Information for Junior High & High School Students / Getting Ready
So you've always wanted to be a vet?
Or maybe you never thought about it, but now you really
enjoy your science courses...especially the anatomy or
If you love working with animals and want to help
improve their health and lives, or you want to work to
make our food supply more safe, or you enjoy the
challenge of encountering new and different things all
day long…then a career in veterinary medicine is
definitely something you should be considering!
Getting Ready/ Information for Junior High & High
Becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine involves a program of academic preparation, usually 8 years after high school. Applicants typically complete 3 to 4 years of undergraduate coursework and the majority earn a bachelor's degree. The professional school is 4 years of education in basic sciences and clinical procedures. It is important to know that the foundation for veterinary medicine is science. Make sure you take as many science courses as you can, however, we also look for students who are well-rounded, with various interests.
As a junior high or high school student, you have a
chance to start preparing early and strengthen your
application for vet school. So what do you need to do?
- Take and successfully complete as many science and math courses as
you can. Your guidance counselor will be able to assist you in arranging
your schedule. The foundation for veterinary medicine is science, so
make sure you are prepared!
- Shadow a local veterinarian or volunteer at a local clinic. Be sure
to keep track of the hours you spend at this, as well as the contact
information of the veterinarian(s) you work with.
- Keep a log or portfolio that lists all of your extracurricular
activities, (including the dates of membership, any offices held,
special projects you accomplished), any honors and/or awards you receive
(including scholarships) and any community service you participate in.
All of these things can be included on your vet school application…Yes,
high school counts!
- Work on developing your interpersonal and communication skills.
While veterinary medicine is rooted in science, it is very much a people
profession. The best veterinarians are skilled doctors as well as good
Another important thing to think about in high school is
where you want to go to get an undergraduate degree, and
what you want to major in.
The Journey to Becoming a Veterinarian