north carolina state university college of veterinary medicine

North Carolina State University College Of Veterinary Medicine

The Beauty of Studying VetMed at NCSU

North Carolina State University College of Veterinary medicine is one of the top-ranked veterinary medicine schools in North America. This four-year DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) program emphasizes ‘hands-on, in-depth learning.’ It comprises a three-year preclinical training and a one-year clinical training at a world-leading institution.  

North Carolina state

A Historical Overview of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine

North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine was first established in 1978 after years of anticipation by AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) accredited veterinarians and increased public demands for veterinary graduates in the Southern States (particularly in North Carolina). 

This school is the newest university veterinary school in America. Since its first class of 40 students admitted in 1981, the school has granted over 2000 DVM degrees, and many of the alumni continue to make significant contributions and support in relative fields. 

The school continues to thrive on the advancement of the program with top-ranked faculties and state-of-the-art equipment and technology within a purpose-built campus consisting of a teaching hospital, working farms, laboratories, teaching units, and classrooms.

All the Offerings of Veterinary School at NCSU

Location

NC vet school at Centennial Biomedical Campus in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. The address is 1060 William Moore Dr, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States. 

How Many Students are Accepted Per Year

NCSU vet school accepts 100 students (approximately 80 North Carolina residents and 20 non-residents).

Admission Criteria for US Students (Who Can Apply)

The applicant must fulfill the following requirement:

  • Overall GPA of 3.0 (North Carolina residents) or 3.4 (non-residents)
  • Completion of prerequisite/required courses with a GPA of 3.0 (North Carolina residents) or 3.4 (non-residents)
  • Last 45 credit GPA of 3.0 (North Carolina residents) or 3.4 (non-residents)
  • Three letters of recommendation (preferably two from DVM or Ph.D. scientists and one from a non-veterinary professional)
  • 200 hours of veterinary experience
  • Proof of animal experience
  • Proof of educational experience
  • Supply the academic transcript
  • Supply a personal statement

Prerequisite courses: Animal nutrition, biochemistry, biology (including practical labs), general chemistry (including practical labs), organic chemistry (including practical labs), composition & writing, public speaking or communications course, genetics, humanity and social sciences, microbiology (including practical labs), physics, and statistics. 

Note: If the applicant holds the academic record with letter grades, the following steps are required to calculate the point-grade average (GPA). 

  1. Convert the letter grades to the numeric points using the following system:

A+ = 4.0, A = 4.0, A- = 3.7

B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7

C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7

D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = 0.7

F = 0.0

  1. Add the points to get a total number and divide it by the number of credits to get the GPA.

Admission Criteria for Foreign Students

The international applicants must meet the aforementioned admission requirement and their oversea academic transcript to be evaluated by World Education Services and supply proof of English language proficiency.

The applicant must demonstrate proficiency by submitting one of the following documents:

  • English testing score of either TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System): NC vet school accepts a total score of 80 or higher for TOEFL or 6.5 or higher for IELTS within 24 months preceding application as proof of English proficiency. 
  • Proof of the citizenship of a country that uses English as their official language
  • Proof of completing a full-time study (minimum one year) in a US college or university four-year degree program. 

Educational Opportunities (Which Programs They Offer)

The program offers a preclinical phase and a clinical phase. The curriculum focuses on fundamental veterinary studies on companion, production/agricultural, research, and exotic animals during the three-year preclinical phase. These include medicine and surgery, Anatomy and descriptive, microbiology and epidemiology, pathology,  and physiological science.

The students are encouraged to choose their focus areas to increase their training depth throughout their vet school enrollment. The focus areas are the areas of the veterinary field the student plans to partake in post-graduation. 

Currently, NCSU vet school offers ten areas:

  1. Clinical scientist
  2. Epidemiology, public health, and public policy
  3. Equine practice
  4. Food animal
  5. Laboratory animal medicine
  6. Mixed animal practice
  7. Pathology
  8. Small animal practice
  9. Small and exotic animal medicine
  10. Zoological medicine

Also, the veterinary students get a set of competency books that need to be signed off by NCSU faculties or approved authorities during the fourth-year veterinary curriculum. 

