Reviewed by:
Former Chief Resident in Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, & Admissions Officer, Columbia University
Reviewed: 5/13/22
Are you an aspiring vet and want to maximize your chances of getting into your dream vet school? Keep reading for helpful tips on how to answer vet school interview questions.
Once you've narrowed down your top picks for college, it’s time to move on to the admissions interview process.
The admissions interview can be pretty scary to think about. It is a critical interview with a lot at stake. Acing the interview will increase your chances of getting accepted into your dream school, and we’re here to help!
We’ve put together a list of common vet school interview questions to help you nail your interview.
Are you wondering what questions they might ask in vet school interviews?
Look no further–we list some common vet school interview questions below with some tips on how you can answer them.
While answering this question, remember to be honest. You may talk about your passion for animal welfare or your interest in medicine and surgery.
You can also highlight what or who inspired you to become a vet.
Don’t oversell yourself here; admissions committees want to see genuine people. With that being said, be confident in your responses and your abilities.
Highlight your academic, professional, and personal skills as you answer this question. It is essential to demonstrate to the interviewers that you are both professionally component for the field and passionate about the work.
Vet school isn’t easy, and the admissions committee will want to know that you are dedicated to your education and career.
The dreaded question for most, and a question people may find the hardest to answer.
Talk about your hobbies, volunteer work and activities, and fun facts about yourself. Many colleges look for students who are active members of their communities.
Even if your summer activities were not directly related to veterinary care, you should still share them with the interviewers! However, keep your response tailored to your academic and professional goals and don’t ramble.
Another important tip to keep in mind while answering this question is to stay positive! Talk about yourself with confidence. This may be one of the first questions you are asked during your interview and can set the tone for the rest of the interview.
Discuss any experience working with animals, including professional experience, internships, volunteering, and even pet sitting.
Try to keep your answer focused on professional work if possible, but don’t fret if you don’t have any. You can convince your interviewer that all your experience has given you skills and abilities to serve you well in the field.
Being a veterinarian can be emotionally draining work. The interviewers will want to know that you are aware of the potential difficulties in this field of work, and that you are capable of addressing these challenges.
Consider any previous experience you have with overcoming challenges and share this with the interviewers. You can use nonprofessional examples if necessary.
As a vet, you will be responsible for making decisions that impact the health and well-being of animals. Admissions committees will want to know that you have a clearly defined idea of your ethics and integrity that you can apply to your work.
Again, vet work is hard work, and sometimes emotions run high. You will likely deal with a difficult client more than once throughout your career.
The admissions committee will want to know that you can remain calm and collected in stressful situations and that you can problem-solve under challenging circumstances.
Use specific examples to answer this question, and avoid being vague or indirect.
The ethics that go into animal care are not black and white, and as a vet, you will need to make difficult calls with the animal’s best interests at the forefront.
Before the interview, have a good understanding of the difference between animal rights and animal welfare, especially in the context of providing veterinary care.
You can have your own opinion on these definitions. You shouldn’t just recite the definitions but also explain what both terms mean to you and how you differentiate between the two.
Vet school isn’t cheap, and schools want students who have a plan when it comes to paying for their education.
There are many funding opportunities available to college students. Admission committees will also be impressed to know if you have been awarded merit-based scholarships, as this demonstrates your academic achievements.
We also have tips on how to ace your scholarship interview here.
Interviewers will often ask this question for two reasons. Firstly, to give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have, and secondly, to see if you are engaged and genuinely interested in attending the school and program.
Do some preliminary research on the school you are interviewing with so you can ask relevant questions.
Questions that are good to ask include, but are not limited to:
Be prepared to ask at least one question in response to this question to demonstrate that you are interested in the school. You only need to ask one or two questions here; be concise and don’t ramble on with too many questions.
The best way to be ready for a vet school interview is to familiarize yourself with vet school interview questions. Having a good idea of what to expect will do wonders in calming your pre-interview nerves.
While it is okay to take your time and think about your answers during the interview, you also don’t want to come across as unprepared and stumbling. Being prepared for possible questions and having an idea of how you might answer them will show off your professionalism, commitment, and communication skills.
Continue reading as we answer some of your frequently asked questions about vet school interviews.
Each interview will be slightly different, and questions may also be worded differently. However, there are a few questions that you can expect:
These questions, or some variation of them, will most definitely be asked during your interview.
You don’t really pass or fail a vet school interview, but you can maximize your chances of impressing the admissions committee and getting an offer from your dream school.
Be prepared and dress appropriately. How you present yourself is key!
It all depends on how many questions you are asked and how long you take to answer them. On average, interviews will probably take about an hour or so.
Getting into the college of your dreams is a great start to a successful career and a key step in this process is nailing your interview.
Remember, be prepared and think about how you can answer commonly asked questions ahead of time, be yourself, be honest and genuine, and show off why you would make an excellent vet.
Good luck!
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