Exploring Veterinary Medicine as an Undergraduate: Experience, Prerequisites and Applying to Vet School

Becoming a veterinarian in the United States takes a bachelor’s degree, a four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and a license, and the competition for DVM seats starts long before the application. Admissions committees look for strong science grades and, just as importantly, real experience with animals and veterinarians. This guide uses one University of Miami student’s summer internship as an example, then explains what undergraduates should do to prepare, how the application works, and what international students need to know, as of November 2026.

An Example: A Marine Biology Major’s 300-Hour Clinic Internship

In summer 2025, Ava Holloway, a University of Miami sophomore majoring in marine biology and ecology at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, completed a 300-hour internship at Farmer’s Veterinary Hospital in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia. She had not originally planned to become a veterinarian; high school externships at an animal sanctuary and on farms in Puerto Rico first sparked her interest (News@TheU, August 20, 2025).

The internship was offered by Dr. Deborah Stratton, her family veterinarian, at a ten-person practice that treats mostly cats and dogs. Holloway:

shadowed patient exams, where she was often asked to name possible causes of symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea;
observed surgeries, including spays and tumor removals;
studied intervertebral disc disease, endocrinology and treatment plans for spider bites and Cushing’s disease;
attended twice-weekly lectures on physical exams, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and applying to vet school; and
worked through case studies to identify likely diagnoses.

“No two days were the same,” she said, adding that the experience “not only deepened my passion for veterinary medicine but also confirmed my commitment to animal welfare.” Her advice to other students: “Don’t be afraid to reach out to people.” Her internship was supported by the university’s Office of Academic Enhancement.

Step 1: Take the Prerequisite Courses

Vet schools set their own prerequisites, but most expect roughly the following, according to the University of Miami’s pre-health advising office (University of Miami: Pre-Veterinary):

English and writing: 2 semesters
Biology with labs: 2 semesters
Chemistry with labs: 4 semesters
Physics with labs: 2 semesters
Math: 2 semesters, varying by school
Behavioral sciences (psychology and sociology): 2 semesters

You can major in anything, including marine biology, animal science or a non-science field, as long as you complete the prerequisites. Check each school’s exact list in the AAVMC’s Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements (VMSAR) directory, which covers prerequisites, tuition and test requirements for U.S., Canadian and international schools (AAVMC: How to Apply).

Step 2: Build Animal and Veterinary Experience

It helps to build two kinds of experience: veterinary experience (working under a veterinarian, as Holloway did) and broader animal experience (shelters, farms, zoos, aquariums, research labs). Ways to build both:

Clinic jobs and shadowing: local small-animal or mixed practices, emergency hospitals and specialty clinics.
Shelters and rescues: Holloway planned to intern at an animal shelter the following summer.
Research: animal or biomedical research labs on campus.
Funded summer programs: some universities pay students to do this work. The University of Miami’s Pre-Vet Fellowship, for example, gives a $5,000 stipend for a ten-week summer of research, fieldwork or clinical internships in the United States, open to full-time UM undergraduates with at least a 3.0 GPA who are returning in the fall (University of Miami: Pre-Vet Fellowship).

Veterinary work also spans much more than pet care: small- and large-animal practice, food-animal preventive care, zoo, aquarium and laboratory animal medicine, human health research and livestock inspection. Varied experience helps you show you understand the profession.

Step 3: Apply Through VMCAS

Timing: most U.S. vet schools use the AAVMC’s Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). The cycle for fall 2027 entry opened in January 2026, and the application deadline was September 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern; schools could not be selected until mid-May (AAVMC: VMCAS 2027 Applicant Guide). Expect a similar calendar for later cycles: start in your junior year and apply the summer before your senior year.
Supplemental applications: many schools charge their own supplemental fees on top of VMCAS. The University of Minnesota, for example, charges an $85 processing fee (University of Minnesota: DVM Application Requirements).
Letters: include at least one letter from a veterinarian who has supervised you. At the University of Miami, the pre-health office does not prepare committee letter packets for pre-vet students, and some vet schools do not accept committee letters.

For International Students

Not every school accepts you. Policies on international applicants vary by school, and some DVM programs do not admit international students at all. Auburn, for example, admits only U.S. citizens and permanent residents to its DVM program (Auburn University: Prospective DVM Student Brochure), as does the new Clemson University College of Veterinary Medicine. Others, such as UC Davis and the University of Tennessee, accept international applicants through VMCAS (UC Davis: Criteria for Admission; University of Tennessee: Admissions Procedure).
Funding: international students generally pay non-resident tuition without federal loans. UC Davis states it has no specific funding for international students, who must document first-year tuition and living expenses before an I-20 is issued.
Internships on F-1 status: if a clinic internship is paid or earns academic credit, talk to your international student office first about whether you need Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization.
Licensing: to practice in the U.S., veterinarians need a state license, which in most states requires passing a national exam and a state-specific exam.

Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterinarians earned a median of $130,100 in 2025 and held about 91,100 jobs. Employment is projected to grow 9% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 3,100 openings a year. About 83% work in veterinary services and 7% are self-employed (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Veterinarians). DVM programs are expensive, so compare total cost and expected debt with these earnings before committing.

References

#University of Miami #Career Development #Internships #Veterinary Education