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Ask a group of children what they want to be when they grow up, and there is a good chance that at least one will say, "A vet." However, by the time that student graduates college, it's a good chance they are not a veterinarian.

Ball State University offers a pre-veterinary program but does not have a veterinary major option. It is a complex process for a student to make it through college to work in animal care, said Clare Chatot Ball State biology advisor. The pre-veterinary student selects a different major while taking animal related classes.

After graduation, students have to select another university from which to graduate and complete courses for specialty in animal medicine. Purdue University is the only veterinary college in Indiana and is where most of the Ball State pre-vet students end up, Chatot said.

While the students are at Ball State, they must take classes from many parts of science, math and business. Chatot said that's what troubles most of the aspiring veterinarians.

The American Veterinary Medical Association knows there is a need for veterinarians and there are not enough college grads to fill the spots. This problem is especially notable in rural areas.

The lack of veterinary grads is a national problem. Florida congressman Alcee Hastings introduced legislation to encourage students to consider animal medicine by offering special education grants for them.

Chatot said that the problem is not a lack of interest but the hard work that is producing the small numbers.

"By sophomore year, I lose half of them," Chatot said. "Some of them come in and take science classes and realize that it's not for them. They're not doing as well as they thought, so they move on to something else."