Pre-Veterinary Students

What Does a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) Do?

Doctors of veterinary medicine have opportunities to engage in small and large animal practice, wildlife or exotic (zoo) animal medicine, teaching and research, public health work, livestock disease control and meat inspection, and biomedical research. They can be employed by pharmaceutical laboratories, state and county agencies, departments of agriculture, and various public health services. Veterinarians can also work to prevent the transmission of animal diseases to humans such as rabies and mad cow disease and to inspect meats, fish and milk products to ensure the health and safety of the general public.

What does it take to be a veterinarian?

• An inquiring mind and keen powers of observation
• Strong academic record
• A passion for scientific learning as well as a love and understanding of animals
• Ability to meet, talk, and work well with a variety of people

Preparing for Veterinary Medical School

There are only 28 veterinary schools in the United States; this makes for fierce competition, so get ready for lots of hard work to stay ahead of the pack. To apply, you must first complete 3-5 years of study at an accredited institution. The majority of students have a bachelor’s degree and some have completed graduate study.

There is no particular major required for veterinary medical school, just the prerequisite of certain science classes; you should check the specific admissions requirements for your schools of interest. The typical prerequisite courses include:

• 6-9 credits of biology or zoology with lab
• 6-8 credits of inorganic chemistry with lab
• 4-8 credits of organic chemistry with lab
• 3-4 credits of biochemistry with lab
• 6-8 credits of physics with lab
• 6 credits of English
• 3-6 credits of mathematics; some programs also require statistics
• 6-15 credits of humanities and social sciences

Veterinary Related Experience

We strongly recommend that you seek veterinary-related experience during your undergraduate years. Work or volunteer in veterinary clinics, farms, zoos, wildlife parks, aquariums or ranches.  Keep a record of the time you spend in each veterinary-related experience and the type of knowledge you gained from it so that you can later summarize the benefits of your experiences and accurately account for the amount of time you put into your endeavors. Working with a veterinarian will also help you decide if veterinary medicine is the right career for you.

Here are a few questions you should consider as you make your decision:

• What is the focus of the veterinary medical school’s training, and does it match my interests and needs?
• What is the structure of the curriculum in terms of what is taught and when?
• What academic resources are available?
• What services are available to the students?
• Where is the school located?  Most state-supported veterinary colleges give significant preference to state residents.

Applying to Veterinary Medical School

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The GRE is required for admission (note: some institutions will accept the MCAT).  This exam is administered in a computer-based format and consists of three separate sections:

• Analytical Writing: Tests your critical thinking and analytical writing skills
• Verbal: Gauges your ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it, to recognize relationships between words and concepts, and to reason with words in solving problems.
• Quantitative: Measures your basic mathematical skills, understanding of elementary mathematical concepts, and ability to reason and solve problems in a quantitative setting.

Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS)

The VMCAS is a centralized application service sponsored by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC).  Applicants need to complete only one application form which is then sent in standardized form to the veterinary medical schools you specify. Not all veterinary medical colleges participate and may have their own application processes.

Managing the Timing of the Application Process

Deadlines range from October 1-December 1; it is your responsibility to know the deadlines for each of the schools to which you apply. The VMCAS application opens in early June and it is important to read all of the information on their website, www.aavmc.or/vmcas, to ensure proper transmission of your applications either through VMCAS or the individual institutions.

Letters of Recommendation/Evaluation

The types of recommendation letters required vary by veterinary institution. VMCAS only accepts three letters, and each must be accompanied by a VMCAS evaluation form. VMCAS also has an electronic letters of recommendation (ELOR) process available on their website, www.aavmc.org/vmcas. Most schools prefer the three letters to be from:

• Academic advisor or faculty member
• Employer
• Veterinarian

Johns Hopkins has a health professions committee available for students applying to veterinary medical schools.  The committee letter will count as the academic letter from the above list and will not substitute the three letters.  If you wish to utilize the health professions committee, set up an appointment with Dr. Verrier for advice and instructions on how to set up a file at the Office.

The Interview

The interview serves two purposes: 1) the veterinary medical school is recruiting you and 2) the admissions committee is evaluating you as a prospective veterinary medical student. Make the most of this opportunity to present yourself in the best possible light. It is your chance to explain yourself, to demonstrate your poise and maturity, and to show that you are an interesting and attractive candidate.

Should you have any specific questions, feel free to call or visit the Office of Pre-Professional Advising any time to consult with a pre-health advisor.