Pre-Veterinary Track

Veterinary school applicants have to consider the following:

  • Pre-requisite courses
  • GPA
  • GRE or VCAT test
  • extracurricular activities such as research and volunteer work
  • letters of recommendation

Most Veterinary Schools require that applicants have taken 8 credits in Biology, Physics, Calculus, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry (all courses with laboratory, except Calculus) and one year of English. 

At WPUNJ, we recommend biology majors pursuing veterinary medicine take the following science courses:

  • Biology: BIO1620 General Biology: EEB; BIO1630 General Biology: CBG; BIO2040 General Biology: Physiology; BIO2050 Cell Biology; BIO2060 Genetics
  • General Chemistry: CHEM1600 General Chemistry 1; CHEM1620 General Chemistry 2
  • Organic Chemistry: CHEM2570 Organic Chemistry 1; CHEM2580 Organic Chemistry 2
  • Physics: PHYS2550 College Physics 1
  • Mathematics: MATH1600 Calculus; MATH2300 Statistics

Upper-level Courses Required by all or almost all DVM programs:

  • Physics: PHYS2560 College Physics 2
  • Biochemistry: CHEM4270 Biochemistry

Upper-level Courses Required by some DVM programs:

  • Biology: BIO 3200 (Microbiology)

Upper-level Courses Recommended by some DVM programs:

  • Animal Physiology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Zoology
  • Parasitology
  • Neurophysiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genomics
  • Virology

Extra-curricular Priorities

  • Experience in a clinical animal setting (e.g. technician, shadowing)
  • Experience working with live animals in non-clinical settings (e.g. research, zoos, shelters, 4H)
  • Note that many entry-level positions working with animals are either unpaid (volunteer) or competitive such as internship programs. Paid positions often require specific skillsets which will need to be developed before one is competitive as a candidate.
  • Start finding extra-curricular opportunities early in your college career to be able to acquire a varied set of experiences and/or advance beyond entry-level work
  • Consider spending summers in regional or national internship programs

    Application Information

    • Standardized test info:

    The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required by most veterinary schools, and some also require the Biology GRE. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is also accepted by some schools in place of the GRE. Find out where you can take the exam and what preparation you need to succeed. For a listing of each accredited veterinary school's requirements, go to the AAVMC site at www.aavmc.org. More information can be found at http://www.ets.org/gre/.

    • GPA minimums:

    While minimum GPA requirements for veterinary school admission can vary by institution, a general guideline is a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a competitive science GPA of 3.5 or higher. Some schools may have lower minimums, while others prefer higher GPAs

    • Application cycle:

    The vet school application cycle typically begins with VMCAS opening in late January, allowing applicants to start filling out the application. Applications are then submitted to specific programs starting in mid-May, with a final deadline of September 15. Interviews begin as early as October and can continue through February, with some schools interviewing into early spring. 

    Veterinary College Application Service (VCAS)

    Association of American Veterinay Medical Colleges