So You Want to Be A Veterinarian
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Pet Column for the week of April 7, 1997
Office of Public Engagement
2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
Urbana, Illinois 61802
Phone: 217/333-2907
By Joseph Hahn
Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine
Some people dream of being a veterinarian from the time they are very young and a
veterinarian saves the life of the family dog. Others want to be a veterinarian since they
learned how to milk a cow. Still others get the desire later in life and change careers to
pursue their dream.
It doesn't matter where you come from or how the veterinary bug bit you, there are certain
facts about making that dream come true that everyone needs to know.
One such fact is that there are only 27 accredited schools of veterinary medicine in the
United States, and there are often four or five applicants for each opening.
"Good grades and a strong foundation in the basic sciences are very important," advises Dr.
Gerald Pijanowski, a veterinarian and the assistant dean for student affairs at the University
of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. "The minimum grade point average for applying
to our school is 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, and the mean GPA of incoming classes is about 3.4."
While good grades are a start, Dr. Pijanowski also strongly recommends working with a
veterinarian before applying to veterinary school to get a realistic view of the profession.
Work experience will help you discover early if this is really the profession for you, before
you invest years of hard work and thousands of dollars in tuition and fees.
"A bachelor's degree is not a requirement for entrance into veterinary school," says Dr.
Pijanowski. "Students are encouraged to apply to vet school when they are first
eligible--usually during their junior year in college--and to reapply in subsequent years if
they don't get in at first." Because entrance into veterinary school is competitive, most
applicants have completed their undergraduate degree before being accepted.
Required science courses include biological sciences, chemical sciences, and physics. Most
pre-veterinary students pursue biology or animal science majors; however, any major is
acceptable if the specific course requirements are met. For anyone truly serious about
entering the veterinary profession, Dr. Pijanowski encourages contacting the school to find
out the specifics of its admission requirements.
Veterinary school is a four-year program. At the University of Illinois, the first two years are
spent in the classroom learning the basic sciences, physiology, anatomy, pathology, and so
forth. The third year begins to put this knowledge into use in surgery and medicine classes.
The final year is spent in rotations through each service, such as oncology (cancer ward)
and radiology (X-rays), in the large and small animal clinics.
After graduation, there are many career choices. You may pursue the dream of healing "all
creatures great and small" in a traditional practice, you may enter a practice focused on one
species, or you may enter non-practice areas such as teaching, animal or human health
research, laboratory animal care, corporate sales, the military, or public health.
Veterinarians who want to specialize in one area of veterinary medicine can seek board
certification by completing internships and residencies in such fields as surgery,
ophthalmology, and internal medicine and passing an examination. Such internships and
residencies are highly sought after.
If a veterinary career is your dream, work hard toward it. "The key to gaining entry into any
profession is to keep yourself focused on the goal," concludes Dr. Pijanowski.
If you would like further information about admission to veterinary school or opportunities
in veterinary medicine, contact the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
Office of Academic and Student Affairs at 217/333-1192.