This title deserves a tabloid style introduction. ADMISSIONS COUNSELORS HATE HER! SHE REVEALS ALL SECRETS! THIS MELON JUICE STOPPED CINDY CRAWFORD FROM AGING! No. No. And most likely, no. I don’t have access to the paper on the properties of melon juice on anti-aging.  

Back to the matter at hand, I get asked this question a lot when I talk to undergraduate students. Parents of undergrads are especially interested in this question. Which is why I LOVE answering this question. Because I tell them, “Okay, I’ll tell you but only for you guys and ONLY if you keep it a secret.” They get excited, we huddle up and I whisper:

“There is no best major.”

Get’s ‘em every time. Because EVERYONE is convinced there is some secret sauce to getting into vet school, and if they take a specific major or get specific experiences, they will magically get into vet school.

The truth of getting into vet school is, it takes a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck. Take it from me it took me five years to get into vet school. I ended up getting a TON of experience that really helped set me apart in terms of clinical skills, but still it was hard, and it was a fine balance between trying to improve grades, getting more experience, and improving my essays. Some people in my class really struggled with interviewing. It all depends on what you need to work on and what the school you are applying at is looking for in a candidate.

But since you asked nicely, I can give you some advice on when you’re choosing a major with the intent to be pre-veterinary.

Big preface before the advice:

ALWAYS CONTACT THE SCHOOL YOU ARE APPLYING TO IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC PRE-REQUISITE QUESTIONS.

Got it? Good. ON WITH THE SHOW!

1. What do you want to be when you grow up?

You’re probably like, “A Vet, DUH.” Yes, I know. Hence why you’re here. However, one piece of advice that often gets tossed around when people ask what major they should do, is to have a “plan B.” Which is admittedly disheartening for those trying to apply, and some people probably quit when they hear this. It comes across as “Well, vet school is really hard to get into so what’s your plan when you inevitably fail?” I was one who said, “DO OR DIE, I WILL APPLY AS MANY TIMES AS IT TAKES!” And I did. I applied, many, many, MANY, times.

However, I did do some soul searching and thought about what I wanted to do in the meantime. Admittedly, I didn’t have a great plan, I just knew I wanted to work with animals. So, animal science was the way to go. And it got me into good opportunities with some big companies.

But you don’t have to lock yourself into a specific degree. If you didn’t work in vet med, what would you want to do? Work in business? Work in design? Depending on where you apply, schools are mostly concerned if you have fulfilled all the necessary pre-requisites. The host of one of my favorite podcasts “Vet School Unleashed,” worked in radio prior to going to vet school. So there’s really nothing stopping you from picking a major that really interests you, and uniqueness will always set you apart on an application. Just remember what I said about the pre-requisites.

2. What’s my budget?

So, we can’t ignore the giant cloud hanging over the entire country that is, “Student Debt.”

Yep, thunderclaps are totally normal when we talk about it.

So, one piece of advice that I got when I was looking into applying to vet schools, was don’t forget about community colleges. I know they aren’t as flashy as some of the big universities, and they aren’t as fancy as some of the private colleges, but don’t forget, YOU WILL HAVE LOANS TO PAY ONE DAY. And if you’re going to vet school one day, YOUR TUITION IS GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE.

Do the math, if going to a community college that offers the same pre-requisites as the big university you’re saving a ton down the line when it’s finally time to apply to the big schools. Heck you could even do your first two years at community college then transfer over to finish off your degree. As long as you are fulfilling the pre-requisites, either way would work.

3. Pay attention to pre-requisites

WOW! So much foreshadowing was laced in this blog! I’m trying to hammer this into your head NOW so you don’t end up with the same mistake I made.

PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT PRE-REQUISITES ARE REQUIRED AT THE VET SCHOOL YOU ARE APPLYING TO!

Tattoo it on your body if you must. Okay don’t do that. Or do, I’m not your mother. But once upon a time, little old Maddy applied to 5 schools one cycle, and thought my Food Science based microbiology was #GOODENOUGH for all the schools (since it was fine for one of them). Smash cut to getting an email from one of the schools saying, “Hey, how are you fulfilling this prerequisite since your Food Science Microbio ain’t cutting it?” They were much more professional about it, but its funnier for blog content this way. Anyway, that VMCAS application fee went down the drain. Sad.

Bottom line, when you are planning on applying to vet school, NO MATTER WHAT MAJOR YOU ARE, figure out what your pre-requisites are and make sure that they will fill your requirements for vet school. You often can email the admissions staff at the school you intend to apply at so you can figure out if you’re missing any key classes. Do this as soon as you think you want to apply to vet school, so you have time to plan your classes. But also do this again several times throughout your time in school, since sometimes schools will change their pre-requisite requirements. Staying ahead of the game will save you a lot of stress in the long run.

Don’t forget, getting into vet school is hard. The current stats from VMCAS are two applicants for every one spot available. Just remember to keep an eye on your pre-requisites, have a backup plan, and keep an open mind to where you want to go to school. If you stay on top of it, it will save you some major headaches.