Once you’ve decided which colleges you’re going to apply for, make sure you fulfill each school’s requirements. VMCAS has a helpful chart that organizes the necessary prerequisite courses (http://aavmc.org/data/files/vmcas/prereqchrt14.pdf), but I found it easier just to visit the website of the school I was interested in and read over the list of prerequisites. Out of the six schools to which I applied, only Tufts required two semesters of physics with a lab—and it was only by a chance recommendation from my academic adviser that I had taken those courses, since I hadn’t checked Tufts’ prerequisites before applying.
Be sure to submit your test scores and transcripts for verification before the deadline. This tip is pretty self-explanatory, but to submit the GRE or MCAT scores on time, you must take the test several weeks or months ahead of time. Also, be sure to check with specific colleges on how old the test scores can be: some schools accept scores that are 5 years old, while others only accept scores that are 2 or 3 years old.
Also, don’t forget about any supplemental applications! Generally, these are short and ask for the same information you have already given on the VMCAS application. Schools usually send out emails with a username and password you can use to access their supplemental a week or two after you have submitted the VMCAS, so make sure you check your email often! One of my friends, who was accepted to Oklahoma State, applied to 13 different vet schools across the country, and said she couldn’t believe the variety of the supplemental applications. One school had 8 timed essays, while another supplemental application just confirmed her prerequisite coursework and her animal experience.
And remember, the more time you spend drafting, rewriting, and proofreading your application and essays, the better it will be. And the better your application is, the better you look as a vet school candidate. Don’t be afraid to sell yourself and your skills in the applications, either. Don’t lie about your proficiency, obviously, but give yourself credit for practicing those blood draws and tube feedings.
Well, good luck! If you give yourself enough time for research and to complete your application, filling out the VMCAS should be straightforward and stress free.
