To pursue a veterinary career, what should be done in high school?
Take as many courses in biology, math, and other sciences (including chemistry, physics, and anatomy and physiology) as you can manage while in high school – this will help you prepare for your college courses, and also help you decide if this is the right path for you.
Ask a veterinarian if they would be able to mentor you as you choose which veterinary path you want to follow. Most veterinarians are interested in helping future veterinarians learn about the profession.
Volunteer or work for a veterinarian. You can work for a veterinarian who does what you hope to do, or with one who does something different so you can get exposed to something new.
Volunteer your services to an animal shelter organization, farm, wildlife center, aquarium, or zoo in order to gain hands-on experience with animals. Gain experiences that will give you a wide variety of exposure to different animals – it’s also a very positive addition to your college application form.
Get involved in groups that provide animal experience, such as Future Farmers of America (FFA) or 4-H. These groups provide valuable experience and education, and also award scholarships for college.
Be active in your school and your class and get involved in student government associations and other organizations that help you develop your communication skills and teach you to be a leader.
Once I’m in college, what makes someone a good candidate for veterinary school?
Each veterinary school has its own requirements for admission, including the minimum courses that must be completed before you are considered for admission. However, many of the requirements overlap. Basic required classes include biology, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. To find out more about the requirements for a specific veterinary school, call the school’s admissions office or visit their website. The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has a website with more information and links to each US veterinary school.
A common rule is that it’s better to be over-prepared rather than just fulfilling the minimum requirements. Veterinary school classes are made up of a wide range of people with widely varied backgrounds, and having as good an education as possible coming into veterinary school can help prepare you for the tough, but rewarding, road ahead.
As recommended for students in high school who are interested in veterinary medicine, college undergraduates are also encouraged to take as many science courses possible so that you can enter veterinary school fully prepared. Along with the suggested undergraduate courses in biology, chemistry, math and physics, courses in communications, language skills, humanities and social sciences can also benefit you. Other courses such as microbiology, histology, anatomy and physiology, and zoology can also be of great help and give you a “leg up” on your education.
Isn’t it impossible to gain admittance to veterinary school?
Myth: “A student must have a cumulative GPA close to 4.0 on a 4.0 grading scale in order to be seriously considered for admission to the study of veterinary medicine.”
There’s no doubt that a high GPA can help you, because it indicates that you are smart and you work hard, study, and learn well. But it’s not the only thing that matters. Veterinary schools evaluate the credentials of an applicant as a “whole person” rather than only considering their level of academic achievement; this is where experience, communication and leadership skills are very helpful.
Myth: “It is harder to get into veterinary medical school than it is to get into human medical school.”
Actually this is not a myth. There are only 29 schools of veterinary medicine in North America while there are more than 160 schools for the study of human medicine. Each year there are approximately 21,000 applications for 2,500 – 2,600 slots for entering DVM students. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible; it just means that the schools are admitting the best applicants they get. By having a solid academic record, animal and veterinary experience, and leadership skills, you ARE that “best applicant.”
What should a veterinary student expect?
A student in veterinary school will have a strong medical- and science-based curriculum with all of its associated challenges. During the first two years of study students take anywhere from 17 – 22 semester hours of science course work per semester. You can expect to attend class from 8:00 a.m. in the morning to about 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. during the week, and then expect an average of 35 more hours of homework. It’s important to remember that every student who wants to become a veterinarian has to work extremely hard to reach this goal.
What about AFTER veterinary school?
After finishing the required veterinary degree, you can be a practicing veterinarian once you have passed the national exam and the exam for the state in which you’re going to practice veterinary medicine. Many students choose this path.
Other students choose to get more education and training to get more experience or specialize in a certain field. Internships are one-year programs that offer clinical experience with supervision and additional training by an experienced veterinarian or specialist. Residency programs are usually 2- or 3-year programs that provide in-depth exposure and experience in a specific field, and often include Master’s or Ph.D. coursework as well. Specialty areas include surgery, animal behavior, dentistry, cardiology, radiology, internal medicine, anesthesiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, pharmacology, pathology and many others.
For those who want to work with animals, but don’t want to go through all the training required to be become a veterinarian, what are other options?
You have many options that still allow you to be a valuable member of the veterinary health care team. Other careers in the veterinary field include:
- Veterinary technicians/technologists: The veterinary technician/technologist has been educated in the care and handling of animals, the basic principles of normal and abnormal life processes, and in routine laboratory and clinical procedures. All veterinary technicians/technologists work under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. While a veterinary technician/technologist can assist in performing a wide variety of tasks, they cannot diagnose, prescribe, or perform surgery. The majority of entry-level technicians hold a 2-year associate degree from an approved junior college veterinary technology program in which they took classes and gained hands-on clinical experience with live animals.There are 4-year bachelor degree programs for veterinary technologists at some universities and colleges.
