Pre-Veterinarian

Congratulations on your interest in becoming a Veterinarian! As a pre-Veterinary student at Radford University, you will have unique opportunities to engage in research, complete Vet school course prerequisites, participate in STEM clubs, and so much more; all while learning in a community-based education environment. Radford’s small class sizes and demanding laboratory experiences will allow you to connect with faculty and study with classmates in a way that prepares you for the rigors of Vet school. 

While there is not a stand-alone Pre-Vet degree, most students choose to major in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Psychology and often minor in programs that celebrate their individual interest. However, pre-Vet students have the opportunity to select a major that reflects their primary interests, so long as the specific Vet school’s prerequisite courses are complete. Vet school prerequisites often include biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, but all pre-Vet students must investigate the specific requirements of each institution where an application will be sent. As a pre-Vet student, you and your advisor will compose a degree path that suits your interests and best prepares you for Vet school. The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) website is also a valuable resource when considering Vet school after graduating from Radford University.

Use AVMA’s pre-Vet guide as a resource to investigate all things pre-Vet, including information that will help you decide if pharmacy is the right career path for you)

Exploring veterinary careers:  

  • Some veterinary career paths include:
    • Private practice
    • Corporate veterinary medicine
    • Federal Government
    • U.S. military
    • Research
    • Teaching
    • Public health
    • Food supply medicine
    • Global veterinary medicine
    • Public policy
    • Shelter medicine

Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) are not just small companion animal caregivers – they are teachers, laboratory researchers, disease specialists, and wildlife biologists.  They are actively involved in a wide range of wild and companion animal care, as well as public health concerns. Indeed, a recent (2009) study indicated that there is a shortage of veterinarians who specialize in public health (e.g., zoonotic disease outbreak [CDC], animal health inspection [USDA and APHIS]) – and non-companion animal veterinarians will be in greater demand in coming years.

About Veterinary School

In the U.S., veterinary school lasts for four years with at least one year being dedicated to clinical rotations. Upon completion of veterinary school, graduates must pass a national board examination before being eligible to practice veterinary medicine as a DVM plus a state board exam for the state in which they wish to practice.

Only 28 veterinary medical colleges exist in the United States – many fewer in existence than medical schools. Consequently, competition is quite intense. In the last published statistics for the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, nearly 1900 studies applied for 124 just spots. 

Furthermore, state veterinary colleges are allowed to give priority to in-state residents for the few positions that do exist, leaving only a few spots for outstanding out-of-state applicants. Consequently, students at Radford University are strongly encouraged to apply to the veterinary school within their state of residence.

After Veterinary School

Some newly accredited veterinarians (about 40% in 2008) choose to pursue post-doctoral residencies in more specific fields before moving into private practice or other permanent jobs. Specialized programs are numerous, and might include: zoo and wildlife medicine, dentistry, chiropractic medicine, endocrinology, oncology, opthamology, and neurology. Given the acknowledged shortage of veterinarians working in government positions, these post-doctoral experiences are becoming more appealing to veterinary students in recent years.

In order to practice veterinary medicine, graduates in the DVM program also must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). Those who wish to go into private practice must also pass a state board examination for the state in which they plan to practice.

The average salary for new veterinary school graduates in varies greatly by location (state, rural vs. urban) and employer (government vs private practice). Those starting their own business made slightly less than average. The type of animal practice also influences salary; those in large animal private practice made markedly less than those in small animal private practices. Further, those working as public or corporate veterinarians (e.g., working for a university or the federal/state government) might expect a higher salary than those in private practice.

One major consideration for vet school is cost. Average student debt upon completion of veterinary school was just over $150,000. The estimate for non-US-based schools (e.g., Caribbean schools) is over $230,000 - suggesting that the choice of these non-US options might be financially crippling for years to come.  Additionally, employment at the time of graduation is not guaranteed. So, students are encouraged to truly consider long-term debt issues and future employment options before choosing this arduous route.

Pre-Veterinarian Advising at Radford University

Students at Radford University with an interest in veterinary medicine are encouraged to contact the pre-vet faculty advisor (Dr. O'Brien or Dr. Powers) early in their undergraduate career. This advisor works one-on-one with students to prepare the most competitive application possible – assisting with course selection, providing suggestions for research opportunities, and making the student aware of the rigors of veterinary medicine and the dedication necessary to attain this DVM degree.

