Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is a Pre-Vet Program?

A. A Pre-Vet Program is the series of courses that qualify you to apply for admission to a Veterinary College where you study for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Q. How long is the pre-vet program at NSAC?

A. The minimum length of time to complete the pre-vet requirement is two years. Most Veterinary Colleges require 20 one-semester courses or equivalent in order for you to apply for admission.. Each semester you will take 5 courses, so the minimum pre-vet program is therefore four semesters. (A college year consists of two semesters: September to December, and January to April.)

Q. What is it going to cost me to attend the pre-vet program at NSAC?

A. For 2007-2008, the tuition fee for the pre-vet program at NSAC is $5,500 per year.

Q. Where do I go to continue my veterinary training?

A. In Canada, there are four Veterinary Colleges: (1) the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, (2) the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, (3) the francophone Université de Montréal, and (4) the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown. Canadian students interested in veterinary medicine are divided geographically and linguistically. A student whose family residence is one of the western provinces applies to Saskatoon, those from Ontario and anglophone students from Quebec apply to Guelph, francophone students from Quebec and elsewhere apply to Montréal, and those from the east coast apply to the Atlantic Veterinary College which is part of the University of Prince Edward Island. So if you are from Alberta, you can enroll in the pre-vet program at NSAC. and then apply to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine to finish your veterinary training.

Q. What are my chances of getting into vet school?

A. Each of Canada's veterinary colleges has its own annual enrollment quota. Your chances of being accepted in veterinary medicine are much higher if you apply to the veterinary college in your region. Here on the east coast, the Atlantic Veterinary College has a quota of 41 students accepted from the four Atlantic Provinces each year. Of those 41, PEI has 10 places, Newfoundland has 2 places, NB has 13 places, and Nova Scotia has 13.

Q. Where else can I apply after finishing my pre-vet training at NSAC?

A. The favoured route to veterinary medicine for all Canadian students is one of the country's four veterinary colleges. They are all excellent institutions, and the cost of training is subsidized by the Canadian public. Many veterinary schools in other English-speaking countries also encourage applications from Canadian students. However tuition fees are much higher because the foreign student is expected to pay the entire cost of veterinary training. Two examples follow:

1. Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia welcomes applications from Canadians. As of June 2001 (and at the then current exchange rate) the tuition fee for veterinary medicine was approximately $22,000 (Canadian dollars) per year.

Murdoch University's website is http://www.murdoch.edu.au

2. The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, welcomes applications from Canadian students who have completed the pre-vet requirements. As of June 2001 (and at the then current rate of exchange) the tuition fee for veterinary medicine was approximately $30,000 (Canadian dollars) per year.

University of Edinburgh's website is http://www.vet.ed.ac.uk

Q. Why should I do my pre-veterinary training at NSAC?

A. You should choose NSAC because we offer the best pre-vet experience in the country: (1) NSAC is a small school, with generally small classes in which undergraduate students are treated as individuals not just as numbers. (2) NSAC has a working college farm. (3) NSAC boasts an active Animal Science and Pre-Vet Club that organizes work sessions at the college farm (milking and lambing, for example) and organizes excursions to AVC and to commercial farms.

Q. What kinds of animals can I get experience with at NSAC?

A. The NSAC teaching and research farm has dairy cows, sheep, laying hens, broiler chickens, silver foxes, and mink. During your course work (or pre-vet club volunteer work), you can help with the care and management of these species.

Q. If I don't get into vet school after 2 years, what can I do?

A. Students who are not accepted into vet school after the first two years are encouraged to continue their studies toward the Bachelor of Science (Agr.) Degree. The Pre-Vet program merges smoothly into an Animal Science major or an Aquaculture major. A Bachelor's degree in either of these majors can be a springboard to an exciting career. Students are permitted to re-apply to the Atlantic Veterinary College during their 3rd and/or 4th years at NSAC.

Q. How can I get an application form to NSAC and where should I send it?

A. Applications forms can be ordered on-line. Clicking here will take you to the NSAC Registry application page. Fill out the brief form and we will send you an application package. Hope to see you in Truro soon!

Q. What sort of place is Truro?

A. Located at the innermost point of the Bay of Fundy, Truro is a provincial agriculture centre and the "Hub of Nova Scotia". With a population of about 30 000, the Truro area boasts a wide variety to restaurants, bars, shops, services, and recreational possibilities.

Here are some links to Truro, to Nova Scotia, to our newspapers, and to some of the exciting recreational opportunities in our region!

Town of Truro web site: www.town.truro.ns.ca
Nova Scotia Tourism web site: www.novascotia.com

Recreation web-sites:
Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises:http://www.brierislandwhalewatch.com

Coastal Adventures Kayaking: http://www.coastaladventures.com/index.html
Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation:www.horsenovascotia.ca
Trans Canada Trail (Nova Scotia): http://www.tctrail.ca
Cape Chignecto Provincial Park: http://www.capechignecto.net/
Kejimkujik National Park : www.parkscanada.gc.ca/pn-np/ns/kejimkujik
Cape Breton Highlands National Parks www.parkscanada.gc.ca/pn-np/ns/cbreton

Newspapers in our area:
Truro Daily News: http://www.trurodaily.com
Halifax Herald: http://www.herald.ns.ca
The Coast: www.thecoast.ns.ca

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