Through an innovative study abroad program, University of Missouri senior Nix Cannady is finishing their animal sciences degree in Scotland – and getting a jumpstart in the University of Glasgow’s veterinary medicine degree program.
Cannady is working toward their veterinary medicine degree through the Facilitated Early Entry Programme for Animal Science Students (FEEPASS) in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow. The program allows students to finish the final year of their animal sciences degree as a study abroad option in Scotland. Successful completion of the first year also gives the students an accelerated entry into the second year of Glasgow’s bachelor of veterinary medicine and surgery (BVMS), which is equivalent to a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM).
It’s a program that Cannady heard about their freshman year through an in-person visit from Joyce Wason, the director of admissions and student services manager in School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow. Wason was on the MU campus to share information about the program.
“I ended up getting completely hooked with the program and knew that it was for me, so I researched as much as I could about it to make sure that my entry into the veterinarian school at Glasgow would go a bit more smoothly,” said Cannady, who is majoring in animal sciences in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR).
The University of Missouri is one of a few universities across the country that participates in the FEEPASS Programme.
Cannady met with Wason during their sophomore year and eventually interviewed for entry into the School of Veterinary Medicine that same year.
Cannady applied to the FEEPASS Programme last year as a junior, was accepted and made the trip to Scotland this August. Their advisor, Trista Strauch, an assistant teaching professor in the Division of Animal Sciences, played a big role in helping make sure Cannady had the required courses before beginning the program, Cannady said.
“I’ve learned so much from the professors I’ve had at Mizzou,” Cannady said. “There have been a few who really stuck out to me, and I always loved being in their classes. My advisors, including Dr. Strauch, have also always been there for my many questions and to help me through all the things that I needed.”
Cannady has an opportunity to work with a variety of animals through her program, including highland cows, pictured here. Photo courtesy of Nix Cannady.Cannady credited the faculty within the Division of Animal Sciences for preparing them for their first semester in Scotland as well.
“The classes that I’d taken through CAFNR helped me prepare for the classes that I would be taking at the University of Glasgow,” Cannady said. “Becoming a vet is pretty tough, so I’m grateful for the overview courses that I took at Mizzou.”
Becoming a veterinarian has been Cannady’s goal since they were 8 years old. Cannady, who grew up in Jerseyville, Illinois, shadowed a veterinarian as a high school student and learned more about Mizzou through that individual.
“When I was in high school and researching universities, the vet who I was shadowing with recommended Mizzou since one of his sons went through the vet program there and another was looking into applying as well,” Cannady said. “I was actually set on a different university at first since it offered me more scholarships, but I ended up touring MU anyway. After touring the vet school and talking to a few professors, I ended up getting set on Mizzou pretty quickly after. I picked animal sciences as my major since it would help me become better prepared for vet school than other majors offered at Mizzou.”
Cannady had never been overseas before traveling to Scotland. While there was an adjustment period early on, Cannady said they have settled in and have enjoyed the entire experience.
“I absolutely love it here in Glasgow and I’ve honestly never been happier,” Cannady said. “It’s been great being able to see new places and get to know new people. I can see myself being a vet at a clinic and staying here after my program ends in five years. Who knows, though, there’s a lot of time until then!”