Most pre-veterinary students obtain a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree while completing the requirements for admission to veterinary school. Veterinary school admissions committees do not require or prefer a particular undergraduate major and welcome students whose intellectual curiosity leads them to a wide variety of disciplines. Veterinary schools recognize the importance of a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Applicants must complete course requirements and demonstrate proficiency in the sciences as evidenced by the science GPA and the scores on the required standardized test (see below).

Pre-Professional Health Advising has developed requirements for the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Program utilizing the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) Accredited Veterinary Colleges to identify accredited programs and subsequently review their websites for pre-requisite courses. Students should look at individual veterinary medical schools' list of pre-requisites to assure completion of all pre-requisite coursework. 

If you have credit for any of the following courses by earning Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International Exam (CIE), community college credit, or departmental test credit, please read the Non-JMU Coursework for Pre-Requisite Coursework.

To review requried coursework for the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Minor, follow this link to the JMU Undergraduate Course Catalog.

Due to the small number of programs, admission to a vet school is highly competitive. Therefore as you plan, you may want to complete additional courses that will prepare you broadly as an educated professional considering alternative career.  

Most veterinary schools require a minimum of 60 credit hours for admission, but most applicants are strongly advised to plan on completing a baccalaureate degree before enrolling in a veterinary program. It is imperative that you consult the VMSAR for school specific information and requirements throughout this entire process.

You must submit a minimum of three and a maximum of six evaluators on the VMCAS application. Evaluations should be submitted through the VMCAS Electronic Evaluation Portal (eLOR). You should determine any specific LOR requirements from programs of choice. However, most commonly LORs come from:

• Veterinarian
• Science Faculty
• Non-Science Faculty
• Employer
• Faculty Advisor

The GRE General Test features question types that closely reflect the kind of thinking you'll do in your professional health program:

• Verbal Reasoning - Measures your ability to analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained form it, analyze relationships among component parts of sentences and recognize relationships among words and concepts.
• Quantitative Reasoning - Measures problem-solving ability using basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis.
• Analytical Writing - Measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills, specifically your ability to articulate and support complex ideas clearly and effectively.

Learn more about the content and structure of the GRE^® General Test from Educational Testing Services (ETS). Also you can find information about GRE^® registration, test centers and dates through the ETS GRE^® website.

There are many types of test preparation resources that vary in cost and approach. PPH Advising deos not endorse any of the providers below, but are happy to speak with you about how you might identify the style of preparation that best fits your needs.

VMCAS: Veterinary Medical College Application Service

This application opens each year in early June. Although application deadlines are not until early October, you should apply as early as possible due to the application verification process and rolling admission cycle.