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What are good schools for a veterinary degree?
What schools offer the best training and education for a veterinary career? What schools are accredited that also aren’t difficult to be accepted to? #career #college #veterinarian #school #work #choice #medicine #medical #working student
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Elizabeth F’s Answer
Your undergraduate degree is an important step in getting a veterinary education, but WHERE you go isn't necessarily the most important thing to consider. If you graduate from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school, you will be eligible for licensing in the US. Some of the vet schools are known for work in one area more than others, but all fulfill the standards set by the AVMA to educate qualified veterinarians. Check out the list and think about where you might like to try to go. Your choice may be influenced by your state of residence - whether you live in a state that has a veterinary school, or is part of a regional program or a specific program between universities (ie UT/WA or NE/IA). It is almost always less expensive to stay in-state. if that is a factor for you.
As far as difficulty in getting in, that can really vary. Each veterinary school has a slightly different admissions process, and in general it is very competitive. Admissions committees what to see candidates that succeed in their coursework while demonstrating the ability to do well with a sizeable workload, and in general are also looking for experience with the veterinary profession and often commitment to community service as well.
Some people go to the same school for both undergraduate and graduate work - if that works for you then great, but remember that means 8 years at the same school. To make your undergrad decisions, you might start with thinking about where you would want to go to veterinary school, and work backwards from there. Each of the vet schools has a list of required courses that you will need to successfully complete before applying, and each of those schools usually has information somewhere in the admissions webpages about which undergrad schools their students come from each year. If you can identify veterinary schools that you might be interested in, check out their websites - they will all have information on prerequisite courses. If you can't find it, you should be able to contact their admissions office for that information.
One more suggestion: while you're in undergrad, take the opportunity to explore a little! This may be your last opportunity to take "fun" classes - check out other subjects and take the time to learn about things that you may not have a chance to learn later. (ie philosophy, music, another language, literature, etc) There is no rule that you can ONLY take your prereqs. Take advantage of the college experience to explore a little. Consider a semester or a year in another country (though that will likely have to wait until 2022)
you can find the list of AVMA- accredited veterinary schools here: https://www.avma.org/education/accredited-veterinary-colleges
Check with the admissions advisors at the vet schools that you are considering - they likely have information that helps in your choice
Check with veterinarians in your area and find out where they went to school, and their perspective on it.
As far as difficulty in getting in, that can really vary. Each veterinary school has a slightly different admissions process, and in general it is very competitive. Admissions committees what to see candidates that succeed in their coursework while demonstrating the ability to do well with a sizeable workload, and in general are also looking for experience with the veterinary profession and often commitment to community service as well.
Some people go to the same school for both undergraduate and graduate work - if that works for you then great, but remember that means 8 years at the same school. To make your undergrad decisions, you might start with thinking about where you would want to go to veterinary school, and work backwards from there. Each of the vet schools has a list of required courses that you will need to successfully complete before applying, and each of those schools usually has information somewhere in the admissions webpages about which undergrad schools their students come from each year. If you can identify veterinary schools that you might be interested in, check out their websites - they will all have information on prerequisite courses. If you can't find it, you should be able to contact their admissions office for that information.
One more suggestion: while you're in undergrad, take the opportunity to explore a little! This may be your last opportunity to take "fun" classes - check out other subjects and take the time to learn about things that you may not have a chance to learn later. (ie philosophy, music, another language, literature, etc) There is no rule that you can ONLY take your prereqs. Take advantage of the college experience to explore a little. Consider a semester or a year in another country (though that will likely have to wait until 2022)
Elizabeth F recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Thomas’s Answer
Here is a list of the top 5 universities in the US from US News:
1) University of California--Davis
2) Cornell University
3) Colorado State University
4) North Carolina State University
5) Ohio State University
Link: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/veterinarian-rankings
1) University of California--Davis
2) Cornell University
3) Colorado State University
4) North Carolina State University
5) Ohio State University
Link: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/veterinarian-rankings