How to Become a Veterinarian with Key Steps and Top Qualities
How to become a Veterinarian |
How to become a Veterinarian - Key Steps & Qualities to become a vet
It's quite likely that your first visit to the veterinarian was when your pet was sick and needed a little extra care. This is because the main job of a veterinarian is to take care of animals! Working with cute, cuddly critters is part of the job's appeal--in fact, "veterinarian" is one of the most common responses from kids when asked what they want to do when they grow up!
If you're interested in becoming a doctor, it's a good idea to learn a little about the profession. In this article, we'll talk about what doctors do, what kinds of degrees and licenses they have, how long it takes to become a doctor, and what personal qualities are needed to succeed in the profession. We'll also walk you through the process of becoming a doctor step-by-step to help you prepare for your dream career. Here, we' will cover everything about the topic you need to know, including:
- How long does it take to become a doctor of animals (veterinarian)?
- How to decide if becoming a veterinarian is right for you.
- What classes should you take in high school and college?
- How to Choose a Good Undergraduate University and Vet School
- What is vet school like?
What is a Veterinarian and What Do They Do?
By definition, a veterinarian is a physician qualified to practice the science of prevention, treatment, and alleviation of disease and injury in animals. Veterinarians work to diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions in pets, livestock, and other animals. Take another approach: If it has wings, a tail, or scales, there's probably a doctor whose job it is to keep it happy and healthy.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Vet?
At this point, you might be wondering how long it takes to become a doctor. Generally, it takes about 8-10 years to become a doctor when you graduate from high school. After completing the initial four-year bachelor's degree program, it takes an additional four years of vet school to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and be licensed to practice in your state. If you want to focus on a specific area, such as cardiology or neurology, you'll need two or more years of specialized training on top of that.
How long it takes to become a vet can vary, but if you really love animals and think caring for them is important to you, then becoming a veterinarian might be the right choice for you.
The 4 Qualities You Need to Become a Veterinarian
Qualities you need to become a Veterinarian |
The process of becoming a veterinarian and practicing veterinary medicine requires some serious dedication to the field. Veterinarians (Doctor of Animals) spend their entire lives improving their skill sets and contributing to the field, just like doctors who treat humans. So it is important to think whether you are suitable for this profession or not.
Here are four personal characteristics to consider when thinking about becoming a veterinarian and if the field is right for you.
#1: The ability to Handle Emotional and Physical Stress
Unfortunately, vets don't always encounter the animals they love in the best of conditions. Depending on the specialty, doctors may see animals in distress or in their final moments of life. Tough decisions will have to be made and hearts will break. If you're unable to put your love for animals aside to focus on treatment, becoming a veterinarian may be more emotionally difficult for you than you expect.
Additionally, the critters that help you are seriously adorable, you'll also get to experience the less glamorous side of veterinary medicine. Doctors sure get their hands dirty! If you are unable to handle the sight of blood and bodily fluids, this profession may not be for you.
#2: Ability to Work With People
Many people enter the veterinary field because they love animals...sometimes they love people even more. However, it is a common misconception that practicing veterinary medicine will only require interaction with animals.
The field of veterinary medicine also requires dealing with people. You may not be treating humans, but you will be talking to them about their beloved pets, guiding them to be better owners, and improving the lives of animals. Will teach how to increase quality. Even if you're not going to work with client-owned animals, you'll still have to collaborate with peers and colleagues throughout your career journey.
In other words, if you're going to Wheatfield because you want to avoid working around people altogether, you're out of luck.
#3 Sound Decision-Making Skills
When you are a veterinarian, the quality of life of animals is often in your hands. Owners will trust you to know what to do to help their animals or pets. As a professional doctor, you have to have good decision-making and problem-solving skills. You must be able to perform well under pressure during critical care cases. Like medical doctors, doctors need to be able to think on their feet and act quickly even when the stakes are high.
#4: Intellectual Curiosity and Dedication
The entire process of becoming a doctor begins in high school and requires a serious intellectual investment. In fact, you have to be prepared for 8 to 10 years of additional education! Moreover, the field is both challenging and competitive, so you have to be prepared for that as well. If you are truly dedicated to becoming a doctor, the time and effort will be worth it in the end!
Whether you like caring for people's pets, educating pet owners about their beloved animals, researching livestock behavior, rehabilitating wild birds, or any other type of animal care. Yes, your love for this profession will take you far. Although there will be challenges to becoming a doctor, you will probably find the profession very rewarding and ultimately rewarding.
Steps to Become a Veterinarian
Steps to become a Veterinarian |
How to Become a Veterinarian (High School)
If you're still here, congratulations—you may be well-suited for a veterinary career. Now, it is the time to start your professional journey for bright future. You can start taking steps on this career path by planning your schedule around your goals, applying to the right colleges, and finding volunteer opportunities. Here are some great ways you can start making your dream of becoming a doctor a reality before you even step foot on a college campus.
