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Get on track for a career in veterinary medicine

We’ll guide you through finding the right mix of courses and experiences you'll need to prepare for graduate school.

Pre-Veterinary Path (D.V.M.)

Students of many different majors are on the pre-vet path at SUNY Plattsburgh. The PHPAC will help make sure that you are prepared to apply to veterinary school.

Academics

If you are a biology or biomedical sciences major you will take all of the important prerequisite classes for medical school application as part of your major. If you are not one of these majors, it is important to take the following classes.

  • General Biology (BIO101 and 102) 8 credits including lab
  • General Chemistry (CHE111 and 112) 8 credits including lab
  • Organic Chemistry (CHE 241 and 242) 8 credits including lab
  • Physics (PHY103 and 104) 8 credits including lab
  • English (ENG101 and AWR) 6 credits

Some vet schools will also require calculus, biochemistry or other classes. Look up the programs you are interested in to be sure. 

The Honors Program at SUNY Plattsburgh is an important way to show academic excellence. You should take advantage of this opportunity if possible.

Extracurricular Activities

In addition to excellence in academics, veterinary schools will expect you to show excellence in other areas of your life. Extracurricular activities that previous premed students have done include:

Internships, Volunteering & Shadowing

Veterinary schools will expect that you have experience in the medical environment, even if it is just shadowing a vet. We have an affiliation with the Plattsburgh Animal Hospital on Route 3; you can do an internship there for college credit. 

Having large animal experience is a big step up for your application as well. At SUNY Plattsburgh we are lucky to be located near the William T. Miner Agricultural Research Institute. The Miner Institute is a farm and large animal research facility.  They sponsor classes and summer programs from which you can gain important experience for your application to vet school.

Applying to Veterinary School

Application to veterinary schools (D.V.M.) is through the VMCAS system. The VMCAS system opens for the each application cycle in early May and the application review process begins May 31st. VMCAS will require an official copy of your transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE or MCAT score, and a list of schools where you want your application sent. When your file is complete, VMCAS will send your application to the schools on your list. Vet schools use rolling admissions, which means that they begin to review and accept students as soon as their application is complete. It is best have your application complete as close to the beginning of the opening review date as possible.

Recent Graduates

Alexa Cariello, Class of ‘22

  • B.S. Biomedical Sciences at SUNY Plattsburgh
  • Ross School of Veterinary Medicine

Sydney Adolfo, Class of ’21

  • B.S. Biomedical Sciences at SUNY Plattsburgh
  • Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
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