Frequently asked questions of the PreVet advisor:

1. Is the PreVet program at JMU the same as a Major, Minor, Concentration, Track or Core?

No. Like other pre-professional programs at JMU, the PreVet program is a preparation program, which is not the same as a Major, Minor, Concentration, Track or Core. The PreVet preparation program at JMU is simply a list of courses offered at JMU that serve as pre-requisites for entry into most, but not necessarily all, of the American veterinary schools. Students who declare their interest to be a PreVet student at JMU (which is effectively the same thing as entering into the Prevet Program) are invited to advising sessions that provide information on how to apply to professional schools, and prevet club activities that promote interactions with professional veterinarians. PreVet students additionally receive emailings about PreVet activities (which are also posted on a bulletin board outside HHS 2153-54, on the Upcoming Events page at this website, and on the PreHealth programs web calendar), and have access to a PreVet advisor/coordinator (Dr. Chris Rose) who helps with course choices, career advice, application procedures and organizing club activities.

2. How competitive is the admission process to veterinary school?

Very. There are currently only 28 veterinary schools in the US, one in the Caribbean, and four in Canada, and most have classes of less than 100 students. On the bright side, there is a nationwide shortage of veterinarians in almost every field except for small animal medicine so jobs are readily available, making it a very desirable profession.

3. When and how does a student declare their interest in the PreVet program at JMU?

A student can declare his/her interest in becoming a PreVet student on his/her application to become a JMU student. Alternatively, once enrolled at JMU, a student can declare his/her interest by submitting a Change or Declaration of Major Form to the department office of their Major, or to the Office of the Registrar. The student must list PreVet Preparation on the right side of the form, in the box entitled Minor/Preparation, and have the PreVet advisor (Dr. Chris Rose) sign the form before submitting it.

4. Are there specific admission requirements to become a PreVet student at JMU?

No.

5. Is there a "preferred Major" that a PreVet student should select in order to maximize his/her chances of getting into veterinary school?

No. The choice of undergraduate major is not critical as long as it provides a solid scientific basis and all school-specific pre-requisites are met. Many schools used to require lots of animal science classes but most of those requirements have been dropped. Veterinary schools now base their admissions on students' overall academic standing (GPA), as well as their grades in prerequisite courses and the GRE, their record of hands-on experience in veterinary work, letters of recommendation, and performance in an interview. The number one indicator of success in veterinary school (as in many professional schools) is the science GPA. Though PreVet students at JMU are encouraged to major in the subject of their choice, most pick Biology as the course requirements for a Biology Major include almost all the courses recommended in the PreVet program. If a student picks a Major outside of science, he or she might expect completing the Major and the recommended courses to take more than four years.

6. How important is well roundedness in an application for Vet school?

Very important. Applicants should be well rounded and if at all possible, have animal experience of some sort. If they are not able to get a job working with animals, they should at least shadow veterinarians as much as possible. Admission committees want to ensure that applicants have a realistic impression of the veterinary field which means that they need to know that we can't save all animals, euthanasia is not an uncommon occurrence, and not all clients provide appropriate care for their animals. So it is always helpful if pre-vet students shadow with more than one type of veterinarian or at least in more than one clinical practice (if clinical practice is their interest) so they can observe a wide range of experiences. And since most vet schools require a recommendation letter from a veterinarian, extensive shadowing also provides that opportunity for students that don't otherwise have that option.

7. Does your choice of JMU for your undergraduate degree increase or decrease your chances of admission to a particular veterinary school?

No (at least, not to my knowledge). Although JMU does not have any special agreements with any Vet schools, JMU grads have been accepted at schools all across the country, including Colorado, Western, Kansas, Minesota, Illinois, Virginia Tech, Tufts, and Ross.

8. Will your JMU transcript state that you are a PreVet student?

Yes.

9. Do all PreVet students at JMU who are Biology Majors have the PreVet advisor as their Major advisor?

No. However, all PreVet students at JMU are encouraged to visit the PreVet advisor to discuss any concerns related to their prevet education.

