Information for High School Students
Thinking about your future? Becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), or veterinarian,
involves a program of academic preparation that takes approximately eight years to
complete. Most applicants to a veterinary medical professional school have already
completed three to four years of undergraduate courses (to meet for the DVM program) and the majority have earned a bachelor's degree. Once admitted
into veterinary school, the UAF/CSU DVM program is an additional four years of education
in upper-division biomedical sciences and clinical procedures courses.
If you are seriously considering a future career as a veterinarian, you should start preparing now for admission to college. High school courses which will provide the best foundation for the DVM prerequisite courses are:
- 4 years of English
- 3 or 4 years of mathematics
- 2 or 3 years of laboratory science (chemistry, physics, and biology)
These courses usually form the basic requirements of many life science baccalaureate programs such as animal sciences, zoology, biology, environmental health, and microbiology.
There are several undergraduate degree tracks at the ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ that cover many of the DVM prerequisite courses. The three undergraduate degrees that cover the most DVM prerequisites in their core requirements are: BS Wildlife Biology & Conservation, BS Biological Sciences, and BS Natural Resources and Environment (with pre-vet track). However, DVM prerequisite courses can be completed as elective courses while pursuing any undergraduate degree program. It is strongly recommended that you choose an undergraduate degree you have genuine interest in. This is to ensure you have a good backup plan if you change your mind or do not get accepted into veterinary school.
What you can do NOW to strengthen your future veterinary school application
More people apply for admission to veterinary medicine schools than can be admitted. In choosing the most qualified applicants, the admissions committee looks at candidates academic history, life experiences, and their potential as a successful veterinarian.
Quality of Academic History: Academic history is one of the critical factors considered in the evaluation process. The evaluation of academic success is a broad assessment that does not consider GPAs. The assessment includes: number of credits, quality, and recent performance in upper-level biomedical science courses, quality of the academic programs you have previously participated in, ability to carry a full schedule of rigorous coursework, employment during academic terms relative to credit load, course and degree variety, and special circumstances.
As you complete your undergraduate degree, work with your academic advisor to ensure you are maintaining a full schedule that meets undergraduate degree requirements and the veterinary medicine prerequisite courses. Keep a log of hours worked (or volunteered) while attending school.
Life Experiences: Some examples of the types of experience they look for are: Animal related 4-H projects and activities, Medical Explorer Scouts, hobbies, and paid or volunteer work on farms or ranches, in pet stores, kennels, animal shelters, research laboratories, and veterinary clinics. It is also important to gain life and leadership experience through opportunities outside of veterinary medicine in other types of jobs, community service, church, extracurricular school activities & organizations, etc. to be considered well-rounded.
Keep a log of all animal related work and activities you participate in (personal pet ownership does not count). This log will be very useful when you go through the application process. It will be easier to have a list of experiences you can draw from in front of you when writing essays and responses than if you're trying to write from memory. It will also help you calculate a more exact number of hours you've spent gaining animal experience.
Potential as a Successful DVM: The successful veterinarian of the future will need a host of additional skills and strengths to lead the profession. These include: Clarity and vision with respect to the evolving role of the veterinarian and the role of veterinary medicine in our global future (One Health); Demonstrated leadership skills and active involvement in socially relevant community service; Strong interpersonal and communication skills demonstrated through a history of relating professionally, empathetically, tactfully, and cooperatively with groups and individuals in a variety of demanding situations; demonstration of the ability to communicate intentions and information, orally and in writing, in a manner that is well-received and understood at all levels; High integrity, problem solving, strong work ethic, excellent judgment, and a commitment to excellence.
Potential as a successful DVM can be expressed through your life experiences and through letters of recommendation (required part of the application process). Select your references carefully. If you haven't already, start building a working relationship with them now! Ensure the people you choose to write your letters of recommendation really know who you are, and share your educational and career goals with them. We suggest the following for references: one from a veterinarian, one from an academic source, and one from an employment or personal source. Ultimately, select recommenders with whom you are most comfortable, with at least one being a veterinarian. Recommendations that can speak to both academic and non-academic experiences will provide valuable insights - these can be from faculty, advisors, or supervisors, for example.
Pre-Vet Advising
If you would like to schedule a personal pre-vet advising appointment, contact us at uaf-vet-med@alaska.edu. Please include at least one paragraph explaining your background, career goals, and a resume (or similar) prior to the appointment. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your parents to the appointment so that they will know what type of commitment you are working toward and the costs involved.