Making Life Better

Biological Science Major

When William Whitehouse went home to Albany, Ga., recently, he spent some of his stay at the hospital – Gillionville Animal Hospital – working with patients that varied from dogs to cats to owls.

"I think it gives me a better shot of getting into vet school," he said of his job. "I don’t like to follow the normal. When I came up to UGA, I was pre-med. But there are so many people in that major, so I switched to veterinary medicine."

Even his job choices while at UGA have veered from the ordinary. He sets up labs for classes in the Marine Science Teaching Lab and is the aquarium technician for the School of Marine Programs.

"Honestly, I’ve always been interested in medicine, and I love animals, and it fits," he said.

William's Student Profile

Name: William Whitehouse
Hometown: Albany, Ga.
Year: Junior
Major: Biological Science

Q&A with William

What made you choose to attend UGA?

Deciding what college to attend was probably one of the easiest decisions I have ever had to make. UGA has firmly established itself as an academic powerhouse whose reputation for excellence continues to grow. What solidified my decision was coming up for the "Out and About" program put on by the Honors Program. I was able to attend a class, talk to several professors, and take a more intimate tour of the campus. I know that I made the right decision to come here, for I can't picture myself anywhere else.

How did you choose your major, and why? Is there a story behind your decision?

I chose to major in biological science specifically because it is in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. My high school AP biology teacher was a poultry science major here, and she was the biggest influence on this decision. She claimed that the advisors were more helpful, the professors were more personable, and the quality of learning was just as good if not better than the other colleges. I have taken a wide variety of classes and talked about these issues with a number of my peers, and I have found all of them to be true.

If you could start over again, would you attend UGA and choose the same major?

To be honest, at first I didn't think that UGA would be for me. I thought that it was too big, too close to home, and too impersonal. As I did more research and actually visited the campus, I changed my previous thoughts. After spending that short amount of time in Athens, I knew that UGA is the place for me. After spending almost three years here, I am absolutely positive that I was meant to be here. Now knowing the opportunities presented to me, the goals I have achieved, the friends I have made, and the fun that I have had, there is no doubt in my mind that I would do pretty much everything exactly the same.

What's your favorite class?

I loved taking MARS 1020H. What makes this course stand out was the field trip to the FSU Marine Lab. The diversity of habitats in that one area was amazing. We were able to explore marine, estuarine, and freshwater habitats. Exploring the salt marshes, snorkeling in the sea grass meadows, walking on the sand bars, trolling the bay, and canoeing with the manatees are all opportunities not everyone is given the chance to experience. I encourage everyone who can to enroll in this course and go on the field trip.

Which instructor do you value the most? What has he/she done that stands out?

Dr. Catherine Teare Ketter with the School of Marine Programs has been nothing but a blessing. She taught the honors MARS 1020 lab that I took, and she is my current supervisor in the Marine Science Teaching Lab. She has been so helpful and supportive during my stay here at UGA. She keeps me in line, acting as a second mom. I cannot thank her enough for that. I am so grateful to be able to know her on a personal level.

What's the most interesting thing you've learned this year?

I admit it. I am a perfectionist, and because of it, I stress myself out so often it must be unhealthy. I do not know if I'll ever change my ways, but this past year I have learned (again) that not everything has to be perfect. As last year's philanthropy chair for my fraternity, I worked closely with Gamma Sigma Sigma to co-host a fall festival for the Boys and Girls Club. The day of the event, I was frantically running around trying to make sure that everyone was in the right place, that all the supplies was where it was needed to be, and that everything was running smoothly. To say the least, the Fall Festival did not run the way I was trying to make it. We ran out of some supplies and some of the booths turned out to be a flop. The kids did not seem to mind. In fact, they had a blast, and that was what we were there for. So, in a way, it was perfect.

What exposure, if any, did you have with agriculture before enrolling at CAES?

I am from south Georgia, but I had practically no experience with agriculture before enrolling at CAES. I used to drive by a lot of cotton fields. Does that count?

What are your plans for the future?

This April, I find out if I have been accepted into UGA's College of Veterinary Medicine. I would like to focus on small animals and exotics; however, UGA's new relationship with the Georgia Aquarium has made the prospect of aquatic veterinary medicine very intriguing. Nevertheless, I am excited about experiencing all that UGA's vet school has to offer and am open to any and all possibilities.

What do you do when you're not in class?

When I am not in class, I am more than likely working in the Marine Science Teaching Lab. I am in charge of setting up the labs for MARS 1010, MARS 1020, MARS 7020 and helping out with some for MARS 3450. I am also the aquarium technician for the School of Marine Programs. In addition to my two jobs, I am a member of Delta Chi Fraternity. I served as the philanthropy chair last year and as the current vice president. I also participate in intramural soccer, Relay for Life, and am a regular at Ramsey.

More about William

Favorite musician: Coldplay
Favorite book: any book from the Redwall series by Brian Jacques
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorite thing to do on campus: I love to go to Ramsey but only in the middle of the day before it gets too crowded. It serves as a great stress reliever.

Favorite thing to do off-campus:I like to watch movies at friends' apartments. I am not a big party animal, so you’ll only see me downtown every now and then.
Favorite building on campus: Ramsey Student Center (the only place where I don’t have to worry about school or work).
My favorite place to eat in Athens is: Big City Bread
Between classes: I'm either at work or working out. I keep a busy schedule.
My biggest pet peeve about UGA is: I think that the transit system is great, but it always seems cause me a lot of stress. I frequently miss the bus I need by seconds. Then I have to wait as several of the other busses pass by before the one I need finally comes. If I'm really unlucky, the bus I need will be packed and I'll have to wait a little longer.
The biggest surprise about UGA was: At first I thought that UGA would be so big that I would be hopelessly lost in the crowd. However, no matter where I am, I'm always running into people I know. I now think that UGA feels a lot smaller than it actually is, and I love it.
The thing I like best about UGA is: I love the friends that I have made here. If I didn't have friends to suffer through organic chemistry and physics with me, to go out with, or just to talk to, I would probably go crazy.