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Pre Veterinary Schools in Florida
Best Veterinary Science colleges in Florida for 2021
University of Florida Gainesville, FL
University of Florida offers 7 Veterinary Science degree programs. It’s a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2019, 314 Veterinary Science students graduated with students earning 128 Certificates, 118 Doctoral degrees, and 68 Master’s degrees.
St Petersburg College offers 5 Veterinary Science degree programs. It’s a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 105 Veterinary Science students graduated with students earning 79 Associate’s degrees, 21 Bachelor’s degrees, and 5 Certificates. Miami, FL
Miami Dade College offers 1 Veterinary Science degree programs. It’s a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 19 Veterinary Science students graduated with students earning 19 Associate’s degrees.
List of all Veterinary Science colleges in Florida
Florida Vet School Requirements
Admissions Criteria
- Science, Last 45, and Overall GPAs greater than 3.0
- Completion of required Undergraduate Course Requirements with a letter grade of “C” or above
- Missing no more than three Science or Math prerequisite courses prior to your application submission
Veterinary Experience
The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine does not have a minimum requirement for veterinary experience. Veterinary experience should reflect a wide range of responsibilities and quality of experiences rather than quantity of hours. We recommend that applicants be exposed to both large and small animal clinical practices before applying to our program under the supervision of veterinarians. This will give them an opportunity to shadow or work with a veterinarian and ultimately obtain letters of reference which are an important part of the application process. Research is also a valuable form of experience and working in a research environment as an undergraduate or graduate student may also help to develop skills important to veterinary medicine.
Professional References
The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine requires three strong professional references with at least one from a veterinarian. Committee references are accepted but not from family members.
Admissions Process
Academic Assessment
The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine (UFCVM) does not have a set minimum academic requirement in order to be admitted. However, Science, Last 45 and Overall GPAs will be used in evaluating the academic ranking of applicants. Candidates are ranked in two independent applicant pools: State-Funded and Self-Funded seats. The incoming class size of 130 students is comprised of 94 state-funded students and 36 self-funded students.
Full Application Review
Applicants selected from the academic ranking will have their entire veterinary school application reviewed individually by two members of the Admissions Committee. Once again, there will be two applicant pools: state-funded and self-funded. Candidates will be scored and ranked on the following criteria:
Academic History and Experience
Academic load, number of withdrawals, research participation, teaching assistant positions, strength of academic references (if any), and academic flags/concerns.
Veterinary Experience and Preparation
Amount of significant hours of veterinary experience, legitimate animal experience, strength of veterinary/animal-related references, relationship between references and veterinary/animal experiences.
Overall Professionalism and Readiness to Matriculate
Overall professionalism of the application, strength of written communication skills, extracurricular experiences, community involvement, international experiences, awards and recognitions, non-veterinary or animal related employment experiences. Candidates are encouraged to review the Technical Standards found in the Student Handbook as part of their application and admissions decision making process.
Candidate Interview Process
In January and February, candidates selected from the full application review pool will be invited to participate in the Interview process. Each applicant will be interviewed by a panel of two members of the Admissions Committee and one upper-division veterinary student. Candidates will have a 45-minute long behavioral interview which will be scored on a number of behavioral factors such as teamwork, integrity, maturity and problem-solving.
CASPer
Prior to the interview, selected candidates are emailed with instructions about the CASPer test which is required as part of their application packet. CASPer is a 60-90 minute online situational judgement test that assesses personal and professional competencies important to becoming a veterinarian.
How to Become a Veterinarian in Florida
- Complete a Bachelor’s Degree Program
- Earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
- Become Licensed
- Gain Experience
- Become Certified in a Specialty
- Join a Professional Association
Here are more details on the above steps that you can take to become a veterinarian:
Step 1: Complete a Bachelor’s Degree Program
Most schools of veterinary medicine require or prefer applicants to have a bachelor’s degree. While many students earn their degree in a biological science, most veterinary schools don’t have a preferred major as long as certain science courses are taken. These courses typically include general biology, chemistry, physics, and math. Some schools may require some more advanced science courses, such as mammalogy, biochemistry, or animal behavior.
There are other things you can do while earning a Bachelor’s Degree that can help prepare you to become a vet. Participate in volunteer programs or internships in the veterinary field. Volunteering or interning at veterinary clinics or other animal care facilities can give you an idea of what the job of a veterinarian is really like. Many veterinary programs require some experience working with animals, and volunteering can fulfill this requirement or make a student more competitive when applying. You can use these experiences to show dedication to the field of animal care and gain professional references.
Join a pre-veterinary club. Pre-professional clubs that focus on veterinary medicine are available at many schools. These clubs may have meetings where members discuss career topics, shadowing programs, and resources for volunteer or internship experience. Some also offer the chance to apply for scholarships that are only offered to members.
Take the GRE. Many schools of veterinary medicine require applicants to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. This exam measures a person’s readiness for graduate-level studies.
Step 2: Earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Each successive year in a program of veterinary medicine builds upon the previous year’s curriculum. The first year or two may focus on science subjects like animal anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and virology. These and related courses lay the basic framework for understanding veterinary medicine. Some courses might be specific to an animal group.
The third year may focus on clinical studies in which students come into contact with living animals and practice using the knowledge and skills they’ve gained in the previous two years to make diagnoses and recommend possible treatments. The fourth year is usually spent participating in applied experiences, such as practicums or externships.
Get involved in research projects. Some programs offer students the opportunity to be involved in research while studying for their degree. This experience may be helpful in understanding certain aspects of the veterinary field and can open up opportunities to work in research rather than a clinical setting.
Step 3: Become a Licensed Veterinarian
Graduates of accredited programs of veterinary medicine must be licensed to practice in the field. All states require that graduates successfully pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam; additional state-specific exams may also be required.
Step 4: Gain Experience
After becoming licensed, you might choose to gain further practical and specialized experience in the field by interning for a year before applying for a more permanent position. The majority of veterinarians work with small companion animals in private clinics. A smaller percentage of veterinarians choose to specialize in working with equines or other large animals, exotic animals, or zoo animals.
Step 5: Become Certified in a Specialty Area
To be eligible for certification in a specialty field, such as internal medicine or surgery, you must have completed either a residency or additional education. Residency programs involve multiple years working at a specified location where a veterinarian receives supervised training in his or her chosen specialty.
Step 6: Join a Professional Veterinarian Association
National and state associations exist for veterinarians. Membership benefits may include access to newsletters, professional connections, published literature on the latest veterinary topic, and resources for continuing education
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