Overview:
Veterinarians are healthcare professionals who complete a doctoral degree (DVM) and are licensed to diagnose, treat, and help prevent illness and injury in animals. They examine animals, take medical histories from owners, perform and interpret diagnostic tests, develop treatment plans, prescribe medications, and provide guidance on preventive care, nutrition, and animal welfare. Veterinarians work in a variety of settings, including private clinics, animal hospitals, farms, zoos, wildlife centers, and research labs.
Some careers that are like Veterinary but do not require as much preparation include Veterinary Technician (Vet Tech) and Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA).
A Vet Tech works alongside veterinarians to care for animals. Vet techs perform many hands-on medical tasks, including collecting lab samples, taking X-rays, administering medications, assisting with surgery, and monitoring patients. They typically complete a two-year degree and earn professional credentials.
A Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) is a new mid-level veterinary profession established in Colorado, similar to a physician assistant in human medicine. VPAs complete a Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care at CSU and work under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. They are trained to diagnose common medical conditions in dogs and cats, perform routine surgeries, and order diagnostic tests and procedures. The VPA role helps expand access to veterinary care by managing routine cases, allowing veterinarians to focus on more complex patients.
For additional information on the veterinary career path visit: https://explorehealthcareers.org/careers/veterinary-medicine/veterinarian/
Explore:
What major should I choose? When preparing for a career in veterinary medicine, prerequisite requirements can vary between programs. Most science-based majors will cover many of the common prerequisites needed for veterinary programs.
When choosing a major, we recommend selecting one you’re genuinely interested in. Students who do so often earn higher GPAs, which is an important factor when applying to graduate and professional programs.
How do you find accredited vet programs? You can find accredited programs using the veterinary school directory. When selecting programs students are encouraged to research programs based on factors such as admission requirements, prerequisite coursework, healthcare experience requirements, location, cost, program length, and overall fit.
Prepare:
Recommended Coursework:
*These courses are intended as general prerequisite guidelines and may not include all requirements. Students are responsible for reviewing the specific prerequisite coursework and course equivalencies required by each veterinary program they are considering.
CSU Recommended Courses
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General Biology (2 semesters w/lab) | LIFE 102 and LIFE 103 |
General Chemistry (2 semesters w/ labs) | CHEM 111/112 and CHEM 113/114 |
Organic Chemistry (1- 2 semesters w/lab) | CHEM 245/246 or CHEM 341, 343 and 344
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General Physics (1- 2 semesters w/lab) | PH 121 and PH 122 or PH 141 and PH 142 |
Biochemistry (1 semester) | BC 351 |
Physiology (1 semester) | BMS 300 or BZ 401 or ANEQ 305 |
Genetics (1 semester) | BZ 350 or ANEQ 328 or LIFE 201B or SOCR 330 |
Statistics (1 semester) | STAT 301 or STAT 307 |
Cellular Biology (1 semester) | BZ 310 or LIFE 210 or MIP 250 |
Highly recommended courses (animal anatomy, microbiology with lab, animal nutrition, medical terminology, or other upper-level science coursework) | BMS 305, MIP 300/302, ANEQ 320, OT 215 |
How to create a competitive application
Building a competitive veterinary school application involves more than meeting minimum admission requirements. Successful applicants often demonstrate strong academic performance, complete upper-level science coursework, gain meaningful veterinary supervision and animal experience hours, participate in research, leadership, or community service, and have a clear understanding of their motivation for pursuing veterinary medicine. Gaining experience with different species and in a variety of settings can help add diversity to your application.
Veterinary Experience/Shadowing:
Many veterinary schools encourage or require applicants to gain experience working directly with or under the supervision of a veterinarian. Veterinary hours can be completed through paid positions, such as veterinary assistant or veterinary technician roles, or through volunteer and shadowing opportunities at veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, shelters, or other organizations where students can observe and interact with veterinarians.
Undergraduate research:
While not required for admission, it is highly recommended that students participate in research. For more information about undergraduate research at CSU, visit the Office for Undergraduate Research & Artistry page.
Animal Experience Hours:
Animal experience hours involve working directly with animals in settings where a veterinarian may not be present or providing supervision. These experiences help students develop animal handling skills, gain exposure to animal behavior and welfare, and demonstrate a commitment to working with animals.
Volunteering and Extracurricular Activities:
While there are no specific requirements for volunteer and extracurricular activities, it is highly encouraged that students gain other experiences that improve transferable skills/career competencies and create a more competitive candidate.
Pre-vet Club:
For information on how to join check out the website.