Planning Your Schedule
Math and science are key components when you think about becoming a doctor. In fact, Purdue University recommends that you take at least four years of math (geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and calculus), four years of English, four years of lab science (physics, biology, and chemistry), and electives such as animal science. You are serious about veterinary school.
It's important to pay attention to your schedule to make sure you're taking the right classes and getting good grades in them! It is also a great idea to take courses that will give you college credit. AP or IB classes are a great way to earn college credit, and they also prepare you for more rigorous courses after school.
Choosing the Right College
Speaking of vet college, it is also most important to think about the best veterinary institution for you to attend as you prepare for veterinary school. Your choice about veterinary college will depend primarily on what best suits your needs, but you should also consider the admission criteria such as GPA, SAT, and ACT requirements.
A good GPA and excellent ACT or SAT scores are important for admission to most universities, but standards will vary between institutions. The average high school GPA for college-bound students is around 3.0, and the most competitive colleges (such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton) average around 4.0. Ultimately, you'll need to meet the requirements outlined by your institution, but it's a good idea to make sure you have a 3.5 GPA or higher to keep your options as open as possible.
Another part of choosing the right college is finding a degree program that will give you a strong education in the physical and biological sciences — an important part of preparing for vet school. Most universities have the option of majoring in chemistry, biology, zoology, physiology, microbiology, or anatomy, which are excellent choices for anyone wanting to become a veterinarian. A few universities, such as Ohio State University, Texas A&M University, and the University of California at Davis, offer pre-vet majors to give you specific disciplinary knowledge. Many pre-vet programs will help you meet all the requirements for vet school and give you some pre-professional training.
The very important thing to keep in mind is that vet schools in the world are incredibly competitive. (More on that later.) With that in mind, it's a good idea to aim for best schools with strong veterinary degree programs. This will stand you in good stead when you submit your veterinary school applications later.
Getting Hands-On Experience
While your test scores and grades are most important and they attracts the personality, it is a great idea to get involved in extracurricular activities that give you a glimpse into the day-to-day life of working with pets and animals. Get involved with high school organizations like 4-H or FFA to give you hands-on experience, or look for volunteer opportunities at a humane society, zoo, or even a cattle farm. You can also get a job shadowing a real veterinarian at a local veterinary clinic. All of these options will give you valuable field experience and give you insight into how to become a doctor.
Another benefit of volunteering is that colleges want to see that you have a record of community service. Some colleges may also ask you to explain why you are a good fit for their college or program. Gaining specific volunteer experiences can also help you stand out from other potential students.
How to Become A Veterinarian (Vet College)
Once you've chosen the perfect college, it's time to saddle up and get down to business. Your major, your academic performance, your relationship with your professors, and your experience with animals will ultimately determine whether you get into vet school—the final and most important part of becoming a vet. It is the last step.
Choosing a Major
Choosing the right major will help you structure your undergraduate degree to meet the right requirements for vet school. Schools will vary slightly in the number of credits required, but according to Purdue, most US veterinary schools require the following list of required courses, regardless of your major:
- General education (some of which you can complete in college through AP classes)
- Two semesters of General Chemistry with Lab
- Two semesters of organic chemistry with lab
- One or two semesters of biochemistry and molecular biology with lab (cell biology may also be required)
- Two semesters of general biology with lab
- Two semesters of physics with lab
- with a minimum requirement of two semesters of calculus from math, algebra, and trigonometry (most schools require students to take calculus);
Some four-year universities also offer a pre-vet track, which consists of the same standards but may require additional coursework in animal science, genetics, or microbiology. You don't need to be a pre-vet to get into veterinary school, but it may be worth exploring if you know you have an interest in a particular area, such as equine science, zoological medicine, reptile and amphibian practice, or the practice of exotic companion mammals.
Maintaining GPA, Getting Experience, and Building Relationships
Continuing good academic work in college is important because admission to vet school is incredibly competitive. In fact, it's just as competitive as getting into med school! The more competitive the program, the higher your overall GPA must be. In general, we recommend that you aim for a GPA of 3.5 or higher to give yourself the best shot.
Remember all the extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities, and job shadowing sessions you pursued in high school? You should also keep it in college. You'll need to write a statement of purpose explaining why you're a good fit for vet school, and if you have experience, you're more likely to stand out among your peers during the admissions process. Fortunately, most universities offer many opportunities for students to get involved. For example, you can get involved in student organizations and club activities, volunteer initiatives, and even professional experience programs. Joining organizations (and sticking with them!) is a great way to improve your vet school application.
