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Let the journey begin By
Chris Stephens
Getting
prepared “Focus, hard work and planning are key steps in making the process more stress-free,” said J.T. Walker, veterinary medicine junior. “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of early planning. Plan ahead and search for an undergraduate program that prepares you well. Stay focused and work hard to achieve your best; it will pay off in the end.” A student
can choose any undergraduate curriculum at OSU as long as the curriculum
offers the core courses the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine requires.
“Choose
an undergraduate degree that fits your interests and one that meets
the core course requirements of vet school,” said Katrina Meinkoth,
veterinary medicine recruitment coordinator. “Students should not
think there is only one undergraduate curriculum that is best in preparing
them for vet school.” In
addition, students should have an alternative plan just in case their
goal of vet school does not materialize. “You
need to ask yourself ‘What will I do if I do not get accepted into
vet school?’ and therefore pick a major that will be beneficial
in both settings,” said Meinkoth. Once
a major has been selected, the real journey begins. “Students
have to be realistic. Getting into vet school will certainly require
hard work throughout their undergraduate career. A student’s first
four years serve as a training ground for the real thing,” said
Brett White, veterinary medicine sophomore. Rising
to meet all the expectations is not only suggested from fellow vet school
students, but it is also a must in achieving the goal of being accepted
into vet school, said White. “I
have asked a lot of questions of current vet school students and discovered
that maintaining a rigorous course load coupled with extensive science-based
classes will help prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead,”
said Krista Vega, biochemistry senior. Prospective
vet school students should consider that hands-on experience outside
the classroom is also important while completing an undergraduate degree,
said Vega. One
of the most dynamic aspects of veterinary medicine is the ability to
care for animals and treat illnesses. What better way to learn more
about the vet-med field than to work for a well-respected veterinarian?
“The
skills I have learned through my pre-veterinary internships with various
veterinarians are invaluable, and have helped me become more aware of
the vet-med profession,” said Vega. Vet schools want students who are well-rounded. The selection committee looks for students who have the desire and aspiration to become top veterinarians, who have prepared themselves well, who have extracurricular activities and who have work experience, said Meinkoth. Understanding
the process When
an applicant’s core requirements have been fulfilled, he or she
must submit the completed college of veterinary medicine application
no later than Oct. 1 the year before he or she plans to begin vet school.
The
completion of required pre-veterinary courses and the fulfillment of
other minimum requirements do not automatically assure a student’s
acceptance into the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine. The selection
committee must assess a student’s evaluations and the other selection
criterai before an applicant is accepted. “In
selecting applicants for admission, the committee will consider grade
point averages and standardized test scores along with an applicant’s
background, previous work experience and letters of recommendation,”
said Meinkoth. Applicants
must submit three letters of recommendation, including one from a veterinarian. “When
applying to vet school, letters of recommendation are key,” said
White. “A well-respected vet familiar with your work ethic and
related veterinary skills is a perfect example of a good recommendation.” Besides
letters of recommendation, students who are applying need to include
an official transcript listing all coursework. Students also must have
achieved a minimum grade point of 2.80 in those required courses. Admission
standards require applicants to take the Graduate Record Examination
along with the biology subject test before they submit their application. “Many
potential vet-med students are concerned with the competitive level
of their academic achievements,” said Meinkoth. “The average
GPA for the 2001 applicant profile was 3.49; so, yes, grades are important,
but not out of reach. “The
steps involved in completing the application for admittance are time-consuming
and tedious; each step needs to be handled with extreme attention to
detail.” Once
applications have been submitted, the admissions committee, which is
composed of faculty members from within the OSU vet school and members
of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association, has the responsibility
to narrow down the list of applicants and to select applicants for interviews. “The
admissions committee seeks to select students with excellent records
of academic achievement and a background that predicts potential success
in a variety of veterinary medical careers,” said Meinkoth. After
the initial applicant selection, the committee schedules interviews
with the remaining applicants. Interviews are granted based on the overall
excellence and quality of the student’s application. Potential vet students must illustrate to the committee how their background and skills would qualify them to be the best of the best in the veterinary profession, said White. What
to expect
The
vet school uses a structured curriculum where each body system of an
animal is presented individually. After each body section is discussed,
a test is given over that particular segment before students move on
to the next segment. Meinkoth
said during the first and second year, students should expect to focus
on the basic science of veterinary medicine. These basics cover areas
that deal with physiology, anatomy and histology. Each of these topics
are taught during the presentation of the major body systems during
the first two years of the student’s curriculum. “Students
should be prepared to do a lot of reading and studying,” said Walker.
