Did you know there are only 28 veterinary schools in the United States? Admission is extremely competitive. Here's how the University of Minnesota, Morris and the power of the liberal arts can help you prepare.
Morris Advantages
In addition to outstanding teaching, the Morris campus offers VetFAST (Veterinary Food Animal Scholars Program). Students interested in working with food animals are eligible for early admission at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine after completing the first year of undergraduate study on the Morris campus. Admitted students complete the rest of their pre-veterinary coursework at Morris in two or three additional years before transferring to the Twin Cities campus to earn their D.V.M. Students enrolled in the VetFAST program are guaranteed admission to the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.
- VetFAST participants receive an "admissions decision" at the end of the first year of undergraduate study
- VetFAST participants may waive the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) requirement when applying to the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Students interested in veterinary medicine should also consider taking advantage of the following opportunities.
- Undergraduate research: Participating in undergraduate research can give veterinary school applicants a competitive edge. Morris offers multiple stipend programs for students who want to conduct undergraduate research and an annual Undergraduate Research Symposium at which to present findings.
- Office of Community Engagement: Taking advantage of undergraduate service opportunities demonstrates the kind of commitment sought by many professional school admissions boards.
- Study Abroad: Our noted Study Abroad program helps prepare students to participate in professional veterinary service opportunities with international wildlife conservation and sustainability projects.
Opportunities in Veterinary Medicine
Opportunities in Veterinary Medicine
- small or large animal clinical practice
- wildlife or exotic (zoo) animal medicine
- teaching and research
- government or public health work
- livestock disease control and food animal inspection
- biomedical research
- pharmaceutical or laboratory work
Preparing for Veterinary Medicine
There is no specific major required to enter this profession. Students should check with veterinary colleges for their pre-requisites. Requirements generally include mathematic, English, humanities, the social sciences, and several science courses.
Pre-veterinary medicine students will need to excel in several areas to successfully compete for a spot in a veterinary medicine program. Prospective veterinarians should be aware that Morris campus boasts the highest percentage of winners of the Horace T. Morse-Minnesota Alumni Association Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education at the University of Minnesota and that many of these instructors teach subjects required for admission to veterinary medicine programs.
