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Pre-Vet Studies: Extracurricular Activities

Truman State University

Extracurricular Activities

Nearly all students who apply to veterinary school will have strong grades and GRE scores. In order to stand out, an applicant must showcase how they utilize their spare time with meaningful social or academic enrichment.

Pursue Meaningful Experiences

Working to support yourself, volunteering in an appropriate health-care setting, and undergraduate (or graduate) research are the most common co-curricular and extra-curricular activities on student resumes. In addition, college organizations and fraternities offer many social and academic service opportunities where you can develop and practice important leadership skills. Even serving as a Teaching Assistant for a college professor can become a meaningful learning and leadership opportunity.

Veterinary schools also look for students who show dedication to causes and/or communities. These do not necessarily have to pertain to the health-care industry, but should demonstrate that you are capable of deep involvement and making a long-term commitment. In many cases, students will become involved, volunteer, or work in a health care setting to shadow a number of veterinarians and interact with patients.

Volunteering and Job Shadowing

The more time you spend volunteering, shadowing or employed with health-care professionals, the more convinced you will become that veterinary care is (or is not) the right path for you. Most veterinary schools require many hours of hands-on work with animals and in a clinical setting.

These types of experiences allow the student to demonstrate that they understand the day-to-day rigors of the profession and are still able to commit to a professional life-style that is very demanding of one’s time, energy, intellect, and in many cases, one’s integrity. In the process, students are also likely to glean information about issues important to the health-care industry, an increasingly important facet of becoming a compassionate veterinarian.

Need some ideas for shadowing or volunteering in Kirksville? See this resource on shadowing, volunteering, and employment.

Research

Students involved in research, regardless of the study topic, often demonstrate to the committee, among other things, that a prospective veterinary student is well versed in scientific inquiry, experimental design and, in cases where the outcome is a publication, accomplished at scientific writing. While conducting research is not a requirement for admission to most veterinary schools, developing your research skills may add a competitive edge to your application.

Consequently, regardless of the type of commitment you undertake, veterinary schools will assess your activities with the goal of determining whether you have the fortitude to successfully complete a tour through veterinary school. Remember, not only do you have to undertake such commitments; you have to demonstrate convincing proof on paper that your experience reflects outstanding accomplishments and positive personality traits, and warrants further consideration.

Much like the proverbial tree falling without anyone to hear it, an accomplishment without a publicist seldom yields additional opportunities. You have to be your own publicist and sell your experiences and accomplishments. In some cases, there will be physical proof (as with a publication in a scientific journal or the establishment of a soup kitchen). In many other cases, you (and your letters of recommendation) should provide a verbal description of the depth and character of your extracurricular experiences and accomplishments.

Preparing for Vet School

Preparing for vet school is an long, intensive process. Preparing in advance will give you more time to build a strong application and can reduce the stress of the application process. Students should try to gain as much relevant experience as possible as it is crucial to a competitive application. Students should aim to work in a variety of settings and with both large and small animals. Veterinary colleges require students to obtain a minimum number of hours working alongside a veterinarian, and it is best if students start acquiring this experience their freshman year so that they are not rushing to accumulate the necessary hours. Please check the requirements of the schools you are interested in – Auburn requires a minimum of 500 hours working alongside a veterinarian, but many admitted students have 1,000 hours. Veterinary schools will also pay attention to extracurricular activities, community service/volunteer involvement, and leadership experiences. 

High School:

• Build a strong foundation in Science
• Get good grades
• Gain relevant experience working/volunteering with animals
• Research Pre-Vet programs at colleges you wish to apply
• Shadow or work with a veterinarian

Freshman Year at College:

• Meet with advisor
• Join the Pre-Vet Club
• Participate in extracurricular activities
• Learn Pre-Vet requirements 
• Plan a tentative 3-4 year class schedule
• Gain more relevant work/volunteer experience working alongside a veterinarian
• Keep track of your extracurricular activities and work/volunteer experience by making a list that includes a description of your activities, the hours spent each week, and other pertinent information. You should update this list regularly during school. 
• Maintain a strong GPA
• Think about how you will spend your summer and how you can further increase your relevant knowledge/experience

Sophomore Year at College:

• Continue gaining work/volunteer experience (try to gain a broad range of experience in various areas – large animal, small animal, research)
• Study for the GRE**
• Meet with your professors and at least one veterinarian – get to know them, they will write your letter of recommendations 
• Meet with your Pre-Vet advisor and decide on a major
• Continue participating in clubs and extracurricular activities
• Maintain a strong GPA
• Continue tracking your extracurricular activities and work/volunteer experience
• Think about how you will spend your summer and how you can further increase your relevant knowledge/experience
• Apply for the GRE** (if you plan to apply to vet school after three years)

Junior Year at College:

• Study/apply for/take the GRE**
• Check deadlines
• Research veterinary schools and check course requirements
• Complete VCMAS application by September 15 (if applying after 3 years)

