The personal statement for the VMCAS used to consist of a single prompt: Discuss briefly the development of your interest in veterinary medicine. Discuss those activities and unique experiences that have contributed to your preparation for a professional program. Discuss your understanding of the veterinary medical profession, and discuss your career goals and objectives (5000 characters)
Now, VMCAS asks students to answer each of the following prompts in less than 2000 characters (including spaces), which is roughly 300-350 words:
- There are many career choices within the veterinary profession. What are your future career goals and why?
- In what ways do veterinarians contribute to society and what do you hope to contribute?
- Considering the breadth of society we serve as veterinarians today; what attributes do you believe are essential to be successful within the veterinary profession? Of these attributes, which do you possess and how have you demonstrated these in the past?
Here are documents with tips and resources that you may find helpful. While some discuss the old prompt or a specific supplement, the information may still be relevant:
- https://prevet.princeton.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/781/2020/07/Mastering-The-VMCAS-Personal-Essay.pdf
- https://prevet.princeton.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/781/2020/07/Hamilton-Essay-Tips.pdf
- https://prevet.princeton.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/781/2020/07/Univeristy-of-Florida-Tips.pdf
- https://hpa.princeton.edu/application-process/personal-statement
Remember, many schools also have their own supplemental prompts which may or may not be released on their websites. If you are thinking about applying during a certain year, you can create your account as soon as January of the same year so that you can access all the supplements before the summer and begin brainstorming/drafting asap.