You need a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, animal science, or a related life science—not a veterinary medicine degree, which comes later
Veterinary school is a graduate program, not an undergraduate one. Before you explore to vet school, you earn a four-year bachelor's degree in any field, but your coursework must include the specific science classes that vet schools require. Most students major in biology, animal science, zoology, or chemistry because those programs naturally include the prerequisites. You can major in something else entirely—English, business, music—as long as you complete the required science courses on top of it.
The key is not the major itself but the prerequisite courses you take. Vet schools look at your performance in organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, microbiology, and animal physiology. If you major in animal science or biology, these courses are built into your degree plan. If you major in something unrelated, you take them as electives or additional requirements, which takes longer and costs more.
Key Takeaways
- Your undergraduate major can be any field, but you must complete specific science prerequisites that veterinary schools require before you explore.
- Majoring in biology, animal science, or chemistry aligns your degree plan with vet school prerequisites, making the path more efficient.
- Vet schools evaluate your grades in prerequisite courses heavily, so strong performance in organic chemistry and biochemistry matters more than your major title.
- You should gain hands-on animal experience—shadowing vets, working at clinics, or volunteering at shelters—during your undergraduate years, not just take classes.
The science courses veterinary schools require
Every veterinary school in North America requires the same core science prerequisites, though the exact number of credit hours varies slightly by school. You need two semesters of biology with lab, two semesters of chemistry with lab, two semesters of organic chemistry with lab, one semester of biochemistry, one semester of physics with lab, and one semester of microbiology with lab. Some schools also require animal physiology, genetics, or statistics.
These are not straightforward courses. Vet schools use your grades in these classes as a major screening tool. A strong GPA overall helps, but a weak grade in organic chemistry or biochemistry can hurt your process significantly, even if your other grades are high. Plan to spend serious time on these courses and budget for tutoring if you need it—the investment pays off in your process strength.
Why animal science and biology majors have an advantage
If you major in animal science, your degree plan already includes most prerequisites plus additional courses in animal nutrition, animal behavior, and livestock management. You graduate having taken the required science classes and having studied animals directly. Biology majors similarly have prerequisites built in, plus electives in ecology, genetics, or cellular biology that strengthen your understanding of how living systems work.
Chemistry majors work well too, especially if you pair the major with electives in biology and animal science. The downside is that chemistry majors often need to add extra biology courses beyond what their major requires, which extends your timeline. If you are certain you want to be a vet, animal science or biology shortens the path and costs less in tuition.
What if you want to major in something else
You can major in English, business, psychology, or any other field and still go to vet school, as long as you complete all the science prerequisites. You will take them as electives outside your major, which means more total credits and a longer undergraduate timeline. Some students do this intentionally—a business major who becomes a vet can run a practice more effectively, or a psychology major might specialize in animal behavior.
The trade-off is time and money. A four-year degree becomes five years if you are adding a full year of science courses. You also lose the benefit of having your major reinforce your prerequisites. If you are not certain about veterinary medicine, a broader major gives you more options if you change direction. But if you are committed to vet school, a science major is the more direct route.
The importance of hands-on animal experience during college
Vet schools care as much about what you do outside the classroom as what you study. You need to show that you have real experience working with animals and that you understand what veterinary medicine actually involves. This means shadowing a veterinarian, working at an animal clinic or hospital, volunteering at a shelter or rescue, or interning at a zoo or research facility. Most successful vet school applicants have 200 to 500 hours of hands-on animal experience by the time they explore.
Start this work early in your undergraduate years, not senior year. Vet schools want to see sustained commitment, not a last-minute effort. If you work at a clinic for two years, that tells a stronger story than a summer internship. You also learn whether you actually enjoy the work—some students discover they prefer research or teaching to clinical practice, and that is valuable information before you commit to vet school.
GPA and test scores matter alongside your major
Vet schools are competitive. Most require a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, and many successful applicants have 3.7 or higher. Your GPA in prerequisite science courses is weighted even more heavily than your overall GPA. You will also take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) before explore to vet school, and your score factors into admissions decisions alongside your grades and experience.
Your major does not change how these standards work. Whether you major in biology or business, you need strong grades in your prerequisite courses and a solid GRE score. The major just determines how efficiently you can complete those prerequisites and how naturally the coursework fits into your degree plan.
Timeline: from undergraduate major to vet school admission
If you major in animal science or biology, you complete your bachelor's degree in four years with all prerequisites finished. You then explore to vet school in your senior year, and if admitted, you start a four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program the following fall. Total time from high school to licensed vet: eight years.
If you major in an unrelated field, you may need an extra year or two of undergraduate study to finish prerequisites, or you take a gap year after your bachelor's degree to complete them. Then you explore to vet school. This stretches the timeline to nine or ten years total. Some students work or pursue other interests during a gap year, which is common and acceptable to vet schools—many applicants are older than 22 when they start vet school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get into vet school with a non-science major?
Yes, as long as you complete all the required science prerequisites. You will take more science courses than a biology major, and it may take longer, but vet schools do not require a specific major. They require specific courses. What matters is your performance in those courses and your animal experience.
Do vet schools care which science major I choose?
No. Animal science, biology, chemistry, and zoology are all equally acceptable. Vet schools care about your grades in prerequisite courses and your hands-on experience with animals, not whether your diploma says "biology" or "animal science." Choose the major that interests you most.
What if I did not take the right prerequisites as an undergraduate?
You can take them after you graduate. Many people complete prerequisites at a community college or through post-baccalaureate programs designed for career changers. It costs more and takes longer, but it is possible. Some vet schools have specific post-baccalaureate programs you can research.
How many hours of animal experience do I need before explore to vet school?
Most vet schools expect between 200 and 500 hours. This is not a hard cutoff—some admit applicants with fewer hours if the experience is high-quality and the rest of the process is strong. Shadowing a vet for 40 hours counts, as does working part-time at a clinic for a year. Quality and variety matter more than hitting an exact number.
Should I take the GRE before or after I explore to vet school?
Take it before you submit applications. Most vet schools require your GRE score as part of the process, so you need the score ready when you explore. Plan to take it in the summer before your senior year or early in your senior year, giving yourself time to retake it if needed.