This is a guide for Biology Majors who want to attend veterinary school. There are only two veterinary schools in Texas:

• Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, Texas
• Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, Amarillo, Texas

There are common admission requirements shared by many veterinary colleges; however, specific requirements may differ between schools. It is therefore recommended that you get familiar with the entry requirements early in your career, as this may influence course selection, particularly after your first year of college. If in doubt, satisfy the requirements for Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences as you would also satisfy the requirements for Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

1. REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED COURSEWORK

1. PRE-REQUISITES

   Every veterinary school has different expectations in terms of coursework that is required or recommended. We encourage you to start researching veterinary school requirements to better understand what exact classes you will need to take. You may need to exceed the requirements of some schools to meet the requirements of other schools.

   Requirements can change at any time. Check often for updates and review application service and school web sites for changes that may occur between updates.
   
   

   Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (TAMU-CVMBS) – DVM professional program
   All prerequisites must be completed with a letter grade of C or higher.

   TAMU DVM Professional Program

   Code	Credit hours	Name
   BIOL1406	4	General Biology I (includes lab)
   BIOL3401	4	General Microbiology (includes lab)
   BIOL3413 or BIOL3313	4 or 3	Genetics (includes lab)* or Genetics (lab not required)*
   BIOL3345	3	Animal Nutrition*
   CHEM1311	3	General Chemistry I
   CHEM1111	1	General Chemistry I laboratory
   CHEM1312	3	General Chemistry II
   CHEM1112	1	General Chemistry II laboratory
   CHEM2323	3	Organic Chemistry I
   CHEM2123	1	Organic Chemistry I laboratory
   CHEM2325	3	Organic Chemistry II
   CHEM2125	1	Organic Chemistry II laboratory
   CHEM3303	3	Biochemistry*
   STAT3301	3	Statistics*
   PHYS1401	4	Physics I (includes lab)
   PHYS1402	4	Physics II (includes lab)
   Any 2 college English courses	6	English
   COMM1315 or COMM1318	3	Communications/Public Speaking

   * these courses may  not be taken at a community college

    

   Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine – DVM program
   All prerequisites must be completed with a letter grade of C or higher.

   TTU School of Veterinary Medicine DVM Program

   Code	Credit hours	Name
   BIOL1406	4	General Biology I (includes lab)
   BIOL3401	4	General Microbiology (includes lab)
   BIOL3413 or BIOL3313	4 or 3	Genetics (includes lab) or Genetics (lab not required)
   BIOL3345	3	Animal Nutrition
   CHEM1311	3	General Chemistry I
   CHEM1111	1	General Chemistry I laboratory
   CHEM1312	3	General Chemistry II
   CHEM1112	1	General Chemistry II laboratory
   CHEM2323	3	Organic Chemistry I
   CHEM2123	1	Organic Chemistry I laboratory
   CHEM3303	3	Biochemistry
   STAT3301	3	Statistics
   PHYS1401	4	Physics I (includes lab)
   Any college English course	3	English

   For out-of-state veterinary schools prerequisites, check individual vet-school websites.

   NOTE: School requirements can change. Check often for updates and review application service and school websites for changes that may occur between updates.

    

2. RECOMMENDED

   In addition to prerequisite courses, the courses listed below are recommended and will strengthen your application to medical school.

   Recommended Course Map for Pre-Vet

   Code	Name	Credit Hours
   BIOL 2401	Anatomy and Physiology I*	4
   BIOL 2402	Anatomy and Physiology II*	4
   BIOL 3405	Histology	4
   BIOL 4407	Animal Parasitology	4
   BIOL 4317	Disease Epidemiology	3
   BIOL 4333	Immunology	3
   BIOL 4316	Environmental Toxicology	3
   BIOL 4435	Mammalian Disease Diagnosis and Clinical Applications	3
   	Veterinary Entomology	3
   MGMT 1301	Introduction to Business	3

   * highly recommended courses

   You are strongly encouraged to take courses in Spanish, especially if you want to live and work in the healthcare industry in the Rio Grande Valley.

   Work with your academic advisor to incorporate these courses into your degree plan.

    

3. MINORS

   You may declare a minor as part of your undergraduate education. Popular minors among pre-med students include:

   • Chemistry
   • Biochemistry
   • Health
   • Spanish for Healthcare

    

   NOTE: Keep in mind that while preparing for professional school and taking the MCAT®, DAT, etc., you still must fulfill the University core requirements, the requirements for a BSc in Biology degree, and requirements for a minor (if applicable).

    

2. RECOMMENDED COURSE ROADMAP

This course roadmap includes the pre-vet course requirements for Texas A&M.

Pre-requisites and recommended courses, and extracurricular activities, typically need six semesters or more, regardless of age or college year.

Many students complete prerequisites in Year 4 or later, requiring a bridge/transition year or years. The transition from undergraduate to medical school can boost competitiveness and prepare students for the challenges of professional education and training.

NOTE: Your personal timeline may differ from this recommended roadmap. Consult with your Academic Advisor about incorporating these courses into your course selection.

