Pre-Veterinary Information

Important information for students interested in Veterinary School:

• There are only 28 veterinary schools in the country
• Only one of those schools, The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, is in NY
• Many veterinary schools require more biology courses than most medical schools
• This may include microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry
• Majoring in biology is not required although it may be practical given the biology coursework needed
• The Psychology Department and Biology Department at Hunter may be able to provide students with animal research experience
• Please review the Pre-Veterinary Requirements sheet
• While many programs will consider applicants who have completed 90 undergraduate credits the more coursework completed the stronger the application. Finishing your bachelors degree is recommended.
• Most veterinary schools give priority to state residents increasing the competitiveness for out of state applicants
• The average GPA for admitted students is between 3.5-3.7
• Experience with animals particularly in a veterinary capacity is crucial to your application
• Some schools require that students have experience with both small and large animals
• Cornell for example states that "Competitive applicants normally have engaged in two or more veterinary areas (small animal, large animal, research, food animal, production, exotic, aquatic, wildlife, zoological medicine, etc.) with substantial depth of experience in at least one area.  Successful applicants typically bring 400 or more hours of veterinary experience."
• Animal experience and veterinary experience may be different depending on the veterinary school
• Veterinary schools usually require at least one letter of recommendation from a Veterinarian

Important Links

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University allows students to join their e-mail listserv and receive their newsletter. If you are interested in getting the most up-to-date information regarding veterinary medicine and the application process follow this link http://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/GetUpdates.cfm 

The American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association - Great information for students interested in veterinary medicine

American Veterinary Medical Association

The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges

Special Programs

Long Island Aquarium, Riverhead NY

An internship at the Long Island Aquarium is a great way for interested students to gain firsthand educational experience in the dynamic, real-world setting of a busy Aquarium.

Requirements:

• Applicants must be enrolled in a 2- or 4-year college or university, with a major relevant to the position for which he/she is applying;
• Applicants must be able to work a minimum of 120 hours (8-10 hours per week);
• Applicants are responsible for their own lodging and transportation.

Positions:

Aquarist Assistant – Students will assist Aquarist staff with fish and invertebrate husbandry of all public and non-public systems. These duties will include daily maintenance activities such as scrubbing exhibits, cleaning filters, water changes, and food preparation. Other activities might include plumbing, library research, recording data, data entry, and specimen collection.

Aquaculture Assistant - In addition to the Aquarist responsibilities listed above, the Aquaculture Intern will assist in the production of live foods, such as phytoplankton, rotifers, and Artemia, as well as the culturing of ornamental fish, crustaceans and sea jellies. Qualified students will also have the option to conduct or participate in an aquaculture research project. Applicants for this position must be at least a junior in college, and have basic fish husbandry skills.

Mammal Department Assistant – The Mammal Department staff cares for California sea lions, harbor seals, a gray seal, emus, reptiles, and Japanese snow monkeys. College interns will assist with food preparation, clean exhibits and kitchen areas, observe training sessions, and assist with sea lion shows.

Exotic Bird Assistant – Assist with care and maintenance of large exotic birds (macaws and cockatoos), including food prep and upkeep of cages and exhibits at Atlantis Marine World and The Priceless Parrot Preserve

Application Deadlines:

• Fall: July 15
• Winter: November 15
• Spring: December 15
• Summer: April 15

Click Here for more information

 Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University

Adventures in Veterinary Medicine Program

This unique career exploration program will provide students with the opportunity to attend lectures from Tufts faculty and veterinary students, and discuss the realities of a veterinary education with them. Students will get a first-hand look at the demands of veterinary school as they shadow a fourth year DVM candidate in the clinics as they perform their medicine and surgery rotations.

For More information: http://vet.tufts.edu/avm/

The Veterinary School at the University of Pennsylvania

Summer Veterinary Exploration Through Science (VETS) Program for Undergraduates and Post-Baccalaureates

In the VETS program students will participate in rotations with fourth-year veterinary students throughout the small animal hospital. A whole day will also be devoted to the large animal facility. If you have been interested in a career in veterinary medicine, then this program will provide you with an understanding of the challenges and rewards of this profession. 

For more details and information please visit the Summer VETS Program website.

New England Wildlife Center, Massachusetts

Wildlife Medicine Internship for Undergraduates and Post-Baccalaureates

Interns are responsible for foraging for wildlife foods, dietary design and preparation, cleaning, husbandry, administration of medications, assisting with medical and surgical procedures, hospital maintenance, and release of patients into appropriate habitats.

For more information please visit New England Wildlife Center website.

How To Become A Pre-Vet Tech

There are many careers based on the care of animals. Few have the encouraging employment prospects of veterinary technicians. Data from the 2013 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report on job outlooks estimates that until 2022, employment of veterinary technicians and technologists is expected to grow 30% per year. For more inforamtion visit ther main website.