• Request Letters of Recommendation (write thank you letters to references)
• Complete supplemental applications
• Prepare VCMAS personal statement
• Prepare for interview
• Meet with your Pre-Vet advisor
• Maintain a strong GPA
• Continue gaining more experiences working with animals and alongside veterinarians (and keep track of them!)
• Try to gain leadership skills  and experiences through clubs and extracurricular activities
• Try to visit schools you are interested in 
• Think about how you will spend your summer and how you can further increase your relevant knowledge/experience

Senior Year at College:

• Check deadlines
• Research veterinary schools and check course requirements
• Complete VCMAS application by September 15
• Request Letters of Recommendation (write thank you letters to references)
• Complete supplemental applications
• Prepare VCMAS personal statement
• Prepare for interview
• Continue gaining relevant work/volunteer experiences (and keep track of them!)
• Check email frequently in case you receive information regarding your applications
• Interview in the Spring

Veterinarian Schools Requirements

In today’s economy, becoming a veterinarian can be an excellent choice, given the growing importance of the pet care sector in America. With many pet owners demanding world-class care for their animals, in addition to the need for qualified veterinarians to work in a variety of government and private organizations, this field is enjoying robust and sustained growth.

However, becoming a veterinarian is a goal that requires a great deal of work, even before the candidate enters a veterinary program.

Preparing for Veterinary School

When preparing for veterinary school the student should consider that veterinary schools are just as challenging as medical school, and in some respects more so, as a veterinarian will be working with many different types of animals with widely varying needs, unlike a physician who will be solely concerned with the human body. This demands that the student obtain a wide range of skills before entering a veterinary program.

Secondly, there are only 28 accredited veterinary programs in the United States, and because of that, the admissions process is an extremely competitive one. In order to be assured of entry, students must ensure that they have excellent academic and extracurricular qualifications.

High School and Preparing for Veterinary College

Individuals who are considering a career in veterinary medicine should start preparing in high school. They should seek to excel at as many classes in biology, math and other hard sciences as possible. In addition, if the school offers advanced placement (AP) courses or courses that offer college credit, the student should make certain to enroll in them.

The student should consult with the school’s career counselor in order to help develop a program of study that will ensure that that as many helpful classes as possible are taken. In addition, the student should work to ensure that he or she maintains a high grade point average (GPA), which will mean doing well even in those classes that are not directly related to a career in veterinary medicine. In addition to helping maintain a high GPA, English courses will assist the student’s communication skills, which will be very important both in veterinary college and as a practicing veterinarian.

College Courses

Before entering a veterinary college, most candidates attend a university or college in order to obtain a bachelor’s degree. Veterinary school requires that the student have completed a large number of college science and math courses, so most individuals seek a bachelor’s degree that is related to their veterinary goals. Common degrees that can assist in becoming a veterinarian include degrees in biology, zoology, biochemistry, chemistry and math. As with high school, it is vitally important that the student work to maintain a very high college GPA in order to maximize his or her chances of being admitted to a veterinary program.

A student should ensure that his or her college has been accredited. Veterinary college admissions departments often discount diplomas that have been conferred by non-accredited institutions. In the United States, most colleges are accredited by a variety of private agencies, and many college programs are also individually accredited. While the government does not directly accredit schools, legitimate accreditation agencies are recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Extracurricular Activities

Finally, students should seek out veterinary related extracurricular activates in both high school and college. These can range from on campus clubs such as the 4H club or Future Farmers of America, to independent internships and volunteer work with local humane societies or veterinary offices. In some cases, these activities may actually offer various types of academic credit for the student. Most importantly, they provide the volunteer with real world experience that relates to the veterinary field.

In addition to the academic benefits, extracurricular activities can assist the student in obtaining the letters of recommendation that will be required by most veterinary colleges. By being able to obtain these letters from industry professionals, the student can improve his or her chances of being accepted by the college.

The Veterinary College Admission Test

In addition to graduating with a high GPA, the student must also take the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT). This comprehensive multiple-choice exam is designed to determine the student’s academic and practical qualifications for veterinary college. This test is designed to effectively evaluate students who may have faced dramatically harder or easier grading standards, depending on the college they attended. Students intending to take the VCAT should ensure that they are well rested and prepared for the test, due to its importance in becoming accepted to a veterinary college.

Applying to Multiple Colleges

Finally, a student should consider applying to multiple veterinary colleges. Due to the competitive nature of the admissions process, less than half of all applicants will find themselves accepted at their primary school. By applying to several schools, the student may be able to ensure that he or she will be accepted to a program, even if some schools reject the application.

The student should not become discouraged if he or she is rejected from all the selected schools. At that point, the student should consider retaking the VCAT, especially if their scores could be improved, as well as discussing their academic record with the college veterinary department. It may be possible that obtaining extra education or work experience will position the student to apply with a greater chance of acceptance at a later date.

Becoming a veterinarian is a complex process that requires a great deal of academic work on the part of the student. However, a student who plans ahead and ensures that he or she has obtained a high level of academic success before seeking entry can maximize the probability of being accepted to a veterinary college program.