Vet School Prerequisite Checklist- A complete tracking system for vet school applicants — print pages 4–9 for the worksheet, or use the digital version to track your prerequisites, veterinary experience hours, target schools, and VMCAS timeline from start to submission
Applying to veterinary school is one of the most logistically complex application processes in graduate education. Most successful applicants apply to 6–12 vet schools through VMCAS, complete 30–45 credit hours of prerequisite coursework across 10+ courses, document 200–1,000+ hours of veterinary experience, secure 3–6 letters of recommendation (including at least one from a licensed veterinarian), and manage application timelines that span 12–18 months from prerequisite start to VMCAS submission.
This worksheet is designed to make that complexity manageable. The printable sections (pages 4–9) give you a complete tracking system: a prerequisite course audit, a target school grid, a veterinary experience hours log, a letters-of-recommendation tracker, an application materials checklist, and an 18-month timeline planner. The article portion (pages 1–3) explains how to use the worksheet effectively and the strategic logic behind each section.
| How to use this documentPages 4–9 of this document contain the complete printable worksheet. Print those pages and use the checkboxes, fill-in fields, and tracking grids to manage your application path from start to submission. The article portion (pages 1–3) explains how to use the worksheet effectively, common patterns across US vet schools, and the strategic logic behind each section, with comprehensive links to authoritative sources. |
| Quick reference: what this worksheet helps you track• Prerequisite course audit: All 10–12 standard vet school prerequisites with completion status, grades, recency, and provider• Target school tracking: Up to 12 VMCAS programs with deadlines, requirements, and application status• Veterinary experience hours log: Practice settings, dates, and supervising veterinarian contact information• Letters of recommendation tracker: Academic, veterinarian, and additional recommender status and submission tracking• Application materials checklist: Personal statement, GRE, transcripts, supplemental items• 18-month timeline planner: Month-by-month milestone tracking from prerequisite start to VMCAS submission |
This worksheet is designed for printing and ongoing reference rather than one-time completion. The most effective approach: print the worksheet pages early in your prerequisite planning (12–18 months before your target VMCAS submission), keep a binder or folder with your printed copy, and update sections as you progress through prerequisite coursework, veterinary experience hours, recommendation letters, and application materials.
The worksheet sections begin on page 4. Print pages 4–9 specifically — these are the printable resource pages with checkboxes, fill-in fields, and tracking grids. Pages 1–3 (this article portion) provide context for using the worksheet but don’t need to be printed for daily reference.
The worksheet is intentionally designed to be updated incrementally over a 12–18 month application timeline. Trying to fill in every field in a single sitting will leave most sections empty — by design, several sections (target school decisions, GRE scores, recommendation letter status) can only be completed as you progress through the application process. The most useful pattern: review and update the worksheet once a month during prerequisite coursework, then weekly during the final 90 days before VMCAS submission.
The worksheet sections follow a logical priority order. Start with Section 1 (prerequisite audit) and Section 3 (veterinary experience log) immediately — these have the longest lead times and benefit most from early tracking. Sections 2 (target schools), 4 (letters of recommendation), and 5 (application materials) become relevant 6–9 months before VMCAS submission. Section 6 (timeline planner) should be filled in last, based on your specific target VMCAS cycle and the schools you’ve identified.
The prerequisite audit covers the 10–12 standard courses required across most US vet schools: General Biology I and II with lab, General Chemistry I and II with lab, Organic Chemistry I and II with lab, Biochemistry, Microbiology with lab, Genetics, Statistics, and English Composition. Some schools require additional courses (Physics I and II with lab, Anatomy and Physiology, Public Speaking, Humanities and Social Sciences electives) — track these in the additional rows if any target school requires them.
For each prerequisite, the worksheet tracks five data points: status (planned/in-progress/complete), grade, completion date, provider/institution, and recency status (within or beyond the school’s recency window). This last data point matters more for vet school than for most other application paths — many vet schools enforce 6- or 10-year recency rules on upper-division sciences, and tracking recency on the worksheet prevents the most common application-derailing surprise: discovering at submission time that an old prerequisite no longer counts.
Vet school applicants apply to a median of 6–12 schools through VMCAS, since acceptance rates at individual programs range from 10–20% and applicants improve their odds through broader application lists. The target school grid tracks each program with its deadline, specific prerequisite requirements, supplemental materials, application fee, and decision status.
