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[ylrebmik]

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What are some great Pre-vet schools? (us)

 

[sofficat]

i don't know of many schools that have a pre-vet program. the only thing you need are your pre-reqs for vet school, which varies slightly from school to school. honestly, vet schools don't care too much where you do your undergrad work, as long as you do them well.

 

[chris03333]

What are some great Pre-vet schools? (us)

In California UC Davis, Both of the Cal Polys, CSU Fresno have good pre-vet programs.

 

[thelarson]

The beauty of pre-vet/pre-med/pre-most things is that you can do your undergraduate at any school that offers the prereqs - which is just about anywhere. However, I have found that attending a university with a vet school (MSU), or at least going to a college with a strong science program with interesting electives and research opportunities, is invaluable. The presence of the vet college has allowed me to become involved in veterinary research on campus, at convenient times between my classes, and the CVM hosts interesting lectures. It also attracts a number of prominent people to the campus, many of whom work interdepartmentally in research and teaching...making for a wonderful experience.

One thing to think about is that smaller schools will be less likely to have courses such as Animal Nutrition, which is required for some vet schools, and you would have to take this online...whereas larger schools, especially those with animal science, agriculture, zoology, a veterinary school, etc. will have courses geared towards those interested in animal management and health.

That being said, if you find a school without such offerings that feels good to you in other respects, do not be discouraged from attending that school... these are simply my two cents.

 

[QTkitty]

I went to Cal Poly Pomona as a pre-vet student and had a great experience. The best part of the program is the school's overall philosophy of "learn by doing". We were given so much hands on experience (as well as book experience) I couldn't imagine doing it differently. The only problems I had are:
1. hands on = more labs
2. there are certain pre-reqs at some schools that are not in the pre-vet curriculum (or weren't on the 2003 curriculum- they may have changed it now...). All of the classes are offered at the schools so you wont have to go looking at another campus to take them. This really wasn't too big of a problem but definitely something to be aware of early rather than in the last year like I was. Lastly, even with a few extra classes to take you get waaay more experience in various animal classes that are not required, and can sub some other classes (like senior project) for the pre-req courses.

I hope this helps! Good luck in your college career!!!

 

[jfitzpatri8]

OK, I'll chime in.

Go wherever you want. Major in something that actually interests you. Do not limit your search for an undergrad program to schools that actually have a pre-vet major. Admissions officers frown on square applicants. SO, be rounded. Major in History, English, Fashion Design, Neurobiology, Art, Political Science, something other than Animal Science. Although most of my colleagues hold degrees in AnSci, they seem far less prepared for the hard science of medicine than those of us who did pre-req's on the side. I have a group of 7 from my class who come over to my house so that I can teach them the relevant biochem or physio or physics for the current classes.

Just a few ideas from the other side.

Jenn

 

[nyanko]

Major in History, English, Fashion Design, Neurobiology, Art, Political Science, something other than Animal Science. Although most of my colleagues hold degrees in AnSci, they seem far less prepared for the hard science of medicine than those of us who did pre-req's on the side. I have a group of 7 from my class who come over to my house so that I can teach them the relevant biochem or physio or physics for the current classes.

I'm sorry but for the life of me I can't get these sentences to jive. Aside from neurobiology, how are any of those other majors going to prepare you any more for hard sciences than animal science? It isn't that I have any problem with people who do other majors - my two degrees are in Computer Science and Molecular Bio and Microbio, but history/english/polisci/fashion/art/whatever aren't going to prepare you for hard sciences either. 😕

 

[ri23]

I would imagine that someone that knows they are planning on goin to vet school would be interested in a science degree. Don't feel forced to get a science degree, but it is definitely not a detriment. Some say that it adds a unique element to your application if you have a double major/minor in something non-relevant, but I honestly can't see how that would better prepare you for vet school. I would imagine majoring in biology, micro, genetics, biochem would be a huge benefit, especially if you are taking advanced cell bio, histology courses etc. From what I've heard people that have been introduced to advanced level courses in undergrad are better prepared for the vet school classes.

