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Veterinarians care for the health of animals. They diagnose, treat or research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and animals in zoos, racetracks and laboratories.

Admission Requirements for Veterinary School

From the time you begin college, you are assembling a complete universal application to apply to these professional schools. Veterinary medical schools will review your application as a whole; you can work with your advisors to provide a competitive application.

Education and Training

Prospective veterinarians must graduate with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree from a 4-year program at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. There are 28 colleges that meet accreditation standards set by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

GPA

Most programs look for a minimum undergraduate cumulative 2.8 GPA but the average GPA for matriculates is a 3.6 cumulative and a 3.4 in the sciences. Keep in mind these numbers are averages and various schools can have their own averages that are higher or lower. Also, these averages are climbing higher each year and admission to veterinary medical schools is more competitive than ever. Be sure you take your studies seriously and put in the proper time for reading, studying, and review for each course.

Entrance Exams

You must submit test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT) or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), depending on the preference of the college to which you are applying. Currently, 22 schools require the GRE, 4 require the VCAT and 2 accept the MCAT.

GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

This is a computerized exam offered year-round. Examinees may take the test once every 60 days, but no more than 5 tiems within a 12-month period.

In order to register for the GRE you will need to complete the following:

• Create a GRE user account: https://mygre.ets.org/greweb/login/login.jsp
• Register for the GRE
• Take the test

The General Test was revised in August 2011. Click here for more information regarding these changes. These changes went into effect November 2011.

Click here for more information on the GRE.

Quick Look at the GRE

Verbal Reasoning (60 minutes)

• 40 questions
• Score range: 200-800
• Content: reading, analytical reasoning, vocabulary
• CMU courses with relevant content: ENG 101, ENG 201

Quantitative Reasoning (70 minutes)

• 40 questions
• Score range: 200-800
• Content: basic math, algebra, geometry, data analysis
• CMU courses with relevant content: MTH 105, MTH 107, MTH 130

Analytical Writing (60 minutes)

• 2 essays (30 minutes/essay)
• Score range: 0-6
• Content: grammar, writing ability, data interpretation, analytical reasoning
• CMU courses with relevant content: ENG 101, ENG 201

When do students take the GRE?

Usually in the spring or early summer after your junior year

Where is the GRE administered?

On CMU's campus and in several locations throughout Michigan

What is the cost of the GRE?

$160, which covers the cost of sending scores to 4 graduate programs; additional fee is charged for score reports beyond the 4

How should you prepare for the GRE?

• Begin at least 3 months before your test date
• Questions emphasize problem-solving abilities, not rote memorization
• Essential to obtain practice tests

VCAT (Veterinary College Admissions Test)

In order to register for the VCAT you will need to complete the following:

• Create a VCAT user account
• Register for the VCAT
• Take the test

Click here for more information on the VCAT.

Quick Look at the VCAT

Verbal Reasoning (30 minutes)

• 50 questions
• Score range: 100-300

Biology (30 minutes)

• 50 questions
• Score range: 100-300

Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)

• 40 questions
• Score range: 100-300

Quantitative Ability (25 minutes)

• 40 questions
• Score range: 100-300

Chemistry (25 minutes)

• 50 questions
• Score range: 100-300

What is the cost of the VCAT?

$50

How should you prepare for the VCAT?

• Begin at least 3 months before your test date
• Questions emphasize problem-solving abilities, not rote memorization
• Essential to obtain practice tests
  
  

MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test)

In order to register for the MCAT you will need to complete the following:

• Create an AAMC user account by clicking here
• Register for MCAT by clicking here
• Take the test

For more information on the MCAT: Medical College Admissions Test

Quick Look at the MCAT

Physical Science (70 minutes)

• 52 questions
• Score range: 1-15
• Content: general chemistry, physics
• CMU courses with relevant content: CHM 131, CHM 132, PHY 130, PHY 170

• 40 questions
• Score range: 1-15
• Content: evaluate and apply information and arguments presented in prose from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences

Writing Sample (60 minutes)

• 2 essays
• Score range: J-T
• Content: 2 essay questions which test your ability to formulate and communicate an argument and convey complex ideas
• CMU courses with relevant content: ENG 101, ENG 201

Biological Sciences (70 minutes)

• 52 questions
• Score range: 1-15
• Content: biology, organic chemistry
• CMU courses with relevant content: BIO 110, BIO 208, BIO 324, BIO 326, BIO 392, CHM 345, CHM 346
  

Where is the MCAT administered?

