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UCLA Career Center
VETERINARY
MEDICINE
WHAT
IS VETERINARY MEDICINE?
Veterinarians play a major role in the health care of pets, livestock, and zoo,
sporting, and laboratory animals. Some veterinarians use their skills to protect
humans against diseases carried by animals and conduct clinical research on
human and animal health problems. Others work in basic research, broadening
the scope of fundamental theoretical knowledge, and in applied research, developing
new ways to use knowledge. Most veterinarians perform clinical work in private
practices.
AREAS
OF SPECIALTY
Private Practice: The majority of veterinarians are owners of a private
practice but, as in the other health professions, group practices are becoming
increasingly more common. The practice may concentrate on large animals, small
animals, or a combination of the two. Small animal practices have traditionally
treated dogs and cats but veterinarians in these practices are seeing growing
numbers of pet birds and exotic animals, including reptiles. Large animal practices
often emphasize either horses or cows and work is done both on a farm-call and
an in-clinic basis. As the number of pork-producing farms and goat and sheep
herds increases, practitioners are also receiving more calls to treat these
animals. Some practices are restricted to a certain type of caseload. An example
is an emergency clinic, which only sees patients on an emergency or "after hours"
basis. The mobile clinic or ambulatory unit has gained popularity in recent
years with its ability to bring veterinary medical care directly to the patient.
Specialty practices may also restrict caseloads to specific problems, offering
specialized care and facilities in cardiology, equine supports medicine, neurology,
ophthalmology, surgery, avian medicine, embryo transfer, dermatology, or radiology.
Private
Industry: There are many opportunities for veterinarians in private
industry, particularly in the fields of nutrition and pharmaceuticals. Veterinarians
may help develop new products for animals, work in drug research for a pharmaceutical
company, diagnose disease and drug effects as pathologists, or safeguard the
health of laboratory animal colonies. Veterinarians are also employed by zoos
and aquariums and may act as consultants to wildlife preservation groups or
game farms.
Government
Agencies: Many government agencies at the federal, state, and local
levels employ veterinarians in regulatory and public health work. This work
may include the administration of meat and/or animal quarantines, herd health
checks for diseases transmissible to man, or the care and maintenance of wildlife
within state or federal parks or coastal regions.
Military:
Veterinarians are employed in the Army Veterinary Corps and as Environmental
Health Officers in the Air Force.
Academic
Institutions: Academic institutions, particularly schools of veterinary
medicine, employ veterinarians as clinicians, researchers, and teachers. Specifically,
they may function as pathologists, microbiologists, behaviorists, pharmacologists,
anatomists, or specialists with the fields of cardiology, dermatology, surgery,
avian or aquatic medicine, equine physiology, and many other areas.
DESIRED
SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES
Students who wish to become veterinarians must demonstrate ambition and an eagerness
to work with animals. In addition to satisfying preveterinary course and testing
requirements, veterinary medical colleges weigh heavily a candidate's veterinary
and animal experience. Formal experience, such as work with veterinarians or
scientists in clinics, agribusiness, research or some other area of health science
is particularly advantageous. Less formal experience, such as working with animals
on a farm or ranch or at a stable or animal shelter is also helpful.
EMPLOYMENT
OUTLOOK
Employment of veterinarians is expected to grow faster than average for all
occupations through the year 2008. Employment openings stemming from the need
to replace veterinarians who retire or otherwise leave the labor force will
be almost as numerous as new jobs resulting from employment growth over the
1998-2008 period.
RELATED
CAREERS
Veterinarians prevent, diagnose, and treat disorders, and injuries in animals.
Those who do similar work for humans include chiropractors, dentists, optometrists,
physicians, and podiatrists.
| Pre-Professional
Veterinary Medicine
Biology
Life Sciences 1, 2, 3, 4. One year of coursework
with lab.
Notes: LS 1-4 will prepare you for the Biology section of the VCAT.
If you took LS 2 and 3 before Fall 98, then take two additional
life science lab courses (in departments such as OBEE, MCD Bio, neuroscience,
psychobiology, or physiological science). Many schools recommend extra
upper division life science courses in addition to this basic requirement.
Chemistry
Life science or non-science majors: Chemistry 14A, 14B/BL,
14C/CL, 14D; plus 153A/L (biochemistry).
