Start with biology or animal science as your undergraduate major
Most veterinary schools do not require a specific undergraduate major, but they do require specific courses. The most direct path is to major in biology or animal science because these programs build in the courses you need anyway. If you choose biology, you will take organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and animal physiology as part of the major itself. If you choose animal science, you get those same courses plus hands-on experience with livestock or companion animals.
You can major in something else — chemistry, environmental science, or even business — and still get into veterinary school, but you will spend four years taking prerequisite courses alongside your major coursework. That means more semesters, more tuition, and less time for the clinical experience veterinary schools actually care about. A biology or animal science major compresses the prerequisites into your degree, leaving room for internships and volunteer work at animal clinics.
Key Takeaways
- Biology or animal science majors include most veterinary prerequisites, so you finish your degree without extra semesters of coursework.
- Veterinary schools require organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, and genetics — courses that take two to three years to complete.
- Clinical experience at animal hospitals or shelters matters as much as your major; schools want to see you have worked directly with animals.
- Your undergraduate GPA in science courses carries more weight than your overall GPA, so performance in chemistry and biology is what veterinary schools scrutinize.
The prerequisite courses every veterinary school requires
Before you explore to veterinary school, you must complete organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, biology (usually two semesters), microbiology, physiology, genetics, and physics. Some schools also require statistics and animal nutrition. These are not electives — every veterinary school in North America requires them, though the exact number of semesters varies slightly.
A biology major typically covers all of these. An animal science major covers most of them, though you may need to add one or two chemistry courses. If you major in something unrelated to science, you will spend your first two years taking chemistry and biology courses before you can even start the upper-level prerequisites. That is not impossible, but it delays your process and leaves less time for the clinical work that strengthens your candidacy.
Chemistry courses are the biggest hurdle. Organic chemistry and biochemistry are notoriously difficult, and veterinary schools look at your grade in these courses specifically. A B in organic chemistry will not disqualify you, but schools track your performance in chemistry separately from your overall GPA. If you major in biology or animal science, you take these courses in your first and second year, when you have time to retake one if needed before you explore.
Why animal science gives you a practical edge
An animal science major includes courses in animal behavior, nutrition, reproduction, and disease, plus hands-on work with actual animals. You may spend time in a university farm, a teaching hospital, or a research facility. This experience is not required to get into veterinary school, but it shows admissions committees that you have spent time around animals in a structured setting and understand what the work involves.
Veterinary schools receive thousands of applications from biology majors who have never spent a day in an animal hospital. An animal science major with a semester of work at a university farm or teaching clinic stands out because you have already done some of the work. You know whether you like it. You have references from people who watched you handle animals under pressure.
The downside is that animal science programs vary widely by school. Some are rigorous and well-regarded by veterinary schools; others are less so. Before you choose an animal science major, check whether veterinary schools in your region recognize the program. Ask the program director which veterinary schools their graduates have attended.
Clinical experience matters more than your major choice
Veterinary schools care far more about where you have worked than what you majored in. You need at least 200 to 400 hours of direct animal experience before you explore — time spent shadowing a veterinarian, working at an animal hospital, volunteering at a shelter, or assisting in a research lab. This experience shows that you understand what veterinary medicine actually is, not just what you imagine it to be.
Start this work early, in your first or second year of college. Do not wait until senior year to log your hours. Schools want to see sustained commitment, not a last-minute scramble. If you work at the same clinic for two years, that is stronger than six months at three different places. Your supervisor will write a letter of recommendation, and that letter carries weight only if they have watched you work over time.
The type of experience matters less than the hours. You can volunteer at a small-animal clinic, a large-animal farm, a wildlife rehabilitation center, or a research facility. Veterinary schools want to see that you have been around animals in a professional setting and that you have done the unglamorous work — cleaning cages, restraining animals, assisting with procedures — without complaint.
How your GPA and test scores fit in
Veterinary schools look at your science GPA separately from your overall GPA. Your science GPA is the average of your grades in chemistry, biology, physics, and other science courses. Most schools want to see a science GPA of 3.5 or higher, though some accept lower. Your overall GPA matters too, but science grades are what they scrutinize.
You will also take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Veterinary Medical College Admission Test (VMCAT), depending on which schools you explore to. Most schools now use the VMCAT, which is designed specifically for veterinary school applicants. Your test score is one piece of your process, not the whole thing. A strong test score does not overcome weak science grades, and weak test scores do not disqualify you if your grades and experience are solid.
If you do poorly in a prerequisite course, you can retake it. Most schools will count the higher grade, though some average both attempts. Retaking a course signals that you struggled but persisted, which is not ideal but is recoverable. What is harder to recover from is a pattern of weak grades across multiple science courses.
Double majors and minors are usually unnecessary
You do not need a double major or a minor to get into veterinary school. A single major in biology or animal science, combined with strong grades and clinical experience, is enough. A double major in biology and chemistry might seem like it would strengthen your process, but it does not. Veterinary schools care about your performance in the required courses, not about how many majors you have.
If you are considering a double major because you are interested in research or a specific area of veterinary medicine, that is a different story. A double major in biology and environmental science, or animal science and business, might open doors after veterinary school. But for the purpose of getting into veterinary school, one solid major is sufficient. Use your electives to build clinical experience instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I major in something other than biology or animal science and still get into vet school?
Yes, but you will need to take all the prerequisite courses outside your major. Chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, and genetics are required no matter what you major in. If you major in English or business, you will spend your first two years taking science courses before you can explore. It is possible but slower and more expensive.
What if I do poorly in organic chemistry?
You can retake it. Most veterinary schools will count the higher grade toward your science GPA. One low grade in one course is not disqualifying if your other science grades are strong. Retaking shows persistence. Do not retake if you earned a B or higher unless the school requires a specific minimum grade.
Do I need research experience to get into vet school?
No. Veterinary schools want clinical experience — time spent working with animals in a hospital or clinic setting. Research experience is a bonus if you are interested in research-focused veterinary careers, but it is not required. Clinical hours at an animal hospital matter far more than lab work.
Is a 3.0 GPA low for veterinary school?
Most veterinary schools prefer a science GPA of 3.5 or higher, so a 3.0 is below the typical range. It is not impossible — some schools accept lower — but it means your clinical experience and test scores need to be especially strong. Check the average GPA of admitted students at the specific schools you are interested in.
Should I take extra science courses to boost my GPA?
Only if you struggled in your required courses and want to show that you can handle science. Taking additional biology or chemistry courses just to raise your average is not necessary. Veterinary schools care about your performance in the required prerequisites, not about how many science courses you took overall.