Use the AAVMC Profile of Admitted Students tool to identify programs that match your academic profile, then add them to the target school grid. Common patterns: 2–3 in-state programs (highest acceptance odds), 3–5 out-of-state public programs where your residency status is favorable, 1–2 international programs (Ross University, St. George’s, Royal Veterinary College) as backup options. Document the prerequisite differences carefully — a school requiring upper-division biochemistry or in-person labs creates work you don’t need to do for permissive programs.
Veterinary experience hours are the single most differentiating element of vet school applications, and the area where applicants most often underestimate the requirement. UC Davis recommends 180+ hours minimum but notes most successful applicants have 2,500+ hours. Western University requires at least 500 hours. Most competitive programs expect 1,000+ hours across multiple practice settings (small animal, large animal, exotic, research, shelter).
The hours log tracks each experience with practice setting, dates, total hours, supervising veterinarian name and contact information, and a brief description. The contact information field matters specifically: many vet schools verify hours through the supervising veterinarian, and having complete contact information in one place makes the verification process smooth. Track hours chronologically as they accumulate — reconstructing two years of practice hours from memory at application time is the most common cause of inaccurate VMCAS submissions.
Most US vet schools require 3 letters of recommendation, and nearly all require at least one from a licensed veterinarian. A standard application includes: 1 academic letter (preferably from a science faculty member), 1 letter from a veterinarian who has supervised your practice hours, and 1 additional letter from a vet, faculty member, or research supervisor. The letters tracker manages each recommender’s status (asked, agreed, submitted), submission deadline relative to VMCAS, and the date each letter was actually submitted.
The strategic note for letters: ask 90 days before VMCAS opens, not 30 days before. Veterinarians especially are busy practitioners who write many letters per cycle — early requests get the most thoughtful letters. The worksheet’s letter tracker should be filled in approximately 6 months before VMCAS submission, with all letters requested by 3 months before submission.
VMCAS requires several application components beyond prerequisites and letters: personal statement (5,000 characters), supplemental essays for individual schools, GRE scores (required at some programs, optional at others), official transcripts from every institution attended, and a comprehensive activities and achievements section. The materials checklist tracks each component with status and submission date.
A few items deserve special attention. The GRE is required at some programs (Ross University, Tufts) and optional or not accepted at others — verify with each target school. Transcripts must be submitted from every institution where you’ve taken any college coursework, including community colleges and online prerequisite providers; missing a single transcript delays the application. The personal statement is one document that goes to every school; supplemental essays vary by program and require school-specific drafting.
The 18-month planner anchors the entire prerequisite and application process to specific months. VMCAS opens in mid-May and closes in mid-September for the cycle that matriculates the following August — meaning your application timeline is 12–18 months before submission, depending on how many prerequisites you need to complete. The planner is structured around the May VMCAS opening, with milestones working backward from that date.
Typical milestone pattern for a career changer with most prerequisites incomplete: months 18–12 before VMCAS, complete general chemistry, biology, statistics, and microbiology in parallel through accredited online providers. Months 12–6, complete organic chemistry, biochemistry, and genetics. Months 6–3, complete remaining prerequisites, request letters of recommendation, draft personal statement, finalize target school list. Months 3–0, finalize all materials, request transcripts, submit VMCAS application. The planner adapts this template to your specific timeline by adjusting which months correspond to which milestones based on your prerequisite starting point.
If your worksheet shows prerequisites still to complete, PrereqCourses.com offers the following accredited online courses through Upper Iowa University (regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission), all of which are accepted at most US vet schools that allow online prerequisites:
All PrereqCourses.com courses are self-paced with monthly enrollment start dates, range from $675–$695, and include virtual lab simulations where applicable. Verify acceptance with each target vet school before enrolling — particularly Tufts and Cornell, which have stricter rules on online lab acceptance.
VET SCHOOL PREREQUISITE CHECKLIST
The Printable Worksheet — Print Pages 4–9
PrereqCourses.com
Applicant Information
Name: __________________________________________________
Target VMCAS Cycle (e.g., 2026–2027): ___________________________________
Target Matriculation Year: ________________________________________
Worksheet Started (Date): ________________________________________
Last Updated: ________________________________________
SECTION 1: Prerequisite Course Audit
Track every prerequisite course required by your target schools. Use the status column to mark Planned (P), In Progress (IP), or Complete (C). The recency column flags whether the course is within your strictest target school’s recency window.
