The main components of the VMCAS:

Application Information = this is just basic information such as your address, personal information such as birthdate, background information, and your parents information.

Academic History = this part can take a while. This is the systematic listing of all of the classes they you have taken in your undergraduate career. For every single course you have to put down the course name, level, subject, credits, grade, and classification. There are instructions on how to fill this out on the website. You need to make sure that all of the information is correct because VMCAS will go through and verity this information with your transcripts.

Tests = you also have to submit your standardized tests scores on the VMCAS. Generally this will be the GRE, but some schools do except the MCAT if you would like to take that instead. However, I would recommend taking the GRE because this is the universal standardized test used by veterinary schools for acceptance. If you haven’t taken the GRE yet, don’t panic! You can submit the GRE without your test scores. You can simply state that you have a planned date in the future that is before the application deadline. However, it is easier to wait to submit the application once you have taken the GRE. You can find more information and tips about the GRE at this link to the GRE page on my website.

Personal Statement = you have 5000 characters including spaces to give veterinary schools a chance to see the real you. You submit this essay right through the VMCAS and it is critically that you put a lot of thought into this section.

Additional Information = this section encompasses all of your veterinary, animal, research, employment, honors and awards, and community service activities during high school and college. Yup, you heard me right, all the way back to high school. They want to know everything that you have ever done that might make you competitive. This will be the most intense section of the application because for every experience you have a whole form to fill out that includes a limited 480 character description of the activity or honor.

Evaluators = this is the section where you submit the information for the people who will be writing you a reference letter. Once you submit their contact information, VMCAS will send them an email where they can submit their letter. You can change your references, unless they have already submitted the letter. Most schools want three references letters come from two veterinarians and one professor. However, you can have up to six references on the VMCAS application.

Explanation Statement = this is an 2000 characters including spaces that the VMCAS provides you as an area to elaborate on anything that you would like. Generally this needs to be something pertinent to the application and not a waste of the admissions committees’ times. For example,  I used this space to elaborate on my duties at the Animal Emergency Hospital because I didn’t have room to list them all under the additional information area.

College Designations = this is where you chose the schools that will be getting your VMCAS application. Be aware that there are a select few schools that do not go through the VMCAS and have their own separate application. When you designate a school it adds onto the VMCAS fee. So if funding is a limitation, chose your schools wisely because it can get expensive very fast.