The Pet Report

Veterinary school has become a very competitive field.  Applicants must make sure they have all of the prerequisite course requirements covered in undergraduate study, which sometimes requires that they take additional courses, above what was required for their Bachelor’s degree.  In addition, they must pass graduate entrance exams at the level required for the school of their choice.

Even if they pass all of these requirements, it is still not guaranteed that they will get into veterinary school, or that they will not be put on a waiting list for entrance.

Increasing the Chances

There are a few ways to increase veterinary school admission.  Choosing to get an undergraduate degree in veterinary technology is one of them.  By choosing this degree, it ensures that the student has taken all the necessary prerequisites for veterinary school, and it also gives the student hands-on experience in the field which will set them apart from other applicants.

Another way to increase chances for immediate admission into veterinary medical school is to score higher than required on the GRE, MCAT or VCAT exams.  The best way to achieve this is to take courses that are specifically designed to train the student to take those particular tests.  Finally, volunteering at the local animal shelter or working as a receptionist at a veterinary office in town are other great ways to get noticed when applying to veterinary school.

What to Expect from School

There are certain classes that every veterinary medical school student can expect to take.  Science courses like biology, microbiology and chemistry are essential foundations for other work.  Animal anatomy and physiology as well as animal medical technology and husbandry and diseases are also foundational classes.  Surgery principals, anesthesia and radiography are also taught in preparation for future specialization work.

Once the four year DVM degree is achieved, then the veterinarian must go on to specialize in a specific field.  Each specialty has a two year internship.  These specialties might be in laboratory medicine or preventative medicine.  They might cover surgery, radiology, oncology or internal medicine.  In addition, a veterinarian can specialize in nutrition, dentistry, ophthalmology, or pathology.

Once the internship is over, the veterinarian still in not ready to practice under their own license, being required to finish a three to four year residency requirement before taking the NAVLE, or North American Veterinary Licensing Exam.  In addition, state licensing exams may also have to be taken in order to become a licensed vet meeting that state’s regulations.