University at Buffalo (UB)
Training in Veterinary Medicine requires four years at a veterinary college and subsequent licensing. While a bachelor’s degree is not required for admission at all schools, most strongly prefer it. In addition to the prerequisites indicated below, individual schools may require additional courses. Most schools require an admissions test, usually the Graduate Record Exam or potentially the MCAT, though some schools are no longer requiring any test at all. Grades and test scores requirements vary among the colleges. Average GPAs for admitted students remain 3.6+. It is important to confirm the courses and test requirements of any school to which you are applying. Volunteer/animal contact hours are very important and some schools specify a precise minimum number required for application. Furthermore, competition is very strong, and many schools have strict residency requirements.
There are over 30 colleges of veterinary medicine in the US. The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) provides information and a central application service, the VMCAS. Not all the schools utilize the central application service so be sure to obtain up to date information. The authoritative guide is the Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements in the United States and Canada. There are two colleges of veterinary medicine in New York at Cornell University and Long Island University. In recent years, students admitted to Cornell had an average GPA of 3.8+, and approximately 1,500 hours of animal care experience. The closest vet school to the Buffalo Metropolitan area is the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph.
Most veterinary colleges are publicly supported institutions. As such they can have rather restrictive policies regarding how many out of state students they will admit. Research carefully the schools that interest you. If you will be applying as a non-resident, be sure to determine how many non-residents are admitted.
Start planning as a freshman to meet the following course requirements: A minimum of one year each of chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and physics, all with a year of lab; one year of English; and one year of Math recommended. Most require biochemistry. Below are the UB courses we recommended to meet these requirements:
| COURSE NAME | COURSE NUMBER(S) | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry (Required) | CHE 101-102 w/labs 113-114, or105-106, or 107-108 w/labs 127-128 | 10 credits |
| Organic Chemistry (Required) | CHE 201-202, or 203-204 w/labs 205-206, or 251-252 | 10 credits |
| Biology (Required) | BIO 200, and BIO 201 w/lab 211 | 9 credits |
| Physics (Required) | PHY 101-102 w/labs 151-152 or PHY 107-108 or 117-118 w/lab 158* | 10 credits |
| English/Writing (Required) | Communication Literacy 1 and 2 (If any waived take 3 or 6 credits of writing intensive, literature-based courses – check with prehealth advisor if unsure) | 6 credits |
| Biochemistry (Required) | BCH 403 | 4 credits |
| Statistics (Highly Recommended - Many schools require) | STA 119, PSY 207, or STA 427 | 4 credits |
| Calculus (Recommended) | MTH 121 or 141 | 4 credits |
*Consult with a prehealth advisor regarding additional lab requirements if taking a physics sequence which includes only one lab.