OK, I'll chime in.

Go wherever you want. Major in something that actually interests you. Do not limit your search for an undergrad program to schools that actually have a pre-vet major. Admissions officers frown on square applicants. SO, be rounded. Major in History, English, Fashion Design, Neurobiology, Art, Political Science, something other than Animal Science. Although most of my colleagues hold degrees in AnSci, they seem far less prepared for the hard science of medicine than those of us who did pre-req's on the side. I have a group of 7 from my class who come over to my house so that I can teach them the relevant biochem or physio or physics for the current classes.

Just a few ideas from the other side.

Jenn

 

[rexosaurus]

I'm going to have to agree that a biology/animal science/zoology/genetics/etc. major in undergrad will definately prepare you better for the rigors that we will be faced with in vet school. For example, I got a BS in biology, but I never took Cell Biology (partly because I have no interest at all, and partly because it was cross listed with Immuno my senior year and that is WAY cooler!). Anyway, I have had several 1st years, colleagues, vets, etc. tell me that the information in Cell is rampant in first year vet school, so take it if I can, because it will make my life that much easier. So here I am, enjoying my year off, and going back to take Cell Biology. Anyway, the point being, that although I did take several non-prerequisite bio courses along the way and I am still not 100% prepared, I must imagine that I will still be better prepared than someone who has only taken the prereqs, but is nonetheless "well rounded". Hey, but they may have a better handle on life than me too! Just my opinion....

 

[Max Power]

WVU's program will give you tons of built in large animal experience...plus in Animal phys lab you'll do actual surgeries on sheep...check it out!

www.wvu.edu

 

[jfitzpatri8]

What I meant was that the "easier" majors in the arts allow for more time to take pre-req's and more in-depth science classes- and allow you to boost the GPA, which, lets face it, gets you past the pre-screen in admissions. I have posted this before... along with "why take these stupid pre-req's".

The best d*mn doctor I have ever known held an undergrad degree in fashion design.

I personally double majored in Neurobio and Physio, minored in English. But, I did the hard science major because I DUG IT. And I was GOOD AT IT.

As far as the problem with AnSci... the core classes are "dumbed down" for them in many schools- only one semester in OChem, one in BioChem, no lab in Physio, algebra-based physics. These are the things I am teaching to these kids. Not to say that they couldn't get through vet school... but they are working WAY harder than I do.

Sorry for being unclear. It is a holiday.

J

 

[StealthDog]

I'm one of a good number in my class who have B.A. degrees from liberal arts colleges rather than B.S. degrees. I was able to do all my pre-reqs at my college (although I guess I would have had to go somewhere else had any of the vet schools I applied to required Animal Nutrition) despite not really having a pre-vet program. Basically all the pre-vet courses are the same as pre-med courses, which most schools have.

I'd say that while those who attended bigger schools are better prepared for the style of vet school (primarily multiple choice tests, only lecture-based courses, no writing, large class size), I feel more well-rounded in the areas that vet school doesn't really teach, but that will definitely be important in my career (communication skills and writing!). I also got to do some really cool things that I don't think I would have done as an AnSci major, like spending a month in Ecuador studying ecology, spending a summer researching small prairie mammals, and taking music lessons for four years.

I understand that an AnSci major makes the most sense for people dead-set on going to vet school, and lord knows they require so many hours of experience that it's hard to imagine fitting anything else in. But at the same time, you'll be immersed in animal science for the rest of your life......... undergrad is your chance to explore and learn and do all sorts of things that you'll never have the chance to do again. Use that time wisely!

 

[kate_g]

Aside from neurobiology, how are any of those other majors going to prepare you any more for hard sciences than animal science?

I think you missed part of the point... You still have to do all the prereq classes (bio/chem/orgo/physics/etc.), no matter your major. So you can major in something non-science that interests you, and just take the science classes you need for prereqs - and possibly learn more from them than if you were doing the whole science degree.

AND...

Some say that it adds a unique element to your application if you have a double major/minor in something non-relevant, but I honestly can't see how that would better prepare you for vet school.

