Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Did you know: The term veterinarian comes from the Latin world veterinae which means ‘working animals’.

Students planning on gaining admission to veterinary school must successfully combine an academic major with the specific prerequisite requirements. Most veterinary schools are not selective in your degree. A student should select the best degree for them. Factors to consider:

How efficient is the degree?
What are your passions?
What would you do if you did not become a veterinarian?
Where do you feel most confident academically?

If students are deciding which major is best for them, we can help! Meet with a pre-health advisor through our College of Health Science Student Services and Academic Advising Office.

The Pre-Veterinary Pathway is a non-degree program available at Boise State University. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Veterinary*.

The states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Utah (WIMU) have an agreement under which 11 seats in the Washington State University (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine are guaranteed each year to qualified Idaho residents. Given that veterinary school admission is highly competitive, students should ensure they meet the entrance requirements not only for WSU but for other programs as well to increase their chances of admission.

*with the exception of those who attended Boise State before August 2018.

Pre-Health Advising Team

Contact an advisor by emailing HSAdvising@boisestate.edu.

Suggested Academic Plan

Steps you should be taking in your first year at Boise State:

Attend Orientation
Required Advising Appointment
Start Major Exploration
Start Exploring Schools
Consider taking the courses listed to the right in your first year

The courses listed on the tables are meant as a guide for students to start completing the requirements to apply to Veterinarian schools in the U.S. Students should meet regularly with their academic and pre-health advisors to ensure progress.

Semester 1	Semester 2
(FW) ENGL 101 Writing and Rhetoric I (3)* (FM) MATH 143 College Algebra (3)* (FA) Foundation of Arts (3)* (FN) BIOL 191 Biology I: Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (4)* (UF) UF 100 University Foundations: Foundations of Intellectual Life (3)*	(FW) ENGL 102 Writing and Rhetoric II (3)* (FS) PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (3)* MATH 144 Precalculus II: Trigonometric Functions (2) BIOL 192 Biology II: Introduction to the Diversity of Life (4) Major Requirements (3)
*For a complete list of University Foundation Courses please see the catalog on the Registrar's Office website.

Steps you should consider taking during your second year at Boise State:

Find Volunteer/Community Service Opportunities
Start Networking
Student Involvement and getting to know your advisors and instructors (especially science)

Semester 1	Semester 2
(FM) MATH 254 Statistical Methods (3)* (FN) CHEM 111/111L General Chemistry I with lab (4)* (FH) Foundations of Humanities (3)* (FC) COMM 101 Fundamentals of Oral Communications (3)* Major Requirements (3)	CHEM 112/112L General Chemistry II with lab (4) (UF) Foundations of Ethics and Diversity (3) Major Requirements (3) Major Requirements (3) Major Requirements (3)
*For a complete list of University Foundation Courses please see the catalog on the Registrar's Office website.

Steps you should consider taking during your third year at Boise State:

Find Shadowing and Observation Opportunities
Attend Upperclassmen and Application Cohort Meetings
Start Reflecting and Writing Your Experiences

Semester 1	Semester 2
CHEM 307/308 Organic Chemistry I with Lab (5) (FN) BIOL 205 Microbiology (4) Major Requirements (3) Major Requirements (3)	CHEM 309/310 Organic Chemistry II with Lab (5) BIOL 310 Genetics (3) (FN)** PHYS 111 General Physics I (4)* Major Requirements (3) Electives (2)
*For a complete list of University Foundation Courses please see the catalog on the Registrar's Office website.

Steps you should consider taking during your fourth year at Boise State:

Start Practicing for Interviews
Continue Gaining Experiences
Start the Application

Semester 1	Semester 2
BIOL 320 Cell Biology (3) PHYS 112 General Physics II with lab (4) ZOOL 409 Human and Animal Nutrition (4) (Fall Only) Major Requirements (3) Electives (2)	CHEM 350 Fundamentals of Biochemistry (3) ZOOL 401 Human Physiology (3) (Spring Only) Major Requirements (3) Major Requirements (3) Major Requirements (3)
*For a complete list of University Foundation Courses please see the catalog on the Registrar's Office website.

Is a bachelor’s degree required for a Pre-Veterinary Studies pathway?

A: Yes! A bachelor’s degree is required and while subjects like Health Studies, and Biology make tying in the coursework required for any Vet school easier, it is not required that you choose one of these subjects. Hence you just need a bachelor’s degree and it can be in ANY subject. We recommend that you choose a subject you enjoy and are passionate about.

Is there an admissions test for Veterinarian School?

A: Most schools require the GRE (Graduate Records Examination)

What are other non-academic requirements for Vet School?

A: Pre-Vet students are encouraged to complete shadowing and observation hours. Make sure you know the prerequisite hours for each school you apply for. Community service, volunteer work hours, and letters of recommendation are key.

Does what I did in high school count?

A:Absolutely, as long as it was animal-related. Professional schools and programs love to see that students are involved in groups like FFA and 4-H as it shows them that they have been interested in animals (of all sizes) from an early age. They want to see that you have been working with animals in any way.

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

Suggested Academic Plan

Pre-Professional Pathways