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DVM Program Admission Requirements

Each year the College accepts 50 Virginia residents, 30 Maryland residents, and up to 10 at-large applicants into its professional program leading to the DVM degree. The College endeavors to select students with the appropriate intellectual, personal, and ethical qualities to meet the demands of the profession and with the dedication to become responsible professionals capable of responding to the needs of the society they will serve. Because the number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces available in each class, only those individuals who demonstrate these characteristics to a high degree are selected for admission. Applicants who are unsuccessful in being admitted are advised to contact the Admissions Office to receive counseling on how they can strengthen their credentials for future application cycles.

In order to give applicants an opportunity to learn more about the College and its programs, the College hosts an Open House usually held on the first weekend in April of each year. The students and faculty set up a wide variety of informational displays about the curriculum, clubs in the College, admissions, and career choices as well as conduct tours of the College. Attendance at this event is a great way to learn about the College.

Listed below are the general and academic requirements for admission. The College does not require any specific undergraduate major; however, it is strongly recommended that applicants enroll in a degree program of their choice to prepare for alternate career goals. Students majoring in liberal arts or other non-science disciplines are advised that they may find less difficulty in dealing with the veterinary curriculum if they do not limit their science studies to the minimum course requirements.

Academic Requirements Application Process/Selection
Of Students
Additional Course Requirements Acceptance/Non-Acceptance
Testing Deferred Enrollment
Application Requirements Transfer/Advanced Standing
Additional Considerations Licensure Requirements
Important Dates, Links, and Mailing Address

Academic Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.8 on a 4-point scale or 3.3 for the last 45 semester hours providing courses taken during this period are junior or senior level. A competitive GPA is 3.5. Also applicants must complete a minimum of 60 semester/90 quarter hours at an accredited college or university by the end of the spring term of the year in which matriculation occurs. All required course work must be completed by the end of the spring term of the year in which matriculation occurs. There is no option to complete prerequisites during summer term of the year of matriculation. If an applicant fails to register or withdraws from a prerequisite course projected for spring term completion, their application will be removed from consideration and any offer of interview or admission will be null and void. Students must earn a "C-" or better in all required courses.

Preprofessional Courses

Correspondence studies and pass/fail courses will NOT be considered as satisfying required course work.

Subject Area / Semester Hours

General Biology / 8
A two-semester sequence with laboratories is required. One course in botany may be used to satisfy the requirements for general biology. However, additional biology courses used to satisfy this requirement must be specifically animal-related.

Organic Chemistry / 8
After completion of General or Introductory Chemistry, a two-semester sequence in Organic Chemistry with laboratories is required.

Physics / 8
The requirement in this area is for a two-semester sequence with laboratories in General or Introductory Physics. Calculus-based physics is not required.

Biochemistry / 3
A one-semester introductory course in biochemistry without a lab will meet the minimum requirement. Topics should include metabolism and chemistry of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Courses in biochemistry providing broader coverage would be helpful to an applicant.

English / 6
Three credit hours of the English requirement must be specifically English composition or technical writing-no AP credit will be accepted for this prerequisite. Public speaking or communication courses do not satisfy the English requirement.

Math / 6
The math requirement can be met by courses in Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus or Statistics. Computer science courses are not acceptable.

Humanities/Social Sciences / 6
Courses to meet this requirement may include, but are not restricted to: art, philosophy, history, economics, psychology, or sociology.

Additional Course Requirements

All pre-veterinary course requirements must be completed by the end of the spring term of the calendar year for which matriculation is sought. Courses can be completed at any accredited college or university.

Applicants must achieve a minimum grade of "C-" in all required courses. Required courses in which a "D" or "F" was earned must be repeated. Both the original and repeat grades will be included in grade point calculations.

The College calculates three separate GPA's for each applicant:

  • CUMULATIVE GPA: Grades earned in all college course work attempted, including repeated courses and graduate work, are considered in the calculation of the cumulative GPA. "Freshman rule" or other forgiveness policies on low grades are not accepted or used by this College.
  • REQUIRED SCIENCE COURSE GPA: Includes the prerequisite science courses listed above. The first courses taken which meet this requirement will be used in grade point average calculations.
  • 45 semester hours GPA: Includes the last 45 semester hours (67 quarter hours) course work. Note that 3 quarter hours converts to 2 semester hours. In the case of the applicant with less than this number of hours at the time of application, the cumulative GPA will be used.

Seven Year Policy

Where required science courses have been taken by an applicant seven or more years prior to the application deadline, they MAY be repeated, or courses of a higher level substituted, with the written approval of the Admissions and Standards Committee.

The approved repeated or substituted courses will be used in the calculation of the Required Science Course GPA. ALL courses taken will be used in the calculation of the Cumulative GPA.

Advanced Placement/Credit by Examination

Advanced placement credit for one semester/quarter of English will be accepted if the additional required hours are composition or technical writing courses and are taken at a college or university.

Advanced placement credit or credit by examination for other pre-veterinary course requirements will be accepted. However, advanced placement credits will not be calculated in grade point averages, and no grade will be assigned. No course substitutions will be allowed for AP credit or credit by examination.


Testing

The Graduate Record Examination (general aptitude test) is required.

