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julissaortiz · Joined: 03 Aug 2009 Posts: 1

Hi I am going to be a senior in high school this year and looking into Veterinary school. I am currently working on volunteering in a pet hospital and working on applying for vet schools can you help me out on steps to appy for vet school or should I apply for other colleges before attending vet school. Please help I am new to this and trying to get all the info I can get. Thanks Confused

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Julissa

admin · Site Admin Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 169

Thank you for contacting the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) for information about how to begin your career in Veterinary Medicine. VMCAS is a centralized application service used by students to apply to any of the 33 VMCAS member colleges. VMCAS IS NOT A VET SCHOOL. We do not produce "packets" or brochures. General information regarding the veterinary profession and the application process can be found at our website, www.aavmc.org.

The AAVMC and its members appreciate your enthusiasm and interest in veterinary medicine. Believe it or not you have completed one of the most important and difficult stages of preparing for a career in veterinary medicine, getting an early start. It is very important to begin the educational and work experience process early.

Your education should include a strong background in the sciences. It is a must to becoming a successful Veterinarian. Taking extra biology, chemistry and even animal science courses, if available, would give you a strong foundation to begin in the field of veterinary medicine. Work experience could include volunteering or obtaining a position at any organization or workplace where you would be able to observe and get hands-on experience which will not only be very valuable, but will help you determine if becoming a Veterinarian is really for you. Some places to consider would be zoos, veterinary clinics, farms, pet shops and even nursing homes or hospitals.

Visiting our website at http://www.aavmc.org/ is a good second step. From our website you will be able to obtain valuable information on various programs the field of veterinary medicine has to offer. Information on programs ranging from Comparative Medicine to Agriculture can be found in the AAVMC career center located here: http://aavmc.org/students_admissions/career_center.htm

Speaking with established Veterinarians is another excellent resource to finding out how to get started as well as some dos and don’ts. Becoming a Veterinarian is a very rewarding and challenging process. The field of veterinary medicine not only helps and heals animals, but it is an integral part of human medicine. Veterinarians are involved in many aspects of our everyday life that go unnoticed, but are very important. Understanding the animals our food comes from, which pesticides are used for agriculture, FDA inspections and comparative medicine requires the knowledge of a skilled DVM. Keep in mind that all aspects of veterinary medicine are very important to all creatures of our planet. Veterinary medicine offers a vast field of opportunity, be sure to stay open-minded and do not limit yourself.

You may want to strongly consider visiting any nearby campuses and speaking to advisors and even students or professors about your aspiration to becoming a Veterinarian. Applying to veterinary medical college is a very competitive process. Good grades are essential. This is why it is very important to stay focused and acquire as much experience and scientific knowledge as is available to you. Another important fact is that because the veterinary medical college admissions process is so competitive, many schools/colleges give preference to resident applicants. So having a reputable veterinary medical program locally brings you that much closer to obtaining your goal. The cost of becoming a Veterinarian should carefully be planned as early as possible; the average Veterinarian attends post-secondary school for a minimum of 7 years. This includes undergraduate as well as veterinary school. Choosing a nearby veterinary college is one method parents and students use to cut costs.

Once again, we appreciate your interest in the field of veterinary medicine and wish you great success. Thank you for giving VMCAS the opportunity to provide you with a starting point.

For further information, please visit our website at www.aavmc.org or call the VMCAS Student/Advisor Hotline at 1(877) 862-2740, toll-free, or e-mail vmcas@aavmc.org.

Please feel free to contact us using the contact information provided below if you have any other questions.

Thank you kindly,

VMCAS Customer Service
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)
1101 Vermont Ave, NW #301
Washington, DC 20005

vmcas@aavmc.org
(Toll Free) 877-862-2740