Pre-Veterinary Requirements

ADMISSION CRITERIA

• Certain coursework
• Good GPA
• Test scores (GRE)
• Experience
• Recommendations 
• Evidence of interpersonal skills and well-roundedness

A competitive applicant for Veterinary programs will have taken the recommended coursework (see below), a GPA of 3.6 or higher, GRE scores of 300 or higher, good references, evidence of interpersonal skills (co-curricular/volunteer record) and over 300 hours of animal experience, (shadowing, observation, volunteer etc . . .).

There is some variation in the pre-requisite coursework needed at the undergraduate level.  Below is a listing of the undergraduate coursework required by most programs as well as some additional coursework that may be required by some programs.

Minimum Pre-Requisites:

• Biol 130 – Cells to Organisms
• Biol 150 – Organisms to Ecosystems
• Biol 260 – Genetics
• Chem 116 – Energetics and Dynamics (may need 115 Structure and Reactivity)
• Chem 250 – Organic Chemistry I
• Chem 340/Biol 444 – Biochemistry I
• Phys 141 – Principles of Mechanics
• Statistics (Math 107, 207, or Biol 170)

Additional courses for some programs:

• Biol 226 - Microbiology
• Biol 240 – Morphogenesis of vertebrates
• Biol 242 – Comparative Physiology
• Biol 325 – Cell biology 
• Biol 354 – Molecular biology
• Chem 252 – Organic Chemistry II
• Phys 151 – Principles of Classical Physics

Usually a biology or biochemistry major works well for preparing for veterinary school.

PROGRAM COST and LENGTH

The length of veterinary programs is typically 4 years. The range of costs per year for tuition, fees, books and equipment in 2017-18 were as follows:

Resident: $30,000

Non-Resident: $70,000

LICENSING

To practice veterinary medicine in the US, you must earn a DVM degree from an accredited veterinary program and pass a national board exam.   You must also obtain a state license and additional requirements to practice vary slightly from state to state.

PROGRAMS attended by LU ALUMS

University of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota