A friend’s daughter is looking at Equine Studies programs at UNH and UMass Amherst.
I’d really love to hear pros and cons of both so I can provide her the feedback.
Thanks in advance!
In my mind, the bigger question is what is she going to do with a BS in Equine Studies? How many jobs will she find and what will they pay? A BS in Animal Science might be more marketable, particularly if it includes a lot of hard core science requirements.
I’ve had interactions with both programs. I’d currently rate the UNH program as stronger. Ten years ago I would have said Umass. My understanding is that budgetary issues have dealt a huge blow to Umass program over the past three years or so.
She could also look at Johnson & Wales which offers a Bachelors in Equine Business Management.
Of the two… UNH.
[QUOTE=Marshfield;8069521]
I’ve had interactions with both programs. I’d currently rate the UNH program as stronger. Ten years ago I would have said Umass. My understanding is that budgetary issues have dealt a huge blow to Umass program over the past three years or so.[/QUOTE]
Ditto this. I have a BS in Animal Science from UMass Amherst, but I graduated 8 years ago. From what I’ve heard the program has been cut significantly since, and they have lost many key faculty. Very sad. As far as I know, UNH still has a good program.
I just read an article over the weekend that UMASS has overextended itself financially with all the new construction between Amherst, Boston and Lowell. "After Building Boom UMASS owes $3 Billion in debt. Their debt is outpacing revenue. It’s not surprising that they are cutting programs and expenses.
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/after-building-boom-umass-3-billion-debt
Another relevant question might be, which school has more to offer if she decides to change her major? Can’t contribute any answers, but it’s a good question to ask.
What is she going to do with an equine major from either college is the real question.
yeah, exactly- tell her to try a different major. I have a relative who graduated with an equine major and is now at community college trying to get a different degree so she can get an actual job.
I am also in the “different major” camp.
A straight business degree will prove to have greater marketability across different fields. What happens if she breaks a leg and can’t do the physical demands for horses for a while?
FWIW, I am a equine business drop out and at 27 years old am waiting tables while I finish my degree in accounting full time. In the last 2 weeks I have had 2 good job offers for when I graduate in May, both of which are willing to work around my horsey schedule. I also just caught up with a dear friend who has her BS in Equine Business. She just started at a sheet metal company doing estimates and accounts payable with full benefits and is so excited.
I wish her the best of luck!
FWIW, if she lives in MA and goes to UNH, her parents will have a hefty bill, because she will have to pay out of state tuition.
Another vote for another major.
Good point on the tuition, however FWIW I find my Animal Science degree to be perfectly useful and don’t regret it at all. I ended up in the business world and am now getting my MBA. If I had a business undergrad I might have been able to waive a few courses but it’s not really a big deal. I am grateful my parents allowed me to choose my major and I did well in undergrad because I enjoyed what I learned. I found employers cared a lot more about my GPA then what my degree was in, and had my parents forced me into a business degree I may not have done as well. Many young people will change their mind about what career they want along the way (like I did) so as long as it’s something not obscure I think it’s better to follow your passion than force yourself to get a degree you aren’t interested in. Just my two cents.
having pursued the major in question (a USELESS major) i also strongly suggest considering a different major. i’m going to have to go back to school :mad:
FWIW she could still go to those schools and participate in the IHSA/IDA teams while getting a useful degree :yes:
[QUOTE=Rikerkv6;8071171]
Good point on the tuition, however FWIW I find my Animal Science degree to be perfectly useful and don’t regret it at all. I ended up in the business world and am now getting my MBA. If I had a business undergrad I might have been able to waive a few courses but it’s not really a big deal. I am grateful my parents allowed me to choose my major and I did well in undergrad because I enjoyed what I learned. I found employers cared a lot more about my GPA then what my degree was in, and had my parents forced me into a business degree I may not have done as well. Many young people will change their mind about what career they want along the way (like I did) so as long as it’s something not obscure I think it’s better to follow your passion than force yourself to get a degree you aren’t interested in. Just my two cents.[/QUOTE]
Animal science, in general, is much different from equine science/studies. AnSci is very marketable, particularly the programs that are hard-science heavy (like the one I graduated from).
Equine studies are generally perceived as being fluffy and fairly useless.
I used to give tours of the equine facilities at one of these schools many years ago. The question always asked by the parents (& I mean always) was what would their daughter do with an equine degree after (it was always girls and never boys touring the facility). Wow did I open up a lot of eyes answering that one! I explained what so many others have said here - best to get a different degree (one that opens many more doors) than one in equine studies.
I’d take hands-on experience anyday over someone with an equine studies degree.
I’d think about Animal Science instead, as others have said - UNH’s program is fantastic.
As a degree holder in Equine Business Management from a reputable, small school that offered A LOT of options as far as a path to take in the equine industry, I hope my advice helps. I not only have my B.S. in Equine Business Management, but also hold a minor in Marketing. Marketing was not a “back-up”, it was what I found interesting in college and I knew could be applied broadly.
I now work directly in the field, for a corporate equine company (a great job out of college) and I also apply my marketing skills. What I learned about the industry in college was amazing.
College is about your attitude. Everyone can hate their major. We just hear more about equine major’s that dropped out because we are involved in the equine world. College is about exploration, pushing your boundaries and finding out what you truly love (and what you don’t!). Sure, a college that has other options is helpful, but so is a double major!
Ask questions when you go for a tour to an equine college. Ask to speak DIRECTLY to equine majors. Props if your tour guide is an equine student. Don’t talk to a “Pre-Vet” student, talk to someone in the major. Most small colleges have Admissions Counselors that are joined with a major, so they could have better knowledge of what it’s about. Others have no clue and are just admissions reps. Ask for a different rep to talk to if yours doesn’t know anything!
Don’t be discouraged. If this is what your friends daughter wants, that’s great. BUt it’s just like any other college major - if you go in knowing nothing, it might turn out poorly. Research. Call other colleges, even if you aren’t directly interested in them, and ask about their majors and what they offer. This will give you a better idea on how UMASS and UNH stack up against other schools.
Is riding going to be a factor? That’s important. Look at the class lists. Do they have exploration courses to get new students seeing different aspects of the industry, or is it a cookie-cutter program? Equine Studies tends to denominate that there is riding involved in the course load. Equine Studies is a bit more hands-on (not theoretical) than Equine Business.
Especially at a big school, the head coach or the department head may be busy. So, call ahead of your tour and ask an admissions rep to set up an appointment with either of them, if possible.
Tour the facilities and talk to others. You can get a sense of how the other students are in the program just by walking through. Hopefully they are nice, respectful and take time to answer your questions. If they love the program, they’ll want to recruit.
Hope this helps!
Thanks everyone for these helpful and informative responses!!!
I’ll pass along these great responses…