Because most Radford University students are residents of Virginia, the information presented focuses on admission to the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) located in Blacksburg, Virginia. This college admitted to the Class of 2027: 129 students, 89 Virginia/Maryland/West Virginia residents, and 40 non-residents (1,692 applied). The incoming GPA averaged 3.66. Those students who are not residents of VA/MD/WV are encouraged to speak with admissions counselors at their respective state veterinary institution to understand the specific admissions requirements for that school.

The VMRCVM offers two veterinary programs – the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and a graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Biomedical and Veterinary Services. The latter better prepares students for jobs focusing on research of veterinary medicine. Dual degrees (DVM/PhD) are offered, as well, to exceptional applicants. A relatively new Master's in Public Health also is a viable route for those who are interested in animal and human care but might not meet the rigorous standards for vet school or might simply choose to follow a different career path.

The following information focuses on the DVM degree at VMRCVM. Students are encouraged to visit the VMRCVM web site to further explore career options, course requirements, and to answer other pertinent questions.  

Major and Undergraduate Courses

A Radford University student’s choice of major is not the determining factor in the application process. However, VMRCVM lists a wealth of required and suggested courses to be completed as an undergraduate (Table 1). For this reason, those choosing to pursue a degree in a science field (biology, chemistry, etc.) might best accommodate the courses in Table 1. Most RU students currently pursuing veterinary medicine are pursuing a major in Biology which accommodates all the courses listed in Table 1. VMRCVM regulations state that a “C-“ or better must be attained in all required undergraduate courses.

Table 1. Required and suggested courses for admission to the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. To fulfill these requirements, appropriate courses currently offered at Radford University are listed.

Required Courses (through the 2023-2024 application period)

Required CoursesRadford University Courses
General Biology (8 credit hours)BIOL 131, 132
Organic Chemistry (4 credit hours)CHEM 301
Physics (8 credit hours)PHYS 111, 112 or
PHYS 221, 222
Biochemistry (3 credit hours)BIOL/CHEM 471
English (6 credit hours)CORE 101, 102, 103, 201; ENGL 111, 112 and higher
Math (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus; 6 credit hours)MATH 119, MATH 137 or greater; STAT no longer accepted
Humanities/Social Sciences (6 credit hours)

Many Core Curriculum courses

Medical Terminology (3 credit hours)HLTH 215
 

Other veterinary colleges have slightly different requirements. For instance:

  • University of Florida requires BIOL 408 (microbiology for majors; BIOL 334 for health science majors is not accepted).  GRE scores are not required.
  • North Carolina State requires 2 semesters of organic chemistry plus a course in animal nutrition (which RU does not offer but IS offered on-line through other universities) and GRE scores above the 50th percentile.

Again, students are strongly advised to research the requirements of each school to which they plan to apply. Our list is not comprehensive.

*Required Courses (beginning 2024-2025 application period)*


Required CoursesRadford University Courses
Biochemistry: 1 semester                                  
BIOL/CHEM 471 (3)
Microbiology: 1 semesterBIOL 408 (4) or BIOL 334 (4)
Communication/Public Speaking: 1 semesterCOMS 114 (3)
Medical Terminology: 1 semesterHLTH 215 (3)
Science Competencies: 24-30 credit hours   Many choices in BIOL, CHEM, PHYS and up to 6 cr MATH (algebra or higher)
Humanities/Social Science Competencies: 16-20 credit hoursMost general education courses, including but not limited to: history, economics, anthropology, psychology, art, sociology, music literature, languages, writing and ethics

Suggested Courses

VMRCVM no longer lists suggested biology-related courses on its admissions page; instead, it suggests taking more liberal arts courses if the student is a science major, and more science courses if the student is not a science major.

Below are courses that may help students best prepare for classes taken while in veterinary school.

Suggested CoursesRadford University Courses
Cellular Biology                                          
BIOL 132
Comparative Anatomy and Comparative PhysiologyBIOL 350:351; also helpful is BIOL 310:311
GeneticsBIOL 231
NutritionNUTR 214
ImmunologyBIOL 337

How to be a Competitive Applicant

VMRCVM suggest that the most competitive applications have these qualities:

  1. Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above, with a 3.6 GPA or greater in the last 45 credit-hours
  2. Wide variety of large and small animal experience
  3. 100-300 documented hours working for a practicing veterinarian (ideally much greater than 300 hours)
  4. Laboratory research experience (but animal-specific projects not required)

GPA
A cumulative GPA of 3.5 in college is generally considered competitive for admission to VMRCVM. However, the class of 2025 had a 3.67 average, so this varies from year to year. This college also considers an applicant’s GPA for the required science courses (Table 1) and the applicant’s GPA for the last 45 credit hours completed. At the initial screening phase of admissions, 55% of the applicant's score is based on cumulative GPA + required course GPA + last 45 h GPA.

