Department of Biology

Veterinary school applicants have to consider the following:

• pre-requisite courses
• GPA
• GRE or VCAT test
• extracurricular activities such as research and volunteer work
• letters of recommendation

Pre-requisite science courses for veterinary school<

Most Veterinary Schools require that applicants have taken 8 credits in Biology, Physics, Calculus, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry (all courses with laboratory, except Calculus) and one year of English. For Biology majors, the Behavior and Physiology track is recommended.

At WPUNJ, most pre-vet students take the following science courses:

• Biology: BIO163 General Biology I, BIO164 General Biology II
• Physics: PHYS255 College Physics I, PHYS256 College Physics II
• General Chemistry: CHEM160 General Chemistry I lecture, CHEM060 General Chemistry I Laboratory, CHEM161 General Chemistry II lecture, CHEM061 General Chemistry II laboratory
• Organic Chemistry: CHEM251 Organic Chemistry I lecture, CHEM051 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory, CHEM252 Organic Chemistry II lecture, CHEM052 Organic Chemistry II laboratory
• Mathematics: MATH160 Calculus I and MATH161 Calculus II or MATH230 Statistics
• English: ENG 110, ENG 150

GRE: Most veterinary school applicants are required to take the GRE exam. These test are administered throughout the year by the Educational Testing Service. Applications/registrations may be obtained from the pre-professional advisor or over the web.

GPA for veterinary schools: Average Grade Point Average (GPA) for Veterinary School is 3.4 - 3.6. The average GPA for individual Veterinary schools can be found in the website for the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges at http://www.aavmc.org/.

Extracurricular activities

• Research: Most WPUNJ veterinary school applicants have participated in research projects at William Paterson University or outside the university. Through your research work you demonstrate that you are familiar with an academic environment and you are interested and commitment to research. As a veterinarian you will have to keep up with the latest developments in veterinary medicine such as new drugs that come on the market.
• Volunteer work: Students should have demonstrated their commitment and dedication to veterinary medicine through regular volunteer work. As volunteer you will be exposed to the day to day routine of a veterinarian. Contact your local Animal Hospital for volunteer opportunities.

Letters of Recommendation

The Pre-Professional Committee will submit a composite letter of recommendation together with the four to five letters of recommendation by individual professors. Students are advised to request individual letters of recommendation from their professors and to forward these letters to the Pre-Professional Committee.

A letter of recommendation will be supplied by the Pre-Professional Committee after the following has been received

• updated curriculum vitae (resume)
• completed Pre-Professional registration form
• letters of recommendation from individual professors
• list of addresses of Admission Offices

Please allow two to four weeks for preparation of the recommendation letter.

Application

• The application process is coordinated through the Veterinary College Application Service (VCAS). The web-application process for 2004 will open early June, 2003.

Information about Veterinary Schools

• Veterinary Schools in the US
• Association of American Veterinay Medical Colleges
• Pre-Vet site of the AAVMC
• Alternative to Vet School: The Veterinary Technician