3 answers
Isabelle
Student
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
1
Question
Asked
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What are the steps I should take to be prepared for the career I want to do?
I want to go to college to become a veterinarian. I am just unsure what I should do in order to become prepared.
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3 answers
Mary Jane Shroyer
Director of Health Professions Career Community
102
Answers
Grinnell, Iowa
Updated
Mary Jane’s Answer
Hi, Isabelle! As a high school student, I would focus on two things: academics and animal experiences.
You will need to complete a lot of science classes in college in order to be eligible to apply to vet school, so the more work you do in high school to learn biology, chemistry, physics, and math, the easier time you will have in college. Take challenging classes and more than the minimum required for graduation. Learn the study skills and time management strategies necessary to be a good student; if you find yourself struggling in this regard, ask your teachers for help. Approach your classes as if you are learning the material in order to care for your future patients, not just to pass the next test or quiz. Science and math classes build on each other so if you have a gap in your knowledge, it's very difficult to do well in future classes without a lot of extra work to catch up. If your high school offers AP or dual credit classes, you can take those in order to get a preview of the pace and difficulty of college science courses. There may be prerequisite courses you need before you can take the AP/dual classes, so you'll want to speak with your guidance counselor about your career goals and how your school can support your academic plans.
In terms of experiences, vet schools like to see a wide array of species. You can shadow a vet and volunteer with a shelter to get hands-on experiences with cats and dogs, but also look for opportunities to observe or work with farm animals like horses, goats, and cows. Some vets specialize in reptiles, birds, or small rodents, so if you can find one of those to shadow, that's a great opportunity. There may be a wildlife refuge near you where you can volunteer, shadow or intern. Many zoos also have summer programs for high school and college students. Ultimately, your goal is to understand the wide range of species and settings vets work with and have some insight into which areas are a good fit for you. You can start exploring now and continue building on those experiences in college.
Good luck!
The AAVMC has a lot of information about becoming a veterinarian on their website https://www.aavmc.org/becoming-a-veterinarian/
You will need to complete a lot of science classes in college in order to be eligible to apply to vet school, so the more work you do in high school to learn biology, chemistry, physics, and math, the easier time you will have in college. Take challenging classes and more than the minimum required for graduation. Learn the study skills and time management strategies necessary to be a good student; if you find yourself struggling in this regard, ask your teachers for help. Approach your classes as if you are learning the material in order to care for your future patients, not just to pass the next test or quiz. Science and math classes build on each other so if you have a gap in your knowledge, it's very difficult to do well in future classes without a lot of extra work to catch up. If your high school offers AP or dual credit classes, you can take those in order to get a preview of the pace and difficulty of college science courses. There may be prerequisite courses you need before you can take the AP/dual classes, so you'll want to speak with your guidance counselor about your career goals and how your school can support your academic plans.
In terms of experiences, vet schools like to see a wide array of species. You can shadow a vet and volunteer with a shelter to get hands-on experiences with cats and dogs, but also look for opportunities to observe or work with farm animals like horses, goats, and cows. Some vets specialize in reptiles, birds, or small rodents, so if you can find one of those to shadow, that's a great opportunity. There may be a wildlife refuge near you where you can volunteer, shadow or intern. Many zoos also have summer programs for high school and college students. Ultimately, your goal is to understand the wide range of species and settings vets work with and have some insight into which areas are a good fit for you. You can start exploring now and continue building on those experiences in college.
Good luck!
Mary Jane recommends the following next steps:
Chelsea Russell
Systems/Process Manager
2
Answers
Lakeland, Florida
Updated
Chelsea’s Answer
Regardless of career path, it is recommended to intern or job shadow. It is a great way to learn, see first hand and get questions answered on if it is something you really want to do.
Sarah Keyes
Veterinarian
29
Answers
Stoughton, Massachusetts
Updated
Sarah’s Answer
The first step to becoming a veterinarian is to enroll in an undergraduate program where you will need to take several prerequisite classes to even apply to a school of veterinary medicine. These include numerous sciences and math classes and others depending on the school. Despite these requirements though, you can major in anything. As advised above, it is a good idea to explore the profession prior so you can get exposure but it will also give you applicable experience when applying. Veterinary schools are 4 years in length, and this is in addition to your undergraduate education.