Physical, life or non-science majors: Chemistry 20A, 20B/L,
30A/AL, 30B/BL, 30C; plus 153A/L (biochemistry).
General and organic chemistry courses are required.
Many schools include a separate requirement for or a strong recommendation
to take biochemistry. The chemistry coursework will prepare
you for the Chemisry section of the VCAT.
Physics
Physics 6A, 6B, 6C or 6AH, 6BH, 6CH or 1A, 1B, 1C, 4AL, 4BL
One year with labs is generally required. Trigonometry-based physics
can also satisfy this requirement, but UCLA only offers calculus-based
courses and these are required for the various science majors.
Math
Math 3A, 3B, 3C or 31A, 31B, 32A
This is your preparation for calculus-based physics. Several schools
require one year of college level math. For other schools, this requirement
is strongly recommended, especially as preparation for physics. One
year of math can include statistics (see below) and computer programming
classes
(PIC 10A, 10B, 10C). These courses will prepare you
for the Quantitative Ability section of the VCAT.
Statistics
Statistics 10, M11, M12, 13, Biostatistics or Biomath, Psychology
100A*
One quarter of statistics is required for some schools including UCLA,
and strongly recommended for others. *Check with individual schools
for acceptability of classes offered outside of the Statistics department.
These courses will prepare you for the Quantitative Ability section
of the VCAT.
English
One year of college level literature and composition.
Writing I and Writing II courses, select general education literature
courses, and any upper division English literature or English Composition
courses will satisfy this requirement. Please see the “English
requirement for health professions schools” sheet for a complete
list of suggested courses. These courses will prepare you for the
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension sections of the VCAT.
Foreign
Language
Knowledge and cultural competency in any language other than English
is a valuable asset to working in a health care field. If your future
plans include working in California or the southwestern states, Spanish
is highly valued and somewhat expected. Ask yourself: Can I walk into
a hospital room and get a patient history in another language? If
the answer is no, then consider taking college level foreign language
classes to brush up on your skills.
Other
Humanities and Social Science courses are strongly recommended.
The non-science GPA is an important component to your overall academic
record, and liberal arts education. Courses in the following can enhance
your communication skills and overall understanding of the world:
Anthropology, Communication Studies, Economics, any ethnic
studies area (e.g. Women’s Studies, LGBT Studies, Afro-American
Studies, Chicana/Chicano Studies, Near Eastern Studies), Philosophy,
Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Speech to name
a few.
Computer
skills are strongly recommended. Many programs have incorporated
computers and electronic media into their curriculum. Several programs
are strongly recommending that a student owns a computer. Other programs
have indicated that they will soon have the purchase of a computer
as part of the requirements of their program. |
STANDARDIZED
TESTS AND TIMELINES
Most
veterinary medical colleges require one or more standardized tests:
the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Veterinary College Admission
Test (VCAT), or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Check with your
schools of interest to find out which standardized exam is required.
The
best time to take the exams is in the spring or summer prior to the
year you plan to enter veterinary school. Application materials for
any of the exams can be picked up at the Pre-Professional Services
Office.
APPLICATION
PROCESS
In addition to taking the required exams, you will need to contact
each veterinary medical school you want to attend to find out if they
participate in VMCAS. The Veterinary Medical Colleges Application
Service (VMCAS) is a centralized application service, which provides
for the collection, processing, verification and distribution of applicant
data to the participating colleges for their use in the applicant
selection process. VMCAS applications are available in July at the
Pre-Professional Services office. Applications should be returned
by late summer of the year prior to entering.
MINIMUM
GPA (RECOMMENDED)
Schools vary in terms of the GPA of their entering classes but most
schools require GPA's of 2.8 or above. Aside from cumulative GPA,
applicants are evaluated on the basis of science GPA, experience and
achievements in veterinary and animal related work, research, letters
of recommendation, extracurricular activities, maturity and broad
cultural perspective, and motivation and dedication to the veterinary
career.
CHOOSING
A SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
There are currently 27 veterinary medical schools in the United States
and 4 in Canada. Many schools restrict acceptance to residents of
their own state. Therefore, applying to an in-state school increases
your chances of being accepted. In addition, students typically pay
less tuition at in-state schools than at out-of state institutions.