The point here isn't that it prepares you better for vet school, it prepares you better for LIFE. Vet and med schools have *very* focused curricula, so if you haven't got a breadth of education and life skills before you go in, you're not going to learn them there. I think that's why both vet and med adcoms are reputed to like people with broad/varied backgrounds over those who have done nothing but science.

Personally, I found that there was enough time in undergrad to do a molecular bio major and also minors in English and linguistics. (For the BS we had to take a certain number of credits in arts/humanities, science, history, and social science, and conveniently enough, the English classes satisfied my humanities req and the linguistics satisfied the social science req.) The reason I didn't double major was because for a BA at the same school, I would have had to do double the humanities and history credits, for which I didn't have enough time. So... Since the prereqs take up *way* more than the required science credits for the BA, I'm pretty sure - at this school, anyway - you couldn't get a BA in something non-science and also fit all the prereqs in, even taking the max credit load per semester. So research carefully if you're interested in taking that route, because depending on the university's requirements you'd be looking at doing at least some summer sessions in order to get it all done in 4 years.

 

[ri23]

I was responding to jfitzpatri8 when she said that humanities majors are better prepared for vet school classes. I was not saying there is anything wrong with majoring in something different if that is what really interests you, but many people do not have the time to fit in "in-depth" science classes along with their pre-reqs and major courses.

At my school the anisci major is fairly easy and doesn't touch on or require a lot of difficult/upper level cell bio/physiology etc. classes. The vet students seem to be split around 50/50 between Animal Science and Biosci.

As far as better preparation for life, that is the purpose of the GEC classes, to give you a broad spetrum of the coursework available and help you think differently from what your used to. I like to think that I developed life skills from what I did outside the classroom - getting involved in academic organizations as well as social organizations such as greek life.

Again, I was not saying that there is anything wrong with doing a different degree program, but I was disagreeing with the fact that science students are "frowned" upon. Someone with a different educational background will certainly spark a bit of interest in an adcomms eyes, but I doubt whether they would extrapolate that a History major is better prepared for life outside the classroom.

 

[ylrebmik]

Wow thanks a lot 🙂

I definitely want to major in a science related field. I live in Wisconsin so I will probably end up going to a Wisconsin Univeristy or a Minnesota University.

I was thinking about working backwards...choosing what would be my first choice of Vet School and then find a college closer over there.

 

[hirdDVM]

I attended UMass Amherst...we have a top pre-vet program and our overall acceptance rate into vet school from undergrad is really high. We pride in our research (we have the number one graduate animal science program in the country) so we generally have a good reputation with vet schools. I am really glad I went here, and I think it is one of the major reasons I got accepted to more than one school, and I certainly do not have a 4.0 GPA. Amherst is a great town as well, really a "college" town, and there is a lot of agriculture in West. Massachusetts. Something to think about. 🙄

 

[ylrebmik]

Thanks. I will definitely look. You guys are really helpful. 🙂

What did you guys all major/minor in?

 

[nyanko]

I think you missed part of the point... You still have to do all the prereq classes (bio/chem/orgo/physics/etc.), no matter your major. So you can major in something non-science that interests you, and just take the science classes you need for prereqs - and possibly learn more from them than if you were doing the whole science degree.

I missed the point because the sentences weren't really related to each other at all. If she put those two thoughts in separate paragraphs where they belong than I would not have been confused. Obviously you still have to do the prereq courses regardless of major, but if you are an English major, say...you aren't going to get as much science education as a Molecular Biology major, and that's what it seemed like her post was saying to me.

What did you guys all major/minor in?

I have to admit I have no idea about "Animal Science" as a major because I've never been in a school that has it. I chose Molecular Biology and Microbiology because the Biology major here wasn't hard-science enough for me, to be honest.

 

[hirdDVM]

My major was Animal Science, but luckily for me this means at lot of venues. At UMass, you are allowed to take the pre-professional or the management track. Pre-professional has more of a science core, and prepares you for the pre-requisites required by most vet schools. The management track is nice because it is more hands on and prepares students for animal production industry.

