Post-baccalaureate degree: DVM
Veterinarians specialize in providing medical care for domestic food animals, pets, zoo animals and those of the wild. Part of their activities are also providing for the health of the human population by controlling animal diseases such as rabies and mad cow disease. In addition they inspect our meats, fish and milk to keep these foods safe for us.
For more detailed information, please consult with advisor from Departtment of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture.
Minimum Pre-requisites for Admission in General
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is required
- Each program has its own prerequisites. Check specific school for detail prerequisites. Admission Requirements for specific by Veterinary Medical school (http://www.avma.org)
- General Course prerequisites include the following:
- 1 year of English
- 1 year of General (inorganic) Chemistry with Laboratory
- 1 year of Organic Chemistry with Laboratory
- 1 course of Biochemistry
- 1 year of College Mathematics including College Algebra, College Trigonometry, Calculus and/or Statistics
- 1 year of General Biology with Laboratory
- 1 year of Physics with Laboratory
- Highly recommended courses: Animal Nutrition, Animal Husbandry, Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals, Genetics of Domestic Animals, Mammalian Endocrinology, Genetics, Microbiology, Immunology, Medical Bacteriology, Virology, Medical Mycology, Cell, Molecular, and developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Concepts of Molecular Biology, Anatomy, Embryology, Animal Physiology, Histology etc.
Animal Experience Requirements
Minimum 300 hours veterinary-related experience through internship and/or externship
Tests Needed: GRE or MCAT or VCAT
Online MCAT registration is available on the AAMC website
GRE, MCAT, VCAT Prep Courses
Association
Application Service
California Veterinary Schools
Suggested Time Table
Make an appointment to see your pre-professional advisor at least once every year.
Freshman Year
- Decide the major(s) (Make an appointment to see a Career Counselor in Career Center at Cal Poly)
- Consider joining Student Club (Student Organization) in the Departments of Biological Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, etc
- Stay focused to achieve excellent academic performance (Most Medical schools will accept only students with a minimum 3.5 GPA)
- Participate health-related volunteer opportunities
Sophomore Year
- Take the time to develop relationships with faculty members for future letter of recommendations
- Continue to participate in health-related volunteer opportunities
Junior Year
- Study for entry exam
- Consider enrolling in commercial prep courses
- Start getting the necessary application information ready
- Take the entry exam
Summer between Junior and Senior Year
- Complete collecting and preparing all the necessary materials for your application: personal statement, letter of recommendations, entry exam scores, etc.
- Submit the application after June 1st (earliest time)
- Retake the entry exam if you have not taken the first exam or you want to get a better score
- Complete the "secondary applications" if you receive them
Senior Year
- If you were granted an interview, schedule a mock interview with your Pre-professional advisor for the upcoming interview
- Complete your undergraduate studies and have a nice vacation before professional school starts.
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