On CMU's campus and in several locations throughout Michigan

What is the cost of the MCAT?

$240

How should you prepare for the MCAT?

• Begin at least 3 months before your test date
• Questions emphasize problem-solving abilities, not rote memorization
• Essential to obtain practice tests
• Look for perceptual ability practice tests online

Experience in Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary medicine is an animal health and production-oriented profession. Most admission committees consider animal experience to be an important preparation for the curriculum. Animal experience includes such things as breeding, rearing, feeding, and showing various species of companion animals, livestock, laboratory animals, zoo animals, or wildlife.

A basic knowledge of the veterinary profession is best gained by closely observing the role of the various members of the health care team in a traditional practice setting. It is expected by most veterinary schools that candidates will exhibit a confirmed interest and motivation in a veterinary career by participating in career-related activities such as job shadowing, community service and other volunteer opportunities. Having strong career experiences and life accomplishments will allow you to validate your professionalism and maturity, which are strongly considered in the application process.

Other qualifications. Some veterinary medical colleges place heavy consideration on your veterinary and animal experience. Formal experience, such as work with veterinarians or scientists in clinics, is particularly advantageous. You must demonstrate ambition and an eagerness to work with animals.

To be a veterinarian, you should love animals and have the ability to get along with their owners. You need good manual dexterity and should also possess excellent communication and business skills.

Michigan Veterinary School

• Michigan State University – College of Veterinary Medicine
  
  

Apply to Veterinary Schools

Most veterinary schools use the VMCAS (Veterinary Medical Colleges' Application Service) site as a centralized application site.

• To apply, visit https://portal.vmcas.org/
• Create a new account
• Submit our application accurately but early if possible
  
  

Course Requirements

The choice of an undergraduate major while preparing for veterinary school is not especially critical for successful admission, but the selection of certain coursework and the right combination of sciences, social and behavioral sciences and electives is.

Certain basic requirements must be fulfilled before you can be accepted to a veterinary school. These requirements include:

• 1 year Inorganic Chemistry with labs
• 1 year Organic Chemistry with labs
• 1 year Physics with labs
• 1 year Biology with labs
• 1 semester Biochemistry
• 1 semester Nutrition
• 1 semester Cell Biology* (Michigan State University College of Vet. Med. requirement)
• 1 semester Genetics
• Pre-Calculus

Below are the CMU courses we recommend to meet these requirements:

Some veterinary schools may have additional courses required or recommended. Review the admission requirements of the veterinary schools you plan on applying in advance.

All required courses must be taken for a grade. Each school has its own policy regarding AP credit. Usually, AP credit in these areas should be followed with additional upper level work in the discipline including labs.

Additional Courses

To further strengthen you application and your ability to succeed in veterinary school, here are some additional CMU courses you could take:

 

Pre-Veterinary Club

The Pre-Veterinary Club prepares students for a future in veterinary medicine and provides opportunities to learn more about the profession.

The club meets on Sundays at 8:00 PM.

For more information, please contact the club via e-mail at prevet_central@hotmail.com or through our faculty advisors:

 

Job Outlook

Veterinarians held about 61,400 jobs in 2010.

Excellent job opportunities are expected because there are only 28 accredited schools of veterinary medicine in the U.S., resulting in only 2,500 graduates each year.

Employment of veterinarians is expected to increase 36 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Job opportunities should be particularly good in government and in farm animal care.

Earnings

Median annual wages of veterinarians were $82,040 in May 2010. 

 

Online Resources

For information on a career as a veterinarian and a list of U.S. schools and colleges of veterinary medicine:

• American Veterinary Medical Association

For information on veterinary education:

• Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges

For general veterinary information:

• Explore Health Careers
• MSU College of Veterinary Medicine

Advisors

Pre-Health Professions Academic Advisor

Lisa E. Snider
Emmons Hall 136B
(989) 774-2711
snide1le@cmich.edu

Biology Faculty Advisors