I was able to do the pre-professional track but incorporate a lot of "management" education. Granted, the sciences are very important (get involved in research if you can! Vet schools love that!) but it is important for vet students to understand the management aspects of animal husbandry to ensure that when they are veterinarians they can make good, sound suggestions 🙂 There were quite a few biology majors intermixed in my Animal Science classes taking them as electives.

 

[pressmom]

My 4-year degree is in Political Science with minors in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy and Cultural Anthropology. When I went back to do my pre-reqs, I majored in Animal Science, but never completed the degree.

 

[runnerDC]

Thanks. I will definitely look. You guys are really helpful. 🙂

What did you guys all major/minor in?

BA in sociology (minors in psych and photography), and MA in sociology. Followed by a 10-year career (which I am leaving in 4 weeks!), in social/government/health policy research, primarily as a SAS programmer/data analyst.

When I went back to do my pre-reqs part-time, I declared a chemistry major. I never had any intention of completing the degree, but the majority of the courses I needed to take were offered through the chem dept.

 

[ylrebmik]

Thanks.

Is it smarter to choose an undergraduate school close to your graduate school? - Like a better chance of getting in?

And I was reading some of the threads posted and I was also wondering... are there any "bad" vet schools. I have a list of the 28 in the u.s. but are there any you can think of i should "avoid"?

 

[Max Power]

Thanks.

Is it smarter to choose an undergraduate school close to your graduate school? - Like a better chance of getting in?

And I was reading some of the threads posted and I was also wondering... are there any "bad" vet schools. I have a list of the 28 in the u.s. but are there any you can think of i should "avoid"?

Avoid tuskegee unless your a minority. Not worth the time interviewing (all about diversity and how well you can form a bs answer), getting the interview notification 2 days before (or sometimes even after!) your interview is supposed to be, only to never ever here from them again as to whether you're in or not. I'm the number one alternate from WV for georgia, and the two people that got into tuskegee from my school were flat out rejected. It's a little to on the liberal side as far as admissions (give me your sob story, diversity>>>>grades/potential as a student...tell me how being african american in a predominatly african american school adds to diversity?)

 

[ylrebmik]

Thats in Alabama right?

Thanks. Are there any others?

 

[jfitzpatri8]

Western U is new, and has not yet graduated a class. Also, they do not have a clinic on-site. Makes it difficult to get into clinical rotations.

Ross and St. George's- both in the Caribbean. If you have a SO that you were planning on taking with you, be forewarned that they cannot work while there. So you will have to take out enough in loans to support both of you. (Or be independently wealthy). Also, these are not accredited schools, so there are extra hoops when you try to get licensure in the states.

Davis has had some problems historically, but is double-timing their efforts to clean up their act.

Every school has its pluses and its minuses. Some are private and cost a lot. Some require students to choose a "track" of study... others don't. Some offer combined programs with business schools, political science schools, public health schools, etc.

Just start with the AAVMC site, and download all of the prereq/ info sheets for all of the schools. Those sheets have the web addresses, and you can click around and see which ones you are attracted to.

The leg work is up to you. Find a school that "speaks" to you, and meets your needs.

Or, do what I did... and apply only to schools that required no supplemental application. Boy, are those things a PAIN!!! And, I didn't need more of that, since I had just had surgery.

Good luck
J

 

[ylrebmik]

Thanks.

I've been spending quite a bit of time on that website. (AVMA) but I just wanted to get some advice before I plunged in.

🙂

 

[ckgilabert]

Ross and St. George's- both in the Caribbean. If you have a SO that you were planning on taking with you, be forewarned that they cannot work while there. So you will have to take out enough in loans to support both of you. (Or be independently wealthy). Also, these are not accredited schools, so there are extra hoops when you try to get licensure in the states.

Hi! i just wanted to add that I went to a Ross University information session and the test that you need to practice in the states is given your last year there. they said that around 90% of students pass. They think that they really prepare you for it. good luck!

 

[chris03333]

Western U is new, and has not yet graduated a class. Also, they do not have a clinic on-site. Makes it difficult to get into clinical rotations.

