What is Pre-Veterinary Medicine?    

Pre-Veterinary Medicine, or “Pre-Vet” is not a major and does not lead to a degree from NDSU. Students will choose an undergraduate major that they will enjoy and find rewarding and allows them to complete prerequisite courses needed to prepare for admission to a veterinary medicine program. Animal Science, Biological Sciences and Microbiology majors are common, however, no specific major is required.

Who are Veterinarians?

Veterinarians provide preventative, interventional, and surgical care for animals including companion, livestock, wildlife, working, and zoo animals. The care and expertise they provide help owners make informed decisions about their animals’ health and well-being and maintain public health through preventative vaccinations. Veterinarians can work in a wider variety of settings that can be explored here.

What type of education is required?          

Not all veterinary schools require applicants to have completed a bachelor degree prior to matriculation, however most will have completed a bachelor degree. Completing a degree is encouraged as part of a competitive application. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) is the entry-level degree required to practice veterinary medicine and takes four years to complete.

Coursework required or highly recommended for most schools*

  • 1 Year General Biology - BIOL 150/L, BIOL 151/L
  • 1 Year General Chemistry - CHEM 121/L, CHEM 122/L
  • 1 Year Organic Chemistry - CHEM 341/L, CHEM 342/L
  • 1 Year General Physics - PHYS 211/L, PHYS 212/L
  • 1 semester of Statistics - STAT 330
  • 1 Semester Biochemistry - BIOC 460
  • 1 semester of Microbiology – MICR 350, lab encouraged
  • 1 semester of Genetics – BIOL or PLSC 315, lab encouraged
  • Math - College Algebra or higher - such as MATH 105 (Trigonometry), MATH 146 (Applied Calculus), or MATH 165 (Calculus I).
  • English Composition and Communication

* Although this coursework will meet the requirements for many schools, students should check for additional requirements of the schools to which they hope to apply. It is the goal of the pre-health advisors for students to be eligible to apply to as many veterinary programs as the student would like, therefore students are advised to take courses at the science major level.

Recommended courses:

  • ANSC 218 – Anatomy & Physiology of Domestic Animals
  • ANSC 463 – Physiology of Reproduction
  • BIOL 370 – Cell Biology
  • BIOL 444 – Vertebrate Histology
  • BIOL 460 – Animal Physiology
  • HNES – Nutrition Science

What do Veterinary Medicine Programs look for in applicants?

  • Strong academic background (GPA) to prepare for the veterinary medicine curriculum
  • Completion of prerequisite coursework
  • Evidence of a genuine interest and exposure to veterinary medicine
    • Job shadowing veterinarians
    • Experience working with animals
      • Having worked on a farm
      • Volunteering at an animal shelter
    • Clinical experience under the supervision of a veterinarian
  • Research experience
  • Leadership skills
  • Communication skills
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Entrance exam results, i.e. GRE, Casper

Experiences

The path to becoming a practicing veterinarian is long and challenging, so you want to be certain it is the right career for you. Experiences you can seek out to ensure you are on the right path and to demonstrate to veterinary medical school admission committees you are making an informed decision are to gain exposure to veterinary medicine through job shadowing with veterinarians. Gain experience with animals through working in a vet office or city pound, volunteering with an animal shelter/rescue, or working on a farm. Research the experiences your vet schools of interest are looking for in applicants.

What to know before you apply

 

The Application Process

Most veterinary programs utilize Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) https://vmcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login, the two veterinary schools in Texas use Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Services (TMDSAS) https://www.tmdsas.com/index.html.  

The application process for admission to veterinary medical school is lengthy. Each year, the VMCAS application cycle is open late-January through mid-September for admission to start veterinary school the following academic year.

Some schools may also require a supplemental application or processing fee. Currently, only two veterinary programs require the Graduate Records Exam (GRE). Some schools require Casper, a situational judgement test. It is important to research admissions requirements for the programs you plan to apply to.

WICHE/PSEP

Applicants to veterinary medical school who are residents of North Dakota or other specific WICHE states are encouraged to apply for Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) funding. This page has information about which states’ residents may be eligible to apply and which veterinary medical schools are in this agreement. Applicants are encouraged to apply before September 15th of the year in which they are applying. 

Resources

Here are some helpful websites to learn about the veterinary medicine, the application process and more:

 

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