical step. So, good job thus far.

You are not the first person to take this route. Decide now which school of veterinary sciences you are going to attend. They know which students using your proposed path had the greatest success when using which JC. They also know which students wish they had never used certain JCs. The veterinary science program you choose may not accept credentials from specific JCs and within certain JCs may not accept certain courses. You don't want to take courses over and you want to build the best possible foundation for your further studies. So, decide who's degree you want hanging from your office wall and get with them. Follow their rules from the start. Make sure you understand that your initial courses are critical in developing a strong foundation you can rely on for the rest of your professional life. Pay attention during your Junior College years to developing the best possible product. These next years have to be the most selfish years of your life. They are the years that will shape your success as a Veterinarian. Anything that distracts you from your goal must be avoided at all cost. If you have a family they have to be on board and ready to support your goal. After all, this is a long term goal that will have a great affect on them too. Good luck!