Pre-Vet

Alright, so you think you want to be a vet “when you grow up.” First and foremost, understand that this is an extremely competitive field. There are only 28 vet schools in the nation, and there are plenty of students vying for these few admission seats every year. Don’t get discouraged though – just realize that becoming a vet requires a lot of passion and determination. If you think this is the area you’d like to go into for your career, start preparing NOW! Go talk to your local vet and ask them if you can volunteer. Shadow a large animal veterinarian in your area. And when you get to college, start animal-related research projects.

This is where CALS at NC State can help you. CALS faculty are constantly looking for undergraduate help in research projects. Though some of these projects may be unpaid, you can instead receive class credit in most situations. Personally, I became involved in research the summer before my freshman year, and have continued working in the lab ever since. I participated in the HHMI RISE Program, a 6-week summer research internship for incoming freshman, and began working in a poultry genomics lab on main campus in Scott Hall. Since then, I have presented three times at undergraduate research symposiums, and have even traveled to Australia to present my research at the 2008 World Poultry Congress.

But obviously research is not the only thing you need to focus on when it comes to building your resume for vet school; you also need to have a well-rounded body of veterinary and animal experience. This includes everything from assisting a large animal vet with restraint of a patient during an exam, to walking dogs for your neighbor. Just make sure you keep a log of how many hours you’re accumulating in each of your experiences – this will make applying to vet schools (and even filling out your resume) a much smoother process later!

When it comes to finding these fantastic internships, CALS Career Services is an invaluable resource. CALS is constantly sponsoring workshops to help guide you in your quest for internships, and networking events to help connect you with a professional who may be able to provide just that. The key here is that CALS Career Services is what you make of it. None of the events are mandatory; but of course, the more you participate, the more you will get out of them. So be proactive and take advantage of the resources made available to you! Coming this fall to CALS is an exciting new program called VET Pac! The program will reside in Riddick Hall, and will essentially be a mentoring program strictly for pre-veterinary-focused students. Faculty in the program will help students find internships, connect with local veterinarians, and most importantly, perfect those vet school applications!

My best advice is just to get out there and try things. Dabble in small animal medicine, give large animal practice a try, and even explore the field of exotic animal care. What is even more important than getting into vet school is making sure that being a veterinarian is really your dream career. And after all of that experience you decide you really do want to be a veterinarian, then you will already be well on your way!

Pre-Vet

NC State provides an excellent pre-vet program for undergraduates. It is a great opportunity to be able to have a pre-vet oriented major so that you can receive a four year BS degree and meet the requirements to apply for vet school. My major is Animal Science, a popular choice for pre-vet undergrads. I get the chance to earn my degree, take pre-vet classes, and get hands-on lab experience all at the same time. It is also great that NCSU has a vet school and that obtaining your undergraduate degree here is a way to connect with the vet school through various outlets, including doing research on the vet school’s campus.
Posted by: Holly Ramey

NCSU's School of Veterinary Medicine is ranked in the top five of the nation's 28 veterinary colleges by U.S. News and World Report. Naturally, this draws in quite a few undergraduates interested in a career in veterinary medicine. While NC State does not have an official "pre-vet" major, students interested in pursuing veterinary medicine commonly major in Animal Science, Zoology, and Biological Sciences, amongst many others. Because there are so many students interested in this career path, the students and faculty combined form an invaluable and readily-available resource: there are a variety of clubs providing opportunities for students to network and connect with their peers, as well as faculty involved in a wide variety of interests, such as animal nutrition, reproduction, genetics, etc. There are also opportunities to get involved with the veterinary school directly as an undergraduate, such as research positions, etc.
Posted by: Tria Metzler

Just a tid bit from NC State's Vet School....the most popular undergraduate degrees of vet students are Biology, Animal Science, Chemistry, and Zoology. Veterinary schools do not require a certain undergraduate degree for admission; you simply must take all of the pre-requisite courses the school requires for admission.

A common question from pre-vet students is how are Animal Science and Zoology different? Animal Science has two concentrations, industry or science. As a pre-vet student you would choose science (SAS-Science Animal Science). Animal Science focuses on domesticated animals, primarily the farm animals, but also offers courses related to companion animals (cats/dogs/horses/exotics). The farm animals are the animals that humans know the most about, so the knowledge you gain from a degree in Animal Science can be applied to any species you may encounter as a veterinarian. The laboratory portion of most Animal Science classes is held on NC State's research farms located near campus. Animal Science is all about hands-on experience. In addition, you'll still receive a science-heavy education. Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Microbiology are all included in the degree.

Zoology is a traditional science degree and focuses on the entire animal kingdom. You will not be physically working with domesticated animals with this degree. Most labs are held in traditional laboratories and focus on lab technique and species that can be contained to the lab setting. Zoology also incorporates the same traditional science courses as Animal Science (Biology, Chemistry...etc). It completely depends on your preferences as to which major to choose, as both degrees provide a strong focus on the sciences that will help you succeed as veterinarian.

What can I do with a major in Animal Science?
Animal Science Sample Layout of Courses
What can I do with a major in Zoology?
Zoology Sample Layout of Courses

Posted by: Justin Jornigan