Office of Health Professions
Advising
(OHPA)
Pre-Vet Coordinator
Dr. Judith A. Wubah
Smith Career Center (0128)
231-6241 jawubah@vt.edu
Be sure to meet with your departmental Academic Advisor on a regular basis in addition to the individuals listed above.
Any major is acceptable as long as certain specific admission requirements are met.
Common Majors: Animal Science (APSC), Biochemistry (BCHM), Biology (BIOL), Chemistry (CHEM), Dairy
Science (DASC), Fisheries and Wildlife (FIW) and Psychology (PSYC)
Course Number Title Credits Prerequisites
CHEM 2535, 2545
CHEM 2536, 2546
BIOL 1005, 1015
BIOL 1006, 1016
OR
BIOL 1105, 1115
BIOL 1106, 1116
MATH 1015, 1016
ENGL 1105, 1106
Organic Chemistry
General Biology, General Biology Lab
OR
Principles of Biology, Principles of Biology
Lab
6
8
CHEM 1036,
CHEM 1046
PHYS 2205, 2215
PHYS 2206, 2216
BCHM 3114
Elementary Calculus with Trigonometry
Freshman English
General Physics, General Physics Lab
OR
PHYS 2305, 2306 Foundations of Physics
Biochemistry for Biotechnology and the Life
Sciences
(or, less preferred, Biochemistry 2024)
General Biochemistry
6
6
8
3
MATH 1016
MATH 1205
CHEM 2536
BCHM 4115-4116 7 C- or better in CHEM
2535 & 2536
SUGGESTED
ELECTIVES
Anatomy (BMSP 2135,2136), Genetics (BIOL 2004),
Microbiology (BIOL 2604), Nutrition (HNFE 1004)
Individual professional schools vary in specific guidelines regarding applicants with
“credit-only”
for a pre-requisite course(s). Students with AP or IB credit, especially in the required sciences, should strongly consider whether or not to accept the credits or take the courses at Virginia Tech. If students accept AP credit, they should consider demonstrating their abilities by taking additional courses at the upper levels. If students opt to decline the “credit-only” status for a course, they can elect to complete the pre-requisite course for a grade with the perspective that prior experience and exposure to the subject area may enhance their potential for an academic excellence as a first year student.
Office of Health Professions Advising http://www.career.vt.edu
PreVet Club http://www.prevet.org.vt.edu/
Health Professions: Pre-Veterinary Medicine August 2010 rev:JAW

Health Professions Group Information Sessions: Twice per week in the Smith Career Center
Online registration required, there will be specific sessions for Freshmen/Sophomores and Juniors/Seniors.
Check the OHPA website frequently for dates and times.
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) Open House is typically the first weekend in April. Check the www.vetmed.vt.edu
website in the spring for specific dates and details.

Admission Test - Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) . The test is computer-based and it is recommended that this test is taken by the spring term of the year of anticipated matriculation. Students should check with the specific institution as some require only the general exam while others require the Biology test as well.

GPA: ~ 3.5 to be a competitive candidate. The GPA is calculated in several different ways: overall, science, and last 45 semester hours . Students can also go on-line and check the mean and range of GPAs for the veterinary schools of their interest.

Experience: Many veterinary colleges require veterinary-related work experience. It is also beneficial to have broad based animal experiences . Competitive applicants have veterinary clinical experience (paid or unpaid) which can take place in either a private practice, or a zoo hospital, lab animal veterinarian (successful applicants have an average of 400-600 hours). Those students interested in this career path should strive to get a variety of animal experiences – both large and small. Those experiences can include categories such as pet ownership, kennel worker, working in a stable, aquarium, zoo, or animal shelter. Other experiences considered as part of the application process at VMRCVM include working for biomedically trained individuals in health care, government, research laboratories or relevant commercial or industrial organizations. The Office for Pre-Health Advising will work collaboratively with students to assist them gain this necessary practical experience.

Application: Apply through VMCAS – Veterinary Medical College Application Service. The application process is time consuming and students should plan accordingly.

Campus Interviews: No

Veterinary School Interviews: Yes. VMRCVM does require interviews for admission.
 www.ExploreHEALTHCareers.org
, an exceptional resource for students

National Institutes of Health Career Finder, http://science-education.nih.gov/LifeWorks.nsf/feature/index.htm

Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) http://www.aavmc.org/

VA-MD Regional College of VetMed – www.vetmed.vt.edu/
The Office of Health Professions Advising at Virginia Tech assists students and alumni pursuing a health care career in medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, chiropractic, occupational therapy, nursing, physician's assistant, veterinary medicine, or other graduate health professions.
Any student or alumnus/alumna of Virginia Tech, regardless of major, can use the services of OHPA. Although the majority of health professions students major in a science field, it is not required.
Students should meet with their departmental Academic Advisor on a regular basis to ensure requirements are being met for graduation. The Office of Health Professions Advising is an important complement to academic advising.
Health Professions: Pre-Veterinary Medicine August 2010 rev:JAW