Here you'll find information about different vet schools across the country and even international, information about specific required testing for certain vet schools (AKA VCAT) and just general help in getting prepared and finally applying to vet schools.

President Amanda Beaudoin (2001-2002,) has put together a Veterinary School Application Preparation Packet for those preparing to apply to Vet school.

As you probably already know, vet school is considerable hard to be accepted for a number of reasons. So, during your college career, there are a number of things to keep in mind.

• Pre-requisites for Vet Schools
• Picking a Major
• Get animal / veterinary experience
• Do research on Veterinary Schools
• Work on Applications
• Required Testing in order to apply
• Need more help? Have specific questions?
• Figure out how to afford vet school

Pre-requisites for Vet Schools

All the veterinary schools require certain courses be taken as an undergrad. WPI has created a list of basic courses for pre-health undergrads:

Introductory chemistry with Lab	3 courses
Organic chemistry with Lab	3 courses
Biology	3 courses
Physics	3 courses
Mathematics	3 courses
English Composition*	2 courses
Biochemistry is STONGLY advised and required for many vet schools

*Check with Sufficiency advisor for use of Humanities and Arts courses in lieu of composition requirement.
Check with your advisor to plan a schedule which covers your pre-reqs for the vet schools you wish to apply to as well as your major choice.

When you research vet schools, remember to look up each schools pre-regs. These can usually be found in the catalog or on their websites. All this information can be found in a book called Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements 2001/2002 In USA & Canada. Check with Jill Rulfs (SL233) to see if she has a copy or order your own from Purdue University Press. If you are applying to more than one veterinary college, be sure to complete the prerequisites for each school to which you wish to apply. For a complete list of specific veterinary school/college prerequisites, consult the Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements in the United States and Canada (VMSAR) book. This is the official handbook of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. Check with Jill Rulfs (SL233) to see if she has a copy or order your own from Purdue University Press.

Picking a Major

Veterinary medical schools generally do not care about the undergraduate major of a given student. The critical factors are admissions test scores (e.g., VCAT (Veterinary College Admission Test)), GPA and letters of recommendation. If a student scores well on the VCAT and has a solid background in the sciences, the major choice is irrelevant. However, a science major is typically easier on the WPI student in order to fill pre-reqs, easier than say, a humanities major. Some admissions committees say that you have a better chance at getting accepted because so many applicants are science majors. The decision is up to you and your advisor.

Get animal / veterinary experience

One of the best ways to enhance your application to vet school and to gain personal experience is to find veterinary of animal related work, paid or unpaid. Volunteer work looks good as well as paid work, long term either way looks best. Either while classes are in session or during summer and breaks, you should seek work in places such as a veterinary clinic, farm, zoo, wildlife park, or ranch. Working with a veterinarian will also help you decide if veterinary medicine is the career for you. There are a number of veterinarians, kennels, and shelters in the area. You can search for them in any area on BigYellow.com. The Heifer Project at Overlook farm in Rutland, MA. Volunteers participate in farm chores such as feeding and milking. The purpose of the farm is to aid developing countries by sending them live animals grown on the farm. For more info on the project, visit their website or email MSD. Keep checking the Events page for group volunteer activities and job opportunities. If you can not find work experience with animals, investigate opportunities in related medical areas, such as in hospitals, nursing homes, and research units. Veterinary Schools, like all colleges, like well-rounded applicants and those that can balance a full plate of activities while keeping up the grades. You can participate in all sorts of on-campus clubs, organizations, and sports, as well as community activities and church activities.

Do research on Veterinary Schools

Begin researching schools early so you can start taking the course you need and acquiring the materials you need to apply (application info, letters of recommendation, etc.) As you begin the process you must ask yourself the same questions you did when applying to undergraduate college, such as size, distance from home, etc. Visit the school campus if you are able to, visit the school's website, contact each veterinary medical college/school you are interested in and request a packet of information. Watch for open houses too. Prospective veterinary students with a veterinary college/school in their home state are strongly encouraged to develop a correspondence with that particular school. Most state-supported veterinary colleges give significant preference to in-state students. Although out-of-state students apply and are accepted to veterinary colleges, there is often great competition for these slots.

Work on Applications

Undergrads should work on their applications during the summer before senior year as most are due in the fall, however, you should begin working on essays and required material as soon as possible, regardless of year. Eighteen veterinary medical schools make use of VMCAS (Veterinary Medical Colleges Application Service). Four school require VMCAS use by non-resident applicants only. For other schools, application is made directly to the schools of veterinary medicine. Click here for a list of VMCAS schools. For VMCAS Veterinary school requirements and applications, Visit their listing. You must have Adobe Acrobat or other program able to view .pdf files. For more information on VMCAS, visit their website.

Required Testing in order to apply

You may need to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Veterinary College Admissions Test (VCAT), and/or the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) which are required for some vets schools. Here is a list of which tests each vet school requires as well as the last dates accepted for them. For more info on the tests, go to GRE, MCAT, and VCAT.

Need more help? Have specific questions?

Do you have questions not answered here? Stressed? Worried? It's OK! That's why we're here! You can see your own advisor for help, or the pre-health advisor Jill Rulfs, or email us! We'd love to hear from you! You can join the MSD by mailing MSD, and attend meetings, or just read the emails that get passed around. Feel free to email the officers if you have any questions about the society or vet school or anything!

Figure out how to afford vet school

The biggest problem D.V.M's have when they finally graduate vet school is being in debt. It really adds up when you have bills from undergrad and vet school. You can start thinking about financial aid possibilities by visiting AAVMC.

Scary Statistics Page - Coming Soon

What do I do if I apply and am rejected? - Coming Soon