10. Does a student have to declare him or herself as a PreVet student in order to apply to a veterinary school?

No. Membership in this preparation program is strictly voluntary. While membership does not guarantee entrance to a veterinary school, it affords many opportunities for information gathering, which promote greater awareness of the challenges of pursuing a veterinary career and strategies for overcoming them.

11. What is JMU's success rate for graduates applying to vet schools?

High. One to three JMU students usually apply per year. Over the past three years, all who submitted a serious application (meaning with a competitive GPA, some veterinary work experience and letters of recommendation from JMU faculty and professional veterinarians) were admitted to one or more of the schools to which they applied.

12. How does one apply to veterinarian school?

One should contact the schools of interest directly to request application materials. This should be done in the summer before senior year as applications are usually due around Oct. 1. Also, many but not all schools accept applications through the VMCAS system, the procedures and forms for which can be found at Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and AAVMC Application Service. Some schools require applicant to take the graduate Record Exam so plan ahead. For information on taking free practice tests for the GRE in the Harrisonburg area, students should contact Maureen Scott, Area Director, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, 804.501.0000 office, 540.818.1594.

13. What opportunities for gaining veterinary work experience are available in the Harrisonburg area?

Many students have found opportunities to volunteer and shadow at some of the many clinics in the area. Some have also found paid employment at these clinics. The best way to find these opportinuities is to phone the clinics, or better yet, visit them and leave a copy of your CV and statement of interest on file. The contact information for some clinics is listed at Volunteer and work opportunities in and around Harrisonburg. There are also opportunities for junior and seniors to do an internship at the Virginal State Agricultural Diagnostics lab on Reservoir Road. This lab does necropsies and a variety of blood, microbiology, and PCR tests to determine causes of death for poultry and livestock brought to the clinic by local farmers. See Dr. Rose for admission requirements, application procedures and availability.

14. Are there additional requirements for getting your license to practice veterinary medicine if you graduate from certain schools?

Yes. The offshore veterinary medical colleges (Ross, St. George's, St. Matthews and Galen) are not accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Council on Education. Therefore, graduates of these programs must go through one of two systems, ECFVG or PAVE, to get licensed in the United States (each state determines which system it uses to license graduates of non-accredited veterinary medical colleges). More information is available at ECFVG and PAVE. In contrast, graduates of colleges that are accredited by the AVMA do not need to go through this additional step to become licensed in the U.S. The accredited colleges include all of the 28 U.S. and 4 Canadian veterinary colleges, as well as many schools outside of North America. More information is available at AVMA.

15. Does JMU offer all courses that are required as prerequisistes for all vet schools?

No. Some schools require an Animal Nutrition course, which can be taken online through a number of universities, including Purdue, Kansas State, and Rutgers. Check Admission requirements to find out which schools require this course and JMU Preveterinary Courses to find out which schools teach it online.

16. If I don't make it into a veterinary school, what are the alternative career options for people wishing to work with animals?

There are lots. Check Alternative careers for careers that include or are similar to veterinary work and JMU Preveterinary Courses for ways to get involved in conservation and wildlife biology.

17. Can one do a PhD in Veterinary Medicine. If so, where?

Yes. The University of PA School of Veterinary Medicine provides an outstanding environment for the training of future veterinary scientists through their combined VMD-PhD Program. For students interested in biomedical research or medicine, veterinary research is becoming increasingly relevant to understanding our own health and human conditions. Rabbits help lower cholesterol, cats may lead to a breakthrough in the AIDS epidemic, dogs have taught doctors new heart surgery techniques, even lobsters help scientists understand Parkinson's disease. Since the turn of the century, animal research has helped wipe out such diseases as smallpox and polio while increasing the human lifespan by 28 years. Whether it's fighting epilepsy, finding a cure for Alzheimer's or making progress in brain and spinal cord trauma, the link between human health and animal health is absolutely crucial. Find out more by visiting www.PennVetPhD.org

.

18. How does one get training in the veterinary medicine of exotic animals?

Many veterinary schools including Kansas State University and UC Davis have residency programs for graduate veterinarians specifically in exotic animal medicine. Undergraduates who attend schools with such a program will generally get more exposure to exotic animals before they graduate.

.