Pre-Veterinary

What do I need to know?

In the U.S., there are 28 accredited veterinary medical colleges that offer the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). Admission into a veterinary program is highly selective and includes evaluation of:

• GPA (overall & science)
• GRE scores
• Extracurricular & community service
• Volunteer experience within the field
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal interview

Students must complete Pre-Veterinary coursework at an accredited college or university to be considered for admission. Western offers undergraduate coursework that will satisfy the prerequisites of most DVM programs, but veterinary programs vary in admission requirements. In general, applicants must have strong academic backgrounds in the following areas of study:

Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Physics and English. Although Western does not offer a Pre-Veterinary major, Biology and Chemistry are examples of popular majors among students who pursue admission into a DVM program. Declaring a Major: Refer to the department of your chosen major for pre-requisites and GPA requirements for declaring.

Plan of Study

Freshman Year

• General Chemistry: CHEM 121*, 122, 123
• General Biology: BIOL 204**, 205, 206
• Take appropriate math Calculus II: MATH 125 sequence to complete Calculus I: MATH 124
• Take GUR courses including ENG 101 & COMM 101
• Meet with Pre-Healthcare Advisor to develop a plan of study

*Completion of MATH 114 or placement into MATH 115 or higher is a pre-requisite for CHEM 121
**CHEM 121 is pre-requisite to BIOL 204

Sophomore Year

• Research veterinary careers & DVM programs
• English composition: ENG 201 or 202
• Organic Chemistry CHEM 351, 352, 353, 354, & 355 [or 356 for non-Chemistry majors]
• Physics:* PHYS 114, 115, 116, or 121, 122, 123
• Microbiology: BIOL 345, 346

*MATH 115 is a pre-requisite to PHYS 114; MATH 124 is a co-requisite to PHYS 121

Junior Year

• Genetics: BIOL 321, 322
• Biochemistry: BIOL or CHEM 471, 472
• Statistics: MATH 240 (or major equivalent)
• English composition: ENG 301 or 302
• Take the GRE
• Draft personal statement
• Request letters of recommendation
• Apply to VMCAS (Veterinary Medical College Application Service)

Senior Year

• Complete major and GUR requirements
• Meet department advisor for major evaluation
• Apply for graduation two quarters before graduating

Pre-Veterinary Checklist

• Join Pre-Veterinary listserv for advisor news: e-mail Renee.Murray@wwu.edu w/subject line:
  pre-veterinary listserv, First Name, Last Name, WWU student #
• General Chemistry— CHEM 121, 122, 123 (5, 5, 4)
• General Biology— BIOL 204, 205, 206 (4, 5, 5)
• Calculus— MATH 124, 125 (5, 5)
• English— ENG 101 (5) & 202 or 203 (5)
• Physics— PHYS 114, 115, 116 or 121, 122, 123 (5, 5, 5)
• Organic Chemistry— CHEM 351, 352, 353, 354 lab, & 355 lab/356 lab for non-Chem majors (4, 4, 3, 2, 3/2)
• Genetics— BIOL 321, 322 lab (4, 4)
• Microbiology— BIOL 345, 346 lab (3, 2)
• Biochemistry— BIOL 471, 472 or CHEM 471, 472 (3, 3)
• Statistics— MATH 240 (4) or major equivalent if offered
• Writing Proficiency (WP) required course(s) to 3 or more points
• English— ENG 302 (5), or other composition course
• Public Speaking– COMM 101 and/or other Interpersonal Communication course
• Research veterinary careers & Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programs
• Volunteer with veterinarians & gain exposure to the field
• Prepare for and take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Register with the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS)
• Request letters of recommendation from professors and professionals
• Draft personal statement
• Review current events and issues in the field of veterinary medicine
• Prepare for interviews
• Meet with department advisor for major evaluation
• Apply for graduation at least two quarters before graduation
• Complete major, GUR, and other university requirements