Along with participating in extracurriculars, it's also important to build relationships with your advisors and professors, as these are the people who will write your letters of recommendation. This means speaking up in class, asking questions, taking advantage of office hours, and showing genuine interest in the subjects you encounter. Having a professional relationship with your advisors and professors is crucial: the better they know you, the more specific and compelling their letters will be.
Applying for Vet School
Vet school applications are due around mid-September of your senior year of college, so start thinking about the application process at the beginning of your junior year. At this point, it's time to choose the animal schools you want to apply to and start your applications.
There are currently 30 best accredited Veterinary colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States of America. Write down your top choices on the list so you can start researching schools and their programs. Broadly speaking, you should consider the following criteria when choosing your veterinary school:
- Areas of specialty: Does the school have strengths and services in the specific areas you want to practice? Check out the AVMA's list of veterinary specialties to see all of your options.
- Class Size: How many students are enrolled in each class (on average)? It depends upon you, whether you prefer large or small classes.
- Costs: How expensive is each school? Be sure to look at the total cost of attending each college, including room and board, program fees, and the cost of supplies.
- Teaching Hospital: Does the school have a hospital for clinical training, and is the caseload reflective of what you want to do in your career?
- Off-Campus Training: Would you like to train at other sites through externship opportunities? Training will play a major role in getting a good job after graduation.
Because vet school is so competitive, it's important to apply to several different institutions to get a backup plan.
For example, the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine program received 979 applications for the class of 2023, and only 191 of those applicants were offered admission, compared to 478 students who applied to Texas A&M University's veterinary medicine program. , and only 158 were admitted. It's a good idea to rank your list of universities from most preferred to least preferred, and plan to apply to at least five to seven of your top-ranked schools.
One way to ensure you get into the school of your dreams is to practice your entrance exams. Make sure you leave there was enough time to study for the GRE or MCAT, and take the test more than once if necessary. During the 2013, application cycle, the average veterinary school applicant had an average GPA of 3.56 and GRE scores of 155 (66th percentile), 154 (57th percentile), and 3.9 (54th percentile), respectively, on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical tests. You should 100% make sure to give your professors a few months to write your letters of recommendation.
The good news is that you only need to fill out a single application for vet school, which will then be sent to each institution of your choice. This application—called the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VCMAS)—is provided by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). You must submit:
- General Candidate Information
- Proof of required completion
- Reflection of experiences (ie statement of purpose)
- Copies of transcripts
- Your GRE or MCAT test scores
- Letters of Recommendation (sometimes referred to as letters of recommendation)
Fortunately, the AAVMC provides a detailed application checklist to help keep you on track. Once you submit your application, you may have to wait a while to hear back from the schools. If a school is interested in you, they will contact you for an interview to move on to the next step in the admissions process. All students receive final decisions from schools in mid-April.
Having a Backup Plan
Admission to vet school can be very competitive, with approximately 50% of applicants accepted each year. It is very important to have a backup plan in case you change your mind.
The good news is that majors that prepare you for veterinary school also open up other great career opportunities. Many people who don't want to go to veterinary school (but still want to work with animals!) become veterinary technicians. Vet techs provide technical support to veterinarians in all aspects of patient care and perform tasks such as taking blood samples, weighing animals, and sterilizing surgical instruments.
Additionally, becoming a certified vet tech requires less education than becoming a doctor. It requires a two-year associate's degree from an accredited veterinary technology program and practical experience in a veterinary hospital. If you know you'd like to work with animals but aren't interested in attending an extensive veterinary program, exploring how to become a vet tech is a great idea.
How to Become a Veterinarian: Vet School
Vet school is an exciting time where you will become a professional by diving into specific content knowledge and gaining more experience with clinical practice.
What Vet School Is Like
So what is vet school like in general? First and foremost, it's usually a full-day commitment. According to Dr. Shute, a veterinarian at SGU, a typical day can last from 8 AM to 5 PM (similar to a full-time job), and you'll likely spend that time jumping from lectures to labs. You may find it difficult to juggle other responsibilities during school hours.
Depending on the term, you will either go directly to class for morning lectures or to one of your labs. If you go to class first, you will have several lectures in a row with ten to fifteen minute breaks between them.
When you take a break between classes and labs, you can use the time to look over assigned readings, prepare for your next class session, or study for quizzes (which are regularly scheduled in addition to midterms and final exams). will be given). Also keep an eye out for clubs and organizations and find yourself attending some of these meetings throughout your week.
