Veterinary

What is veterinary school?

  • What is veterinary school?
  • Veterinary school is a four-year program that provides students with the knowledge and experience to effectively practice veterinary medicine
  • Graduates of veterinary school receive a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
    • The beginning years of vet school are more lecture/classroom based, while the later years involve more clinical experience and rotations

What makes a good veterinary school student?

  • A good vet student shows compassion for both animals and people, and is willing to work with and for their community. They must possess strong communication skills and an understanding of the financial and emotional aspects of veterinary medicine

What does a career in veterinary medicine look like?

  • Individuals who have earned a DVM are able to pursue careers including but not limited to clinical medicine, academia, government policy, and wildlife conservation
  • The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) provides a large list of potential career paths available after graduating from vet school.
  • After graduating from vet school, students can return for an extra year to gain specialization such as specific surgeries, zoo medicine and more. A list of American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) specializations can be found here
  • The national median salary of all types of veterinarians in 2018 was $88,490, but average salaries differ between different types of veterinarians

What are the costs associated with veterinary school?

  • The cost of attending vet school varies wildly from school to school, depending on if it is a public or private institution and if a student is qualified to receive in-state tuition.
  • Tuition reportedly can range anywhere from $147,000 to $250,000 for four years at public institutions. Private veterinary schools may cost more than the reported price range.
  • The American Veterinary Medical Foundations (AVMF) provides a list of scholarship opportunities for veterinary students that can be found here.

How competitive is veterinary school?

  • Traditionally, getting into vet school is considered more difficult than medical school. This is due to the comparatively low number of schools, resulting in more applicants competing for for each seat.
  • Average admitted students statistics:
    • GPA = 3.55
    • GRE:
      • Verbal = 66th percentile
      • Quantitative = 57th percentile
      • Analytical = 55th percentile
    • Veterinary contact hours (either volunteer or paid) = 1600-2400 hours
  • It is important to note that veterinary school applications revolve around several factors and it is possible to get in with lower scores! Many vet schools like to see well-rounded applications.

What can I do to ensure that I’ll be a competitive veterinary school applicant?

  • Veterinary schools do not require applicants to have a pre-vet or animal science major. As long as an applicant has completed the requisite coursework they are eligible
    • However, majors such as animal science, biology, and zoology require many of the prerequisite courses for vet school and may provide a foundation of knowledge for aspiring veterinarians
  • The general course guidelines for veterinary school eligiblity are as follows:
    • Required courses: English (2 semesters), Biology w/ lab (2 semesters), General Chemistry w/ Lab (2 semesters). Organic Chemistry (2 semesters), Physics w/ Lab (2 semesters, Calculus (1 semester), Biochemistry (1 semester), Humanities/Social Science (2-4 semesters)
    • Recommended courses: Genetics (1 semester), Microbiology w/ Lab(1 semester), Physiology (1 semester)
    • It is important to note that different vet schools will have different prerequisite courses and it is important to look into the specifics at each school you consider applying to. The AAVMC updates a comprehensive list of required courses at vet schools across the country can be found here
    • Undergraduate courses recommended by the University of Maryland for pre-vet students are listed here
  • Veterinary schools weigh previous veterinary experiences very highly. This includes any experience working with animals, such as with livestock, volunteering at a zoo or animal shelter, or shadowing.
    • Often, competitive applicants have at least two different types of veterinarian experiences, with substantial depth of experience in at least one area
    • The University of Maryland has a Pre-Veterinary Society that provides student support, information, and opportunities to pre-vet students
    • Veterinary schools also encourage research experience that revolves around animals, however it is not a requirement of vet school applicants
  • Community service and leadership positions help to round out the applications of competitive applicants, as veterinary schools like to admit students who exhibit a commitment to their community and an ability to lead

How do I apply?

  • General Timeline
    • The VMCAS application opens in May
    • Take the GRE, no later then the end of August
    • Submit VMCAS application by the deadline in mid-September
    • Complete school-specific secondary applications
    • Interviews are conducted in the fall into early winter
    • Admission notices are sent out in the winter
  • A list of all veterinary schools in the US can be found here. It is important for applicants to research the schools that they believe would be good fits for them
  • There are 39 (and counting) veterinary schools that use a common application, called the VMCAS application. The VMCAS application is run through the AAVMC and can be found here
    • The VMCAS costs $210 to apply to the first school, and $110 to apply to each additional school. Secondary applications might have more associated costs
    • Not all schools accept the VMCAS and have their own independent application processes. It is important to check what type of application is required by all vet schools a student is considering
    • Some vet schools allow an MCAT score to be submitted in place of GRE scores
  • All veterinary schools require a personal statement in which applicant discuss their personal background, interests, experiences that have led them to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. This essay should convey who you are and why you want to go to veterinary school. Significant time should be dedicated to editing and reviewing the personal statement
    • Personal statements on the VMCAS application is limited to 5000 characters
  • The VMCAS application requires at least three letters of recommendation (with a maximum of six), with at least one letter from an academic professor, and another letter being from a practicing veterinarian
    • It is important to research what types of letters different schools request, because it can vary

Resources

  • The UMD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources has additional advice and information about veterinary school on their website
  • The UMD Department of Animal and Avian Sciences wrote a Pre-veterinary Advising Guide that describes the entire application process in great detail
  • The AVMF scholarship list for veterinary students can be found again here
  • Information about the UMD Pre-Vet Society , a student organization that assists pre-vet students, can be found here
  • Instructions regarding how to complete the VMCAS application are provided by the AAVMC
  • Veterinary school admission and current student statistics were published by the AAVMC in this 2019 report. The report also provides tuition and debt data for current vet students