This, however, should not limit you to in-state schools, especially
considering that the only veterinary school in California is at UC
Davis. Be sure to check the Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements
(VMSAR) catalog, available at the Pre-Professional Services Office,
regarding the admissions and residency requirements of out-of-state
veterinary schools. Further information may also be obtained on the
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges website: www.aavmc.org.
For
a list of U.S. schools and colleges of veterinary medicine, send a
letter sized self addressed stamped envelope to:
American
Veterinary Medical Association
1931 N. Meacham Rd., Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
www.avma.org
For
further information on veterinary education, write to:
Association of American Veterinary Colleges
1101 Vermont Ave. NW, Suite 710
Washington, DC 20005
All
programs at schools of veterinary medicine lead to a Doctorate in
Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.). They require four years of post-baccalaureate
work and, following graduation, students must pass the required tests
and/or practical examinations of the state in which they wish to practice.
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ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
HOW
CAN THE UCLA CAREER CENTER HELP?
The Career Center offers a wide range of workshops to assist you
in preparing for graduate and professional school. Workshop topics
range from Graduate School Planning to Resume Writing and Mock Interviewing.
In addition, a number of special programs and panels related to the
healthcare/veterinary field are planned for Career Week to be held
in January. A list of workshops and special programs can be found
on the Career Center's web site: career.ucla.edu
PERSONAL
STATEMENT
For assistance with developing the personal statement, the Career
Center Resources Library houses several publications on this topic.
In addition, the Career Center will be conducting workshops on Developing
a Winning Personal Statement in conjunction with Academics
in the Commons. For assistance in developing your personal statement,
Composition tutors are able to assist students in the writing process,
contact Academics in the Commons (228 Covel Commons) at (310) 206-1493.
Once your personal statement has been critiqued , you may also want
to have a final review by a Career Counselor at the UCLA Career Center.
The first step would be to arrange a drop-in counseling appointment.
Consult the Career Centers' web site listed above for more information
about drop-in counseling hours and personal statement workshops.
HEALTH
CARE RELATED INTERNSHIPS
Experiential educational and volunteer programs are an excellent way
to expand your knowledge of the health professions beyond the classroom.
Participation in health related internships will strengthen your application
to professional schools and provide exposure experiences that can
be highlighted in the personal statement. A select number of health
care internships focusing on research, legislation and public policy
are available through the Career Center's internship office on a local,
national and international basis. A sampling of internship opportunities
include (but are not limited to) the National Institute of Health,
the Surgeon General's Office, Cedar Sinai, AIDS Action, the U.S. Dept.
of Health and Human Services and the American Heart Association. Visit
the Career Center's Internship and Study Abroad Services Office for
a resource sheet handout providing an overview of health related internships.
Please visit career.ucla.edu for more information.
LETTERS
OF RECOMMENDATION
M ost veterinary schools require three to four letters of recommendation,
with a minimum of two from science professors and one from a person
for whom you have worked, such as a veterinarian. The Career Center
offers UCLA students and alumni a service which stores and sends letters
of recommendation to graduate schools. To open a PPS letter file,
visit career.ucla.edu. All letters
should be forwarded directly to the career center by the author, as
these are confidential documents.
VETERINARY
RELATED BOOKS (Available in the UCLA Career Center Resource Library)
Opportunities
in Veterinary Medicine Careers, Swope,Robert E. (VGM Career Horizons)
Pre-Veterinary Planning Guide, Crawford, Jane Diehl (Betz Publishing
Company)
Veterinary Medical Schools Admissions Requirements in the U.S. American
Assoc. of Veterinary Colleges (Purdue University Press)
American
Veterinary Medical Association
www.avma.org
The World Wide Web Virtual Library on Veterinary Medicine is a selected
collection of veterinary medical internet resources.http://netvet.wustl.edu/vetmed.htm
"NetVet:
The Electronic Zoo"contains veterinary resources compiled by Dr. Ken
Boshert a Veterinarian at Washington University's Division of Comparative
Medicine. http://netvet.wustl.edu/
FDA site: Center for Veterinary Medicine www.fda.gov/cvm/default.htm
CAREER
INFORMATION
For
information on Federal agencies that employ veterinarians, write to:
National Association of Federal Veterinarians
1101 Vermont Ave. NW, Suite 710
Washington DC 20005 |
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