Essay

Your statement of purpose is a one-page essay (not to exceed 3,000 characters) that gives veterinary admissions committees a clear picture of who you are and, most importantly answers the question: Why do you want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine?

Requirements

  • Keep your topic general: Keep the statement general as this essay is sent to all the programs you apply to. If you plan to only apply to one program, we still strongly recommend keeping your statement general in case you later apply to additional programs. Once you submit your application, the essay cannot be edited or changed.
  • Do not exceed the maximum length: You can see both the word and character count below the field in the application. The right-hand number shows the maximum number of characters that you can use in your essay. As you type, you can see how many characters are still available and the associated word count. Characters include spaces, carriage returns, and punctuation. You cannot save your essay if it exceeds the 3,000 character limit.
  • Use your own words: Plagiarizing any part of your essay is a violation of the code of conduct and may subject you to sanctions.
  • Use simple formatting: Formatting such as tabs, italics, multiple spaces, etc., will not be saved. To delineate paragraphs, type a double return between each paragraph.

Additional Suggestions

Consider these additional items when writing your personal statement:

  • Be yourself.
  • Ask a friend, relative, or faculty advisor to read your essay and provide constructive criticism.

Be sure to avoid these when writing your personal statement:

  • Don't use jargon, clichés, or big phrases that you normally don't use in normal conversation. Remember, veterinary admissions committees want to know about the real you.
  • Don't write what you think the admissions committee wants to hear.
  • Don't use a gimmicky style or format.
  • Don't wait until the last minute to work on your statement.

Proofreading

Be sure to read over your essay several times to catch any spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc., errors before submitting. Once you submit your application, you cannot edit your essay. If you find an error after submission that you believe could have major effects on your application, we recommend sending a corrected copy directly to the programs you applied to.