- Veterinary assistants also provide animal care and support the veterinarian and veterinary technician/technologist.
- Some colleges and universities offer 2-year laboratory animal science programs for students who are interested in pursuing a laboratory research field in either biomedical or veterinary sciences.
Where can I get further information?
- http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/veterinarian/veterinarian_brochure.asp
- http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/careers/technology_brochure.asp
- http://www.avma.org/education/abvs/specialty_orgs/default.asp
- http://www.aavmc.org/
- http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/asa/pdf/MythsaboutAdmissions.pdf
- http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Careers/Veterinary_Medical_Officer_Positions/index.asp
- http://www.ffa.org/index.cfm?method=c_job.ShowSearchDetails&careerid=325
- http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/vs-cp.htm
- http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/mar02/s031502b.asp
I need to know if FITZ is a accredited by AVMA. They said th class will be at the zoo, and the tuition is $3,5000. I want to take the course but i need to know if this is accredite . some body can give me information?
Thanks
Laura, can you tell me what FITZ stands for? It’s not a name I recognize. The AVMA only accredits veterinary schools and veterinary technology programs, so if it’s neither of those, it’s not accredited. The accredited schools can be found on the AVMA site at http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/colleges_accredited/colleges_accredited.asp and the accredited vet tech programs can be found at http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/vettech_programs/vettech_programs.asp.
If the course isn’t accredited, balance that with the benefits of taking the course (e.g., what you could learn from it and how that could help you in your education and career).
Kim,
Timely information. I think everything you said was on the money. Except for the fact that you didn’t mention money. Any discussion of ‘what it takes to get into and succeed at being a veterinarian’ needs to include the financial requirements of vet school and a veterinary career right alongside the requirements for getting in.
We want students to be successful, right? So we need to tell them to take math and science- and personal finance and business management.
Prospective students need experience managing money as much as they need experience managing people and animals. That applies whether they plan to go into private practice where they may become owners, or research where they may be writing and administering grants, or government where they need to understand budgeting processes and economic policy. It starts even before graduation, with the need to understand what and how they are going to pay for their education.
So I think you did a great job, you just left that part out. Thanks, as always, for your efforts. I’m glad you’re part of my AVMA!
Dr. Myers,
Thanks for the feedback. It’s certainly worthwhile for every student, regardless of their career interest, to be knowledgeable about personal finance and business management.
Hello. I am a 17 year old female who’s had a dream to work with animals my whole life. I’m going into my senior year this august, and upon graduation in June 2013, I intend to pursue a career as a veterinarian. However, I am not well informed about the process nor requirements, and I have nobody to guide me. As an adoptee, I understand that my tuition will be payed for in the state of California, where I plan to attend a state-owned college. I would greatly appreciate some information, and perhaps even a few words of encouragement ! Thank you. (o:
Andretia, thanks for asking. We’ve got more information on our website at http://www.avma.org/careers/default.asp. I highly recommend you talk to a few veterinarians in your area to get their guidance as well, and try to do some volunteer work or get a summer job at a veterinary clinic so you can get exposure (and perhaps some good recommendation letters). I do suggest you double-check the tuition thing, though, because I don’t think the state pays for veterinary school. There might be a program that covers your undergraduate tuition, but I’m not aware of any state programs that cover veterinary school. Also look into the American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association at http://www.apvma.org – that’s the group for pre-vet college students, and they provide a good support network. Good luck!
My son has dreamed of being a vet, but is considering entering the new Veterinarian Technologist program at Texas A&M Kingville. It seems like a more “reachable” goal than four years of under grad and then vet school – IF he qualifies. Is the Vet Technologist truly a viable opening field of medical practice? Will the work of a Technologist be challenging and interesting? Is it a reasonable career path for a young man who desires to provide for a family? Johnny is distinctly interested in large animal practice in a rural setting.
Gail, vet techs are the backbone of many vet clinics. A well-trained, capable vet tech is incredibly valuable because they work as an efficient team with the veterinarian. He definitely should become licensed (also called certified or registered, depending on the state). The value of qualified vet techs is increasing, as is the demand. It can certainly be challenging and interesting. I recommend that he talks to vet techs working at practices, especially in the areas that personally interest him, to get a good feel for it. And perhaps he could spend some time shadowing a tech. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) is a great source of info, too. Their site is http://www.navta.net.
