When the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine officially opened its doors in Amarillo, Texas, in 2021, it was not only an important milestone for the Texas Tech University System, but it was also a vital step toward placing much needed veterinarians in rural areas. Now on its fourth class, the Texas Tech Veterinary School has caused a ripple effect to the Department of Animal and Food Sciences in Lubbock, Texas for students who have aspirations of becoming a veterinarian and engaging in the Texas Tech University System as an undergraduate student.
As the largest department in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, AFS houses over 1,210 undergraduate students and 85 graduate students for the Spring 2025 semester, according to the Texas Tech University Fact Book. Over the past decade, the department has doubled the number of undergraduate students since 2015, according to Moriah Beyers, the assistant director of student advising and retention. Faculty and staff have had to adjust degree program strategies to navigate the increase in student numbers and identify the missing resources students need to succeed wherever their veterinary school journey may lead them.
“…and we’re not willing to sacrifice the interaction that we have with faculty and students, and that student faculty ratio.”
Jessica Thomas, DVM, an assistant professor of practice in animal and food sciences, said the AFS department has experienced incredible growth.
“Over 90% have intentions of being pre-veterinarian students and going to vet school,” Thomas said.
Thomas said the department has been working hard, strategically planning and preparing ways to help in the preparation process for veterinary school applications so students are fully aware of the journey ahead.
“It’s difficult, because we’re expanding so rapidly that we’re trying to stay ahead of it,” Thomas said, “and we’re not willing to sacrifice the interaction that we have with faculty and students, and that student faculty ratio.”
While managing an enrollment increase, the department focuses on preparing students by offering more course sections to keep the family atmosphere that the Davis College has had for decades, according to Beyers.
The department is also offering specific opportunities for pre-veterinary students to broaden their knowledge before embarking on their veterinary medicine journey.
One of those opportunities includes a ‘Road to Vet Med’ question and answer panel hosted in April and October. This event allows pre-veterinarian students to meet with veterinarians and veterinary school professionals.
“We cover prerequisites, strategy, how to get jobs in the veterinary field, and essay topics for vet school applications,” Thomas said.
In November, students who received an interview from their prospective school are invited to Interview Bootcamp, which includes discussing interview strategies and participating in mock interviews.
“We have a lot of departmental help that come in and volunteer their time to ask these questions to make them feel uncomfortable and expose them to that before they get into their real interview,” Thomas said.
AFS also offers a senior seminar course specifically for pre-veterinary students wanting to get a head start on the application process.
“Some of these students haven’t written essays since high school, so when it counts on their application, they need to be more polished,” Thomas said. “This class is designed to bring that back up to help answer questions and get that started before the summer applications begin.”
Students can also develop their interviewing skills through the University Career Center’s mock interview and essay revision services.
Pre-vet students can also develop their peer network and get hands-on experience through AFS student clubs and organizations. Specifically, the Pre-Vet Society helps students prepare academically and professionally for their vet school journeys. With a little over 200 members, the organization seeks to help students increase their chances to continue their vet school journey.
Rowly Sandoval, Pre-Vet Society president and senior pre-vet student from La Feria, Texas, said the club hosts bi-weekly meetings that often include South Plains veterinarian guest speakers, skills labs, and zoom meetings with vet schools that offer information sessions.
“As a club, [we are here] to provide the resources,” Sandoval said. “Then our members can go take those resources and help find their interests and help them get into vet school.”
The club also added two new leadership positions to expand opportunities for incoming freshmen.
See a Need, Fill a Need
The journey to veterinary school starts long before students walk through classroom doors their freshman year of college. As a student, it can be easy to compare to others because of the competitiveness of the program. As an advisor, it can be challenging to redirect students who have a different calling.
Because of the enrollment increase within the department, two full time advisors and one part-time advisor have been hired to help with the process of pointing students in the right direction.
Wendy Scott, an AFS academic advisor, has seen the impact of the enrollment increase firsthand, and said it takes a village to get students into veterinary school.
“When freshmen come here, we start the conversation pretty early,” Scott said. “We’re already talking about how many hours they need and what their resume looks like.”
Scott has been a part of many pre-veterinary students’ journeys. With an understanding of core requirements for veterinary school applications, Scott said she makes it her mission to help students reach their goals, as well as redirect them when the dream does not work out.
“I told students, ‘don’t wait until the application opens in May, bring it to me a year early and let’s start reading and supporting’, that way when it’s time to apply, they’re not starting from ground zero,” Scott said.
AFS offers a freshman science seminar that helps students develop study and organization skills, explore Texas Tech resources, write professional emails and personal statements, complete StrengthsQuest, engage with student panels, participate in community service, and prepare for veterinary school applications.
“We have very honest conversations with [the students], because we don’t care what route they’re going in, we want them to all be successful,” Scott said.
This process requires students to be motivated to get through science-intense courses, commit to a job to collect hours, and once accepted into veterinary school, complete 21 hours a semester.
“It depends on the students and really how driven and how much they’ll take it seriously,” Scott said.
Bound and Determined
Ellie Brown, a senior animal science student with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine from Canyon, Texas, and the 63rd Masked Rider, knew from a very young age she wanted to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
“It has been a dream of mine, and a lot of people think that would burn out,” Brown said. “I was bound and determined to keep that goal and, you know, beat the odds.”
Brown, a third generation Red Raider, grew up around the cattle industry but broke the mold by taking an interest in horses.
“I was about 11 years old when I got my first horse, and then just kind of went about it as a hobby at first, and then I got involved with cutting,” Brown said.
With a love for horses and deep Texas Tech roots, Brown said she knew it was an easy decision to pursue her undergraduate degree at Texas Tech.
“After touring other schools, I knew instantly that I felt most at home at Texas Tech,” Brown said. “The animal science program had an atmosphere, professors and family aspect that was and is incomparable.”
With responsibilities of representing the university and maintaining grades, Brown said she often runs into challenges.
“I do over 300 appearances a year and that includes traveling as well,” Brown said. “Having to juggle traveling and taking care of a horse and schoolwork is definitely a battle.”
With the help and support from her professors and advisors within the department, Brown can pursue her journey of being a future veterinarian while representing the university across the United States.
“These professors at Davis College are willing to help you and work with you, so that plays a huge part,” she said. “Any mission that any student walks through that door with, they want to help you get there.”
Brown also said instructors like Thomas played an influential role in her veterinary school journey. Thomas’ challenging Advanced Clinical Veterinary Science course put Brown in an environment that acted as if she was in veterinary school.
“It was definitely a stressor, which I think tremendously prepared me for going forward in vet school,” Brown said. “She is super encouraging, she prepares you for the interviews, and she sets aside time to set up mock interviews. She’s going above and beyond to help Tech students pursue that field.”
Despite many challenges Brown has endured, her journey is not done yet. With the help and support of her professors, along with her determination, Brown said she will be attending the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine for the next four years.
“Surround yourself with good friends, good mentors and good family,” Brown said. “That’s what’s gotten me through my years at Tech, and that is what will get me though vet school is surrounding yourself with like-minded people that have the same ambitions and dreams as you and pushing each other.”
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