“Many hours are devoted to going over material that will be covered
in class and preparing for upcoming exams.” During
the third and fourth year, most students complete both the required
coursework and classes that specialize in a particular area of interest.
The fourth year is almost completely case-based, offering students the
opportunity to concentrate on their chosen area of interest. If students complete these four years of vet school, their options for a successful career are endless. Having a veterinary medicine degree offers a wide range of future career possibilities that extend from owning a private practice to working for the U.S. government. Financing
vet school With
the extensive amount of time required in the classroom and for sufficient
study purposes, a student must not depend upon part-time employment
to meet expenses; however, there is assistance offered. Several
privately donated awards and scholarships are presented to students
who excel in the vet school curriculum. Awards in varying amounts are
given based on proficiency, academic achievement and need. Veterinary
medical students also may qualify for loan programs administered by
the OSU Department of Financial Aid. “Again,
students must plan ahead,” said Meinkoth. “Once a student
has been accepted, they should start making decisions on how to afford
their education. There are several choices they can make to get financial
assistance.” Students should understand that planning for a career in veterinary medicine does not follow a simple formula. A student’s success in obtaining a veterinary medicine degree from OSU is determined by extreme focus, hard work and years of planning. Striving to meet these expectations ensures students a rewarding journey that will lead toward a promising career in a vast number of fields in veterinary medicine. OSU offers "pre-vet" opportunities By
Jamie Stuckey Learning
from experience is what the Oklahoma State University veterinary medicine
internship is all about, experience that can play a key role in helping
students get into vet school. Each
semester, nine students are chosen to spend time at the OSU Veterinary
Medicine Research Hospital where they observe, participate and decide
if veterinary medicine is what they want to make as their career choice.
Students
rotate through the different sections of the hospital, helping with
aspects ranging from surgery to diagnosis and treatment of small animals.
During the semester, students are required to work four hours a week
and fill out five clinical reports, which are graded by their supervising
veterinarians. Although the interns are not paid, they receive three
academic credit hours for their experience. Students can learn more about this internship opportunity by attending an organizational meeting, which is announced through the Pre-Vet Club. During the meeting, Ed Miller, associate dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, describes the internship and current interns tell about their experiences. Interested students inform Miller if they would like to take the internship. Miller then meets with individual students and determines when would be the best semester for them to take the internship. Miller
said he tries to work with everyone’s schedule to accommodate each
student’s needs. If they are sophomores, they have three years
to fit the program in, but if they are seniors, they need it now and
get first priority. If more than nine students want the internship,
Miller looks at grade point averages. The students with a higher GPA
will be more likely to get into vet school, he said, and will benefit
more from their internship experience. Andrea
Tate, animal science senior, completed the internship during her junior
year. “The
best thing first-year students can do is speak with Dr. Miller and let
him know they are interested,” said Tate. “Then they should
attend a meeting and become highly involved within the Pre-Vet Club.”
The
Pre-Vet Club is an organization for students interested in attending
vet school. Members are exposed to veterinarians and instructors who
can help them achieve their goals and become familiar with the vet school,
said Tate. The
Pre-Vet Club can also help build a student’s résumé.
Instructors like to see students who are involved with other activities,
said Tate. The
internship is not required to get into vet school, but students should
try to build the best résumé possible, said Miller. This
is a great way to meet new people and show initiative in the vet-med
program. “The internship definitely reassured me this is what I want to do,” said Tate. |
College
is a journey, one that can lead to a wide range of future possibilities.
While some travel this journey with no real direction or set goals,
pre-veterinary science majors find prior planning is an important step
on the road to a career in veterinary medicine.
The
curriculum includes a set of required courses, which all students must
successfully complete. Second year students follow a set curriculum
also, but have the opportunity to select electives from a predetermined
list of core courses.