I will say, however, that large animal practice in rural settings can provide a larger challenge when it comes to job opportunities. Veterinarians are facing challenges right now because although many rural areas are in great need of veterinary service, the area can’t economically support a veterinary practice. I’m sure there are opportunities, but they are more limited and he’ll probably need to be very flexible about where he’s willing to go.
Best of luck to him!
Dear Gail and Dr. May,
I would add to Dr. May’s comment that certified veterinary technicians can find good stable jobs with salary and benefits within the biomedical research community. These jobs can be very similar to private practice jobs and in some cases be very interesting and rewarding knowing that you are a core participant in cutting edge research that may benefit the lives of both animals and humans.
As with any education endeavor nowadays, it pays to put some time into researching the program one goes into in order to be fiscally responsible and pragmatic as well as ensure your degree will allow you to become licensed or registered as mentioned above. One does not want to end up owing more in student loans than can reasonably be repaid given the expected salaries in a give field.
Best of luck,
Dr. Scott Trasti
Very good points, Dr. Trasti! Thanks for commenting with that very helpful information.
I’m a student who is trying to go a college in the states and be a vet in there.
Now I’m wondering if I would have to go through the process of ECFVG, or could be a vet in the same way as other students in the U.S would.
If you graduate from an accredited school (see here for the list: https://www.avma.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/Education/Accreditation/Colleges/Pages/colleges-accredited.aspx), you don’t need to go through a program like the ECFVG. At this time, all of the US schools are accredited. The ECFVG is only for graduates of non-accredited schools.
Hi!
I’m a ninth grade student up in canada and I’m having some troubles deciding. I want to become an exotics vet, as i have hedgehogs and not many vets in my area have much of a clue about them, and I think that it would be a good career for me, but I saw all the comments and dont know which is better, an actual vet or a tech. any ideas?
Hi, Ashley! I think the best thing for you to do would be to spend some time in a veterinary clinic, observing what the vets and vet techs do. That way, you can decide for yourself what best fits your wants and needs. There are also people who become vet techs and then become vets later, so becoming a vet tech doesn’t exclude you from becoming a vet. Doing both would result in a larger total of years spent on education, and possibly a higher educational debt load, but it is an option.
Best of luck!
Hello,
I’m a high school senior and I’ve dreamed of vet school for as long as I can remember. I’m trying to get as many animal experience hours as possible, but none of the vets in my area will allow me to do any kind of volunteering or shadowing. Recently, I started volunteering at the local humane society. What else can I do now that would help prepare me for vet school? Thanks!
Wow, Shannon, that’s unfortunate that you can’t find a shadowing/volunteering opportunity near you. Those experiences are really valuable. Sometimes it’s due to local/state regulations, sometimes it’s due to liability issues. The shelter volunteering is helpful. Are you in a suburban or rural area where you could get some experience with larger animals – either by working or volunteering on a farm or with a farm animal vet? Also, check with veterinary schools near you to see if they offer anything in the summer. Quite a few schools offer one-week, two-week, or longer-term immersive experiences that get you good exposure to a variety of veterinary experience.
The good news is that you still have time to get experience in college, and you might have a better chance of being allowed to volunteer at a local vet clinic then. Vets get a lot of high school students who want to be vets, so they’re sometimes inundated with requests, but a pre-vet college student is often taken more seriously.
Try to get as much varied experience as you can. Good luck!
Hello,
I am currently a Junior in high school. Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of being a vet. Now that I’m getting closer to college, I’ve become unsure of a few things. My dream college is University of Penn. I don’t know if it would be better to apply to the school so I can go there and then later apply for the vet program there, or go to a different college with a great science program, complete all the pre-requisites and then apply for the vet program. University of Penn wouldn’t be the only college I’d apply to (duh) just using it as an example. I have been involved in 4-H since I was 8 years old and I’ve taken a vet science class through 4-H. Should I only be looking at colleges that offer pre-veterinary programs?
Jocelyn, don’t restrict yourself to only schools with pre-vet programs. Choose a school that offers you the things you want and provides the prerequisite classes you need to have.
Hi I’m a senior in high school graduating this year. I didnt do so well in high school and will be attending a community college first. I want to be a vet so bad. But I fear that going to community college might slow me down and make the process of getting a degree even longer. I’m clueless in what ti do could anyone help.
Armaan, don’t be discouraged. There are plenty of vets out there who did a few years at community college for their undergraduate studies. You will need to buckle down and get good grades, because the vet schools will not look at your high school grades but will look at the college grades. You can certainly get a good foundation at community college, then consider transferring to a college that offers more of prerequisite classes and classes that will best prepare you for vet school.
