Preparation for Veterinary School

Many students enrolled in the Science Option of the Animal Sciences Program are preparing for veterinary school. The combination of academic work and hands-on experience make this option an excellent pre-vet curriculum.

Animal Science Student Conducting Lab Work

How can I get research experience?

Research experience involving laboratory and field work is critical if you plan to apply to veterinary school. Do not graduate without it!

Here's how to get research experience while you are an undergraduate:

Get to know your professors, and talk to them about their research. You might want to do your homework first and read their vitae.
Ask for work assisting with a research project. This can be a paid (or unpaid) internship, part-time employment while taking classes, a summer job, an independent study project, or even noncredit volunteer work. Remember: it's getting the experience that's important!
Come up with a research project of your own. This can be an independent-study project or an on-the-job project that contributes to a larger research effort.
Author or coauthor a research paper. Look for opportunities to collaborate with faculty-led teams on publishing research findings.
Seek out summer internships that involve laboratory, field, and clinical work related to animal biology or medicine.
When applying to vet school, seek a recommendation from one or more employers for whom you have done research work.

Interested in veterinary school?

In-depth study in the basic sciences relevant to animal biology - including biological and physical sciences, nutrition, genetics, reproduction, and physiology
Laboratory experience
Hands-on experience with animals in Penn State's farm facilities
Practical experience in related students clubs as well as teams and competitions

For the full course list and credits required for this option, see Animal Science Major: Science Option.

Elizabeth Carney, DVM and Assistant Professor of Comparative Medicine at the Penn State School of Medicine.

A 1994 graduate, Elizabeth talks about her career and her experiences as an Animal Sciences major.

This way to the video and Transcript...

Alumnus Michael Kowalewski, Veterinarian

"The Dairy and Animal Science program prepared me for my vet school education. The basic science courses that I received while both at Wilkes-Barre campus and University Park gave me a strong knowledge base for vet school and in fact made many of the first year courses a little easier because some of the material had been covered in my Penn State courses. The animal management courses that I participated in not only helped me enhance my vet school education but it is knowledge I am still using today. Almost on a daily basis I get asked nutrition questions, or questions about ventilation and housing, much of which I learned during my time at Penn State.