4 answers
Elliette
Student
North Adams, Massachusetts
1
Question
Asked
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In order to go into Pre-Vet should you look into veterinary schools or schools with medical fields?
I’m looking into a career as a veterinarian. UMASS Dartmouth was proposed to me, though I’m not entirely sure what to look for. #veterinarian #veterinary-medicine #veterinarian #college
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4 answers
Alison Goldberg
Career Counselor/Therapist
2
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Alison’s Answer
I would suggest looking into your local community college to find out about vet tech programs. They are typically 2 year certificate/AA/AS programs. You could transfer to a 4 year program from there. This would likely be more cost effective.
Also search Onetonline.org and it can provide you with a link to training programs. Compare some different programs. You can research coursework for medical related majors and compare to veterinary major.
Explore onetonline.org
Look into local community colleges
Research various degree programs to compare coursework
Also search Onetonline.org and it can provide you with a link to training programs. Compare some different programs. You can research coursework for medical related majors and compare to veterinary major.
Alison recommends the following next steps:
Great answer!
Rita Gleason
Cheryl Haller
High School College Advisor
43
Answers
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Updated
Cheryl’s Answer
You need a solid undergraduate degree (bachelor's degree) before you can apply to vet school. I personally like pre-vet programs because they aim to help you prepare for vet school, but as other posts suggest, this is not your only option.
Here are some other colleges to add to your list. U Mass makes tons of sense because of in-state tuition and it is a top ranked program. You are on the right track! Here are some listings that explain why some programs such as U Mass are highly regarded.
https://www.ivywise.com/ivywise-knowledgebase/resources/article/dr-kats-list-five-colleges-for-future-veterinarians/
https://www.universities.com/programs/pre-veterinary-studies-degrees
https://www.collegemajors101.com/college-majors/pre-veterinary-medicine/1929/accredited-schools
Here are some other colleges to add to your list. U Mass makes tons of sense because of in-state tuition and it is a top ranked program. You are on the right track! Here are some listings that explain why some programs such as U Mass are highly regarded.
https://www.ivywise.com/ivywise-knowledgebase/resources/article/dr-kats-list-five-colleges-for-future-veterinarians/
https://www.universities.com/programs/pre-veterinary-studies-degrees
https://www.collegemajors101.com/college-majors/pre-veterinary-medicine/1929/accredited-schools
David Needle
Veterinary Pathologist
3
Answers
Durham, New Hampshire
Updated
David’s Answer
Hi,
This answer pertains to veterinary school - to earn a DVM (or at UPenn a VMD) and does not pertain to technician training.
You can go to veterinary school following completing all required coursework any accredited college or university. Multiple of my veterinary school classmates began their studies, or completed portions of the requirements at community colleges. One of my veterinary school classmates graduated from UMass Dartmouth, although she indicated this was not terribly common for that campus.
To have an application that fulfills the minimum requirements for review by the admissions committee you need to: a) complete all required courses, b) meet a minimum GPA requirement, c) usually achieve a certain GRE score, and d) have a certain number of contact hours with a veterinarian.
There are certainly some advantages to certain institutions, for example many more people have graduated from UMass Amherst and attended veterinary school than UMass Dartmouth. This is likely due to multiple factors, but the school and program can help. For example if two students with 3.8 GPAs applied and reviewed their application would you take the one from a little known school or the one from Princeton?
Regardless of where you go for your undergraduate education the required courses result in a rigorous basic science education that lay the foundation for learning comparative anatomy, physiology, pathology and medicine across species in veterinary school. The first degree you earn or institution where you train is not the most important - the last is!
Good luck!
This answer pertains to veterinary school - to earn a DVM (or at UPenn a VMD) and does not pertain to technician training.
You can go to veterinary school following completing all required coursework any accredited college or university. Multiple of my veterinary school classmates began their studies, or completed portions of the requirements at community colleges. One of my veterinary school classmates graduated from UMass Dartmouth, although she indicated this was not terribly common for that campus.
To have an application that fulfills the minimum requirements for review by the admissions committee you need to: a) complete all required courses, b) meet a minimum GPA requirement, c) usually achieve a certain GRE score, and d) have a certain number of contact hours with a veterinarian.
There are certainly some advantages to certain institutions, for example many more people have graduated from UMass Amherst and attended veterinary school than UMass Dartmouth. This is likely due to multiple factors, but the school and program can help. For example if two students with 3.8 GPAs applied and reviewed their application would you take the one from a little known school or the one from Princeton?
Regardless of where you go for your undergraduate education the required courses result in a rigorous basic science education that lay the foundation for learning comparative anatomy, physiology, pathology and medicine across species in veterinary school. The first degree you earn or institution where you train is not the most important - the last is!
Good luck!
Karen Ruiz León
BCC Community Outreach Counselor
17
Answers
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Updated
Karen’s Answer
Hi Elliette,
As Alison mentioned community colleges are a great way to get started. At Berkshire Community College, the Biological Science concentration in the Liberal Arts degree program provides a strong foundation in the sciences, as well as general education courses in mathematics, social sciences and the humanities. Students graduating from this program are prepared for transfer into baccalaureate programs in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, pharmacology, public health, pre-medical, pre-veterinary, pre-dental and related programs.
Here is the link to our program in case you need it:
https://berkshirecc.smartcatalogiq.com/Current/Catalog/Programs-Of-Study/Liberal-Arts/Biological-Science-A-A
As Alison mentioned community colleges are a great way to get started. At Berkshire Community College, the Biological Science concentration in the Liberal Arts degree program provides a strong foundation in the sciences, as well as general education courses in mathematics, social sciences and the humanities. Students graduating from this program are prepared for transfer into baccalaureate programs in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, pharmacology, public health, pre-medical, pre-veterinary, pre-dental and related programs.
Here is the link to our program in case you need it:
https://berkshirecc.smartcatalogiq.com/Current/Catalog/Programs-Of-Study/Liberal-Arts/Biological-Science-A-A