Preparation for Veterinary School
Academic Preparation
What you'll need
- a Bachelor’s degree
- any major is appropriate, so study something you love!
- completion of prerequisite classes
- vary from school to school
- the most common classes are outlined below
Extracurricular Preparation
What you'll need
Experiences that develop and demonstrate skills in
- communication
- leadership
- community service
- research
- familiarity with the profession
Extracurricular Activities
- Make sure you have contact information for supervisors and physicians you work with or shadow in case you need a recommendation letter. Try to keep an open relationship with them after you discontinue activities.
- Keep a record of all hours of service and experiences. The PreHealth Planner Spreadsheet can help with this.
- Writing reflections on each activity in a journal will be helpful when you write your personal statement.
Animal/ Veterinary Experience
All vet schools require experience with animal care and substantial first-hand observation or work experience with a practicing veterinarian. Many vet schools recommend gaining experience with a range of animal species, both large and small. All schools require a letter of recommendation from a practicing veterinarian with whom you have spent a significant amount of time. These experiences demonstrate your motivation for the profession and help you develop important skills.
Interpersonal Skills
Vet schools are looking for students who have strong communication and interpersonal skills. The university offers a variety of courses in speech and writing to help you refine your abilities.
Community Service
Because you are preparing for a humanitarian profession, it is important to have volunteer experiences that demonstrate a commitment to serving others in your community. It is suggested that this be ongoing throughout your college years prior to application for admission.
Research Experience
Veterinary medicine depends on professional literature to remain current in their field. Most veterinary schools highly recommend participation in research. It is good to participate in hypothesis-based research using the scientific method. Your research experience could be from many different areas – it does not have to be medically related or in a lab.
Leadership Experience
As a physician, you will be a leader and team member in many ways – with your patients, your staff, your colleagues, and in your community. Examples include offices held in organizations, committee work; leadership in church activities; coordinating a project; managing, training, supervising at work or in other activities; teaching experience of any kind; coaching; peer counseling or mentoring, etc. Competitive applicants complete 3 different experiences each lasting 3 months or longer in the 4 years before they matriculate.
Volunteer Opportunities with Animals
PreVeterinary Coursework
This guide is designed for applying to a range of veterinary schools. It is not a comprehensive list. Requirements may vary by school so applicants should look closely at what is required at the schools at which they are applying. The following list indicates the most commonly classes required or recommended by veterinary schools. See a PreProfessional advisor for more information.
AP & IB Credit
Some veterinary schools will not accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits earned in high school towards the prerequisites, so students with AP credits in science or math should either take the introductory course or a higher level course in the appropriate area.
Community College Credits
Veterinary schools vary on their view of prerequisite classes taken at Community Colleges. Some accept them, but look on them with some disfavor, other schools readily accept them. Students should be aware of this when planning their education.
There are a number of very good reasons for students to begin their college education at a Community College, so we have some recommendations for those who wish to do so. In general it is okay to take the following classes at the Salt Lake Community College. However, to satisfy schools that do not accept Community College work, higher level courses may have to be taken to make up for it.
- MATH 1050 College Algebra and anything below
- MATH 1060 Trigonometry
- BIOL 1610 & 1615 and BIOL 1620 & 1625, General Biology 1 and 2 with labs, in place of BIOL 1210 and 2020 at the U of U
- BIOL 2030 Genetics
- BIOL 2420 Human Physiology.
- CHEM 1210 & 1215, and 1220 & 1225, General Chemistry 1 and 2 with labs.
- ENGL 1010 and 2010
- CLEP Credit & Correspondence Study— Varies by school. Ask schools directly.
- Online Courses— Depends on schools. Ask schools directly.
- Withdrawals— W’s should be used only for emergencies, although W’s will not affect GPA.
- GPA— Generally the minimum accepted GPA is around 3.0, but may be higher or lower depending
on the school. The average GPA for accepted applicants is usually in the 3.6 range.
- WIMU, a regional program with Washington State University that allows Utah Resident’s to take their first 2 years at Utah State University, has a minimum GPA of 3.2
- Repeated Courses— VMCAS, the central application service for veterinary schools, will count all grades from all attempts at a class in your GPA when you apply for veterinary school. (This is different from the U of U’s policy to only count the most recent attempt.)
Science Courses
REQUIRED BY MOST SCHOOLS
BIOL 1610, Fundamentals of Biology (3 credits) Formerly BIOL 1210
BIOL 2020, Cell Biology (3 credits) Not generally required, but is a prerequisite for BIOL 2030
BIOL 2030 Genetics (3 credits) Prerequisites: BIOL 2020
BIOL 2325, Human Anatomy (4 credits) Prerequisite BIOL 1210 or 1610
The lab is included and fulfills one Biology lab for most medical schools
BIOL 3210 Microbiology (3 credits) Lab 3215 (1 credit) Prerequisites: BIOL 2020 & CHEM 1210
BIOL or CHEM 3510, Biochemistry I (3 credits) Prerequisite CHEM 2310
Recommended Prerequisites BIOL 2020 and CHEM 2320
Lab Requirement: 2 Biology labs are required by most veterinary schools, students can either the Anatomy OR Physiology lab to fulfill the first biology lab for most med schools. The second biology lab can be fulfilled by any biology course such as BIOL 1615, 1625, 3115, 3205, 3235, 3515, 3525 and more. Please note that many of these classes correspond to a class that must also be taken. Labs taken at Salt Lake Community College are also acceptable.