Apply:
Possible Entrance Exams:
Most vet programs do not require standardized tests. However, some programs may require applicants to complete the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or the CASPer (a situational judgement assessment).
Letters of Recommendation or Evaluation:
- Most veterinary schools require 3 letters of recommendation and will allow students to submit more.
- Many programs require or encourage letters from veterinarians, science professors, or other academic or professional references.
- Consider individuals who can speak to your academic ability, clinical readiness, and personal character.
- Program requirements vary, so be sure to verify each program’s requirements before applying.
Application Service:
- To apply to vet programs, you will need to utilize the VMCAS.
- To apply to Texas programs, you will need to utilize the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).
- Gather transcripts, experiences, letters of recommendation, and personal statements and essays.
- Submit applications by the deadline, usually mid-September.
- Complete any supplemental essays by their designated deadline.
- Need help with the application? Check out the VMCAS Help Center.
Personal Statements:
The personal statement for vet schools is typically limited to 3,000–3,500 characters (approximately one page). In this essay, applicants can highlight meaningful experiences with animals, demonstrate an understanding of the veterinary profession, and reflect on their commitment to animal health and welfare. Because it is an important part of the holistic review process, students should take time to reflect on their experiences, academic journey, and long-term career goals when drafting their essay. Check out our website for personal statement resources.
Resources:
Timeline: This timeline may not apply to every student and can vary depending on transfer credits, academic preparation, and other individual circumstances.
Freshman and Sophomore year: |
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Junior year- Fall: |
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Junior Year – Dec-March: |
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Junior Year- Spring-Summer: |
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Senior Year: |
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FAQ
How many vet schools should I apply for?
Many students apply to 4-5 vet schools. It is highly dependent upon financial aspects, competitiveness of your application, and preferred program location.
How do I report AP credits on VMCAS?
AP credits are accepted by many vet schools. However, the reporting process on the application requires a few additional steps. If you earned AP or IB credit before attending CSU, be aware that your unofficial transcript in Ramweb lists each exam subject, the CSU course equivalent, and the number of credits earned. However, your official CSU transcript only lists the total AP or IB credits awarded and does not include the individual subjects or course equivalents. If you plan to use AP or IB credit to satisfy veterinary school prerequisites, you should enter those credits in VMCAS as they appear on your unofficial transcript. When ordering your official CSU transcript through VMCAS, you will also need to obtain a “test verification letter/AP credit letter” from your Ramweb that you add as an attachment when ordering your transcripts. This letter confirms the AP/IB course details you entered in VMCAS. You will find this letter under the menu in the records section of your Ramweb.
Do my Honors seminars cover all core requirements for vet schools (arts/hum/social/behavior sciences)?
In some cases, your honors credits will meet those requirements. However, it’s important to double-check each school’s requirements and make sure you not only meet the subject requirement but the credit requirement.
How do I report honors seminars to VMCAS?
Students in the Honors Program at CSU may want to use some or all honors seminar credits to cover prerequisite requirements. You will need to ask the Honors Office for a letter that will outline how the seminars ‘work’. Always be sure to check with each veterinary school to make sure they will accept the seminars to cover the credits you hope they will cover. This may require sending the letter via email to check with each vet school’s admissions office. You do NOT need to send this letter to CSU’s Veterinary School. In ‘Special Circumstances’ on the CSU Supplemental and for the Explanation Statement in VMCAS, state that your Honors Seminar credits should cover the English Comp and 12 arts & humanities/behavior & social sciences credits.
How do I find animal experience hours?
These hours can be obtained through paid or volunteer positions such as working at a dog daycare, grooming facility, boarding kennel, animal shelter, farm, equine riding facility, wildlife rehabilitation center, or other animal care organizations.
How do I find vet supervision hours?
It is recommended that you start reaching out to vet clinics early on in your undergraduate to find volunteer/shadowing hours. Some programs may have a number of hours you need to obtain before applying.
How do I track or log my experiences?
No specific documentation is needed to be signed by a veterinarian or submitted to VMCAS. We recommend starting a document or spreadsheet including location, contact information, date ranges of your experience, total number of hours, and a brief description of what you observed or participated in.
Do prerequisites expire?
Many programs require science prerequisites to be completed within the last 5-10 years.
What GPA is competitive for vet schools?
This is highly dependent upon the vet program. Most vet programs have a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0, but average applicants typically have GPAs around 3.4 – 3.7.
When do I apply?
Vet schools typically use non-rolling admissions, meaning applicants are not reviewed until after the application deadline. This means that most students should submit their application from mid to late August or early September.