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How do you become a veterinarian?
Most people do a 4-year college degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS); although, there are schools that allow you just to take specific pre-requisites (college courses required for admission to veterinary school) and not obtain a BA or BS degree. Following college, there are four years of veterinary school.
What is pre-vet?
Generally, a college student who wishes to attend veterinary school. Most pre-vets choose majors such as biology, animal science, zoology, equine science, chemistry, etc. that overlap with many of the pre-requisites, but as long as you complete the pre-requisites for any school, it doesn't matter what your degree is in.
How many veterinary schools are there?
28 in the United States. There are also several international schools in Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia that are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
http://www.avma.org/
http://www.aavmc.org/students_admissions/vet_schools.htm
What is VMCAS?
It is the Veterinary Medical College Application Service. It is an online application, which most veterinary colleges use.
What is the GRE?
It is the Graduate Record Examination. The general test is required for admission to most veterinary colleges, and the biology subject test for a couple of them.
What is the NAVLE?
It is the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination. All people wishing to practice in the United States must pass this exam. It is given during the 4th year of veterinary school.
What is an internship?
It is 1-2 years of specialized training completed after veterinary school. Not everyone completes an internship.
http://www.virmp.org/virmp/
What is a residency?
A residency is 3 years of specialized study completed after an internship or, in some cases, an equivalent time in a quality practice. Completing one, as well as other requirements (such publication and research) will allow you to take the boards of that specialty. Examples of residencies include surgery (both large and small animal), internal medicine (large and small animal), radiology, anesthesiology, dermatology, nutrition, etc.
http://www.virmp.org/virmp/
How much does veterinary school cost?
A lot. Many of the veterinary schools are associated with their state's public university system or give tuition breaks to residents of their state, so their cost can be lower compared with schools in other states. Expect tuition to go up in cost every year. Many students graduate with over $100,000 of debt and are expected to start repayment upon graduation.
What is a "non-traditional" student?
Generally, a student that did not go the high school, college, veterinary school path. Many have had other careers prior to attending veterinary school or becoming a pre-vet. They are a great source of advice.
How important are grades?
Very important. Some schools have minimum GPA cut off points, while others take a more holistic approach to admission. In general, it is important to get the best grades you can, but low grades are not necessarily a deal breaker. Shoot for at least a 3.5 GPA to be considered competitive, but as you can see in the pre-veterinary forum, not everyone's GPA is that high.
How important is experience with animals?
Very important. Try to get diverse as well as in-depth experience. Keep track of your hours and what you see or do from day 1! This will come in handy when applying to vet school, as hours you have completed in high school will count on your VMCAS as well. (High school awards and activities are asked about in VMCAS as well, so be sure to keep track of those!)
VMCAS divides experience into "Veterinary," which is completed with a veterinarian or a PhD scientist and "Animal," in which all other experience with animals falls.
In high school, it's great to get involved in working at a farm, stable, kennel, or even a veterinary hospital. You could also get involved in your local animal shelter, wildlife or other rescue organization. Shadowing veterinarians also gives you an important glimpse into a veterinarian's daily work requirements.
Most people do a 4-year college degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS); although, there are schools that allow you just to take specific pre-requisites (college courses required for admission to veterinary school) and not obtain a BA or BS degree. Following college, there are four years of veterinary school.
What is pre-vet?
Generally, a college student who wishes to attend veterinary school. Most pre-vets choose majors such as biology, animal science, zoology, equine science, chemistry, etc. that overlap with many of the pre-requisites, but as long as you complete the pre-requisites for any school, it doesn't matter what your degree is in.
How many veterinary schools are there?
28 in the United States. There are also several international schools in Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia that are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
http://www.avma.org/
http://www.aavmc.org/students_admissions/vet_schools.htm
What is VMCAS?
It is the Veterinary Medical College Application Service. It is an online application, which most veterinary colleges use.
What is the GRE?
It is the Graduate Record Examination. The general test is required for admission to most veterinary colleges, and the biology subject test for a couple of them.
What is the NAVLE?
It is the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination. All people wishing to practice in the United States must pass this exam. It is given during the 4th year of veterinary school.
What is an internship?
It is 1-2 years of specialized training completed after veterinary school. Not everyone completes an internship.
http://www.virmp.org/virmp/
What is a residency?
A residency is 3 years of specialized study completed after an internship or, in some cases, an equivalent time in a quality practice. Completing one, as well as other requirements (such publication and research) will allow you to take the boards of that specialty. Examples of residencies include surgery (both large and small animal), internal medicine (large and small animal), radiology, anesthesiology, dermatology, nutrition, etc.
http://www.virmp.org/virmp/
How much does veterinary school cost?
A lot. Many of the veterinary schools are associated with their state's public university system or give tuition breaks to residents of their state, so their cost can be lower compared with schools in other states. Expect tuition to go up in cost every year. Many students graduate with over $100,000 of debt and are expected to start repayment upon graduation.
What is a "non-traditional" student?
Generally, a student that did not go the high school, college, veterinary school path. Many have had other careers prior to attending veterinary school or becoming a pre-vet. They are a great source of advice.
How important are grades?
Very important. Some schools have minimum GPA cut off points, while others take a more holistic approach to admission. In general, it is important to get the best grades you can, but low grades are not necessarily a deal breaker. Shoot for at least a 3.5 GPA to be considered competitive, but as you can see in the pre-veterinary forum, not everyone's GPA is that high.
How important is experience with animals?
Very important. Try to get diverse as well as in-depth experience. Keep track of your hours and what you see or do from day 1! This will come in handy when applying to vet school, as hours you have completed in high school will count on your VMCAS as well. (High school awards and activities are asked about in VMCAS as well, so be sure to keep track of those!)
VMCAS divides experience into "Veterinary," which is completed with a veterinarian or a PhD scientist and "Animal," in which all other experience with animals falls.
In high school, it's great to get involved in working at a farm, stable, kennel, or even a veterinary hospital. You could also get involved in your local animal shelter, wildlife or other rescue organization. Shadowing veterinarians also gives you an important glimpse into a veterinarian's daily work requirements.
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