Veterinarians care for livestock, pets, sporting and laboratory animals. They prevent the outbreak and spread of animal diseases and perform autopsies on diseased animals. Veterinarians must be good decision makers, have keen powers of observation, good manual dexterity, and skills with both animals and people. In addition, veterinarians who are self-employed must have significant small-business skills. Competition for admission to veterinary school is intense. Admission is based on the applicant's grade point average, scores on the GRE and recommendations. It is suggested that each applicant have some practical work experience with animals prior to applying to veterinary school.
Most applicants to veterinary school have completed four years of college with courses in chemistry, biology and mathematics. Veterinary training includes clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of animal diseases, performing surgery and laboratory work in anatomy, biochemistry and other scientific and medical subjects. Twenty-seven schools are accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Every state requires that veterinarians be licensed. To obtain a license, applicants must have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited school and pass a state board examination. Veterinarians seeking certification in one of the 20 areas of specialization must complete a two- to five-year residency program and pass an examination.
VMCAS-the Veterinary Medical Colleges Application Service
This plan of study shows the types of courses you might take as a student in this major. This is presented simply to provide a realistic preview of your coursework. Once you enroll at Millikin, a faculty advisor will guide you through the process of selecting courses that will help you graduate on-time from this program. While this sample demonstrates a plan of study that covers eight semesters, each student’s academic path is unique and your timeline may look different.