Remember, it’s not just grades and classes. Get exposure to the career and to animals, too. Here’s some advice from current vet students and recent graduates on how to make yourself the best candidate for vet school: https://www.avma.org/public/Careers/Pages/vet-school-admission-101.aspx
Good luck!
Hello, I’m a 14 year old girl who has wanted to be a vet her whole life. I understand what I need to do, and have got the grades and some of the practical experience I should have. However I recently heard that you apparently have to buy your way into a veterinary practise… Is this true, or just a rumour? Because I’m not sure if I will have the money to pay to get into the career while I’m still paying off my student loans…
Charli, it’s common for vets to buy their way into practice OWNERSHIP after they’ve been in the practice for some time, but you don’t have to buy your way into a job at a vet practice. There’s no rule that says you have to become a practice owner, so that statement is not true.
Sorry in advance if this is too long.
I have always known that I wanted a career with animals, and I have always said that a Veterinarian was the job for me. Now that I am in high school (Freshman), I am starting to realize how hard it is going to be. I am currently in Algebra 2, Physical Science, and Biology. I am a part of the schools honor program,and I have all As and Bs, but I did have one C last semester in Algebra 2. I have a few problems though. There are no Colleges approved by the A.V.M.A in my state, so the tuition is going to be outrageous. I am so terrified of euthanizing, and/or messing up on a surgery. I tried looking at other jobs with animals but I could not find anything that suited me. I used to volunteer at the shelter, until I had to stop to focus on my school-work. My mom is an Animal Control Officer too. So I do know just how stressful it will be too. I have fostered puppies from 4 days old, delivered puppies, and I even socialize a feral dog by myself. I have been bit before. In other words, I know it will be stressful, I will have to work really hard, I am terrified, it will cost a fortune… I am just feeling really discouraged right now. I love animals so much, but I do not know if I can handle it.
Racheal, sorry for the delay in my response. I’m glad you’re thinking about the financial issues, because they are important considerations. There’s not much I can do to help you with that, though. As far as fear of messing up, that’s a natural human thing and it can be a good thing (as long as it’s not a paralyzing fear) because it keeps you attentive and focused. We are humans, and we make errors, but it’s critical that we prevent them as much as possible and acknowledge and mitigate the problems that do occur. Nobody really “wants” to do euthanasia, but it is a necessary thing for our profession and it can be the most humane thing to do in many cases. Being compassionate and empathetic is good. I can’t tell you if you should pursue this career or not. I suggest you spend some time volunteering or working at a vet clinic to get a feel for it and then go from there.
Hi, I am a sophomore pre-vet student. I am worried my alternate career path if I am not accepted into vet school when I apply. What types of jobs could I look into with my Biology/pre-vet Bachelor’s degree?
I could probably come up with a few things, but I think your best bet is to talk to a career counselor at your school. Or perhaps your school’s pre-vet club has some resources. Of course, biologists can do a number of things, but some of those likely require additional training (grad school). Here’s a resource that may help: http://www.aibs.org/careers/
Hi Dr. May,
I am currently a freshman at my community college, and would like to eventually transfer to a four year and then go into veterinary school. Though I am stuck deciding which academic path I should take to make my application more eligible. Of course volunteering and having experience with animals will help but academically I am a little confused. Originally I was going to take a two year veterinary technician program but it did not meet some of the basic requirements for veterinary school which means more schooling to meet those prerequisites. I was also stuck between majoring pre-veterinary and biology. But I did move into biology because it is a broad major and eventually am making my way to veterinary school. I know I will be in school for a decent amount of time to become a veterinarian, but of course money and time are something I value greatly. So I do not want to make a basic mistake that can hurt me in the long run. What would be some of the best options to take before veterinary school? Should I continue with biology major, or major in pre-veterinary? How would you go about school before trying to get into veterinary school? Your advisement would help a lot! Thanks!
All good questions, Shaylah. A vet tech program is a good option for some people because it can provide a good “fallback” career (and vet tech is a great career by itself), but you are correct that you would need to add some more classes to it for vet school prep. I do recommend to everyone that you choose an undergrad major that you enjoy and that you’d enjoy for a career, because you might change your mind and you don’t want to be stuck on a path that’s no longer right for you. Your major doesn’t matter as much as the classes you take, so take classes that will meet the prerequisites as well as classes that appeal to you and will broaden your experience and education. I think this document provides a lot of good information for you: https://www.avma.org/public/Careers/Pages/vet-school-admission-101.aspx If you have other questions, let us know.
Very Informative post and thank you Dr. Trasti for your helpful points.
Hi I am a High school junior and i’m still trying to figure out what type of undergrauate degree I should get if for my major im getting a DVM.
