Being a veterinarian is many kids’ dream job. But how do you actually become a vet? If you’re a college student aspiring to a veterinary career, we’ve got you covered. In this post we’ll discuss the steps and requirements that go into becoming a veterinarian. We’ll talk about vet school requirements, vet school prerequisites, and overall building an academic and extracurricular profile for applying to veterinary school.
Here’s an overview of the process we suggest:
1. Understand the admissions requirements for veterinary school. They vary by institution, but there are some course prerequisites that hold true across the board. There are also some common-sense steps outside of prerequisite courses that anyone interested in veterinary school should take before they apply. We’ll walk you through these common prerequisites and common-sense tips.
2. Strategize. What will make you stand out as a veterinary school applicant? Does it make sense to major in pre-vet as an undergrad, or is it equally competitive to major in another subject? What non-tangible qualities—apart from great grades and necessary course prerequisites—can help prepare you for veterinary school and differentiate you from the applicant pool?
3. Learn more about which veterinary schools might be right for you. We’ve compiled a list of a few representative schools and their prerequisite courses here; you can also find a comprehensive list of the nation’s top veterinary schools in this post.
Specific prerequisite courses can vary by school—you should always double-check the website of each veterinary school to which you’re applying for specific requirements. However, many veterinary schools require students to have completed courses in the following fields:
(Source: the Association of American Veterinary Colleges)
If you’re looking for an in-depth breakdown of prerequisite and recommended courses for the nation’s vet schools, a full chart of frequently required prerequisites can be found here.
According to the University of California—Berkeley, many veterinary schools require 1-2 semesters in most of the math and science related fields listed above. Berkeley’s chart of common requirements can be a helpful reference for prospective applicants as well.
Looking at these commonly required fields of study, prospective veterinary school students can take a few practical steps to ensure they’re preparing themselves for graduate school.
First, consider majoring in pre-vet or a field that will expose you to a variety of sciences. Most veterinary schools require multiple semesters in multiple scientific fields. But you can major in anything you want and still cover the pre-vet requirements.
Second, look into the requirements of specific veterinary schools early in your college career. Vet schools can have seemingly small, but important differences in their prerequisites.
For example, at the University of California—Davis, students must take two semesters of organic chemistry, with a lab, before admission. At Cornell, by contrast, students are only expected to have taken one semester of organic chemistry, lab optional. Cornell requires two semesters of English composition; Davis has no requirement for comparable courses.
There is also variability between vet schools as to where you’ve taken your prerequisites and how to earn credit for the prerequisites.
For example, at Davis, every prerequisite except biochemistry, genetics, and physiology can be taken at a community college; that’s not true everywhere.
Cornell specifies that students must earn a grade of C or higher in order for the prerequisite to count; at Colorado State University, students must only meet a C- grade for a prerequisite to count.
Some veterinary schools accept AP credit in lieu of certain prerequisite courses; others do not. It’s important to check, and to make a list of schools early.
To get a sense of the differences in prerequisite courses, we’ve listed prerequisites for a few top veterinary schools. Data is sourced from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, 2019.
University of California – Davis
*Courses must be taken at the upper division level at a four-year university.
Cornell University
Colorado State University
North Carolina State University
Texas A&M University--College Station
University of Pennsylvania
University of Wisconsin—Madison
University of Florida
University of Minnesota--Twin Cities
While prerequisites are a crucial part of your veterinary school application, a devotion to math and science alone won’t make a great vet. Below are several tangible steps you can take to make your veterinary school application more robust—and give you an opportunity to do what you love most: work with animals.
When it comes to veterinary medicine, the earlier you gain hands-on experience with animals, the better. If you know in high school that veterinary medicine is your passion, it’s a great idea to volunteer at a local animal shelter, shadow a veterinarian, or join groups at your school like Future Farmers of America or your 4-H club.
Veterinarians do all sorts of things in all sorts of industries. From pathology research to small animal medicine to agricultural science, it’s a wide field with lots of promising opportunities. It’s good to hone your interests and develop hands-on skills before you get to veterinary school.
Seeking experience outside the classroom will show admissions committees that you’ve thought seriously about the career and have explored your interest in veterinary science in a meaningful way.
As a college student, there are myriad ways to develop your extracurricular interests. You can shadow research scientists or veterinarians. You might work on a farm for a summer, or intern at a zoo. You could take advantage of on-campus opportunities like pre-vet club.
Shadowing or working for vets might be a helpful way to build up your professional network for after school, or to get great letters of recommendation from professionals in the field.
Students often assume that graduate schools desire candidates who hone their focus entirely on their career path. However, the truth is more complicated: veterinary schools value students who have experience and stellar academics, but they’re also looking to get to know who you are as a human being. Skills like communication, leadership, and initiative are important. Seek out activities that help you hone these interpersonal skills. This could be in athletics, Greek life, the university newspaper, etc.
As is evident from the data from the nation’s top ten veterinary schools, it’s important to receive a well-rounded undergraduate education in preparation for veterinary school. It’s also important to delve deeply into the sciences, taking upper-level courses whenever possible and gaining experience outside of the classroom. The most important prerequisites for veterinary school are the courses themselves, but advance planning and cultivating a multifaceted college life are equally as important.
