Pre-Vet

Veterinarians must complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. Admission to veterinary programs is competitive and typically requires applicants to have taken many science classes, including biology, chemistry, and animal science. Most programs also require courses in math, the humanities, and the social science. The Pre-Vet Advising Program helps prepare you to become a competitive applicant for acceptance into veterinary schools.

No. At RIT, pre-vet is an advising program, not an academic major. The Pre-Vet Advising Program supplements your academic curriculum and provides support in becoming a competitive candidate for veterinary school admission.

The most common major for pre-vet students is biology because it offers a curriculum that fulfills veterinary school requirements. However, programs in chemistry, biochemistry, and biotechnology and molecular bioscience also include the required pre-requisite courses needed for vet school admission.

Careers in veterinary medicine are diverse and your choice of career path depends on your career goals and aspirations.

• Companion-animal veterinarians treat pets and generally work in private clinics and hospitals.
• Veterinary specialists specialize in particular areas of veterinary medicine, such as anesthesiology, dentistry, pathology, and surgery.
• Food-animal veterinarians work with farm and ranch animals (e.g., pigs, cattle, and sheep), which are raised as food sources.
• Food safety and inspection veterinarians inspect and test livestock and animal products to identify major animal diseases, and testing the safety of medications and additives.
• Research veterinarians conduct research to identify and improve methods for diagnosing, treating, and preventing health conditions in animals. They are often employed by government organizations, biomedical research firms, or universities.

You should contact the pre-vet advisors or Dr. Andre Hudson, Head of the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, and enroll as soon as you decide you want to pursue admission into veterinary school. Starting the process early ensures your course selections and curriculum meet the requirements for veterinary school admission. It’s recommended that prospective applicants take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) early in their undergraduate years. The program can assist you identifying internships around the country or locally to help you fulfill hours of direct animal care required by veterinary schools. Local internships include those at Seneca Park Zoo and Rochester Animal Services.

The goal of the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) is to ensure that you are given all the tools you need to prepare you to apply for admission to veterinary colleges. You will complete your VMCAS application through the VMCAS website and indicate which veterinary colleges you want VMCAS to submit your application submitted to. You may apply to admission to veterinary college a year in advance. Exploring the VMCAS website and understanding the application process and its requirement are crucial.

With an increase in consumer’s pet-related spending, employment of veterinarians is projected to grow by 18 percent from 2016 to 2026. With the advancement of veterinary medicine, today’s veterinarians offer many health care and treatment services that are comparable to those available to humans. Careers in veterinary medicine are diverse and growing. They include positions as veterinarians, veterinary technologists or technicians, veterinary assistants, and laboratory animal caretakers.