Prior to applying for admission to veterinary school, prospective applicants should have completed the required pre-requisite courses. Each veterinary school determines their own requirements (see chart of all schools and courses), but the following courses at Truman are a good starting point:
- Minimum of 10 semester hours of Biology (BIOL 107 & 108, other courses as recommended by your advisor or required by your school preferences)
- 2 semesters of General Chemistry with lab (CHEM 130-131)
- 1-2 semesters of Organic Chemistry with lab ([CHEM 329, 330, 331, & 332] or CHEM 320 – depending on your major)
- 1 semester of Biochemistry (CHEM 335)
- 2 semesters of Physics with lab ([PHYS 185 & 186] or [PHYS 195 & 196])
Some schools have additional requirements and/or strong recommendations for courses. Information and data about specific schools and their requirements, as well as other valuable advice, may be found from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges:
AAVMC Summary of Course PrerequisitesGrades and Course Load
The detailed academic record is the prime indicator of an applicant’s talent, performance, and judgment. In general, admissions committees like to see evidence that you can do well while carrying a substantial course load (15-17 credit hours), but remember: you must establish a very good GPA and it may be very difficult to do so with a heavy course load. Veterinary schools look for A’s and B’s in classes overall, as well as a strong science GPA. Faced with the prospect of a C, some students will want to withdraw (W) and try for a higher grade later. More than two W’s indicates a lack of judgment and an inability to handle difficult situations. Remember, course withdrawals must be recorded on veterinary school applications, so this is something to discuss with your advisor.
The national average science GPA of students accepted to veterinary school is around 3.50.