REQUIRED OR RECOMMENDED BY SOME SCHOOLS
BIOL 2420 Human Physiology (4 credits) Prerequisites BIOL 1210 or 1610 and CHEM 1210
OPTIONAL BIOLOGY CLASSES
BIOL 3325, 3360, 5030, 5370, 5385, 5395, or 5401
In order to take the proper math class, you must have ACT, SAT or math placement test scores, or successfully pass a prerequisite math course. Some students will need MATH 0980 or MATH 1010 before starting the PreVeterinary Math sequence.
REQUIRED BY MOST SCHOOLS
MATH 1050 College Algebra (4 credits) Prerequisite MATH 1010 or placement
MATH 1060 Trigonometry (3 credits) Prerequisite MATH 1050 or placement
MATH 1050 & 1060 can be substituted with MATH 1080 (5 credits) Precalculus
REQUIRED BY SOME SCHOOLS
MATH 1210, Calculus I (4 credits) Prerequisite MATH 1060 or placement,
MATH 1070 Statistics (3 credits) Prerequisite MATH 1010 or placement. Any other statistics course such as PSY 3000 or FCS 3210 can be substituted. Check with your major advisor.
REQUIRED BY MOST SCHOOLS
CHEM 1210 General Chemistry I (4 credits) Prerequisite MATH 1050, or math placement
Lab CHEM 1215 (1 credit)
CHEM 1220 General Chemistry 2 (4 credits) Prerequisite CHEM 1210
Lab CHEM 1225 (1 credit)
CHEM 2310 Organic Chemistry I (4 credits) Prerequisite CHEM 1220
Lab CHEM 2315 (2 credits)
CHEM 2320 Organic Chemistry II (4 credits) Prerequisite CHEM 2310
Lab CHEM 2325 (2 credits)
BIOL 3510 or CHEM 3510, Biochemistry I (3 credits) Prerequisite, CHEM 2310,
Recommended Prerequisites BIOL 2020 and CHEM 2320
Required by Most Schools
One year of Physics w/ labs required; students have two series to choose from. Algebra and trig-based physics, or calculus based physics.
Please consult with both your major and PPA advisor to determine the correct lecture and lab sequence.
- PHYS 2010 General Physics I (4 credits) Prerequisite MATH 1060
- Lab PHYS 2015 (1 credit)
- PHYS 2020 General Physics II (4 credits) Prerequisite PHYS 2010
- Lab PHYS 2025 (1 credit)
OR
- PHYS 2210 Physics for Scientists and EngineersI (4 credits) Prerequisite MATH 1210
- Lab PHYS 2015 or2215 (1 credit)
- PHYS 2220 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (4 credits) Prerequisite MATH 1220 and PHYS 2210
- Lab PHYS 2025 or 2225 (1 credit)
Non-Science Courses
REQUIRED BY MOST SCHOOLS
2 semesters of English Composition courses
WRTG 1010 (3 credits)
WRTG 2010 (3 credits) Prerequisite WRTG 1010
CW course (3-4 credits) If no course in your major, choose something from either Writing or English department
REQUIRED BY SOME SCHOOLS
1 semester Animal Science/Nutrition course (Can be online)
At least 2 Behavioral Science, Arts, and Humanities courses (BF, FF, HF)
REQUIRED BY SOME SCHOOLS
1 semester Public Speaking, Speech, or other Communication course
OPTIONAL PREPARATORY COURSES FOR CHEMISTRY
- CHEM 1200 (3 credits) Preparation for College Chemistry, Usually offered online. Check class schedule for more information
- CHEM 1208 (1 credit) Introduction to the Periodic Table, Offered online between semesters for 2 weeks
- CHEM 2308 (1 credit) Introduction to Organic Chemistry Offered online between semesters for 2 weeks.
Prepare for Letters of Recommendation
Types of Letters Needed
Requirements
Requirements for letters vary between schools, so research schools early and know what you need. Plan ahead! Get to know people from these categories so they can write excellent letters for you. Generally, veterinary schools require letters from:
- Veterinarians with whom you have worked or volunteered
- A college professor who has taught you in a classroom setting and has given you a letter grade
- An employer/supervisor
Get to Know your Professors
During the Semester
Tell professors at the beginning of the semester that you would like them to keep an eye on your performance in class. It will give them a longer observational window.
Visit their offices regularly.
End of Semester
At the end of the semester, if you do well, ask them if they would be willing to write you an excellent letter of recommendation when you are ready to apply.
How to Establish a Relationship
A key to a good letter is the establishment of a relationship between student and professor based on shared academic interests.
- Ask thoughtful questions
- Delve deeper into concepts presented in lectures
- Share your academic and career goals
- Ask for recommendations for additional reading
- Inquire about their areas of interest and research
Ask about Opportunities
After you have gotten to know professors, ask about further opportunities, e.g., teaching assistantships, individual research projects, etc.
Resources
Downloadable Resources
PreHealth PlannerKeep track of your activities, and your research on medical schools.
Student Groups
Pre-Veterinary Club uofuprevetclub@gmail.com
Campus Connect find more than 200 student organizations at the U
Helpful Websites
WIMU: Regional Program In Veterinary Medicine
Washington–Idaho–Montana–Utah (WIMU) is a partnership between
- Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine,
- University of Idaho Department of Animal and Veterinary Science
- Montana State University
- Utah State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Up to 20 Utah residents, and up to 10 nonresidents, spend their first 2 years at USU in Logan Utah, and their final 2 years at the WSU campus in Pullman, WA. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree is conferred by Washington State University.