If you’re looking to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, you’ll need an undergraduate degree in biology or biochemistry. You don’t necessarily have to go all the way and get a Ph.D.; a bachelor’s degree will be sufficient for getting into vet school and practicing as a veterinarian.
Biology Ba Or Bs For Vet School
Introduction
Most students interested in veterinary medicine think they need to major in biology as an undergrad. Well, I’m here to tell you that you don’t! While it’s essential to take certain courses before applying to vet school, your major doesn’t have to be biology (or any other science). That’s good news for those of you who hate math or just plain dislike the sciences. Now, let’s talk about how you can still get into vet school without majoring in the right field.
Do you need to major in biology to get into veterinary school?
You don’t need to major in biology to get into veterinary school. Most schools will accept you with a bachelor’s degree in any subject, and some will even accept you with an associate’s degree (as long as it’s in a science). If your college offers a certificate program in veterinary technology, that would be the best way to go if your goal is getting into vet school. Some colleges have their own certificates that are designed specifically for students who want to become veterinarians (the American Veterinary Medical Association has information about these programs here).
If you’re thinking about going back for more education after getting your degree but don’t know what field of study would be best for this, check out our article on how much money do vets make? It lists some careers where having a veterinary background could help boost your income potential.
To get into veterinary school, you’ll need certain prerequisites, like courses in biology and chemistry.
To get accepted into veterinary school, you’ll need several prerequisites. First, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in biology or another relevant field. Next, you’ll have to take courses in biology, chemistry and math at the undergraduate level to prepare for the GREs (Graduate Record Examinations). The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and VCAT (Veterinary College Admission Test) tests are also required. Finally, some schools require an additional exam called PTCE (Pharmacy College Admission Test), which is taken after graduation from medical school and before entering veterinary school.
Responsibilities of a veterinarian
As a veterinarian, you are responsible for diagnosing and treating animal diseases. You can also provide advice on pet nutrition and care, as well as the costs associated with maintaining a pet healthy. Veterinarians must be especially careful when dealing with animals because they are entrusted to take care of the animals they treat.
What kind of degrees can you get for veterinary school?
There are three types of degrees you can get for veterinary school:
- Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Medicine (BSVetMed) – this is the traditional degree you’d earn if you were going to become a veterinarian. You would have to complete at least 4 years of undergraduate work, though some schools require as many as 5 or 6 years.
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) – this is a professional degree that requires an additional year after earning your BSVetMed to finish off your training and become licensed to practice medicine on animals.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – this is another type professional degree that usually requires around five additional years beyond your BSVetMed or DVM to complete
You don’t have to major in biology to get into veterinary school.
Another important thing to consider is that you can major in any subject and still get into veterinary school. You don’t have to major in biology to be a veterinarian, and many people who are accepted do not have a biology degree. If you want to major in something else, there’s no reason why your coursework shouldn’t include some biology as well.
If your primary interest is animals and their health, it would make sense for you to major in something related like zoology or wildlife management; however, if these aren’t very interesting subjects for you but the idea of working with animals sounds appealing regardless of what field it falls under then it might make more sense for you just to take some classes related to this field without making it the focus of all your classes. This way, even if things don’t work out between us after graduation (which they won’t), at least we’ll both have something useful that could lead anywhere else after graduation because I’m planning on going through all my options before making any decisions about potential jobs after college.”
Conclusion
Biology is a great major if you want to be a veterinarian, but it’s not the only way to get into veterinary school. You can choose from many different majors like animal science, business administration and criminal justice. The most important thing is that you graduate with high grades and good SAT scores so that vet schools will accept you for their programs.