1. SENIOR YEAR OR BRIDGE YEAR

   Continue in relevant course work and premedical extracurricular activities to become well-prepared for medical school and to strengthen your competitiveness if it becomes necessary to reapply.

   Take additional courses that may be required by individual medical schools.

    

3. GRADE POINT AVERAGE

To be competitive for medical school, you need average overall and science GPAs of at least 3.5 to 3.8 or higher, depending on the schools to which you intend to apply. This means you need to be making As and Bs with more As than Bs . If you are behind in your classes, don’t wait until you get your first poor test score or F in a course to ask for help; instead schedule a meeting with the Professor early on.

4. VETERINARY AND ANIMAL EXPERIENCE

In addition to courses, you should actively gain veterinary and animal handling experience. It is an important part of the veterinary school application process. Volunteer with a veterinarian to shadow him/her and get a diverse range of animal and clinical expertise, as well as an understanding for the veterinary medical profession. This could be an opportunity to learn whether veterinary medicine is for you.

5. RESEARCH

Why should you do research? Although research is not technically required by many medical, dental or veterinary schools, some schools do require it. Furthermore, doing research has many benefits including:

1. Demonstrating that you are intellectually curious and engaged.
2. Explore the intersection of science and medicine.
3. Helping you synthesize and get a deeper understanding of the material you learn in class.
4. Showing you have good written and oral communication skills when you present your research.
5. Allowing you to develop a relationship with your research mentor, who can then write a strong letter of recommendation highlighting your strengths.
6. Making your application stand out!

You can engage in research over the summer, volunteer to do research in labs, or take independent research for credit using the BIOL 4199/4299/4399 course. To get started, see what professors do by looking at the School Faculty Webpages, and then contact a professor about working in their lab.

Most professors have research opportunities available, and ALL professors are happy to talk to you about their work. Email to set up an appointment or catch a professor before or after class. Your research does not have to be medically related for it to be helpful in getting in to medical, dental, or veterinary school.

Please check your email frequently, as the School sends out numerous research opportunities during the semester.

6. LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERING

Leadership can be demonstrated in many ways. You are encouraged to reflect on what leadership looks like in veterinary and how your involvement in clubs (such as the Pre-Vet Society), volunteering, employment, research, sports, PLTL leader, and/or supplemental instructor (SI) might help you demonstrate the leadership skills you will need.

You are encouraged to participate in volunteering and/or community service. Veterinary Schools see volunteering and community service as proof that you have a commitment to helping the community. Remember the admission committee is looking for tomorrow's leaders.

7. ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS – LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Letter of Recommendations are a vital part of your veterinary school application. Professional schools vary in terms of how many letters you require and from whom. Establishing relationships with faculty, professors, mentors, principal investigators, and supervisors early on can help with creating strong letters of recommendations.

In addition to an evaluation from faculty, you will also need one letter of recommendation from a veterinarian.

Admissions committees want an honest assessment of personal traits that go beyond simply the grade someone achieved in a course. As well as intellectual merit, references are asked about attributes such as: Does the person work well in groups? Can they work independently? Are they reliable? Etc. Working with a faculty member on a project, doing research, and working with faculty on peer lead teaching for a course, are some ways that faculty can get to know you and write a strong letter. Do not be worried or embarrassed about approaching faculty members to write letters of recommendation or to act as references, it is something that faculty do on a regular basis, and they are happy to support students. However, make sure to give them enough time to write a letter and make sure to provide them with information about what the letter is for. Remind them when (what semester, etc.) you took their class. You may want to send them your resume and personal statement.

8. GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION (GRE)

• Texas A&M – TEXAS A&M are not requiring the GRE for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. A GRE score including the Analytical section is required for Texas A&M. GRE scores should be submitted directly to the veterinary school. Because the application is not complete until the GRE scores are received by the school, applicants should take the GRE no later than May of the application year.
• Texas Tech DVM program does not require a GRE score.

9. APPLYING TO VETERINARY SCHOOL

Admission to veterinary school is very competitive. Texas A&M and Texas Tech utilize the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS). This application service accepts your application and your letters of recommendation and distributes them to the school.

NOTE: most out-of-state veterinary schools utilize the centralized application service operated by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (Veterinary Medical College Application Service-VMCAS).

Many schools, including Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences require an additional supplemental application.

Application opens May 1.

9. USEFUL WEBSITES AND RESOURCES

• Occupational outlook
  
  Texas Veterinary Schools
• Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, Texas
• Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, Amarillo, Texas
  
  Professional Associations
• Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. Includes links to all U.S., Canadian, and Mexican (accredited only) veterinary colleges
• American Veterinary Medical Association
• Texas Veterinary Medical Association
• American Veterinary Medical Foundation
• American Society of Animal Science
• American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians
• UTRGV Office of Pre-Professional Development
  Tue. - Brownsville – BMAIN 1.402
  Wed. Thu. Fri. – Edinburg - EITTB 1.402
  Web:  https://www.utrgv.edu/studentsuccess/for-students/pre-professional/