Heads-up: Pre-vet is hands-on.

Veterinary programs, legendary for their tough acceptance standards, require experience in a professional setting. They seek students who have demonstrated a commitment to their chosen profession, and many schools add up this experience in a point system. With experience gained through January Short Term and summer internships, on-campus research with faculty, and collaborative experiments, our pre-veterinary students graduate with clinical, classroom, and field knowledge.

Hollins internships make a difference

Ilonna Brown-Norris, now a veterinarian in Texas, said the work experience she gained at Hollins was responsible for her acceptance into Texas A&M's veterinary school. She worked at the Houston zoo during two Short Terms. During the first, she trained sea lions and cleaned cages. The next year, she "hung out with the zoo vet at the vet clinic." Brown said she was worried about her application interview at Texas A&M, but when the panel found out she had worked at a zoo instead of taking a month off during the holiday season, she stood out from the crowd.

Research gives you hands-on experience

Learning through laboratory research is also an important component of the pre-vet program. Hands-on education has made our students much stronger prospects when applying to graduate programs. Hollins' Dana Science Building is equipped with top-quality equipment, and all of it is available to students, from their first year onward. There are no instruments off limits to students; the Hollins philosophy embraces student research and student involvement in faculty research.

During her senior year, Rebecca Baum wrote a paper entitled "The Relationship of Alpha-Fetoprotein to the Neural Tube Defect of Spina Bifida," after studying a mouse mutation that resembles the human birth defect. She also worked summers at a mixed-practice clinic near her hometown in West Virginia. These accomplishments, combined with solid grades and glowing recommendations from faculty who knew her well, helped her reach her goal. "I got into the vet program on the first chance, as an out-of-state student," she said with justifiable pride.

Rebecca is now on the staff of a veterinary hospital in Lewisburg, West Virginia.

Advisors

Rebecca Beach, associate professor of biology; B.S., University of Arizona; M.S., University of Connecticut-Storrs; Ph.D., University of Texas-Austin

Sandra Boatman, Paula Pimlott Brownlee Professor of Chemistry; B.A., Rice University; Ph.D., Duke University

Necessary pre-veterinary courses

Requirements for admission to veterinary school can vary greatly from program to program. The following courses correspond to the academic requirements for admission to most veterinary schools: BIOL 220 and BIOL 236; CHEM 101 and CHEM 102 or CHEM 105 and CHEM 214; CHEM 221 and CHEM 222; PHYS 151 and PHYS 152 or PHYS 201 and PHYS 202 (all including laboratories). In addition, most schools require one or two semesters of mathematics (usually MATH 140 and MATH 241; some require STAT 140), and two semesters of English. Some veterinary schools also require one or two semesters of biochemistry (BIOL/CHEM 351), and nearly all recommend additional courses in biology, including microbiology (BIOL 312), genetics (BIOL 314), and comparative anatomy (BIOL 315).

First-year students who wish to enter veterinary school in the fall following graduation from Hollins are strongly encouraged to enroll in biology and either chemistry or mathematics during their first semester. Students should consult the Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements (published by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges) for the requirements and recommendations of specific veterinary schools.