So many veterinary schools -where do I begin? This blog post offers various tips and tricks on how to take your 20+ Veterinary School choices down to a more feasible list.
With 30 U.S. and about 11 international AVMA accredited Veterinary Schools- where do you even begin? Like many of you, when asked,” where do you want to go?” I commonly would respond with,”wherever I get accepted to!”. Though it is possible to apply to EVERY school, the reality is- it’s not worth your time trying to fill each and every prerequisite course for the various requirements, nor would I suggest paying for that many application send outs with the initial being $220, and each one after costing $110 just to send out!
If you’re wondering how many veterinary schools you should apply to check out this resource: https://howigotintoveterinaryschool.com/how-many-vet-schools-should-i-apply-to/ that goes through various student cases of how many colleges they applied for & where they got into. Unfortunately there is no magical- statistical number for the number of colleges you should apply to as it’s all conditional and varies for each candidate!
1) Do you meet the prerequisites?
The absolute most important thing to look for is DO I MEET ALL THE PREREQUISITES? Without these courses, you will automatically be disqualified and the rest of your application will not be looked at by the college you’re applying to.
Please refer to the Fulfilling Veterinary School Prerequisites at UCSB blog post to understand which classes to take while at UCSB. Here are two fantastic resources that lay out the various colleges' pre-requisite requirements:
Make sure to keep in mind the unit conversion (2 semester units = 3 quarter units). Utilize this unit calculator to cross reference your course units to the amount of units needed.
NOTE: If you are unsure if a course you took meets a requirement, email the admissions team of that school! They are very helpful at clarifying course requirements as well as exact units needed. ***Be sure to keep any and all class syllabi!*** save them into one folder on your computer as it will help admissions get direct clarity on whether you have met a requirement or not. Here is a syllabi bank - that includes many (but not all) syllabi at UCSB. Utilize your UCSB email to login.
Eliminate any colleges that you do not meet the requirements for off your list!
2. Establish your priorities (Other requirements, Cost, Location, Programs offered, curriculum)
The following may vary between individuals- it is up to you which of these play more importance in your process of elimination
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Are you willing to take the GRE? Do you meet the minimum GPA? Have enough animal/ veterinary experience?
COST:
How much are you willing to pay to attend?
Check each college website to see their financial breakdown. One thing to keep in mind is if they offer in-state tuition after a year or two of residency (ex. Washington State University & University of Illinois). Look into if the college offers any scholarships. Here is a great cost comparison tool: https://www.aavmc.org/becoming-a-veterinarian/funding-your-degree/cost-comparison-tool/
LOCATION:
Ask yourself: How far are you willing to live away from family? What is the surrounding area like? How is the weather? Are you willing to live abroad?
While you may be focusing on school- you are spending the next 3-4 years of your life in that area! Depending on how often you’d like to see family/ relatives, wherever you attend veterinary school will be your home. Veterinary school is already hard, and having the extra stress of not being comfortable where you live will only add on to that stress.
Watch youtube videos, look up the schools location on a map, do what you can to get a sense of the area- and ask yourself: do I see myself living here?
PROGRAMS OFFERED:
Though this one may not hold as much traction, if you have your heart set on a specific area- it may serve you to check out any special programs the school may offer. These may include: dual degree programs, programs related to wildlife or aquatic medicine, etc. This information can usually be found on their website, but don’t be discouraged if you cannot find a specific program- as many colleges have clubs and organizations you can get involved with.
CURRICULUM:
If possible, check out their curriculum breakdown. How are the courses taught? This may be traditional course breakdown, or problem- based learning (Cornell & Western Health). Do you want large or small class sizes?
3. Get Organized!
Once you have been able to have a set list in mind, get them organized!
Here is template for a way to organize your veterinary colleges, feel free to make a copy for your own personal use.
Armed with the resources you have, you can now confidently craft that list of veterinary schools!
Choosing Veterinary Schools is a very timely process, it involves a lot of individual research and can be overwhelming at times- but don’t forget to take breaks, breath, and remind yourself all this work you’re putting in is for a reason. Start early to save yourself the stress later! There’s no better time than now to start working towards your aspirations :)
You got this!!
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