How Hard Is It to Get Into Veterinary School?

Veterinary School Acceptance Rates 

As of December 2024, 35 veterinary schools in North America are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education® (AVMA COE) and three have provisional accreditation. Applying to medical school outside of North America adds 18 more options to your vet school list. With more applicants than available seats, there’s little surprise that getting into veterinary school can be challenging. 

National Average Acceptance Rate 

According to BeMo, the average acceptance rates of those applying to veterinary school in the U.S. fall between 10% and 15%. Each program has a limited number of seats and thousands of applications to sift through each year.  

Ross Vet Acceptance Requirements 

On average, students enrolled at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine ‘s (Ross Vet) DVM program have: 

• Average enrolled overall GPA = 3.20 
• Average enrolled pre-req GPA = 3.19 
• Average enrolled GRE = 299 
• At least 48 credits of college work* 

*Statistically representative of students directly admitted into the AUC MD Program for the 2023-2024 academic year (Sept 23, Jan 24, May 24). 

• Completed pre-veterinary course work: 
  • Two semesters of General Biology with lab (eight credits) 
  • One course of Cell Biology or Genetics, labs are recommended but not required (three credits) 
  • One semester of General Chemistry with lab (four credits) 
  • One semester of Organic Chemistry with lab (four credits) 
  • One semester of General Biochemistry or Biochemistry 1** (three credits) 
  • One semester of Physics 1 with lab (four credits) 
  • One semester of Pre-Calculus, Calculus, or Statistics (three credits) 
  • One semester of English, preferably English Composition (three credits) 
    • Canadian students can satisfy this requirement by doing one of the following: 
      1. Two semesters of University humanities where essays made up at least 40% of their overall grade 
      2. International Baccalaureate 
      3. Advanced Placement English 
  • Nine credits in electives, humanities, or social sciences and one of the courses must be one of the following 
    • Comparative Anatomy 
    • Medical Terminology 
    • Microbiology 
    • Nutrition 
    • Physiology 
    • Foreign Language 
    • Public Speaking 
    • Intro to Business 
• At least 150+ hours of professional or research experience 

We don't require applicants to submit GRE scores as part of our process, but those that do will be prioritized in the review process. If English isn't your first language, you'll need to submit proof of your English proficiency. 

*College credits must be earned within 10 years of your desired start date at Ross Vet. 

**Introductory or survey courses aren't accepted 

Even with this data, it's important to remember Ross Vet has a holistic admissions process. We place equal emphasis on all parts of your application rather than focusing solely on academic accomplishments. You can receive four possible outcomes after we review your application: 

1. Acceptance 
2. Accepted Wait List 
3. Vet Prep Program 
4. Denial 

Tips to Get Into Veterinary School 

The sooner you can start building your veterinary school application, the more opportunities you have to diversify your clinical experience, accumulate more hours, and strengthen your relationship with instructors and mentors, which can lead to glowing recommendation letters.  

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you map out your undergraduate experience: 

1. Review the prerequisite courses for your desired veterinary school(s). While schools like Auburn University have a zoology requirement, others are fine with general biology courses. You can tailor your courseload to match the requirements of your preferred school, while also completing a broad range of science courses that can apply to most schools. This can give you more academic flexibility, and help you build a strong science background. 
2. Maintain high science and cumulative GPAs. Veterinary school admissions teams want to see how well you did in pre-vet courses and non-scientific courses. This helps gauge your readiness for a DVM program, identify areas of interests and potential knowledge gaps, and better understand the person behind the application. 
3. Be proactive regarding GRE prep. While many schools no longer require the GRE, it can be an opportunity to strengthen your vet school application. There typically isn’t an undergraduate course solely dedicated to GRE prep, so this will mostly be independent study. Speak with your school’s advisor about their recommended GRE prep resources. 
4. Gain veterinary experience and maintain strong connections with instructors and mentors. Diversify your experience as much as possible so you have a better understanding of the kind of veterinary medicine you want to practice. Vets can specialize in equines, small animals, large animals, exotic animals, and more. The more hands-on hours you gain, the clearer your career goals can become. Creating and maintaining connections with those you work closely with during these experiences can give them a clearer idea of your goals, work ethic, and dedication to the field. This can lead to stronger recommendation letters and help your application stand out in an already competitive pool. 
5. Start gathering information for your personal statement early. Keeping a journal of your thoughts and feelings throughout your studies and volunteer experiences can give you plenty of material to reference later for your personal statement. This log lets you relive what impacted you, what changed or strengthened your resolve, and how it turned you into the person you are today with clarity you may not have if you rely solely on memory. This information can be invaluable when creating a compelling essay to compliment your application. 

Preferred Degrees to Get Into Vet School 

Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to major in science to qualify for a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. You also don't have to finish your bachelor's before pursuing a DVM degree. If you do well in and complete the pre-vet requirements, you can still apply and may be admitted into a DVM program. We generally recommend finishing your bachelor's first since it provides a broader educational experience. It also gives you more time to explore your interests, discover a wider range of volunteer or research opportunities, and deepen your connection with mentors and instructors. 

Preferred Prerequisites to Get Into Vet School 

Requirements can vary by school, but pre-vet courses typically include: 

• Biochemistry 
• English 
• Math 
• Biology 
• English 
• Organic Chemistry 
• General Chemistry 
• Physics 

Ross Vet’s Vet Prep Program 

This 14-week program is made for aspiring veterinary students who need a bit more support to truly thrive in our DVM program.. Students who are offered the program and pass are guaranteed a spot in the next first-semester class. 

 Throughout the program, we'll close any basic science knowledge gaps you may have while immersing you in course structure similar to our DVM program. You'll attend a mix of lectures and labs to build your confidence, gain hands-on experience, improve your study habits, and adjust to the demands of a DVM program. 

You can apply directly to this course if you want more time to prepare for our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), or when applying to our DVM program, you may receive one of three outcomes: acceptance, denial, or an invitation to join our Vet Prep program. The Admissions Committee carefully evaluates each application to determine the best fit.  

Typically, candidates with the following stats can be recommended to our Vet Prep program: 

• Cumulative GPA of 2.95 
• Science GPA of 2.89 
• Average GRE of 295 
• 150+ hours of veterinary professional or research experience 

This program can improve your chances of succeeding in our program and beyond.

Apply to Ross Vet Today 

Getting into vet school can be competitive, but it isn’t impossible. Apply to our DVM program today.