The list of skills in the competency books consists of core skills (divided into over ten categories) and production animal skills (5 categories). 

Other Educational Opportunities

NCSU vet school holds a strong stand on extramural studies opportunities. It has numerous partners around the globe that the students can experience off-campus during their rotation/externship period in the final (fourth year).

The students can choose from the areas such as small animal, large animal, zoological medicine, laboratory animal, pathology, research, international field studies, professional meeting, and epidemiology. 

The course advisor or coordinator will assist the students in planning such opportunities to ensure they have a well-established plan to maximize their exposure to relative fields. 

Some of the international partnerships at NCSU vet school offer students a chance to get involved in animal fields in places such as Galapagos, Uganda, China.

What Else do they Offer Other Than Education

NCSU veterinary school has a veterinary hospital on-campus. This NC state veterinary hospital is a teaching hospital where the fourth-year students have opportunities to get exposed to and progress through real-life scenarios under the supervision of the school faculties, who become experienced veterinary professionals in their veterinary fields. 

The hospital is open to the public and offers various veterinary services for small animals, exotics, farm animals, and equine patients.  Below are lists of the services for each animal department.

Small Animals

  • Behavioral medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Dentistry
  • Dermatology
  • Emergency and triage
  • Family and community services
  • Internal medicine
  • Neurology
  • Nutrition
  • Medical oncology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopedic surgery
  • Radiation oncology
  • Rehabilitation and mobility
  • Soft tissue surgery
  • Reproduction

Exotics

  • Avian 
  • Small mammals
  • Reptiles
  • Amphibians
  • fish 
  • invertebrates

Farm Animals

  • In-clinic services
  • Mobile services

Equine

  • Emergency
  • Medicine
  • Ophthalmology
  • Surgery
  • Reproduction
  • Quarantine

Although some of the services are only available for referral patients. 

NCSU vet school also has an equine health center at Southern Pines. The facility offers  CEM (Contagious equine metritis) import quarantine, equine reproduction, ophthalmology, and diagnostic testing services.

Departments/Centers/Institutes

NC State Veterinary Medicine has three departments: Clinical Sciences, Molecular Biomedical Sciences, and Population Health and Pathobiology.

Clinical science focuses on providing advanced health care and welfare of veterinary patients, veterinary students, veterinarians, and biomedical scientists training/learning opportunities through NC State school veterinary hospital. 

Molecular biomedical sciences get dedicated to teaching and training veterinary students, graduate students, and veterinarians interested in research fields by recognized experts in the relevant fields. The students have opportunities to get involved in advancing medical science through research.

The fields include Cell biology and physiology, cancer biology, developmental biology, environmental science and toxicology, genomics, infectious diseases, neuroscience, pharmacology, radiology, and reproductive biology. 

Population Health and Pathobiology trains students and graduate associates interested in understanding epidemiology and relative fields such as infectious disease control and public health. The department is also responsible for The Teaching Animal Unit, where the students learn about husbandry, management, and routine livestock procedures.

Targeted Student Activities to do in North Carolina

‘Study hard and play hard’ sounds ridiculous, but you need to maintain a good ‘study-life’ balance to avoid fatigue and burnout. Fortunately, North Carolina is full of exciting activities you can enjoy outside school hours. 

There are outdoors/adventures, arts and cultural experiences, theme parks, zoos, aquariums, nightlife, other entertainment, etc. A variety of activities means there are activities for everyone.

It is impossible to list them all, but we have picked a few that may tickle your fancy.

