4 answers
Rhiley
Student
Honea Path, South Carolina
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What colleges are best for veterinary degrees?
What colleges are best for veterinary degrees?
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4 answers
Emily Nauss
Training Manager
4
Answers
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Emily’s Answer
Great choice to want to enter Veterinary medicine!
Vet med is a great path and a rewarding career. I have many friends who entered the industry. there is not any specific undergrad colleges that really offer a "veterinary degree" that comes as a post grad program. Most individuals who end up going into vet med and getting into a vet school will obtain a BS in biology, Chemistry, or other natural sciences. The reason for this is because of the vet school prerequisites. Most Vet schools require certain levels of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, statistics and Biochemistry classes. however; the biggest aspect with pre-reqs are "hands on" animal care hours. Some of these need to be animal care under the supervision of a vet or an animal care professional, and some hours can be not under the supervision. i.e if you worked or volunteered at a equine barn. There are some schools and universities who have resources that offer the hands on animal experiences as part of your education, but truly it's not necessary if you are able to connect with a vet clinic as a vet tech or under and internship as well.
Just so you know, there are only 32 vet schools in the US and obviously, the competition is VERY tough, even harder than Med schools, so having great grades, and really ensuring that you are covering all the prerequisites that each vet school needs during your undergrad, allows you to have a strong chance of getting in! Also, the vet schools used to have agreements to really encourage residents to attend the local vet school, so I would try to identify the closest vet school to you and really review their requirements as well.
Research the prerequisites for the 32 vet schools, try to tailor their requirements.
Do a vet school tour! They welcome people who are in undergrad or even High School
Vet med is a great path and a rewarding career. I have many friends who entered the industry. there is not any specific undergrad colleges that really offer a "veterinary degree" that comes as a post grad program. Most individuals who end up going into vet med and getting into a vet school will obtain a BS in biology, Chemistry, or other natural sciences. The reason for this is because of the vet school prerequisites. Most Vet schools require certain levels of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, statistics and Biochemistry classes. however; the biggest aspect with pre-reqs are "hands on" animal care hours. Some of these need to be animal care under the supervision of a vet or an animal care professional, and some hours can be not under the supervision. i.e if you worked or volunteered at a equine barn. There are some schools and universities who have resources that offer the hands on animal experiences as part of your education, but truly it's not necessary if you are able to connect with a vet clinic as a vet tech or under and internship as well.
Just so you know, there are only 32 vet schools in the US and obviously, the competition is VERY tough, even harder than Med schools, so having great grades, and really ensuring that you are covering all the prerequisites that each vet school needs during your undergrad, allows you to have a strong chance of getting in! Also, the vet schools used to have agreements to really encourage residents to attend the local vet school, so I would try to identify the closest vet school to you and really review their requirements as well.
Emily recommends the following next steps:
Sean Heckler
Client Foundation Financial Advisor
5
Answers
Weehawken, New Jersey
Updated
Sean’s Answer
Hi Rhiley!
After a quick google search, I found an article from USNews.com that ranked schools with veterinary graduate programs. The top 3 are UC Davis, Cornell University, and Colorado State University
After a quick google search, I found an article from USNews.com that ranked schools with veterinary graduate programs. The top 3 are UC Davis, Cornell University, and Colorado State University
Michael Holzhauser-Alberti
Veterinarian
31
Answers
Urbana, Illinois
Updated
Michael’s Answer
The best veterinary school to go to is :
Thank you for your question. It implies comparing veterinary schools. In my answer I'm going to try to stress another approach. The best veterinary college for you to go to is the one that is right for you. Your success in preparing for veterinary school acceptance and going through veterinary school, passing the board examination to become license, depends on the goal you define for yourself.
I realize that veterinary schools prepare veterinarians that have to be good across a broad range of specialties; veterinarians, for example, have to know general anatomy for several species. That being said, many of my colleagues had an idea of where they wanted to end up in: I wanted to do something in pharmaceuticals, someone else wanted to go into dairy practice, others were interested in surgery.
Once you have defined that for yourself, it becomes easier to look at what a school actually has to offer. One vet school may be particularly well suited because you want to become a swine veterinarian and this school has several veterinary professors that are specialists in swine medicine and swine heard health. This school may be in a part of the country where swine herds are more present. Then this is the school you need to apply to, regardless of its ranking. If a school is an officially licensed school to deliver the DVM degree, then the rest of the education is up to par and adheres to the standards necessary for the diploma and subsequent licensing.
Why define this for yourself? Because in your higher education, there will be moments where things get tough and you may be discouraged. Because you have defined that goal for yourself, it allows you to stay motivated, push through the rough spots where you have to just stick it out, to get to the next level where you are once again doing something you like or even love. If you were to just pick a school because it is the best or better than another, well, that doesn't allow you that connection to your intrinsic motivation. That's my advice for you.
Thank you for your question. It implies comparing veterinary schools. In my answer I'm going to try to stress another approach. The best veterinary college for you to go to is the one that is right for you. Your success in preparing for veterinary school acceptance and going through veterinary school, passing the board examination to become license, depends on the goal you define for yourself.
I realize that veterinary schools prepare veterinarians that have to be good across a broad range of specialties; veterinarians, for example, have to know general anatomy for several species. That being said, many of my colleagues had an idea of where they wanted to end up in: I wanted to do something in pharmaceuticals, someone else wanted to go into dairy practice, others were interested in surgery.
Once you have defined that for yourself, it becomes easier to look at what a school actually has to offer. One vet school may be particularly well suited because you want to become a swine veterinarian and this school has several veterinary professors that are specialists in swine medicine and swine heard health. This school may be in a part of the country where swine herds are more present. Then this is the school you need to apply to, regardless of its ranking. If a school is an officially licensed school to deliver the DVM degree, then the rest of the education is up to par and adheres to the standards necessary for the diploma and subsequent licensing.
Why define this for yourself? Because in your higher education, there will be moments where things get tough and you may be discouraged. Because you have defined that goal for yourself, it allows you to stay motivated, push through the rough spots where you have to just stick it out, to get to the next level where you are once again doing something you like or even love. If you were to just pick a school because it is the best or better than another, well, that doesn't allow you that connection to your intrinsic motivation. That's my advice for you.
Dhriti Nigudkar
Training Financial Advisor
5
Answers
Weehawken, New Jersey
Updated
Dhriti’s Answer
Some of the best colleges in my opinion are:
1. North Carolina State University
2. University of California- Davis
3. University of Georgia
Good luck ahead! :)
1. North Carolina State University
2. University of California- Davis
3. University of Georgia
Good luck ahead! :)