UK has the largest pre-veterinary
program in the Commonwealth
UK students have been accepted not only to Auburn
and Tuskegee, but also in the highly competitive
world of out-of-state
applicants to veterinary schools across the U.S.
Any legal Kentucky resident has the opportunity to apply
for contract seats at the veterinary schools at Auburn and
Tuskegee Schools of Veterinary Medicine. Kentucky does
not have a veterinary school.
Central Kentucky offers students
opportunities to work with world class equine veterinarians in hospitals, at
horse shows, racetracks and on farm calls. Volunteer and
paid positions exist working with equine and small animal
veterinarians, as well as large animal veterinarians.
The Director of the Pre-Veterinary advising program,
Dr. Roberta Dwyer, has 20+ years'
experience in advising
and has spoken at national college advising conventions
on trends in veterinary admissions. She is a veterinary
graduate of Iowa State University and has visited 14 North American veterinary schools, and programs in the Caribbean, Finland,
UK pre-vet students have been successful in obtaining
semester-long internships at Disney, Orlando, FL and at
the Cincinnati Zoo. Opportunities exist for international
study tours through the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
The UK Pre-Vet Club is one of the largest clubs in the
College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and can provide the leadership and
community service activities that are desired by veterinary
The UK Pre-Vet program holds Mock
Interviews to prepare applicants for the “real” veterinary school interview.
The mock interviewers are Veterinary Science faculty and
local veterinarians who have actually served on veterinary
school selection committees.
courses are required for pre-veterinary medicine?
||A curriculum based on
chemistry, biology, physics and liberal arts is required.
Pre-veterinary advisors should be contacted for specifics,
as they vary from college to college.
courses should a student take in high school in preparation
for studying veterinary medicine?
||A good background in
biological and physical sciences, mathematics, and English
is of utmost importance since both pre-veterinary and
veterinary medicine programs are based on these subject
matters. Furthermore, these subjects should allow students
to score well on comprehensive college entrance examinations
so they have a better chance of attending their college
many years of study are required to complete the pre-veterinary
Most successful applicants attain
a BS or BA degree prior to entrance to veterinary school. However, most veterinary schools require 75+ credit hours in specific courses.
Once accepted into veterinary school, four years
of course work are required to complete DVM degree
an undergraduate degree necessary for admission into
No, although the
majority of people accepted have completed four or more
years of college.
In any professional program where the number of
applicants exceeds the quota, it is advisable to
choose a degree program to complete concurrently
with the pre-veterinary program. It is strongly recommended
that a person in pre-veterinary studies select a
degree goal early in their college career. .
the undergraduate degree have to be in agriculture?
No. It may be in
any college so long as the required courses are completed;
however, many fine programs and careers are available
Each student chooses his/her own degree program.
This area of study should be selected based on future
career interests in case the student does not become
can a degree in veterinary medicine be obtained?
Under the Southern
Regional Education Board (SREB) Plan, the Commonwealth
of Kentucky cooperates with schools of veterinary medicine
at Auburn University where Kentucky's quota is 38 entering
students each fall and Tuskegee where the quota is
three. Both veterinary schools are in Alabama. Legal Kentucky
residents pay in-state tuition at Auburn, and a discounted tuition at Tuskegee.
There are presently over 28 schools of veterinary medicine
in the United States and five in Canada. Other American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited schools are across the globe. www.aavmc.org
a person apply to more than one school?
||Yes, providing that
the student has met course requirements for each school.
The average GPA for accepted students is 3.5 on a
4.0 scale. A person applying to Auburn must have a minimum
GPA of 2.50; Tuskegee, a GPA of 2.70, at the time of application. Kentucky residents
applying to other veterinary schools are considered as
non-residents and have extremely stiff competition for
a person has the minimum required grade point average,
is there assurance that the student will be admitted?
||No. In fact, because
of the keen competition for the available positions,
it is recommended that applicants have at least a 3.0
grade point average on all work attempted. Also the GPA
on required science courses is considered as well as
the grades in Organic Chemistry and Physics (should be
3.2 or higher).
is eligible to apply?
Only legal residents
of Kentucky who meet the academic requirements may
apply under the contractual plans to Auburn and Tuskegee.
Legal residency is determined by the Kentucky Council
on Postsecondary Education.
Residency forms for admission to each of the veterinary
schools and instructions for completing them are
available from the pre-veterinary advisor in June. Students
attending a school without a Kentucky Pre-veterinary
advisor should contact Dr. Roberta
Dwyer at the University of Kentucky for advice.
Pre-vet students from other states are advised to meet requirements of their preferred vet schools.
makes the selection for admission to the various schools?
||Selection is made by
an admission committee at each of the schools. The vast majority of US vet schools utilize the VMCAS application ().
are the criteria for selection?
A comprehensive study
of an applicant is carried out by the selection committee
in determining those who will be accepted. In order
for a student to be competitive in gaining admission
to a veterinary school it is necessary that a grade
point average of 3.0 or higher be maintained
on all college work. Courses in physical sciences,
biology and mathematics are closely scrutinized by
selection committees. A high grade point average is
important but not the sole criterion. The student must
be mature and able to work with people, as demonstrated
by community and leadership activities. Animal and
veterinary experience is necessary; large and small
animal veterinary experience is highly desirable. Students
must have one letter of recommendation from
a veterinarian, one from an academic person, and one from a person of the student's choice.
With a specific number of seats available to the
state, all positions must be filled with candidates
who will remain for the entire program, e.g., four
years after a class of 90 students begins, it is
expected that 90 veterinarians will be graduated.
exhibits a continuing determination to be a veterinarian.
Reapplication does not ensure acceptance, but students
have been accepted after applying three consecutive years.
financial aid available for students in veterinary
||Yes. All financial aid
is administered by the Office of Financial Aid at each
of the schools, with many students attending veterinary
school obtaining graduate student loans.
Kentucky have a school of veterinary medicine?
||No. There are no current
plans for the establishment of a veterinary school in
there an age limitation for applicants?
||The veterinary schools
do not discriminate on the basis of an applicant's age,
gender or race.
is the competition for admission to veterinary school?
In general, there
are 90-100 Kentucky resident applicants for the 38
seats at Auburn each year.
Veterinary Admissions Committee. Minimum GPA requirements
vary among other vet schools. Average Overall GPA’s
for admitted students is 3.45 - 3.65.
Advanced Placement credit should be cleared through
Dr. Dwyer for applicability to Auburn & Tuskegee requirements. Students must check with all other veterinary schools on their acceptance of this type of credit.
All required courses must have a letter grade
of a C or higher.
Veterinary experience is very important in
your application. Having worked with a veterinarian and being
able to obtain a letter of evaluation is practically mandatory.
Ideally, students should have experience with small and large
animals. The time to start is in high school, and continue
Applications to veterinary school take
place a year before anticipated starting of vet school. The majority of US vet schools participates in the Veterinary Medical School Application
Service (VMCAS). Further information is available at: .