North Carolina State University

Outdoors and Adventure

If you are an outdoor adventurist, North Carolina offers you numerous national parks and other natural attractions you can visit and enjoy walks and immerse yourself in beautiful scenic views: 

  • Blue Ridge Parkway

Address: Milepost 384, Asheville, NC 28803

Opening hours: 24 hours daily

Website: https://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm

Fees: Free Entry

  • Chimney Rock State Park

Address: Chimney Rock, NC 28720, United States

Opening hours: 8:30am – 5:30pm daily

Website: https://www.chimneyrockpark.com/

Fees: Entry- $17 (adult); $8 (5-18 years old); free (age 4 and under)

  • The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Address: Swain County, NC 

Opening hours (visitor center): 10am – 6pm (hours may vary)

Website: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

Fees: Free Entry

  • Grandfather Mountain State Park

Address: 4198 N.C. 105 N., Banner Elk, NC 28604

Opening hours: Nov – Feb 8am – 6pm; Mar-May, Sept-Oct 8am – 8pm; June – Aug 8am – 9pm

Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park/trails

Fees: Contact the Grandfather Mountain attraction

  • Linville Gorge Wilderness

Address: Marion, NC 28752

Opening hours: 24 hours daily

Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48974

Fees: Free entry and camping

  • Nantahala Outdoor Center

Address: 13077 U.S. 19 West, Bryson City, NC 28713

Opening hours: Mon – Thurs 10am – 6pm; Fri – Sat 10am – 9pm; Sun 10am – 7pm

Website: https://noc.com/

Fees: Sports and tours fees vary depending on the type of sports/tour

  • Lake Lure

Address: Rutherford, NC 28746

Opening hours: 24 hours daily

Website: https://www.townoflakelure.com/

Fees: Free

  • Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Address: 420 Anderson St, Durham, NC 27708

Opening hours: 8:30am – 6:30pm daily

Website: https://gardens.duke.edu/

Fees: Free Entry

  • William B. Umstead State Park

Address: 8801 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617

Opening hours: 8 am – 8 pm daily

Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/william-b-umstead-state-park/home

Fees: Free entry

  • JC Raulston Arboretum

Address: 4415 Beryl Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606

Opening hours: Mon – Fri 9am – 4:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am – 6pm

Website: https://jcra.ncsu.edu//

Fees: General admission- free

  • Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden

Address: 3800 Canterbury Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403

Opening hours: 6:30am – 7:30pm daily

Website: https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/departments/parks-recreation/parks/piney-ridge-nature-preserve

Fees: Free entry

  • Cradle of Forestry Blue Ghost Tours

Address: Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah National Forest

Opening hours: Late May – Early June 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm daily

Website: https://gofindoutdoors.org/cradle-of-forestry/

Fees: Guided tour $30 (adult); $15 (youth 4 – 12 years old)

Arts and Culture

From world-class museums to street monuments enriched with history, North Carolina offers unique cultural experiences and discoveries like no other. 

  • Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

Address:  250 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Opening hours: Sat 10am – 6pm; Sun 1pm – 6pm

Website: https://moreheadplanetarium.org/

Fees: General admission- $10.95 (adult); $9.95 (youth, college students, veterans, seniors); Free (UNC students with a current I.D.); Free (children under 3 with parent)

