Congratulations. You’ve decided to embark on probably one of the most expensive, time-consuming journeys of your life. The GRE, the personal statement, supporting materials, the supplemental essays, and the interview add together to what can often be a headache. Despite this, over 2,000 people enroll in Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programs every year. This guide offers resources and approaches to help you maximize your chances that you’re one of the 2,000.

The Essays are the main opportunity to tie activities and experiences together as a means of truly connecting with the people who read your application. Ultimately, you want to write an essay that makes the reader want to become your future professor or colleague. The VMCAS application requires three 2,000-character, or about 350-word essays. While this length can sometimes seem long, it’s a limited amount of space to convince the admissions committee that you’re someone they want to have as future colleagues or students.