Why Pre-Vet?
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Why major in pre-veterinary medicine?
If you want to contribute to a greater understanding of the complex relationship between the health of domestic animals, wild animals, humans and our shared environment, you have found the right place!
Healthy, productive livestock and pets lead to healthy people. UD's bachelor of science in pre-veterinary medicine focuses specifically on veterinary school preparation, but it also prepares graduates for careers in any life or health science.
Blue Hen graduates are not only admitted to veterinary school at more than twice the national rate but also thrive in their vet school coursework and succeeding careers. Blue Hen graduates have attended all of the top five of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Veterinary Schools.
Classes are held on UD's main campus and contiguous to our $38 million, newly-renovated Worrilow Hall. You'll receive hands-on experiences with sheep, cows, horses and other domestic animals starting with your first freshmen-year course. In addition to specialty courses like clinical veterinary skills and career exploration, you can take unique courses like One Health, which includes the interconnection of human, animal and environmental health.
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Why Pre-Veterinary Medicine | Undergraduate Programs | University of Delaware 89% admitted to vet school
More than twice the national average of 40%!
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Why Pre-Veterinary Medicine | Undergraduate Programs | University of Delaware 350 acres
Get hands-on experience with horses, cows, sheep, pigs, Blue Hens and more on farmland located right in Newark!
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Why Pre-Veterinary Medicine | Undergraduate Programs | University of Delaware Global perspectives
Exploring animal-human interactions at the nation’s first study abroad university.
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Why Pre-Veterinary Medicine | Undergraduate Programs | University of Delaware Real-world clinical preparation
Train in our unique Veterinary Skills Studio, a replica clinic featuring exam, treatment, and surgical rooms.
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Why Pre-Veterinary Medicine | Undergraduate Programs | University of Delaware Research-driven learning
Collaborate with faculty to address challenges in animal nutrition, immunology, virology, and molecular biology.
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Why Pre-Veterinary Medicine | Undergraduate Programs | University of Delaware A "One Health" approach
We recognize that healthy, productive livestock and pets lead to happier, healthier communities.
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Why Pre-Veterinary Medicine | Undergraduate Programs | University of Delaware Prestigious vet school placements
Our graduates are admitted to top U.S. and international programs.
At the University of Delaware, you will dive into hands-on experiences from day one, working with horses, cows, sheep, and our iconic blue hens on a 350-acre campus farm just a walk or bike ride from class. You'll gain direct admission into the pre-veterinary medicine major, collaborate with faculty on cutting-edge research, and explore global animal-human connections through our study abroad programs. In our Veterinary Skills Studio—a replica clinic—and state-of-the-art anatomy lab, you'll practice real-world veterinary techniques with life-like models and real animals. Complete your required veterinary hours through exciting internships, raise a service dog with one of two student organizations, and prepare to make a difference where healthy animals mean healthy people. At UD, you will shape your future in veterinary medicine!;
UD students succeed in vet school
As a University of Delaware pre-veterinary medicine student, you work with a faculty academic advisor, who will assist you with the appropriate course selection throughout your four years. In addition, we have numerous faculty members who provide expertise throughout your veterinary school application process.
Because of their UD education, our students are highly competitive for admission to veterinary colleges!
Is there a list of all the veterinary colleges I can apply to?
- You can find a list of all national, Canadian and international colleges on the AAVMC College Descriptor Pages.
Is there a reference book to help me obtain information on veterinary colleges?
- “Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements in the United States and Canada”
For what type of students are veterinary colleges looking?
Veterinary colleges are interested in well-rounded students.
GPA and standardized test scores are very important but students can improve an application with research experience, community service and evidence of leadership and communication skills.
Colleges seek students that demonstrate academic competency, especially in science coursework, with good problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills. Veterinary schools also look for experience with a variety of animal species and with veterinarians and animal scientists engaged in research.
Most veterinary colleges have a profile of competitive students on their websites which will provide more information on competitive GPAs and standardized test scores.
How important is your GPA in applying to veterinary schools?
- A competitive GPA is a 3.6 or greater on a 4.0 scale, especially for students applying to a veterinary college that is not located in your state of residency.
- Most colleges have a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0.
What standardized tests are required for admission to veterinary college?
- The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required by some veterinary colleges, but be sure to check for any additional tests that are required from the veterinary colleges that you are interested in.
- We recommend that you take the GRE at least eight months before your application. This gives you time to re-take them if you are unhappy with your score.
Does admission to veterinary college depend on where you get your undergraduate degree?
- The academic quality and rigor of your undergraduate program can affect your admission to veterinary college. Graduates from our program have found great success once they are at vet school and veterinary colleges have reported back that they are impressed with the quality of education that our students received as undergraduates.
How does state residency affect applications to veterinary colleges?
- Your official state of residency is very important in the selection of a veterinary college.
- State of residency affects both admission and tuition.
- Many veterinary colleges are state-funded schools and admit the majority of each class from among their own residents.
- There are differences in resident and non-resident tuition at most veterinary colleges.
- Do your research and see how many seats in each new freshman class are reserved for residents and non-residents at the veterinary colleges you are interested in. This is especially important if your state does not have a veterinary college.