  • Mordecai Historical park
    • Address: 1 Mimosa St, Raleigh, NC 27604
    • Opening hours: 
      • Tues – Sat 9am – 4pm
      • Sun 1pm – 4pm
    • Website: https://raleighnc.gov/mordecai-historic-park
    • Fees: General admission
      • $7 (adult)
      • $4 (youth and seniors)
      • Free (Children 6 and under)
  • North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
    • Address: 11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601
    • Opening hours: Tues – Sun 10am – 5pm
    • Website: https://naturalsciences.org/
    • Fees: General admission 
      • Free
  • Wright Brothers National Memorial
  • Museum of Life and Science
    • Address: 433 W Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704
    • Opening hours: Tues – Sun 10am – 5pm
    • Website: https://www.lifeandscience.org/
    • Fees: General admission
      • $23 (adult)
      • $18 (3 – 12 years old)
      • $0 (age under three years old)
      • $21 (seniors over 65, military adults with an I.D.)
  • The NASCAR Hall of Fame
    • Address: 400 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28202
    • Opening hours: Wed-Mon 10 am – 5 pm
    • Website: https://www.nascarhall.com/
    • Fees: General admission
      • $25 (adult)
      • $18 (youth between 4 and 12 years old)
      • $22 (seniors over 65 years old)
  • Cryptozoology & Paranormal Museum
    • Address: 300 N Main St, Littleton, NC 27850
    • Opening hours: 1 pm – 7 pm daily
    • Website: https://crypto-para.org/
    • Fees: General admission 
      • Free
  • North Carolina Museum of History
  • North Carolina Museum of Art
    • Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
    • Opening hours: Wed-Sun 10 am – 5 pm
    • Website: https://ncartmuseum.org/
    • Fees: General admission
      • Free
  • Discovery Place Science
    • Address: 301 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
    • Opening hours: Fri  – Mon 10:30am – 4:30pm
    • Website: https://www.discoveryplace.org/
    • Fees: General admission
      • $23 (adult)
      • $18 (children)
      • $20 (seniors)
  • International Civil Rights Center and Museum
    • Address: 134 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401
    • Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10 am – 6 pm
    • Website: https://www.sitinmovement.org/
    • Fees: Tours
      • Onsite seated tour & Walkthrough $15 (adult) , $10 (youth)
      • Onsite staff-guided tour $25 (adult), $15 (youth)
      • Online filmed tour $10
      • Online interactive virtual tour $15 (adult), $10 (youth)
  • Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center
  • North Carolina Maritime Museum
  • Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum
  • Lexington Glassworks
  • Moores Creek National Battlefield
  • The Road to Nowhere
  • Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park 
  • Shangri-La Stone Village

Theme Park, Zoo, and Aquariums

North Carolina is home to several amusement parks with unique features and many world-leading zoological gardens and aquariums with which the NC State vet school is closely associated. This is especially exciting for students keen to pursue a zoological medicine field. 

  • North Carolina Zoo
    • Address: 4401 Zoo Pkwy, Asheboro, NC 27205
    • Opening hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily
    • Website: https://www.nczoo.org/
    • Fees: General admission
      • $15 (adult)
      • $11 (youth 2 – 12 years old)
      • $13 (military and seniors over 62 years old)
      • Free (children under two years old)
  • North Carolina Aquarium
    • Address: 
      • ROANOKE ISLAND = 374 Airport Road, Manteo, NC 27954
      • PINE KNOLL SHORES = 1 Roosevelt Boulevard, Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512
      • FORT FISHER = 900 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach, NC 28449
      • JENNETTE’S PIER = 7223 South Virginia Dare Trail Nags Head, NC 27959
    • Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
    • Website: https://www.ncaquariums.com/
    • Fees: General admission
      • $12.95 (adults 13- 61 years old)
      • $10.95 (youth 3 – 12 years old)
      • $11.95 (military and seniors over 62 years old)
      • Free (NC aquarium society member and children two years or younger)
  • Sylvan Heights Bird Park
    • Address: 500 Sylvan Heights Park Way, Scotland Neck, NC 27874
    • Opening hours: Tues – Sun 9am – 4pm
    • Website: https://www.shwpark.com/
    • Fees: General admission
      • $12 (adult: age 13 – 61)
      • $9 (youth: age 3 – 12)
      • $11 (seniors: age 62 and above)
      • Free (children under age three)
  • Carolina Tiger Rescue
    • Address: 1940 Hanks Chapel Rd, Pittsboro, NC 27312
    • Opening hours: Appointment
    • Website: https://carolinatigerrescue.org/
    • Fees: Tour
      • Varies depending on the type of the tour
  • Piedmont Wildlife Center
  • Western North Carolina NatureCenter
    • Address: 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28805
    • Opening hours: 10am – 3:30pm daily
    • Website: 
    • Fees: General admission
      • $13.95 (adults age 13 and above)
      • $9.95 (youth aged 3 – 12)
      • $12.95 (seniors age 65 and above)
      • Free (children age two and under)
  • Lynnwood Park Zoo
    • Address: 1071 Wells Rd, Jacksonville, NC 28540
    • Opening hours: Fri – Mon 10am – 5pm
    • Website: https://lynnwoodparkzoo.com/
    • Fees: General admission
      • $12 (adult: age 13 and above)
      • $9 (youth: age 2 – 12)
  • Animal Park at the Conservators Center
    • Address: 676 E Hughes Mill Rd, Burlington, NC 27217
    • Opening hours: Sat-Sun 9 am – 5 pm
    • Website: https://animalparknc.org/
    • Fees: General admission
      • $16 (adult)
      • $14 (youth over the age of four)
      • Free (children age three and under)
  • Land of Oz Theme Park
    • Address: 2669 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC 28604
    • Opening hours: Fri – Sun 24 hours (June – Sept)
    • Website: https://www.landofoznc.com/
    • Fees: General admission
      • Price varies each year
  • Pullen park
  • Carowinds
    • Address: 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
    • Opening hours: varies weekly
    • Website: https://www.carowinds.com/
    • Fees: General admission
      • $75 (3 years old and above)
  • Elijah Mountain Gem Mine
    • Address: 2120 Brevard Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28791
    • Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily
    • Website: http://www.elijahmountain.com/
    • Fees: Mining
      • Price varies depending on the types of mining

