Students should check with the veterinary college to which they plan to apply to be sure they take all required courses. They should also be certain that credits from the preveterinary courses they take at the school of their choice are acceptable to the veterinary colleges. Completion of a preveterinary program does not guarantee admission to a college of veterinary medicine. Admission to veterinary school is highly competitive. Applicants must take the Veterinary Aptitude Test, Medical College Admission Test, or the Graduate Record Examination.
Most colleges give preference to candidates with animal or veterinary related experience.
Where Most Schools are Located M ost veterinary schools and colleges are located at state universities, and give preference to applicants who are residents of that state. Many states without veterinary colleges contract with one or more colleges for the admission of a prescribed number of their residents each year. Each college is evaluated regularly by the American Veterinary Medical Association and must maintain high standards of excellence to keep its accreditation. The Phases of Professional Study I n most colleges of veterinary medicine, the professional program comprises two phases. During the first phase, preclinical sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and microbiology are emphasized.