  • GRE scores must be reported to the school by November 1.
  • All applicants are required to have taken the GRE on or after October 1, 2002.
  • The reporting code for Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine is 5946.

NOTE: The GRE examinations are administered by the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, N.J. (609) 771-7670. Test dates are usually announced in August of each year.


Application Requirements

All applicants must follow the specific guidelines in the VMCAS (a central application process) application.

  • A cumulative grade point average of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.3 for the last two years (60 semester hours) providing courses taken during this period are junior or senior level.
  • Applicants must have completed at least 60 semester hours of undergraduate study by the end of the spring term of the calendar year for which matriculation is sought.
  • A complete set of official transcripts from all colleges attended must be forwarded to each school to which you apply at the time of application. In addition, if the applicant was enrolled during the fall term, an unofficial grade report for courses taken that term must be submitted to this school within 10 days after the end of the semester. An official transcript must follow immediately.
  • Successful completion of required pre-veterinary courses by the end of the spring term of the year of anticipated matriculation.
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE): The General Aptitude test is required. Tests must have been taken on or after October 1, 2002. Tests taken before that date will not be considered.

    Scores must be reported to the school by November 1. The reporting code is 5946.

    The GRE examinations are administered by the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, N.J. (609) 771-7670. Test dates are usually announced in August of each year.
  • Three personal evaluations are to be submitted to VMCAS electronically. Further information about the electronic evaluation (eLOR) can be found at http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas/evaluations.htm.
  • VMRCVM supplemental application
  • If currently enrolled in graduate school, a letter from the applicant's advisor and department head stating that if accepted into veterinary college, the applicant will have made satisfactory arrangements for completion or release from the graduate program. Please send letters directly to the College of Veterinary Medicine's Admission Office - not VMCAS.
  • Personal interview.

Additional Considerations

  • Maturity and a broad cultural perspective
  • Motivation and dedication to a career in veterinary medicine
  • Evidence of potential, and appreciation of the career opportunities for veterinarians, as indicated by achievements in the following areas: related animal experience; veterinary experience; research, industrial, and commercial experience; activities, achievements, and awards; narrative; and personal references.
  • Suggested elective courses (listed alphabetically) are:
    • Cell Biology
    • Comparative Anatomy
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Nutrition
    • Physiology
  • All applicants to the College of Veterinary Medicine must be able to cope with the physical and mental rigors of the curriculum and the demanding nature of the veterinary profession. Academic standards have been established for all areas of the curriculum and cannot be waived. The skillful and efficient performance of essential functions, required by the veterinary curriculum and profession, are required of all students. Qualified applicants with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office to arrange an appointment for individual consultation and advice prior to formal application.

The competitive applicant at our College in recent years has had a cumulative GPA of 3.5, a competitive GRE general aptitude score, a wide variety of animal experience - both large and small, worked for a veterinarian for 400-600 hours, and has worked in a research laboratory or been involved in commercial or industrial settings related to veterinary medicine. If you possess these qualifications, we would encourage you to submit your application.


Important Dates, Links, and Mailing Address

Fall 2009 Admission - Important Links, Dates, and Deadlines (PDF)


Application Process/Selection Of Students

Selection of students is a two-phase process, which is usually completed by mid-March.

The first phase involves the analysis and evaluation of each applicant's academic record, GRE score, and non-academic portions of the application. A point value is assigned and comprises approximately 75% of the total score. This value will determine which applicants will be invited for a personal interview.

The second phase of the selection process involves a personal interview of selected candidates. A point value system is also used and comprises 25% of the total score. Interviews are usually scheduled in mid February and the final class is selected from among those interviewed.

Letters of acceptance are mailed in early March each year.


Acceptance/Non-Acceptance

All applicants are notified of their status by the Admissions Office. Students offered admission must respond with a signed letter and a non-refundable deposit accepting the offer by April 15, or the offer is withdrawn.

Applicants on the alternate list are notified as positions become available. Once the complete class of 50 Virginia, 30 Maryland, and up to 10 out-of-state students is confirmed, any remaining alternates are informed and advised to pursue alternate plans.

Applicants who are not accepted may make an appointment with the Admissions Coordinator for individual counseling beginning in MAY.

More students apply to the College each year than can be accepted. Although a minimum of two years of undergraduate study is required, most applicants will have completed three or more years of college prior to acceptance. Because competition is keen, applicants are strongly advised to work towards a bachelor's degree in a discipline based on their choice of alternate career goals.

Applicants who plan to reapply must submit a complete set of documents to VMCAS, including transcripts, GRE reports, personal evaluations, etc., for each reapplication.


Deferred Enrollment

The College of Veterinary Medicine will consider deferment requests on a case by case basis if a candidate has extenuating circumstances beyond their control.


Transfer/Advanced Standing

The College has a tracking curriculum that is not matched by curricula of other colleges.  Because of the historic impossibility of matching curricula, transfers are not accepted.


Licensure Requirements

Obtaining a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree does not automatically entitle one to the right to practice the profession. Entrance into private clinical practice requires the successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). These examinations are administered for the national organization by the respective state boards of veterinary medicine. They are usually written during the final year of veterinary college. DVM graduates who wish to obtain a license for private clinical practice must also write and pass the state board examination for the state(s) in which they are seeking to practice.