What it’s about:

If you love animals and are good at science, you might be thinking you want to go to veterinary medical school after college. Because there are only twenty-eight vet schools in the United States, however, being accepted is a challenge. A program in preveterinary studies will help you become a competitive candidate by guiding you through the college courses and extracurricular experience that vet schools require. But keep in mind that prevet studies is not itself a major-you’ll still have to pick one.

What the study of this major is like:

The preveterinary curriculum usually includes courses in biochemistry, biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and English. Some veterinary schools require additional course work in microbiology, biochemistry, nutrition, or animal science. You may also be expected to take courses in the humanities and social sciences.

Nonscience courses are important because veterinary schools prefer will-rounded students. What is more, these courses help you develop the skills you’ll need as a vet. For example, courses in psychology can help you understand the behaviour or animals as well as that of their owners; business courses will be valuable if you, like most vets, run your own practice.

In addition to academics, you will need to acquire hands-on experience working with both small and large animals under the eye of a veterinarian. Practical experience might involve breeding, rearing, feeding, and showing various kinds of animals, including pets, livestock, laboratory animals, zoo animals, or wildlife. Some vet schools set a minimum number of hours for such work, usually 200, but successful applicants usually have much more than that.

At most colleges,preveterinary studies is not a major; it’s an advising program-and the prevet adviser at your college will be a very important to you. You’ll get assistance in selecting and scheduling courses, choosing a major, dealing with difficulties that may crop up, and finding internships and other extracurricular opportunities. Your adviser will also be a big help when you apply to veterinarian school.

You might wonder whether you can pursue a prevet program while taking a nonscience major. Yes, it is possible; but because veterinary schools require their students to become familiar with so many different species, a solid science background is strongly recommended. Students with a nonscience interest are usually encouraged to have a science major but a nonscienceminor.If you are still committed to a nonscience major, go for it-but you might need more than four years to finish college.

About a third of the twenty-eight accredited vet schools in the United State offer joint programs with undergraduate colleges, ranging in length from six to eight years. Admission to these highly competitive programs is open to excellent students who, as high school seniors, are committed to pursuing a career as a veterinarian. If you are interested, review the latest edition of Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements, available from Purdue University Press.

Because managing the work load while maintaining academic excellence in all your courses is a challenge, you must be highly motivated and committed to your goal of becoming a veterinarian. Success also requires a four-year plan at the outset that allows you to fulfil all the requirements at a pace you can handle. But remember-college offers a wonderful opportunity to grow as a person and should not be a total grind. Your prevet adviser can help you achieve the right balance.

Career options and trends:

About 75 percent of veterinarians today work in private practice. The rest are employed in a variety of areas, such as teaching at colleges and universities; conducting biomedical research in the public or private sector; or working for local, state, or federal agencies, departments of agricultural, and public health services that regulate or protect animals as well as people. Practice settings may also include race tracks, zoos, animal shelters, aquariums, and wildlife management facilities.

After graduating from veterinary school, you will have to meet the licensure requirements of the state(s) where you want to practice. In addition, like most licensed professionals, you must complete a certain amount of continuing education credits each year.

Job prospects are excellent, because there simply are not enough graduates each year to meet demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most veterinarians practice companion-animal medicine in populated areas, where pet owners live. There are even more job opportunities in rural areas however, because there is little competition and a great need for veterinarian services.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors