Maybe your favorite movie growing up was Dr. Dolittle and you knew every word (and bark, meow, and chirp) by heart. Maybe all your fiends know you as the animal lover and come to you for advice. If you have a love for our furry friends and know that you can’t imagine doing anything other than helping them live their best lives, you’re in luck! As a pre-veterinary medicine student, you can start right here at Indiana University Kokomo! Let’s talk about how to become a vet.

Aside from the noble calling of helping pets, exotic animals, and wildlife survive and thrive, the practical side of becoming a veterinarian looks bright as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for this career field is $90,420. The outlook for this field of work is expected to grow much faster than average at 19 percent through 2026.

When you know upon entering your undergraduate program that you’ll continue your studies upon graduation, there are a lot of details to keep track of. As a pre-vet major at IU Kokomo, here are a few things to keep in mind as you work your way through the program:

1. It’s never too early to start thinking about graduate school. We want to be honest with you here: getting into a veterinary medicine graduate program is competitive and often limited. It’s important to think about how you look on paper early. Admission committees often look for both academic and non-academic factors like your experience working in a veterinary setting, research experience, work experience, extracurricular involvement, leadership skills, and your references. Getting involved on campus and getting to know your professors is a great way to start tailoring your future graduate school application.

2. Working closely with your academic advisor is a good idea. If the idea of ensuring your credits transfer the way they’re supposed to makes you nervous, you’re not alone! Academic advisors at IU Kokomo are an awesome resource for you. As you journey through your undergraduate degree, you and your advisor can work together to ensure your classes fit your schedule, you complete everything you need to complete on time, and you take the courses necessary for admission to graduate school.

3. Your declared undergraduate major can be a variety of things…but we have some suggestions. There are several paths to take to get into vet medicine school. However, we believe that there’s no match for a solid foundation. Majoring in biochemistry, biological and physical sciences, or biology at IU Kokomo can prepare you well for the demands of your next step.

4. You can earn your Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University. If you’re interested in staying in Indiana to earn your Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, our programs transfer well to the fantastic D.V.M. from Purdue University. If you know that Purdue is your next step on the way to becoming a vet, visit their website regularly (and develop a relationship with your academic advisor) to make sure you’re current on the minimum core course requirements.

If you’ve decided that now is the time to chase your dream of becoming a veterinarian, we’re excited to help you along on your journey. If you have questions about starting at IU Kokomo to become a vet, the friendly faculty and staff in the School of Sciences are here for you. If you’re ready to take action and get started, don’t wait! Apply today. We can’t wait to meet you!