What should I major in?
Although the majority of Vet-Med Schools do not
require a specific undergraduate major, due to the
academic preparation required for the MCAT and
Vet-Med School application, the most common Pre-Vet
majors at NMSU are:
Animal Science (Science Option), Biology
Resources
American Veterinary Medical Association
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
www.aavmc.org
VMCAS
NMSU Courses Required*
Roadmap to...
Public Speaking (COMM 253G)
General Chemistry (CHEM 111/112 or CHEM 115/116)
Veterinary
General Biology (BIOL 111/111L and BIOL 211/211L)
Trigonometry and Precalculus (MATH 190G)
English Composition (ENGL 111 and ENGL 218)
Physics (PHYS 211 or 221 + 211L & 212 or 222 + 212L)
Animal Physiology (BIOL 381)
Organic Chemistry (CHEM 313, 314 and 315L)
Jeremy Taulbee, Pre-Health Professions Advisor
General Microbiology (BIOL 311/311L)
Provides academic and transfer advising on the formal
application process and admissions requirements for
students planning to apply to dental school.
Animal Nutrition (ANSC 442)
Genetics (BIOL 305 or ANSC 305)
Highly Recommended Courses*
Zoology, Statistics, Calculus I & II, Cell Biology,
Organic Chemistry II, Humanities and Social Sciences
(Foreign Language, Psychology, Sociology,
Philosophy, Anthropology, Economics).
*Students are still required to see their major advisor for
degree questions and concerns.
Phone: 575-646-3142
Fax: 575-646-4188
E-mail: [email protected]
www.nmsu.edu
www.facebook.com/nmsuprehealthadvising
*Although coursework listed is recommended by most
Veterinary Schools, admissions requirements may vary
from school to school. Please check specific veterinary
school admission websites for detailed prerequisite requirements.
Salary and Job Outlook
Median Salary: $84,460 per year/$40.61 per hour
Projected 12% growth from 2012 to 2022
MSC 3335
College of Arts and Sciences
New Mexico State University
PO Box 30001
Las Cruces NM 88003-8001
NMSU Pre-Health Professions Advising
Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to
improve public health. They diagnose, treat, and research
medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and
other animals.
What does a Veterinarian do?









Examine animals to diagnose their health problems
Diagnose and treat animals for medical conditions
Treat and dress wounds
Perform surgery on animals
Test for and vaccinate against diseases
Operate medical equipment, such as x-ray machines
Advise animal owners about general care, medical
conditions, and treatments
Prescribe medication
Euthanize animals
Veterinarians in private clinical practices treat the injuries
and illnesses of pets and other animals with a variety of
medical equipment, including surgical tools and x-ray and
ultrasound machines. They provide treatment for animals
that is similar to the services a physician provides to treat
humans.
Career Opportunities
Companion animal veterinarians diagnose and provide
treatment for animal health problems, consult with owners of animals about preventative health care, and carry
out medical and surgical procedures, such as vaccinations, dental work, and setting fractures.
Equine veterinarians work with horses.
Food animal veterinarians work with farm animals such
as pigs, cattle, and sheep. They spend much of their time
at farms and ranches treating illnesses and injuries and
testing for and vaccinating against disease.
Food safety and inspection veterinarians inspect and test
livestock and animal products for major animal diseases,
provide vaccines to treat animals, enhance animal welfare, conduct research to improve animal health, and
enforce government food safety regulations.
Research veterinarians work in laboratories, conducting
clinical research on human and animal health problems.
illnesses and diseases.
Local Veterinary Programs
Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine
Glendale, Arizona
Seats: 100
Average GPA (Science): Inaugural class, Fall 2014
Average GPA (Overall): Inaugural class, Fall 2014
Average MCAT Score: Inaugural class, Fall 2014
Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Fort Collins, Colorado
Seats: 138
Average GPA (Science): n/a
Average GPA (Overall): 3.60
Average GRE Score: 155 (V) 150 (Q)
Western University of Health Sciences
Pomona, California
Seats: 105
Average GPA (Science): 3.26
Average GPA (Overall): 3.29
Average GRE Score: 153 (V) 153 (Q)
University of California—Davis School of Veterinary Med.
Davis, California
Seats: 138
Average GPA (Science): 3.54
Average GPA (Overall): 3.63
Average GRE Score: 574 (V) 701 (Q)
Steps to Veterinary Practice
Pre-Veterinary Education
 Although not required, most applicants to veterinary school have a bachelor’s degree. Check with
the veterinary school you might be interested in to
make sure you are taking the courses they require.
Veterinary School
GRE or MCAT Exams
 Most veterinary schools require GRE (Graduation
Records Examination) scores for admission. Some
schools accept the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) as well.
Earn a DVM or VMD degree
 Veterinarians must complete a Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. There are currently 29 colleges with accredited programs in the
United States. A veterinary medicine program generally takes 4 years to complete and includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical components.
 Most programs include 3 years of classroom, laboratory, and clinical work. Students typically spend
the final year of the 4-year program doing clinical
rotations in a veterinary medical center or hospital.
Licensing, Certification and Registrations
 All states and the District of Columbia require veterinarians to have a license. Licensing requirements
vary by state, but all states require prospective veterinarians to complete an accredited veterinary
program and to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination.
 Most states also require a state exam that covers
state laws and regulations. Few states accept licenses from other states.
 The American Veterinary Medical Association offers
certification in 40 specialties, such as surgery, microbiology, and internal medicine. To sit for the
certification exam, veterinarians must have a certain number of years of experience in the field,
complete additional education, and complete a
residency program, typically lasting 3 to 4 years.