Nightlife and Other Entertainment

Whether you are longing for a relaxing evening, a unique experience to bring a thrill to your night, or party with your friends, North Carolina can deliver what you ask for. Many places are conveniently close to the NCSU campus, so you can easily organize a study break night. 

  • Asheville mobile Brewery Tours
    • Address: 21 Mountain View Rd, Asheville, NC 28805
    • Opening hours: 
      • Sun – Thurs 3pm – 6pm
      • Fri 4pm – 7pm
      • Sat 12:30pm – 3:30pm or 4:30pm – 7:30pm
    • Website: https://ashevillebrewerytours.com/
    • Fees: Tour
      • $22 (non-drinker) 
      • $49 (Drinker) Sun – Thurs, $54 Sat- Sun
  • Trolley Pub Charlotte
    • Address: 2500 Dunavant St, Charlotte, NC 28203
    • Opening hours: 9 am – 11:30 pm daily
    • Website: https://trolleypub.com/charlotte/
    • Fees: Ride and drinks
      • $44 per person (Starting price)
  • Charlotte Cycleboats LLC
  • The Ghostwalk of Old Wilmington
    • Address: 8 Market St Suite B, Wilmington, NC 28401
    • Opening hours: 6:30pm – 8pm, 8:30pm – 10pm daily
    • Website: https://hauntedwilmington.com/
    • Fees: Tour
      • $17 (adult)
      • $15 (youth, military, and seniors)
  • Off the Wagon Dueling Piano Bar
    • Address: 22 N Market St, Asheville, NC 28801
    • Opening hours: 
      • Wed – Thurs & Sun – Mon 7pm – 2am
      • Fri – Sat 6pm – 2am
    • Website: https://offthewagonrocks.com/
    • Fees: Cover $10 Weekend $5 Weekdays
  • Dead Crow Comedy Room
    • Address: 511 N 3rd St, Wilmington, NC 28401
    • Opening hours: Wed 7pm – 11pm; Thurs 6pm – 2am; Fri 4pm – 2am; Sat 12pm – 2am; Sun 12pm – 12am
    • Website: https://www.deadcrowcomedy.com/
    • Fees: Entry- Contact the organization
NC State University Campus

Parting Words

North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine is undeniably one of the top-ranked veterinary schools in North America since its establishment 50 years ago. 

Located in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina, this four-year program enriched with hands-on, in-depth learning in a the-state-of-art facility attracts many aspiring veterinary students each year, making the program enrollment very competitive. 

Once enrolled, the students can study a broad range of veterinary materials through various learning opportunities both on-campus and off-campus (domestic and international) under the guidance of NCSU and its prestigious academics. 

Not only that, the students can enjoy the variety of activities that North Carolina has to offer.

So if you are thinking of enrolling in a veterinary school, NCSU vet school is a school worth looking into. Please go to https://cvm.ncsu.edu/ for more information. 

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