Is dvm hard?
Compared to most undergraduate curriculums, veterinary school is hard. Most veterinary students take 25-30 credits per semester of rigorous science-based courses. This means that veterinary students can expect to be in a classroom or laboratory 35 to 40 hours per week, and will need to study several hours more.
There are 32 excellent colleges of veterinary medicine in the US, and they all offer a comprehensive and high-quality education in animal medicine. There are comparatively fewer vet schools in the US than there are medical schools, so competition to get into these schools is quite high. The average vet school acceptance rates in the US are only around 10-15%. The table below covers the top 10 best vet schools in the US and their general admission requirements.
Canada, like the US, has some of the best veterinary schools in the world and is a popular choice for students hoping to study veterinary medicine. Canada is an excellent country to practice as a veterinarian as well since they are in high demand. However, Canada has some of the fiercest competition for veterinary schools because there are so few spots open, only 5 veterinary colleges and thousands of applicants who apply each year. The table below illustrates the best vet schools in Canada and their admission requirements.
Applying to vet school? Check out these foundational requirements.
Some of the best vet schools in the world are outside of North America. The table below lists some of the best vet schools around the world, and their admission requirements.
Vet schools, like medical school acceptance rates, are notoriously low and admission to vet schools anywhere is very competitive. Acceptance rates for vet schools in the US sits around 10-15%. This is lower than even medical school acceptance rates, but there are only 32 vet schools in the US and therefore fewer chances for applicants to get in.
Competition is fierce at the best vet schools, but it is not impossible to get in. Admission requirements are very similar to those at medical schools, and there are many resources you can take advantage of to help you prepare your application, such as medical school admissions consultants.
Next, we’ll look at how you can apply to vet school and the vet school admission requirements you’ll need to fulfill.
For many vet schools in the US, as well as some in Canada and even around the world, you can apply through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). For all non-VMCAS vet schools, check school websites for information on how to apply directly or what application service is used to apply.
Applying through the VMCAS system means creating an account and uploading all of your necessary information and documents, including transcripts, test scores, written application sections and any additional documents needed for specific programs.
There are 4 sections to the VMCAS application:
We’ll look at the key components of your vet school application in detail next.
Preparing for an MMI interview? Check out these top tips!
Applying to vet school is a big undertaking, and with very low acceptance rates and high competition amongst applicants, you want to know how you can best stand out as a candidate and make your mark. Achieving all the admission requirements is only the first step. Being an excellent applicant on paper isn’t enough to secure a spot. You’ll need to earn high grades, ace the GRE and interview, write a stellar personal statement admissions essay and show you have the necessary experience with animals.
Below we’ll look at some further expert tips on how to improve your chances of getting accepted to some of the best vet schools.
Taking the CASPer test? See our tips for how to prep!
Applying to the best vet schools in the US, Canada and around the world means putting together a killer application to get into these highly competitive programs. Most of the best vet schools will use the VMCAS system, which includes a comprehensive application package for vet school applicants. For the best chances to get into your chosen vet school, focus on earning extensive shadowing hours, write a killer personal statement and ace your MMI interview. Also be prepared to write the GRE and CASPer tests, so prep is important here. Talking with a vet school advisor or admissions consultant can be a great first step in your application journey if you want to get into vet school.
Compared to most undergraduate curriculums, veterinary school is hard. Most veterinary students take 25-30 credits per semester of rigorous science-based courses. This means that veterinary students can expect to be in a classroom or laboratory 35 to 40 hours per week, and will need to study several hours more.
If you compare this to most undergraduate programs that require 15-18 credits per semester you can clearly see that the course load is heavier during veterinary school. And as mentioned above, in veterinary school your courses will be primarily advanced science-based courses. This contrasts with undergraduate curriculums, where you often have a diverse array of courses that can include introductory-level courses and fillers like physical education requirements.
Another point to consider is that your classmates (on average) will be more academically minded than the average student at your undergraduate institution. The average GPA of students admitted to veterinary school ranges from 3.3 to 3.8 among the various veterinary schools in the United States. This means that some students used to being at the top of the curve in their classes may find themselves much more middle-average among their veterinary student peers.
That being said, how hard veterinary school is will vary wildly from person to person. So let’s get some individual perspectives for a more subjective answer to the question “is veterinary school hard?”
For me personally, veterinary school was difficult. I was used to being a straight A student. Except for an A- in an undergraduate Ice Skating Class and a B in my second semester of Honors Organic Chemistry, I maintained straight A’s while obtaining my bachelors degree. But my undergraduate institution was significantly less academically rigorous than veterinary school, and I found myself with a much more even mix of As and Bs during veterinary school.
Some of this was due to an increase in the difficulty of individual classes, but a lot of this had to do with the amount of curriculum material to cover with 25+ credits per semester. I found myself having to re-learn how to study adequately for so many courses. Especially in my second year of veterinary school, when we had the heaviest course load, I often felt short of time and had to push myself to keep up with everything.
As a result, I would answer that yes, veterinary school is hard.
But don’t just take my word for it. I reviewed some of the best answers online and consolidated them here. Links to the full posts are included after every quote.
Want to read even more thoughts about the difficulties of veterinary school? Check out this thread on The Student Doctor Network for some more individual insights.
But don’t let the fact that veterinary school is hard prevent you from applying. There are many aspects of veterinary school that are rewarding and wonderful. You will learn so much and often gain some great life-long friends in the process.
And remember, while you may be used to being one of the smartest students and obtaining perfect grades, your grades in veterinary school do not indicate your future success. There is a saying that Cs = degrees. Yes you need to pass each class, and yes you need a certain base of knowledge and skill to successfully practice as a veterinarian. But many a competent veterinarian graduates from veterinary school with far less than a 4.0.
And it is also important to remember that most students who start veterinary school, do end up graduating. On average, >95% of the students who start veterinary school end up graduating with their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree. I lost 3-4 classmates to grades and a couple more to the decision to change career plans. But out of a class of over 100, that’s not too bad.
My personal advice is to start veterinary school prepared for 4 years of long days (and some long nights). Accept that you will probably not be the smartest person in the room and that you do not need to achieve perfection in order to succeed in veterinary school or as a veterinarian. Also, be aware that you may fail to reach some of the goals that you set for yourself. And that is okay.
Failure doesn’t mean that you don’t have a great career ahead of you. It means that you tried something new and stretched yourself.
In the words of Dr. Greg Magnusson, learn that “mistakes are inevitable, change is inevitable, death is inevitable, failure is inevitable. And, if you’re brave, and you try hard enough, and are willing to accept the possibility that you might screw the whole thing up, even you can learn how to run a veterinary practice, or tie a quick-release knot.” Or whatever goal you are working to achieve.
And during your veterinary school journey keep eating well, exercising, and setting aside time to support yourself and maintain your mental health. Taking care of yourself will help you successfully navigate veterinary school and these habits will help in times of stress throughout the rest of your life.
