Doctor of veterinary medicine programs can be highly selective of applicants because there are only 28 schools in the United States, and all of the nation's aspiring veterinarians must compete for spots in them. Most veterinary schools only admit applicants with competitive grade point averages and class ranks. In addition, veterinary schools require applicants to have completed prerequisite coursework at the undergraduate level. Most veterinary schools also require some basic coursework in biology, chemistry and other life sciences; however, some schools require applicants to have earned credits in more specialized areas, such as nutrition and animal science.
Although doctor of veterinary medicine programs are highly selective, they also are growing in size, according to a report by "Veterinary News." The growing market for pets and pet services has led to an increased need for veterinary professionals. Nationally, veterinary schools are producing 2,000 graduates a year. The rapidly growing size of veterinary programs can be advantageous and disadvantageous. On the one hand, veterinary students may see more diverse course offerings and have more options when planning their curriculum; on the other hand, students may be crammed into classes if the school has not supplemented the veterinary faculty to meet the demands of a larger student population.
Veterinary schools are very competitive as the job market for veterinarians is somewhat saturated despite the increase in the number of pet owners and need for pet services. "Veterinary News" reports that "pet spending is up and expected to keep rising, but the market isn't growing fast enough to support the number of DVM's entering the veterinary profession, according to industry watchdogs." In order to maximize their chances of obtaining a position after graduation, veterinary students are spending hours volunteering, shadowing or working in veterinary centers or other animal facilities on top of hours of studying and school work. Furthermore, some veterinary schools implement strict grading policies, dismissing students whose first-year grade point average does not meet a school minimum.
Veterinary schools vary in tuition and costs, ranging from around $20,000 to $60,000 per academic year. However, even the most affordable schools can be expensive to attend since not all admitted students are offered funding and even funded students are only partially funded. Some schools, as a general policy, do not offer any funding to first-year students. Most students in veterinary school are required to take out private and/or federal loans to cover the costs of education.