Applying to veterinary technician schools: five key requirements

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There are five key traits that veterinary technician schools look for when accepting incoming students. Every college or university looks at your grades in high school, but there is much more that the schools seek in potential students.

Meet High School Prerequisites

If you want a veterinary technician degree, be ready to prove that you love science. Your biology and chemistry grades must be impressive. Most colleges look at a student`s transcript to ensure the high school student completed:

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• 2 to 3 years of math;
• 2 to 3 years of science, and;
• 4 years of English

Veterinary technician schools look for students with at least a C+ average, though many give priority to students with B`s or higher. Biology is an important class in the field of veterinary technology. Poor grades in biology, chemistry, and other science classes will not impress colleges.

Overall High School Performance

When applying for an associate or bachelor`s veterinary technician degree program, your overall high school grades count. However, a college or university also looks at teacher recommendations in addition to extracurricular activities you participated in.

High school students seeking to be a veterinarian should take challenging courses. If you get straight A`s all four years by taking basic level courses, that`s far less impressive than someone who received all B`s in advanced or AP courses. Also, the students should take the ACT or SAT exams starting in their junior year. Colleges use these scores when selecting students for their veterinary technician degree programs. Even if your scores seem unimpressive to you, veterinary technician schools look for the motivation it took to take the tests.

Volunteer Experience

Those interested in a career in veterinary technology need to start planning for their career before college. Veterinary technician colleges pay close attention to your volunteer work and commitment to animals. Start an afternoon dog walking business or spend a summer volunteering at a local animal rescue. This is what veterinary technician schools want to see.

Key Personality Traits

Veterinary technicians spend plenty of time interacting with co-workers and pet owners. Veterinary technician schools look for friendly, outgoing students. Part of the job entails providing pet owners with care instructions for their pet at home. If you cannot take a leadership role and if you get nervous talking with strangers, you`re not likely to be a good candidate for a veterinary technician career.

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While in high school, take leadership roles whenever possible. Participate in debates, run for student council, play sports or take part in competitions like spelling bees. Veterinary technicians must know how to delegate tasks and be self-motivated. Be ready to prove it when applying to veterinary technician schools.

Your Professionalism

Any university or college offering a veterinary technician degree requires applicants to participate in an interview. If you show up late or skip the process, you`re not likely to gain acceptance. Always attend the interview process and show up ten minutes early. Your want to make a good first personal and professional impression. Remember, the committee will only have information about you on paper, so it is important to give them the full picture of who you are when you meet with them in person.

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