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Pre-Veterinary Students
So you want to be a veterinarian?
Academic majors within the College of Life Sciences are the most popular program choices among veterinary students. A background in biology, chemistry or biochemistry provides a strong foundation for students going to professional school and prepares students to be successful on the medical college aptitude test (MCAT), Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and the Veterinary College Admissions Test (VCAT). Students can satisfy major requirements while satisfying required courses for admission to veterinary school.
Achieving admission into veterinary school requires:
- the core courses required of all life science majors
- the successful completion of an undergraduate degree from a U.S. institution
- veterinary experience and sometimes research experience
- a competitive score on the MCAT, VCAT, or GRE
- excellent communication skills
How to Get Started:
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PURCHASE THE VETERINARY MEDICAL SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENT (VMSAR) book
The annual VMSAR publication provides useful information on the 27 U.S. and 4 Canadian veterinary institutions. It includes information on prerequisite courses and exams, admissions office contacts, application deadlines, and residency implications. It also provides information on advanced standing policies, combined/dual-degree programs, summer programs, and statistical data on the national applicant pool. To purchase this book contact Purdue University Press, 1532 South Campus Courts-E
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1532 , (800) 933-9637
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SEEK VETERINARY-RELATED EXPERIENCE
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CONTACT SELECTED VETERINARY SCHOOLS/COLLEGES
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VISIT SELECTED VETERINARY COLLEGES/SCHOOLS
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PREPARE FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS
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PREPARE FOR THE ADMISSIONS EXAMINATION
Some required examinations and how to get information:
Graduate Record Examination (GRE): VMCAS Code: 4975
Graduate Record Examinations
P.O. Box 6000
Princeton, NJ 08541-6000
(609) 771-7670
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): VMCAS Code: 900
Medical College Admission Test
MCAT Program Office
P.O. Box 4056
Iowa City, IA 52243
Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT): VMCAS Code: 44
The Psychological Corporation
Veterinary College Admission Test
555 Academic Court
San Antonio, TX 78204
(210) 921-8794
(800) 622-3231
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): VMCAS Code: 4936
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL/ TSE Services
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
(609) 771-7100
Additional Information:
Why should you choose the University of Maryland, College Park?
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University of Maryland has a designated Pre-Veterinary advisor to assist students in the veterinary medical school application process.
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Every semester, approximately one half of the students in the College of Life Sciences participate in research in labs on or off-campus. Laboratory research experience can be crucial for applying to medical or dental school. College Park is located at the hub of one of the largest scientific communities in the country, and students have access to internships at such prestigious institutes as Walter Reed, the National Institutes of Health, The Food and Drug Administration and the Institute for Genomic Research. The new Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) has many internships for Life Sciences students and eligible students can apply for paid positions.
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The Howard Hughes Medical Institute identified the University of Maryland, College Park as "a preeminent institution for training students in the biomedical sciences" as it awarded the university $1.3 million to support undergraduate research. That grant was just renewed for an additional $1.6 million, making the University of Maryland one of only 56 institutions in the country to receive such funding; the university joins Johns Hopkins as the only other institution in Maryland awarded this grant. Our Howard Hughes program offers several opportunities beneficial to undergraduates and high school students interested in the life sciences.
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