Getting into veterinarian school is extremely and notoriously difficult, and you can’t simply apply with any undergraduate major. If you want to go to vet school, you need to plan ahead. Doing the right pre-veterinarian program for you is immensely important.
Pre-veterinarian programs typically involve majoring in a science that applies to working with animals (ex. wildlife biology) or in a basic science, like biology or chemistry, with lots of other more animal-focused courses. Colleges with pre-vet programs match these majors with specific advising, mentoring, and guidance.
Below are the best pre-veterinarian programs in the country. You’ll notice that the most elite schools in the country aren’t on this list (aside from Cornell). Many of the schools that offer pre-vet programs are not extraordinarily prestigious globally, but they are well-known among veterinarian schools, which is what matters when you apply.
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Cornell University — Ithaca, New York
An Ivy League pre-vet option, the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Concentration in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is in the Animal Science major. Students can select the concentration in their junior year, but you can begin working on it before that. Courses include “Fish Physiology” and “Nutrition of Felids and Canids” (cats and dogs!).
Clemson University — Clemson, South Carolina
The Preveterinary Medicine program at Clemson is a non-degree program, but if a student completes three years of coursework and is admitted into a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine program and completes their first year, they are awarded a preprofessional studies degree in veterinary medicine. Clemson has six livestock farms with beef and dairy cows, horses, chickens, pigs, and sheep, where students can work hands-on with animals. You can also major in Animal and Veterinary Sciences and access a pre-vet adviser to guide you.
Michigan State University — Lansing, Michigan
At Michigan State, the pre-vet program is a non-degree program in partnership with the College of Veterinary Medicine. The program needs to be paired with a degree program or major and they suggest animal science, integrative biology, or other life sciences. It is available to freshmen or sophomores.
University of Maryland — College Park, Maryland
The Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine major at the University of Maryland is in the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources and Department of Animal and Avian Sciences. This major accelerates students’ path to vet school and supports them in applying at the end of their junior year. You can also major in Sciences/Pre-Professional, which will support you in applying to vet school after you’ve received your Bachelor of Science.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst — Amherst, Massachusetts
The Pre-Veterinary Science Major at UMass-Amherst is in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in the College of Natural Sciences. Students enter the program as Animal Science majors, and have to qualify to enter the Pre-Veterinary Science Major with grades of B- or better in particular courses. When you are an Animal Science major, you can select a concentration in Animal Management, Biotechnology, and Equine Science.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Urbana, Illinois
The Animal Sciences major in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences offers concentrations in science, pre-veterinary, and medical. The program prepares students for veterinary or medical school, and most undergrads in the major are pursuing the pre-vet concentration, so the program is really robust and well built out.
University of Arizona — Tucson, Arizona
The Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Science in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences prepares students for vet school with courses like “Careers in Veterinary Science” and “Principles of Animal Genetic Systems.”
The Ohio State University — Columbus, Ohio
The pre-professional non-degree program at Ohio State prepares aspiring veterinarians for vet school, or any medical school. Students can apply to vet school after three years, and they encourage students to do internships.
As you pursue a pre-vet major or concentration, remember that you need to pick a program where you can earn excellent grades. If you decide to attend a school that doesn’t offer a pre-vet program, take as much science as you can as an undergrad and do exceptionally well in those courses.
If you need help identifying your dream school, send us an email. We help students like you find, and get into, their perfect fit.