Normesha, I think this document will answer that question for you and give you other info as well. https://www.avma.org/public/Careers/Pages/vet-school-admission-101.aspx
Good luck!
Unlike most, I am 39, entered college with a GED, and attempted to obtain two different degrees while my children were still young. I started college mainly because I wanted to set a good example for my children and chose computer programming sort of at random. I got my EMT-B certification while studying computer programming and found I enjoyed working in the medical field more than I did with computers but after putting in the time to complete all of my prerequisites, I moved out of the county and was no longer eligible for the program I was in. It has been about ten years since I took my last class but I managed to maintain a 4.0 up until the very last class I took so I have a pretty stellar academic record. I am currently working for a private rescue group and have ran a small scale rescue from home for many years. I am excellent with animals although my patience with people is somewhat questionable at times. I do have a vet who has agreed to allow me to do my shadowing hours at his facility when I expressed an interest in the vet tech program.
I am interested in pursuing a DVM but I have many concerns about how my age and background will affect my ability to compete in this field. Also, along with the time and expense, we will have to probably sell our house and move to an entirely different city. I am concerned about the return on such an investment and if it would be more practical to stick with training to become a Vet Tech so at least I am in the field that I want to be in.
I am not so much worried about being able to complete the goal as I am about the practicality of it all. Given my age, the fact that I did not graduate traditionally, do not have any recent college credits, and I am pretty much starting from scratch, does it this seem like an unreasonable goal?
So sorry for the delay in my reply, Tina. Your message fell through the cracks. Kudos to you for your courage and your dedication to setting a good example. You’re certainly doing your due diligence and considering all of your options, and weighing what’s best for you and your family. That’s very admirable.
Only you can really make the decision, but I offer some food for thought: 1) if you pursue a DVM, you’ll likely need to get some more undergraduate courses under your belt to make sure you have the prerequisites for vet school; 2) there have been students who started vet school in their 40s or later, so there’s no real limit there. The bigger issue is whether or not you’re ready or able to put in the time and effort for vet school, especially when it comes to balancing family life. It’s certainly possible, but it’s up to you individually to determine if it’s right for you; 3) the finances certainly need to be considered, as they would for anyone. You might have to finance less of your education in loans than the average student, which helps. Or, if you have to finance most of it with loans, consider the time it will take to pay them off and the impact that those loans could have on your family (for example, will your child be able to go to college, or will your loans prevent that or make it more difficult?).
I don’t think it’s an unreasonable goal at all, but you have to be realistic and know that you have to face additional challenges. Only you can determine if the DVM goal is the right thing for you. A career as a vet tech is certainly not a bad (or lesser) alternative. Regardless of the career you pursue, though, you will need to work on your ‘people skills’ and patience – after all, although the animals are the ones being treated, it’s the owners that bring them through the door and play an integral role on the team when it comes to keeping the animals healthy. You have to be able to interact well with the animal owners in order to provide the best care for your animal patients. Alternatively, consider the fact that vet techs and vets don’t ALL work in private practice – there are jobs in research settings and other areas that require less interaction with clients/animal owners.
Good luck!
I am a 14 year old that loves animals, I’ve been trying to figure out stuff on my own about different kinds of animals before I graduate so I will be ready for college. For example I bought a stethoscope & I use it to experiment on my pets at home to listen to their heart-beat in different places of their bodies’. I also look up different species of wild animals to see what they are called,what they eat, & where they live. Every time I get a new pet I always look up new stuff about it, for instance recently I’ve adopted a guinea pig for the first time & I’ve been looking up all the sicknesses they can get/have, how the females get pregnant, how they mate, what foods they can eat, etc. I have wanted to volunteer at the nearest Humane Society but i am not able to. I’m also always buying cat/dog food, toys,cleaning supplies, cat/dog treats, etc. to donate to pounds & shelters.
Any advice on how to get started in the veterinarian career?
Wow, Felicity, that’s impressive! You’re certainly on the right track. You might have to wait until you’re older to volunteer at a shelter or vet clinic, but they are definitely good experiences to get. Here are some helpful materials for you:
Veterinary career info: https://www.avma.org/public/careers/pages/careers.aspx
Vet school admission 1010: https://www.avma.org/public/Careers/Pages/vet-school-admission-101.aspx
Also keep in mind that veterinary medicine is much more than preventing and treating medical conditions in pets. There are veterinarians involved in ground-breaking research that helps animals and people; in public health, keeping all of us healthy and tracking down and stopping disease outbreaks; and more. Check out our materials, and keep an open mind about the different opportunities in veterinary medicine. And if you have other questions, let us know.