Pre-Professional Advising

Prepare for Veterinary School Admission

Please note: Cal Poly Pomona does not offer any Veterinary program.  The program is listed here merely for the purpose of providing general information about this program to interested CPP students.

 

Veterinarians (DVM) specialize in providing medical care for domestic food animals, pets, zoo animals and those of the wild. Part of their activities are also providing for the health of the human population by controlling animal diseases such as rabies and mad cow disease. In addition they inspect our meats, fish and milk to keep these foods safe for us.

Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture at CPP offers Bachelor's degree in Animal Health Science and Animal Science.

  • The Animal Health Science program is  accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association's Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities. Students are eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) and become licensed as a registered veterinary technologist (RVTg).

Minimum Pre-requisites for Admission in General

  • A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is required
  • Each program has its own prerequisites. Check specific school for detailed admission requirements (American Veterinary Medical Association).  To plan for your class schedule, please visit our " Class Schedule and Action Timeline" page for details.
  • General Course prerequisites include the following:
    • 1 year of English
    • 1 year of General (inorganic) Chemistry with Laboratory
    • 1 year of Organic Chemistry with Laboratory
    • 1 course of Biochemistry
    • 1 year of College Mathematics including College Algebra, College Trigonometry, Calculus and/or Statistics
    • 1 year of General Biology with Laboratory
    • 1 year of Physics with Laboratory
  • Additional recommended courses: Animal Nutrition, Animal Husbandry, Animal Anatomy, Animal Physiology, Embryology, Genetics of Domestic Animals, Mammalian Endocrinology, Microbiology, Immunology, Medical Bacteriology, Virology, Medical Mycology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Histology etc.

Veterinary-related Experience Requirements

Minimum 300 hours veterinary-related experience through internship and/or externship

Tests Needed: GRE or MCAT

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required by most veterinary schools, and some also require the Biology GRE. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is also accepted by some schools in place of the GRE. 


Suggested Time Table

Freshman Year

  • Decide the major(s) (Make an appointment to see a Career Counselor in Career Center at Cal Poly)
  • Consider joining Student Clubs
  • Stay focused to achieve excellent academic performance 
  • Volunteer in veterinary-related experience

Sophomore Year

  • Take the time to develop relationships with faculty members for future letter of recommendations
  • Continue to participate in veterinary-related volunteer opportunities

Junior Year

  • Study for entry exam
  • Consider enrolling in commercial prep courses
  • Start getting the necessary application information ready
  • Take the entry exam

Summer between Junior and Senior Year

  • Complete collecting and preparing all the necessary materials for your application: personal statement, letter of recommendations, entry exam scores, etc.
  • Submit the application after June 1st (earliest time)
  • Retake the entry exam if you have not taken the first exam or you want to get a better score
  • Complete the "secondary applications" if you receive them

Senior Year

  • If you were granted an interview, prepare for the upcoming interview
  • Complete your undergraduate studies and have a nice vacation before starting vet school.

Association

Application Service

California Veterinary Schools

Veterinary Schools in the US

Search AAVMC member institutions

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