How to be come a vet !

Question

i know this sounds stupid but i want to know what classes i have to take in high school to become a vet ! im in 8th grade but i love animals and have wanted to be a vet all my life so what do i do ????? : )

Answer 1

Here's some info. Also, do a Y!A search for some more good info: I want to be a vet? I wanna be a vet for LARGE animals? I want to be a marine mammal veterinarian.? Zoo Medicine? etc

http://www.venturescholar.org/resource/v...

Question: As a high school junior what should I be doing to enhance my chances of being accepted into a pre-vet program in college ? I recently visited Ohio State and spoke with a student in the Animal Science program and she indicated that I should be getting exposure hours in the field as a volunteer or employee because those who get accepted at  Ohio State generally have 500 - 800 hours of service before applying to the program. Is this true in most programs ? I know it is very difficult to get into a program and want to do anything that I can to be better prepared. Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer: While getting into veterinary school is difficult, it is NOT impossible and it is GREAT that you are already focused and interested in the profession.  :)  Definitely the student you spoke with when you visited Ohio State is correct.  The admissions committees at all of the veterinary schools (including Ohio State) like to see and tend to accept students who are very dedicated to the field.  So, I would definitely recommend getting as much hands on veterinary experience that you can.  Since you will be applying to veterinary school in about 4-5 years, having a record of animal and veterinary experience for many years will definitely be beneficial.

When I was a junior in high school, I began by working in a kennel that was attached to a veterinary hospital.  Eventually, I was offered a job in the veterinary hospital working as a veterinary assistant.  My other recommendation to you is to try and seek out a diverse  range of animal and veterinary experiences.  For example, try to work for a small animal veterinarians, a horse veterinarian, work with a researcher, etc.  

Q: What qualities would impress these schools?

Answer: Unfortunately, most schools select who they will interview based on their applications. So looking good on paper is a good thing-- by that I mean having a good college GPA (minimum 3.4). This also means being active in your community (clubs, etc) having leadership potential (i.e. organizing events, running for president/vice pres/treasurer of class or clubs, or being more than just a "member"--be active!) and volunteering (for example, I volunteered at a local animal shelter). Most importantly, your experience in the field (veterinary medicine or even human medicine) is critical. Start now by shadowing vets in your community, and not just one type of vet-- Large animal and small animal. Once you are in college, start doing research projects, and continue working for local vets to gain experience. Don't be intimidated to ask vets for a position (even if it's just volunteering)--they, too, once needed a place to gain experience and most are happy to give you the opportunity.

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/anima...

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/anima...

http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/colle...

http://netvet.wustl.edu/vschool.htm

http://www.virmp.org/virmp/searchnew.asp...

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/kids/jobs_ani...

How to get a job like this

Get excellent grades in high school and college and take animal-related courses like biology and zoology. Gain experience by volunteering or working in animal-related jobs or research programs. Go into an organized program for animal science. Registered veterinary technicians take a two-year course to earn a license. Veterinary training requires many years of college, internship, and residency (a two- or three-year position to give you experience in a specialty). The competition is stiff. Many of us have always wanted to work with animals, but jobs in these professions are scarce. Be interested and dedicated, and be persistent!

Answer 2

Well, not to discourage you, but you need to be a straight A student and if you can start volunteering with animals now, that would be helpful.  Veterinary school in the US is more competitive than medical school because there are fewer schools and a LOT of interest.  Many people end up seeking their Veterinary education outside the US.

Again, it is extremely competitive...you need to have excellent grades and a dedication to the idea of becoming a vet on the same level with those who become doctors.  

Answer 3

This is a tough career choice, there are fewer veterinary medical schools than medical schools and the admission standards are higher.  What you are going to need to do in High School is to take every math and science course they have, AP and honors courses are preferable and make A's.  Then you apply to the best colleges and repeat the math and science thing, and get A's.  If you can pull all of that off you should be able to get accepted into a veterinary medical school.