| Course | Status | Grade | Date | Provider/Institution | Credits | Recency OK? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Biology I + Lab | ||||||
| General Biology II + Lab | ||||||
| General Chemistry I + Lab | ||||||
| General Chemistry II + Lab | ||||||
| Organic Chemistry I + Lab | ||||||
| Organic Chemistry II + Lab | ||||||
| Biochemistry | ||||||
| Microbiology + Lab | ||||||
| Genetics | ||||||
| Statistics | ||||||
| Physics I + Lab | ||||||
| Physics II + Lab | ||||||
| English Composition | ||||||
| Public Speaking / Communication | ||||||
| Anatomy and Physiology | ||||||
| Other: __________________ | ||||||
| Other: __________________ |
SECTION 2: Target Vet School Tracking
Track up to 12 VMCAS programs. Note in-state vs. out-of-state status, application deadlines, key prerequisite differences, and decision status as the cycle progresses.
| School Name | In/Out State | VMCAS Deadline | Special Requirements | App Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SECTION 3: Veterinary Experience Hours Log
Track every veterinary, animal, or research experience chronologically. Most competitive applicants accumulate 1,000+ hours across multiple settings. Complete contact info supports VMCAS verification.
Hours Summary
Total Small Animal Hours: ____________________
Total Large Animal Hours: ____________________
Total Exotic / Wildlife Hours: ____________________
Total Research Hours: ____________________
Total Other Animal Hours: ____________________
GRAND TOTAL: ____________________
| Practice / Setting | Type | Dates | Hours | Supervising Vet | Vet Email/Phone | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SECTION 4: Letters of Recommendation Tracker
Most US vet schools require 3 letters, including at least one from a licensed veterinarian. Ask 90 days before VMCAS opens. Track each recommender’s status from initial ask through final submission.
| Recommender Name | Role | Relationship | Asked (Date) | Status | Submitted (Date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Academic — Science Faculty) | |||||
| (Veterinarian — Required) | |||||
| (Vet, Faculty, or Research) | |||||
| (Optional 4th) | |||||
| (Optional 5th) | |||||
| (Optional 6th) |
SECTION 5: Application Materials Checklist
Check off each application component as completed. VMCAS requires all items to be received by the application deadline — track submission dates carefully.
VMCAS Core Application
☐ VMCAS account created and activated
☐ Biographical information complete
☐ Coursework section completed for every institution attended
☐ Personal statement drafted (5,000 character limit)
☐ Personal statement reviewed by 2+ readers
☐ Personal statement finalized and uploaded
☐ Experiences (employment, extracurricular, achievements) entered
☐ Veterinary experience hours entered and categorized
☐ 3+ letters of recommendation requested via VMCAS evaluator system
☐ All evaluators have submitted letters
Transcripts
☐ Official transcript requested from undergraduate institution
☐ Official transcript requested from every community college attended
☐ Official transcript requested from every online prerequisite provider
☐ Official transcript requested from any post-bacc programs
☐ All transcripts received and verified by VMCAS
Standardized Tests
☐ GRE scheduled (if required by any target school)
☐ GRE taken — Verbal score: _______ Quant: _______ AWA: _______
☐ GRE retake completed if needed
☐ GRE scores sent to all GRE-required target schools
School-Specific Supplemental Materials
☐ Supplemental essays drafted for each program requiring them
☐ Supplemental application fees paid for each school
☐ School-specific requirements (residency documentation, etc.) submitted
Final Submission
☐ VMCAS application reviewed in full before submission
☐ All schools selected for submission
☐ VMCAS application fee paid
☐ VMCAS application submitted (Date: ____________)
☐ Confirmation emails received from each target school
SECTION 6: 18-Month Timeline Planner
Plan backward from VMCAS opening in May. Each row represents a month with milestones for prerequisites, experience hours, letters, and application materials. Adjust to your starting point.
| Month | Prerequisites | Experience / Letters | Application Materials | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month -18 (Nov) | ||||
| Month -15 (Feb) | ||||
| Month -12 (May) | ||||
| Month -9 (Aug) | ||||
| Month -6 (Nov) | ||||
| Month -4 (Jan) | ||||
| Month -3 (Feb) | ||||
| Month -2 (Mar) | ||||
| Month -1 (Apr) | ||||
| Month 0 (May — VMCAS Opens) | ||||
| Month +3 (Aug) | ||||
| Month +4 (Sep — Deadline) |
| Need to complete prerequisites? Start at PrereqCourses.comAccredited online prerequisite courses through Upper Iowa University. Self-paced with monthly enrollment. Biology, chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, statistics, and more — all priced at $675–$695 per course. Visit prereqcourses.com to view the full catalog and start your prerequisites this month. |
