Pre-DVM Program Opportunities
Students in College
Summer Enrichment Program
Intensive program to help disadvantaged students enhance their preparation for veterinary school. Course work, admissions workshops, case presentations and hands-on veterinary experience in the teaching hospital.
Students in High School
SMASH Academy (Summer Math and Science Honors)
The school offers veterinary educational sessions as part of this 5-week residential program for high-achieving, under-represented minority (URM) high school students aims to engender excitement and some understanding in STEM fields that hopefully one day will lead them to UCD and then hopefully our SVM.
California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science, COSMOS
COSMOS is a 4-week summer residential program for high achieving math and science students in high school. In this program, veterinary faculty teach a biomedical sciences course focused on several aspects of science and medicine with hands-on experiences. Participants also visit the school’s veterinary hospital, anatomy laboratory, Sacramento Zoo, UC Davis Medical Center and other sites to learn how their biology studies connect with animal, human and environmental health.
Veterinary Medicine Exploration Academy
The academy, part of the UC Davis Early Academic Outreach Program, annually provides high school students with a first-hand look at the fields of study that make up veterinary medical education. This three-day program challenges students to engage and learn as participants in laboratory practical analysis, anatomy review, pathology, radiology and a variety of lectures presented by veterinary faculty, graduate students and staff.
Future Day
A day-long event held on a Saturday in mid-April at the School of Veterinary Medicine for high school students interested in veterinary medicine. The free event is full of hands-on activities, case discussions and fun talks.
High School Pre-Health Symposium
Presented by Health Professions Advising and held in April, the symposium will host up to 600 attendees. Students have the chance to explore and learn about the many health professions and how to begin preparing in high school. Attendees will meet various health professionals, pre-health advisors, pre-health students and have the opportunity to network with other students of similar interests.
Students in K-8
Vets of the Future
This one day event is for students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade to find out what being a veterinarian is all about! Students will learn how to interpret radiographs, learn about animal behavior and training, learn basic surgery knots, and get their questions answered by veterinary students, and more!
This program is held once every fall semester.
UC Davis Summer Youth Programs “Vet Med Camps”
This week-long camp is for students entering fourth and fifth grade. Delve into the exciting world of veterinary medicine with our Vet Med Camp! Through a partnership with Campus Recreation Youth Programs, we created this camp for those with a passion for animals. Participants will learn surgical gowning and gloving procedures, animal behavior and positive reinforcement activities, how to check vitals on life size animal models, tour the anatomy lab, and so much more! Campers will spend the week alongside UC Davis Vet Med students and professors.
Applications for the program open and close in February. Camp is held in July.