- Some states that do not have a veterinary college have developed partnerships with states that do. These are referred to as contract seats. So, it is important for you to also know if your state has a contract with any other states for seats at their veterinary college.
- In some states, non-residents are eligible to apply for residency but the requirements vary from state to state and program to program.
Does the University of Delaware hold any contracts with veterinary colleges?
- Typically, universities do not contract with each other, states contract with each other for seats in veterinary colleges.
- The state of Delaware holds contracts for Delaware residents with Georgia and Oklahoma to hold seats for qualified applicants at their state institutions, regardless of where they complete their undergraduate degree.
On average, how many schools does a student apply to?
- Most students apply to three to five veterinary colleges.
- Be sure to research your school profiles and apply to the schools that are the best fit for you when considering factors such as residency, competitiveness, cost and contract seats.
How much is veterinary college going to cost me?
- The AAVMC Cost Comparison Tool will show you key financial data should you need to consider this when applying for veterinary college.
What is a dual degree?
- Some colleges offer a dual degree program, combining your veterinary degree with either a master's or doctorate.
- Opportunities are extremely competitive.
- Be sure to research the program and school you are interested in by checking out the AAVMC Dual Degree page.
You probably already know this, but getting into a veterinary college is more than just doing well academically as an undergraduate student. Even though some veterinary colleges do not designate a required number of experience hours, we highly recommend that you earn at least 500 hours in both the animal and veterinary categories shown below. For more in depth examples of what fulfills these experiences, check out the VMCAS Experiences webpage.
What is the difference between veterinary and animal experience?
“Veterinary Experience” is defined as work related to animals and supervised by a veterinarian. It should be different from what you enter for Animal and Employment experience. Veterinary experiences should relate to any veterinary clinical, agribusiness, or health science experiences that you had under a veterinarian.
“Animal Experience” is defined as work related to animals not supervised by a veterinarian. It should be different from those entered for Veterinary and Employment experience. They should include farm and ranch experiences, 4-H membership, animal training, or other similar activities, and should not have occurred under the supervision of a veterinarian.
What is the best way to keep track of your animal and veterinary experience?
Start a logbook, as soon as you begin our pre-veterinary program and keep track of all of your experiences (hours) with animals and veterinarians throughout your four years. Veterinary colleges may or may not designate a required number of hours, and don't forget, we recommend at least 500 hours in each category.
Our graduates are all over the country and the world in many different veterinary colleges. Here is some of the advice they have to give you on interviewing.
The biggest piece of advice I can give before an interview is to just relax, whether it's a formal interview or an multiple mini-interviews (MMI). To prepare for my formal interviews, I reviewed my actual VMCAS application just to remind myself of the experiences I listed. However, I found that this really wasn't necessary because many of the questions focused on experiences that truly were important to me and already stood out in my head! Also, it's fun to talk about what you're passionate about. Some questions did center around possible future career goals (don't worry, this does not have to be set in stone and I found interviewers appreciated when I was honest about not being entirely sure where my path would take me). I was asked a few ethical questions regarding professionalism, convenience euthanasia, and cheating/conduct in class. Overall my interviewers were very relaxed and easy to talk to despite the formal attire needed. I actually found MMI's more fun! — Rebecca Radisic, UD Class of 2015
The MMI is basically like speed dating and I personally thought it was so much fun. There are eight stations and each has a scenario on the door you have to interpret in your own way and you have a minute to think about it and jot things down. Then you go into the interview room and discuss the scenario with the interviewer. These are impossible to prepare for so honestly just be yourself and try to have fun with it. I really liked it because even if you didn't have good rapport with an interviewer, there were many others for you to connect and make a good impression with. Some of the interviewers are even students, so there is no reason to be intimidated. The best advice I can give is that you should stand by your initial response to whatever the scenario might be -- in some of the scenarios, the interviewer may try to question your response or try to get you to change your mind, and it's important to show that you are firm in what you believe in -- there are no wrong answers to any of the scenarios. — Rebecca Gounaris, UD Class of 2012
The most important advice I could give (really for any interview) is that there absolutely is a way to be both professional and passionate. By this point they know your “stats” and they’ve read what you've written, so they want to see how you are in person, how you interact with others and how clearly you express your opinions. They are not trying to trip you up - they really do want to hear about why you want to be there because they are already interested in you! Don't get caught up with trying to impress them or say the right "buzzwords" or stifle emotion to sound mature; you're there for a reason and they want to hear why you're excited and passionate about this incredible field. If you're there, you're already a great candidate, so be humble and honest with your answers, know what you're talking about and just enjoy it! — Lily Greener, UD Class of 2015
I am putting “formal” in quotes because it’s still formal in the fact that you need to dress up, but interviews are more conversational than anything. With the exception of St. George's, all the interviews included a tour of the facility and then an interview with admissions officers. Tufts provided lunch, and the University of Pennsylvania had a happy hour afterwards. I had an early admissions interview at Florida, and they had a student panel and "debriefing" after the interview. My advice would be to practice answering interview questions out loud. Always have a couple questions to ask the interviewers! They were all conversational. Penn and Tufts asked, “Oh, you know Bob Dyer? How’s he doing?” They aren't out to get you. They just want to get to know you, so try to relax and be yourself. Don't forget to smile. — Jessica Applebaum, UD Class of 2014