Good luck
J

Umm I graduated from Western this May........... I had no problem doing Clinical rotations, actually got a whole lot of really awesome experiences. Western is a great school.

Now I am starting my Residency (yes residency, not internship) this Tuesday...


Chris03333 DVM 2007
Western University of Health Sciences😀

 

[soxbox]

Thanks. I will definitely look. You guys are really helpful. 🙂

What did you guys all major/minor in?

i got my BS in Biomedical Engineering w/ a concentration in Mechanical Eng (and a minor in Spanish)... and then got a Master of Engineering degree in Biomed Eng... I really played up my non normal major in my personal statement 🙂

I would say the biggest problem I had with my major was that I took a ton of science classes, but unfortunately not too many fit the required pre-reqs, so I had to take those this year (5 years after graduating)... oh yeah, and I took over 8 math classes (ie calc 1-4, diff eqs, etc) and most of the vet schools i applied to maybe required one math class and a statistics class... my life would have been so much happier without all those math classes (but i guess what did I expect as an engineering major?) 🙂

 

[ylrebmik]

haha yeah i guess. I am hoping the ap stats i take in high school with carry over to college at least some what 🙂

there are just so many great schools...I dont know how people can pick without going crazy haha.

 

[QTkitty]

Although most undergrad institutions will accept AP credit to fulfill statistics toward your degree (i.e. BS), I suggest you use this to take an upper division stats course. Most (if not all) vet schools require statistics and may accept AP credit, but would like to see actual college credit in an upper division course (from my understanding). I also had AP credit for stats but opted to take bio-stats as well to boost my application. It's all up to you but I think completing an actual college course can go a long way.

 

[ylrebmik]

I can see your point. 🙂

'Guess I'll just wait and see.

 

[kate_g]

Most (if not all) vet schools require statistics and may accept AP credit, but would like to see actual college credit in an upper division course (from my understanding).

I'm not sure the situation is quite as dire as this. Not all that many schools actually had a stats requirement this past year (maybe half?). The ones that did, what they described was just your standard 3-unit undergrad Probability and Statistics 101. That is, exactly what was probably covered by the AP course. I guess this may be one of those secret unstated "adcoms would rather see..." situations, but I really didn't get that impression.

That said, as medicine becomes more evidence-based, the ability to interpret and evaluate primary research will become more and more important. I'm a firm believer in medical practitioners having a good foundation in statistics, especially knowing how much statistics *can't* do. 🙂 So I agree for your own good that you should take an upper-level stats course. But it's probably more than is actually necessary to get into any vet school.

 

[kate_g]

On a slightly different note, just wondering if anyone else has noticed this... There are some schools that have *lots* of prerequisites - including weird stuff not generally included in your standard bio degree, like stats (OK I agree with this one), nutrition, some kind of animal management course, public speaking, and on and on. And then there are schools with very few absolute requirements - bio, chem, physics, orgo, humanities.

The thing is, there seems to be at least some correlation here. Those schools with prestigious names and/or strong academic reputations tend to have fewer defined requirements, whereas the ones that require everything under the sun tend to be lower on the prestige scale. I just wonder why that is. It's certainly not easier to get into the schools with fewer requirements, because obviously everybody has the basics and so you have to have something else that impresses them. But requiring things like animal nutrition and public speaking seems like it would discourage the hard-science types and encourage those with a more management-focused animal science background. I just wonder if it's intentional. 😕

 

[rexosaurus]

maybe by requiring more/arbitrary courses as prerequisites, the "less" prestigious schools are trying to convey to the prospective student that their program is, in fact, quite rigorous and difficult. it may seem to the applicant that the school wants a very well prepared applicant for a very tough cirricula; and thus recruiting more "top" applicants which reflects well on their school. does this make sense or am i just rambling?

 

[ratbandit]

Those schools with prestigious names and/or strong academic reputations tend to have fewer defined requirements, whereas the ones that require everything under the sun tend to be lower on the prestige scale. I just wonder why that is. It's certainly not easier to get into the schools with fewer requirements, because obviously everybody has the basics and so you have to have something else that impresses them.