GRE
Please note that VMRCVM no longer requires the GRE, and submitted scores are not considered as part of the application package. SOME veterinary schools still do require it, so please check with your schools about GRE requirements before applying.

In a summer 2021 search, the following states/programs addressed the GRE requirement - please note that these are subject to change.

These schools do not require the GRE for those applying in fall 2024 applicants: VMRCVM, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, North Carolina, Cornell, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana (Purdue). This is not an all-inclusive list.

A few programs listed optional or required GREs: Georgia required a score of 308 combined (but allow applicants to substitute their GPA is the GRE score is too low— they list minimum GRE OR minimum GPA for admission. Louisiana State requires a GRE score that is above average (currently ca. 302 or above). Illinois asks for rankings >63% composite percentile in recent class; not required but will use it to decrease relative value of cumulative and science GPAs in evaluation process.

Wide variety of large and small animal experience

In the VMRCVM admissions process, 55% of the applicant's score is based on veterinary experience + animal experience + research experience + work experience. VMRCVM suggests completion of a minimum of 100-300 hours– working directly with a veterinarian. This includes shadowing a vet or any work in which animal handling is a primary task in a vet clinic. Receptionist work at a vet clinic DOES NOT COUNT towards these hours.

Students are encouraged to keep a journal throughout these 300+ hours – not only to log in the hours completed, but also to document procedures in which they assisted, techniques learned, lists of animal species that they handled, etc. This journal may be kept in any way desired - hand-written or typed. The journal will not be submitted anywhere, but will assist in filling out the veterinary school application and answering questions in the interview stage. Although it is probably easier to obtain a wealth of small companion animal experience, the best candidates also have gained experience working with larger animals, as well – whether they be companion (horses), farm (cows, sheep), or wild animals.

Research experience

The most competitive applicants have accumulated out-of-classroom experiences with animals. Fortunately, a large number of faculty members at Radford University work with vertebrate animals in a laboratory or field setting. Students are STRONGLY encouraged to visit the web pages of biology faculty members to determine which projects most interest them. Multiple semesters working independently with faculty on animal-related projects is encouraged.

Application Process

The current deadline for applications is mid-September for admission into VMRCVM the following August. Application materials are scored out of 100 possible points, and this is a two-phase process. The first phase accounts for 75 points:  

  • Standard application (VMCAS)
  • VMRCVM supplemental application
  • Three letters of recommendation from employers and professors

Exceptional student applicants will be invited to VMRCVM for the second phase of the application process – the personal interview. This interview will account for the remaining 25% or 25 points of the applicant’s score. Letters of acceptance are mailed in March of each year.

Suggested Timeline/Activities

Freshman year

  • Meet with pre-vet advisor to gauge interest and academic ability in pursuing a veterinary degree. NOTE: as a freshman, your courses are no different than others in the biology major
  • Join the pre-health listserv. Send an email (subject and body don't matter) to: pre-med-info-subscribe-request@radford.edu. The listserv is used to communicate a variety of information to pre-health students (guest speakers, field trips, other opportunities).
  • Join and be active in relevant clubs on campus: The Wildlife Society, the Pre-Med club, Beta Beta Beta Honors Society

Freshman through Junior years

  • Complete most/all of the required and suggested coursework.
  • Begin independent study research with a biology faculty member (minimum of 1 semester – more semesters make for a stronger application).
  • Gain large and small animal experience at veterinary clinics, research facilities, zoos, farms.
  • Get to know the faculty of the department outside of class. They will provide those necessary letters of recommendation at application time.

Senior Year

  • June-August – Complete the General GRE (if it's required; have scores sent directly to your veterinary college of choice).
  • Mid-September – VMCAS application and additional materials due to VMRCVM.
  • January/February – VMRCVM interviews granted to the strongest applicants (Mock interviews are set up 1-2 times per year to prepare the student for this portion of the application process).