Getting into Veterinary School is often harder than getting into medical school. There are fewer vet schools, and the standards are incredibly high. But for those who love animals and science, becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) is the ultimate dream career.
The industry is evolving. It’s not just local clinics anymore. Corporate veterinary medicine, specialized surgery, and research are driving salaries up significantly.
The Reality of Vet School
It is a 4-year doctoral program after your undergraduate degree. It is intense, expensive, and rigorous.
- Prerequisites: Heavy biology, organic chemistry, and physics.
- Experience: You usually need hundreds of hours of shadowing a vet just to apply.
Top Ranked Veterinary Schools
You want a school with a teaching hospital that handles complex cases.
1. UC Davis (California)
Consistently ranked #1 in the world.
- Specialties: Small animal surgery, equine medicine, and livestock.
- Research: The leader in animal health research.
2. Cornell University (New York)
An Ivy League education for animal medicine.
- Curriculum: Known for problem-based learning.
- Facilities: World-class hospitals for everything from cats to cows.
3. Colorado State University
A powerhouse in veterinary science.
- Innovation: Famous for cancer research in animals (which often helps humans too).
- Surgery: One of the best places to learn advanced surgical techniques.
ROI: Managing the Cost
Vet school is expensive. The average debt is high. To get a good Return on Investment (ROI), you need to think about specialization.
- General Practitioner: The vet at your local clinic.
- Salary: $100,000 – $130,000.
- Specialist (Board Certified): This requires a residency after vet school (Surgery, Oncology, Cardiology).
- Salary: $200,000 – $400,000+.
Pro Tip: Corporate-owned clinics (like Banfield or VCA) often offer student loan repayment assistance as a signing bonus.
Alternative Path: Veterinary Technician
If you don’t want the 8 years of schooling, consider becoming a Vet Tech.
- Degree: 2-year Associate Degree.
- Role: The “Nurse” of the veterinary world. You draw blood, run anesthesia, and handle patient care.
- Demand: Every clinic is desperate for licensed techs.
Salary Comparison
| Career | Degree Required | Avg. Salary | Stress Level |
| Veterinarian (DVM) | Doctorate (8 Years) | $110,000+ | High |
| Vet Surgeon | DVM + Residency | $280,000+ | Very High |
| Vet Tech | Associate (2 Years) | $40,000 – $55,000 | Moderate |
| Lab Animal Vet | DVM | $140,000 | Low |
Next Steps
If you are serious about this path:
- Keep Grades Up: GPA is king in vet school admissions.
- Get Dirty: Go work on a farm or volunteer at a shelter. You need to show you can handle the messy parts of the job.
- Check VMCAS: This is the centralized application service. Familiarize yourself with it early.
The world will always need people to heal animals. Start researching the prerequisites for your dream DVM program now.