I've noticed that too, I can really only speculate but maybe they don't want to "miss out" on some really good applicants just because of some pre-req issues-but that doesn't really explain why the other schools wouldn't do the same. Maybe it's to keep it really competitive, by having more applicants than other schools w/ more pre-reqs.

 

[Angelo84]

Hi guys,
I think the easiest way to decide where to apply from that long list on VMCAS is to look at prereq's first. If there are any you can't take at your school or just really don't want to (public speaking went here for me) don't apply to those schools. The next thing I looked at was geography--I didn't want to go really far away I live in the NE and want to stay here so going to school in California would have nice weather but wouldn't make me good contacts for after vet school. As far as numbers of schools to apply to I applied to 9 but really should have applied to 6.

Good luck!

 

[KittenKiller]

I suspect its something of a snob factor. Some of the more "elite" vet schools are closely aligned with medical schools, hence the traditional pre-med style reqs. And maybe there's an attitude that their vet students are smarter than other vet students and want to reteach all the basics anyway in their style. Whereas a lot of the state schools have a history of practicality and agricultural education (we want vets we dont have to teach how to milk a cow, we want tough vets who know what theyre getting into and have spent the last few years getting ready for it), hence perhaps some of the more practically-oriented reqs (animal nutrition, animal science, business). But I'm just talking out of my ass here.

 

[kate_g]

I think the easiest way to decide where to apply from that long list on VMCAS is to look at prereq's first.

I agree, and this was definitely one of my main criteria, but to others who might be daunted by odd prereqs... All schools are going to be pretty adamant about the basic bio/chem/orgo etc. But some of the others you can get around with a little creativity. For instance, if you've got a lot of research experience and have given talks or poster presentations at scientific conferences, you might be able to get a waiver on the public speaking req. This is probably even less common, but I'd taken a 2-credit pass/fail grad seminar in statistics without ever having taken a standard undergrad stats course, and both schools I applied to that required statistics let me slide.

The thing you want to do, if you have something creative that you think could substitute for a prereq, is to call the admissions office and ask whether you can petition to have that prereq waived. Provided they say yes, you'll need to put together a polite, well-written letter to the adcom that spells out why you think they should waive the requirement, and provide supporting documentation (copies of the conference proceedings in the public speaking case, or in my case a copy of the course webpage showing the material we were expected to know).

 

[polo vet]

in response to the orignial question; what are some good pre-vet programs?
i know clemson has a strong pre-vet program. I go to a small liberal arts college and am getting my bs in bio, so i obviously did not think it was especially important to be in a specific pre-vet program. i feel like i have had the opportunity to explore my intrests and become a more well-rounded student. I have the rest of my life to be a vet, and when will i ever be able to take studio art classes again? That said you will probably have to take some courses like animal nutrition online if you go to a liberal arts school, and you will have to take more initiative to go out and find vet experiences (you will not have classes in them). I know some of my friends at clemson had class where they basically raised a cow, so pre-vet programs have their advantages as well. Clemson is an awesome school and all my friends love it. Go Tigers!

 

[kate_g]

One thing you probably want to look for in an undergraduate institution is a good pre-vet advising program (which a school may have even if they don't have a pre-vet major). They can help you make decisions about what you need to do to get into your favorite vet schools. Most importantly, they'll have connections to be able to direct you to good clinical experiences (docs in the area who are particularly interested in teaching, the best summer internships, etc.).

I didn't start considering vet school until after college, so I haven't the faintest idea how the pre-vet advising was at mine (University of Delaware). I do know that we had a distinct pre-vet program through the College of Agriculture, whereas some schools kind of roll all the "pre-health" students into one advising program. I'm guessing that state schools (or large private schools) would be more likely to have dedicated pre-vet advising, just because there are enough people to warrant it. You could also check to see if there's a pre-vet student club - UC Berkeley has one, and it's "chaperoned" by the campus research vets, which again is good for making contacts.

