Studying Veterinary Medicine in the USA can bring tremendous growth in your career pursuit. Veterinary Medicine is a thriving field in the USA. The United States is one of the countries that allow room for growth for professionals in this field. Additionally, there are employment opportunities with a good earning potential for veterinary professionals. The Universities in the USA have the right resources and facilities to educate students who study in this field. Additionally, you will have access to programs and opportunities that will give you a chance to have hands-on experiences.

However, like every other medical course, studying veterinary medicine in the USA can be tasking. Additionally, fields such as this1.  have strict admission processes used to admit students. You must meet the admissions criteria that are placed for this field. Therefore, you must prepare your documents and qualifications beforehand.

In this piece, I will list out the important academic requirements and qualifications that are needed for studying veterinary medicine in the USA.

Requirements to Study Veterinary Medicine in the USA

1. Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree

   Universities in the USA do not accept applicants without a bachelor’s degree into the veterinary medicine school. The bachelor’s degree should be a science-related discipline. It should be either a health science or a life science degree. Additionally, your bachelor’s degree should include courses in Biochemistry, Biology, Organic Chemistry, Physics and Laboratory practicals.

2. Have a Good GPA

   You need to have a good GPA to be able to study dentistry in the USA. Therefore, you should have at least a 3.5 GPA or grade C in your bachelor’s degree.

3. Have an Animal and Clinical Experience:

   Some veterinary schools will require you to have an experience in a veterinary medicine setting while making your application. Therefore, you have to Volunteer with a veterinarian to gain a wide variety of animal and clinical experience. The minimum hours required for most universities is 180 hours. This may vary for different universities. This may not be a compulsory requirement, However, it can give you a higher advantage during your applications.

4. Letters of Recommendation

   You need to submit three recommendation letters while making your application. Additionally, One of these recommendation letters must be from a veterinarian.

5. Graduate Record Examinations

   You will be required to submit your test scores while submitting your applications. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is widely accepted by most veterinary colleges However, some universities might also require you to submit MCAT. Therefore, you should verify the required tests as well as the test scores.

6. English Language Requirements

   International students are required to take an English Language Proficiency Test. Different universities have the preferred test that they use for screening. The minimum cut-off marks for these tests are TOEFL: 90, and IELTS: 6.5 -7.0. However, you need to verify from your school of interest to know the test you can take.

7. Submit your Transcripts

   You must submit your transcript of your previous education. This should include all the courses as well as grades that you studied. Additionally, your transcripts should be written in English.

8. Submit your Resume

   You will be required to submit your resume. This resume should contain your area of interest as well as your achievements. Additionally, it should contain your work experiences.

9. Application Fee

   Applicants must submit an application fee. Without this fee, you will not be able to submit your application. The application fee for US citizens is $80. The application fee for an international student is $100. However, you can apply for the fee waiver. This will enable you to submit your application without a fee.

10. Interview Stage

    The next phase in the application process is the interview stage. This interview will be held virtually or physically depending on your location.

11. Interview Decision

    After the interview, you will get the outcome regarding your application. You can get emails such as acceptance, alternate list, or rejection.

How to Apply

You must submit your application through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). After submitting to VMCAS, your application is sent further to the school you applied to.

Duration

After obtaining an undergraduate degree, The Veterinary Medicine Education in the U.S. is 4 years. You will obtain the D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) or V.M.D. (Veterinarian Medicine Doctors) degree upon graduation. Additionally, you have to take the licensing examination to practice as a veterinary practitioner in the United States.

Tuition fees

The average tuition fee for studying veterinary medicine varies based on the university you are applying to. Additionally, International students pay higher tuition fees. The average tuition fee for national students ranges between $20,000 to $39,000 per year. However, international students pay between $33,000 to $71,000 per year.

Universities in the USA that offer Veterinary Medicine

1. University of California – Davis, California
2. Cornell University, New York State
3. University of Florida, Florida
4. University of Georgia, Georgia
5. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Minnesota
6. Ohio State University, Ohio
7. Iowa State University, Iowa State
8. North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina
9. University of Wisconsin – Madison, Wisconsin
10. University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign, Illinois
11. Texas A&M University – College Station, Texas
12. Washington State University, Washington
13. Colorado State University – Fort Collins, Colorado
14. Michigan State University, Michigan
15. University of California – San Francisco, California
16. Kansas State University, Kansas State
17. Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma
18. Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
19. University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
20. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia
21. Yale University, Connecticut
22. University of California-San Diego, California
23. Harvard University, Massachusetts
24. Purdue University, Indiana
25. University of Missouri – Columbia, Missouri
26. University of Kentucky, Kentucky
27. Columbia University, New York State
28. Auburn University, Alabama
29. University of Arizona, Arizona
30. Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania

In conclusion, it is very competitive to study veterinary medicine in the United States. Therefore, you have to make sure you meet each of these requirements. Additionally, before applying, make sure you verify each requirement properly via the school’s website. Please get in contact with us if you have any more questions or need help.

Good luck!

Click to discover an extensive list of local and international schools offering courses and programs in various career path