Admission Requirements

There is no universal set of requirements, but most programs require a core of prerequisite undergraduate courses that includes:

• two semesters of biology with lab
• two semesters of general chemistry with lab
• two semesters of organic chemistry with lab
• two semesters of general physics with lab
• one or two semesters of biochemistry
• one semester of calculus and/or statistics 
• one semester of microbiology (often, but not always)
• one semester of genetics (sometimes, but not always)
• one or two semesters of literature or composition*
  * (FYS, Junior I.S., and other writing-intensive courses can sometimes count, but policies vary from one institution to another)

The Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements Book (VMSAR) contains the admission requirements and contact information for all member colleges. It also includes statistical data on numbers of applications and matriculates.  For ordering, see Purdue University Press or call 800-247-6553.

These prerequisites should be completed by the end of your college career, but some institutions will give preference to applicants who complete them early. Students interested in veterinary medicine are strongly encouraged to enroll in introductory level chemistry (CHEM 110 or 120) and biology (BIOL 200) during their first semester at Wooster. Frequent communication with your academic advisor, members of the Pre-Health Advising Committee, and Pre-Health Coordinator will be essential to make sure that you are on track with your courses.

Grade Point Average

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State University prefers a GPA of at least 3.0 (for Ohio residents) or 3.4 (for non-residents). This policy is similar to those found at other programs, but it is important to investigate specific programs to get the most accurate and detailed information for your situation.

Enterance Exam

Most programs accept the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and consider a combined score of at least 1200 to be competitive. Some programs will accept the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) as well. As always, it is important to investigate specific programs to get the most accurate and detailed information for your situation.

Other Considerations

The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) is a centralized application service for 25 of the 28 veterinary medical colleges that participate.  You need to look at each individual school and follow their instructions for applying.

Academics play a significant role in the admissions process, but most competitive candidates also have a strong record of animal and health-related experience. Students may shadow, complete an internship, obtain employment, attend a summer enrichment program, or do research as ways of gaining this first-hand exposure. Developing a breadth of experience in different veterinary settings is to an applicant’s advantage.