Speaking of the Ag College, if you're into large animals or production medicine, then picking a university with an ag school would also be another consideration. UD had a dairy herd, a horse barn, and a whole load of chickens - and that's just what I could see driving past. I had some pre-vet friends and I know they took a whole bunch of hands-on classes using those animals.

So anyway, I don't have recommendations for specific schools as being "good" for pre-vet because I wasn't one. But these are things I'd think might affect the quality of your experience... So maybe other people have recommendations for schools that are particularly good on some of these criteria?

 

[JumptheMoon]

One thing you probably want to look for in an undergraduate institution is a good pre-vet advising program (which a school may have even if they don't have a pre-vet major). They can help you make decisions about what you need to do to get into your favorite vet schools. Most importantly, they'll have connections to be able to direct you to good clinical experiences (docs in the area who are particularly interested in teaching, the best summer internships, etc.).

I didn't start considering vet school until after college, so I haven't the faintest idea how the pre-vet advising was at mine (University of Delaware). I do know that we had a distinct pre-vet program through the College of Agriculture, whereas some schools kind of roll all the "pre-health" students into one advising program. I'm guessing that state schools (or large private schools) would be more likely to have dedicated pre-vet advising, just because there are enough people to warrant it. You could also check to see if there's a pre-vet student club - UC Berkeley has one, and it's "chaperoned" by the campus research vets, which again is good for making contacts.

Speaking of the Ag College, if you're into large animals or production medicine, then picking a university with an ag school would also be another consideration. UD had a dairy herd, a horse barn, and a whole load of chickens - and that's just what I could see driving past. I had some pre-vet friends and I know they took a whole bunch of hands-on classes using those animals.

So anyway, I don't have recommendations for specific schools as being "good" for pre-vet because I wasn't one. But these are things I'd think might affect the quality of your experience... So maybe other people have recommendations for schools that are particularly good on some of these criteria?

I went to a small liberal arts college where I was one of two pre-vets in my class, and I LOVED it, but I have to say that my life would have been soooo much easier with a good pre-vet advising program! My school has what they call a health professions advisory committee, which is very knowledgable about the med school admissions process, but practically clueless about vet school. Luckily for me I've worked at a vet school for the past 2 years and thus had a pretty good grasp on the admissions process by the time I applied...and gently tried to enlighten the committee in the process.

Somehow I don't think it worked though...they kept asking me when I was taking the MCAT, and during my interview one of them asked me if I knew how to horse-whisper. And he was dead serious.

 

[Emio]

I went to a small liberal arts college where I was one of two pre-vets in my class, and I LOVED it, but I have to say that my life would have been soooo much easier with a good pre-vet advising program! My school has what they call a health professions advisory committee, which is very knowledgable about the med school admissions process, but practically clueless about vet school. Luckily for me I've worked at a vet school for the past 2 years and thus had a pretty good grasp on the admissions process by the time I applied...and gently tried to enlighten the committee in the process.

Somehow I don't think it worked though...they kept asking me when I was taking the MCAT, and during my interview one of them asked me if I knew how to horse-whisper. And he was dead serious.

that's exactly what i had! small liberal arts school with me and another kid; but i was the only one to go through the HPAC. i was pretty lucky though in that my advisor did know *something* about vet schools, though i did enlighten her on some things during the process.

one interview for HPAC had me answering "what do i do if my wife's cat keeps biting me for no reason??" get a new wife? lol, i don't know.

anyway, to the OP, i wouldn't worry so much about where you do your undergrad. make the most of it, have a blast, and if you're intentions are clear from the start, you'll get exactly where you want to go.

 

[VeganSoprano]

Any school with strong bio and chem departments will be a fine choice for pre-vet work. A school that offers an animal science major will be a bonus because even if you don't major in animal science, some schools require some classes as prereqs.

Unlike med school, the pre-vet requirements are not standardized from one school to another. Your academic advisor may or may not be of much help. Therefore it's really your responsibility to research the vet schools you may be interested in applying to and making sure your academic preparation includes the required courses for the schools you are interested in.