Veterinary Medicine

New Jersey does not have a college of veterinary medicine. New Jersey residents who wish to become doctors of veterinary medicine and practice in the United States can obtain their professional education at one of the colleges of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) after completing prerequisite course requirements. There are only 30 accredited veterinary schools in the United States, and three states have two schools: California, Tennessee, and Alabama. There are also AVMA accredited foreign veterinary schools in Canada (5), Australia (4), West Indies (2), Scotland (2), and one each in England, Mexico, the Netherlands, Ireland, and France.  

Admission to veterinary school is based on a combination of grades (usually a GPA between 3.0 and 4.0 to even be considered), letters of recommendation from professors and veterinarians, experience in a veterinary practice and/or research, and performance on standardized tests (see below). To prepare for admission to a veterinary college, the student must have acquired a strong scientific and liberal arts background. Most veterinary colleges require at least one, often two, semesters of the following undergraduate subjects: biochemistry, biology, English, general chemistry, genetics, microbiology, organic chemistry and physics. In addition, some will also require courses in statistics, physiology, and even public speaking. The undergraduate program should also provide a broad and diversified background of experiential learning (practicums and internships) enabling students to achieve their full potential as an individual and a member of society. All of the colleges do require that the applicants have experience working with veterinarians in clinical and/or research settings, and some require documentation of the amount of time spent in veterinary practice and/or research. Graduate Record Examinations are required by most colleges of veterinary medicine, usually taken in the spring or summer before the student applies for admission.

Veterinary Aptitude Tests are required by a few schools. Since the prerequisites do differ among the colleges, applicants must check with the individual schools regarding specific course and test requirements. Most colleges of veterinary medicine require a minimum of three years of university-level study prior to admission. Most successful candidates for admission have completed a bachelor of science degree in biological, animal, or agricultural science programs. However, colleges of veterinary medicine do not dictate where or in what degree program applicants should be enrolled for preprofessional study. Most veterinary colleges recommend, however, that applicants pursue a baccalaureate degree in the area of their second choice of vocation. That way if the candidate is not admitted to a college of veterinary medicine, the time spent in preparatory studies may be applied to careers in related sciences, such as human medicine, animal science, biology, biotechnology, laboratory animal science, medical technology, or wildlife biology.