Expert: Susie Watts - 2/5/2010

Question
QUESTION: I'm looking to colleges for my future after high school and i have been told by many people that i have a gift with animals so have decided to go into becoming a veterinarian.  What are some steps to take to get into a good school and what are the steps i must take in order to do so.  I have about a 3.2-3.4 GPA on average so far is high school and i have been volunteering at a local animal shelter.  Is there anything else i should do?  I read somewhere that i should get into working with large animals such as goats and cows on a farm to get experience in that field as well.  What do veterinarian schools look for and what schools would you recommend?  If you can help please do so.

ANSWER: I think it is great that you are planning ahead and being a veterinarian would be a very rewarding career.  However, what you need to think about now is more your four years as an undergraduate student.  When you enter college, you should major in something that interests you the most, but you cannot pick veterinary science until you have graduated from college.  Most colleges and universities will want to see you take as much science as you can, but they will also want to see you take a lot of other courses.  Working in a veterinary clinic would be good experience, but I don't know if you need to work with large animals at this time unless you want to.  Colorado State University has a good veterinary school, but there are quite a few good ones to choose from.  Veterinary school is very competitive, so you need to make the best grades and test scores possible.


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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I am taking science classes yes and i may even double up with them my next year of school.  I hear it takes at least 7 years to become a vet.  4 years of majoring in something a normal college and then 3 in a vet school.  Would it be best to major in science like Biology for my college schooling or does it really matter?  I was told to try and pick my college and apply before my senior year so I am looking into now as a sophomore to get ahead of it.  Do you have any other advice or websites i could look at?

Answer
Most colleges will not accept an application until your senior year.  Some do not even make their application available until the summer before your senior year and they usually have a date in September when they will begin accepting applications.  I think you are on the right track.  If biology is something that really interests you then that could be a possible major.
The most important thing is to continue to make good grades and consider what you can bring to a college that is unique.



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