Pre-Veterinary Handout

If you are a prospective student, you can contact the Office of Admissions & Scholarships, 785-864-3911, www.admissions.ku.edu, to schedule a tour and information meetings.

If you are currently a KU student, you can schedule a meeting with Paul Crosby by calling 864-3500. 

For more information, see our pre-veterinary website at www.medadvising.ku.edu/vm.

Pre-Veterinary Medicine is a career interest, rather than a major or formal program. Most people complete a degree before entering veterinary school. Although most of the requirements are sciences, you can choose any major. The following KU courses meet entry requirements for the Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine. For information about requirements at other schools, see www.aavmc.org/vmcas/college_requirement.htm and www.cvm.tamu.edu.

Expository Writing I and II, e.g., ENGL 101 Composition (3 credit hours) and ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing (3)

Public Speaking, e.g., COMS 130 Speaker-Audience Communication (3)

Chemistry I and II, e.g., CHEM 184 Chemistry I (5) and CHEM 188 Chemistry II (5)

Organic Chemistry and Lab, e.g., CHEM 622 & 625 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry and Lab (5)

General Biochemistry, e.g., BIOL 600 Introduction to Biochemistry (4)

Principles of Biology, e.g., BIOL 150 Principles of Molecular & Cellular Biology (4)

Microbiology and lab, e.g., BIOL 400 & 402 Microbiology & Lab (5)

Genetics, e.g., BIOL 350 Principles of Genetics (3)

Physics I and II, e.g., PHSX 114 College Physics I (4) and PHSX 115 College Physics II (4)

+ 12 hours of social sciences and humanities, and enough electives to reach a total of 64 credit hours.

Additional science courses are recommended, especially BIOL 152 Principles of Organismal Biology, BIOL 510 Comparative Anatomy and BIOL 646 Mammalian Physiology and 647 Lab.

There are many ways of putting required and recommended science courses together. Here is one possibility:

Career Information. For a well-written introduction, look at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook at: www.bls.gov/oco/ocos076.htm.  

Interview veterinarians to find out what they do, what they like and dislike about their jobs, and what advice they have for people preparing to enter the profession. Most successful candidates have significant experience working with animals. For more information on getting experience, see www.medadvising.ku.edu/vm/vetexperience.shtml.

Veterinary School Admissions. Your probability of admission depends on your academic performance, test scores, experience working with veterinarians and animals, ability to communicate both in writing and in an interview; and your legal state residency. Nationwide, most candidates are accepted by their in-state veterinary school or a veterinary school with a reciprocity or contract agreement for their state's residents.

Applying. If you plan to enter the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 785-532-4335, www.vet.ksu.edu, immediately after your senior year, begin the application process in the spring of your junior year!

1. Most people take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) in the summer between their junior and senior years. You can register online at www.gre.org. These scores are the largest single factor for admission to K-State, 40% of an applicant's score. So, it is essential to thoroughly review and practice for the test!

2. In the summer between your junior and senior year, you should complete the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) application at www.aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas.htm, and have your recommendation letters sent to VMCAS.

3. Later in the summer or early fall, you should complete supplemental applications. The K-State supplemental application is available at www.vet.ksu.edu/admit/apply.htm. You should make sure that K-State receives your GRE scores, VMCAS application and letters, and supplemental application by October 1st!

4. At K-State, interviews are held in December and January. For information on interviewing, see www.medadvising.ku.edu/interviews.shtml.

For an application essay review or practice interview, call 864-3500. The staff member who answers the phone will schedule a meeting with the Premedical Advisor, Paul Crosby.