May 1, 2015

Applying to veterinary medical school

Spring 2015

New Veterinary Medical School Application Debuts May 13

Mark your calendars if you’re interested in applying to veterinary medical school. The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) begins accepting applications on Wednesday, May 13 for matriculation in 2016. The new CAS3.0 platform is designed to offer applicants a more intuitive experience. About 600 volunteers have already tested the new application and they report that the system is more user friendly and streamlined than ever. Still, the application asks for a comprehensive amount of information in order to effectively evaluate applicants, so get an early start in order to be able to complete the application’s various components and requirements in a timely manner. Learn more.

Pre-Veterinary Leadership Award Established

Do you know an undergraduate student who is planning to apply to veterinary medical school and is also active in an established pre-vet club, society or association? If so, that person may be a candidate for the Pre-Veterinary Leadership Award, recently established by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Schools (AAVMC). The award, designed to recognize promising pre-veterinary leaders, offers reimbursement of VMCAS application fees (up to the equivalent of $500), media and website recognition, and a $500 contribution to the winner’s pre-vet club, society or association. Learn more.

The 2015-2016 VMSAR: Your Essential Guide to Veterinary Medical School

Get a comprehensive overview of the admissions process for AAVMC national and international veterinary medical schools in the 2015-2016 Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements (VMSAR). VMSAR is your official guide to getting into vet school, providing hundreds of pages of must-have information essential to achieving your goal of becoming a veterinarian. It’s packed with useful tips and helpful insights about the application process. Feaures include:

Complete information about AAVMC veterinary medical schools, including admissions requirements, for students, counselors and advisors
A helpful timeline for aspiring veterinarians
Firsthand accounts from current students and practitioners about what it’s like to train as a veterinarian. Learn more.

Veterinary Medical Career Fair Draws Prospective Veterinarians

An information session on preparing to apply to veterinary medical school.

About 500 prospective veterinarians and guests who wanted to learn more about going to veterinary medical school attended the AAVMC’s 2015 Career Fair in Washington, D.C. in March. Students thronged around display tables staffed by 17 veterinary medical college representatives, including admissions officers and deans, as well as additional tables staffed by representatives of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS), and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Learn more.

Looking for Clues: The Life of a Veterinary Pathologist

Do you like solving mysteries? If so, the life of a veterinary pathologist may be for you. Veterinary pathologists look for clues to answer medical questions, such as the root cause of mysterious animal deaths. Finding the answers could point to environmental risks or even help prevent the spread of pandemics to the human population. Learn more in this story and video from Veterinary Practice News.

Did You Know? …

The number one reason for a veterinary medical school to deny an application is that the applicant doesn’t meet the specific minimum requirements for that school. To avoid this problem, do your research. Veterinary medical school requirements differ from school to school. Make sure you know all of the different requirements for each of the schools to which you’re applying. If you’re qualified for one school, that doesn’t mean you’re qualified for the others.