If you're interested in veterinary school, we encourage you to major in zoology or chemistry and to work closely with the pre-veterinary medicine advisor.
Requirements imposed by the nation's 28 veterinary schools are generally more variable and more extensive than those required by schools of human medicine and dentistry. Most students will be best served by choosing a major in pre-professional zoology rather than the interdepartmental pre-medicine/dentistry major.
It is essential that you contact the pre-veterinary advisor during your freshman or sophomore year so you can tailor course sequences to the requirements of your intended veterinary school. In addition to course selection, you need to prepare for the MCAT or the Graduate Record Examination taken in your junior or senior year, and to gain experience working with animals.
We encourage you to apply for the Summer Science Research Program, a 10-week intensive research program where students prepare posters and present their results at an all-campus Patricia Belt Conrades Summer Science Research Symposium in the fall.
Competitive University-funded Theory-to-Practice grants are available to support independent research, internships, and cultural immersion throughout the world. Travel-Learning Courses combine classroom exploration with on-the-ground practical experiences.
Mary Helfrich '14 gained hands-on experience with horse health including diagnosis and administering vaccinations through her Theory-to-Practice grant, "Equine Veterinary Medicine: A Close-Up Experience with Horses."
Build your connections to the professional world with internships at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and various animal clinics or hospitals. Students can also volunteer at the nearby Humane Society of Delaware County.
Many OWU students turn their internships into first jobs or experience proven to help them get ahead.
Lauren Kiebler '16 has held several different internships and gained valuable veterinary experience. She has worked at Severna Park Veterinary Hospital, Mobile Pet Vet, and as a volunteer clinic assistant at the Humane Society of Delaware County.
Top-of-the-line instrumentation exists throughout the Schimmel/Conrades Science Center, including a scanning transmission electron microscope, enabling you to carry out advanced research that's often impossible at other liberal arts institutions.
Pre-Vet club helps students choose the right classes for veterinary school. The club also attends open houses, establishes networks with current veterinarians, and helps with the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). Pet Pals (pictured) organizes activities to raise awareness about animal rights issues. They work with the Humane Society of Delaware County to host socialization and adoption events, and they volunteer at animal shelters and take trips to the Columbus Zoo.
The role of the Health Professions Advising Office is to provide information and about the medical school application process personally. The office also offers advising and counseling, assists with their medical school choices, and prepares composite evaluation letters for students.
Your OWU coursework equips you for the science sections of these crucial tests, and advisers offer guidance on test preparation.
Jimmy majored in Chemistry and Zoology at OWU, and he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ohio State University. He currently is staff veterinarian at the St. Louis Zoo.
Travel-Learning Course.
Travel-Learning Course.