For High School Students
• Is veterinary medicine right for me?
Are you interested in animals, medicine, science? Do you like helping
people? Do you like unraveling mysteries? Do you like real challenges?
If you say “yes,”
then veterinary medicine may be for you.
• What courses should I take in high school?
Take a college preparatory program that includes all major subjects (English,
history, languages, etc.) and be sure to include as much as you can of biology,
chemistry, physics, and math. A facility with computers is also a valuable
skill to acquire.
• Is veterinary clinic experience or animal care
experience valuable?
Absolutely, yes! Students should start at an early age working or volunteering
for a veterinarian, zoo, food animal producer, or local stable or animal shelter.
Try to gain experiences with many animal species, not just cats and dogs.
Track the hours of experience you gain and consider keeping a journal of the
learning that you acquire through these experiences. When you apply to veterinary
college you will need to articulate all of the animal experiences you have had,
and a journal will help you remember to include everything.
You will also be asked, in the application process, to write a personal statement.
Your experiences will provide wonderful information about you for the admissions
committee.
• What would be the best college to attend for my
undergraduate work?
Choosing the right college is a very important life decision. Take your time
and research your options. Use the college guides and apply to the colleges that
best suit you with regard to size and academic demand. A “good fit”
will likely result in good academic success. Resist choosing a college based
on its athletic achievements or its social atmosphere if you are serious about
attending veterinary college.
• What should I study at college?
Any major is acceptable, and you should choose one you will enjoy. However,
your studies should be planned to provide the opportunity to take many science
courses, including biology, chemistry, and physics with laboratory components.
• When can I enter veterinary college?
Veterinary studies generally come after completion of a four-year undergraduate
college experience. We have an option whereby students can apply for admission
after completion of a minimum of 60 s.h. (two to three years) of college course
work, including specific prerequisite courses. Only a very few students choose
this option and only a very few are admitted under it. Completion of a Doctor
of Veterinary Medicine degree requires four years of additional study.
• After completing my veterinary medicine
studies, what kinds of careers are available to me?
A significant percentage of veterinary graduates are engaged in private
practice individually or as a partner in a group clinic. There are small animal
(focusing on dogs and cats) and large animal (horses, cattle, pigs) practice
opportunities. There is also the chance to work in “public” practice
in food safety, public health (including bio-terrorism research), animal disease
control, and the military. Private industry offers exciting opportunities for
the D.V.M. in the fields of nutrition and pharmaceuticals, e.g., conducting
research for new products for animals, analyzing drug effects, and nurturing
the well-being of laboratory animal colonies. Other career areas include zoo
animal care, food resource management, marine biology, and wildlife preservation.
• Where can I learn more about the study of veterinary
medicine?
A good source of information would be the Association of American Veterinary
Medical Colleges at www.aavmc.org. Also, visit the Web site of the University
of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at www.cvm.uiuc.edu. You can make
an appointment to visit with an admissions adviser by calling 217/333-1192. Tours
of the College can be arranged by calling the same number.