Kenneth Bagwell ’25
For Luke Bagwell, the path to veterinary school began with finding a program that was accredited, reputable, and affordable. USC Upstate met all those criteria and prepared him for the next step in his educational journey.
“It didn’t cover everything for every school but it gave me exactly what I needed to be competitive for some of the best programs in the nation,” he says.
During his time at Upstate, Bagwell not only developed a strong academic foundation but also a supportive network of faculty mentors. “The biology professors at USC Upstate are excellent,” he says. “They are the reason I am proud to be a graduate.”
He especially benefited from the guidance of Dr. Kimberly Shorter. “She’s personable, professional, respectful, and caring. I know I can always reach back out to her for anything.”
Based on his experiences in the pre-vet track, he emphasizes the importance of planning ahead for graduate school. Faculty are a good resource and can connect students with opportunities they may not be aware of, he says. Most critically, “Check out the veterinary programs early,” he says. “You need to know what requirements you need, and not everything is offered at every undergraduate program.”
Particularly important is gaining hundreds, even thousands, of hours of hands-on experience. Bagwell advises shadowing veterinarians and accumulating animal care hours as early as possible. “Veterinary and animal experience hours are different so you may need to go to multiple places to get all of the hours you need,” he says.
Plus, he says, shadowing opportunities are competitive, and sometimes only offer a few hours, so it’s important to seek out several. Once you do have an in, Bagwell says, “get to know the doctors because you will need letters of recommendation.”
Bagwell is now pursuing a doctor of veterinary medicine degree at Purdue University, where he plans to focus on mixed animal practice. While small animals are his primary interest, he also wants to help farm animals when he returns home to South Carolina.
He credits the professionalism and integrity that Upstate professors expect for preparing students for their future careers. “They set you on the road, ready for more difficult challenges,” he says. “They truly want you to succeed.”
And the results speak for themselves, he notes. “It’s such a competitive field to get into, yet so many students from USC Upstate are getting accepted to veterinary schools.”