Vet School Course Curriculum
Lectures in veterinary schools or colleges will be a good time to take notes and ask questions to remove doubts regarding to study, while labs give you hands-on experience. Although every curriculum is different, your two major classes will likely be anatomy and physiology your first year, and you may also have a small animal anatomy lab. This may include dissection to learn about muscles, organs, and all the internal workings of animals. You may also be working in small groups, so labs can be a great time to get to know your classmates, form outside study groups, and discover where you can best collaborate and learn with potential peers. are
Other classes you can expect include neuroanatomy, general pathology, parasitology, and more. For example, in Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine program, students are required to take "foundation" courses. These include animal bodies. neuroanatomy; General Pathology; Cell Biology and Genetics; function and dysfunction; host, agent, and disease; medical rotation; and veterinary practice. Students in Cornell's program can also take "distribution courses" that represent opportunities for students to pursue areas of interest in greater depth or to explore other aspects of professional expertise, such as research and clinical experience off campus. are
Along with your core requirements, you'll also take classes in your specialty. For example, if you specialize in veterinary internal medicine, you should probably take classes like cardiology, neurology, and oncology. If you are specializing in animal surgery, you can take courses in orthopedics or soft tissue surgery.
Remember: the classes you take will depend on your school, program, and specialization...so be sure to research them thoroughly before applying.
Succeeding in Vet School
Classes and labs will become more advanced and rigorous each year, building on previous course knowledge, so it's important to really engage with the information you're learning. It is not just about memorizing definitions - it is also about really and helpful understanding the material. Get tutoring if you need extra help, and make sure you meet with your professors if you're struggling.
And since you're going to be so busy and consumed with veterinary school, it's important to give yourself breaks to avoid burnout. Depending on the school, you'll need to maintain a certain minimum GPA, so make sure you're leading a balanced lifestyle to help you stay on top of your coursework. Get involved in something outside of school that helps you decompress.
Graduating From Vet School
While the early years of vet school are spent mostly in the classroom and laboratory, you'll gain additional experience during clinical rotations, where you'll treat patients under the supervision of a more experienced mentor. Clinicals are an opportunity for you to practice what you have learned.
In the final year of your program, you will need to focus on studying for your North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). Administered by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) since 2000, NAVLE is required for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in all licensing jurisdictions in the United States and Canada. NAVLE 360 consists of medically relevant multiple choice questions. While you can retake the NAVLE if you don't pass it the first time, the AAVME limits the number of times you can take the licensing exam. That's why it's important that you study for the test early and often.
After you graduate, you will have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD) degree and will be qualified to practice the profession. Many veterinarians can become board-certified in a particular area or receive additional training in internship or residency programs. For example, many veterinarians also receive additional training in the form of an internship (typically one year) and/or residency (approximately 2-3 years) to become board certified in a particular area. .
Anyone who wishes to practice veterinary medicine must be licensed in the state in which they wish to practice. Some states may also require you to pass a state-specific exam to test your knowledge of your state's laws and regulations governing veterinary medicine. To maintain your license, you must also pursue continuing education, such as attending seminars, writing for doctoral publications, or doing more research. This means that even once you've graduated, you're not done with school!
Takeaways
Practicing veterinary medicine is an exciting career choice. You will help improve the lives of animals every day. If you're wondering how to become a doctor or whether the career is right for you, keep these things in mind:
- There are many specialties you can pursue in veterinary medicine, including pet care, equine science, zoological medicine, reptile and amphibian practice, exotic companion mammal practice, and more.
- Becoming a doctor is not for everyone. You should be resilient and decisive in the face of emotional and physical challenges. You also have to be patient with the people you work around, whether they're vet techs, other vets, or pet owners. Understand that it takes 8 to 10 years to become a doctor.
- If you think that this veterinary career is right for you, then the path starts in high school. Volunteer with animals and pets, and take advanced biological science classes. Also, apply to colleges that will help you meet vet school prerequisites and opportunities.
- Once in college, focus on getting good grades and staying involved. Give yourself plenty of time to complete the vet school application and choose the best institution for your desired specialty.
- Through high school, college, and vet school, remember to use the resources and mentors around you for support and guidance every step of the way.
- While in veterinary school, be sure to stay on top of your work. You must pass the licensing exam (NAVLE) to practice veterinary medicine, and you will also need a license in your state.
Veterinary medicine is a lifelong commitment to helping other creatures. Although it takes work to become a doctor, you will be dedicating your life to a great and rewarding cause.
What's Next?
You will need to write essays for both your college and vet school applications. Application essays are one of the most important aspects of your application because they give committees an opportunity to get to know you, your passions, and your interests. Learn what it takes to write a good and perfect application essay here.
We have guides that can help you crack all your entrance exams. See this one for the SAT, this one for the ACT, and this one for the GRE. Remember: Getting the best test scores will help you get into the school of your dreams!
If you want to become a doctor but struggle with the biological sciences, it's important to start getting extra help now. We have guides for a variety of topics in the biological sciences, including an introduction to animal cells, a guide to mitosis, and an overview of enzyme function.