Top Ten Frequently Asked Questions About Admission To The Study Of Veterinary Medicine
1. How difficult is it to get admitted to the study of veterinary medicine?
There are only 29 colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States.
Several thousand applicants vie for the approximately 2500+ seats available
each year. Successful applicants demonstrate academic competency (especially
in science course work), good problem solving skills, able decision
making skills, capable interpersonal communication skills, skillful
teamwork ability, experience with a broad spectrum of animal species
and experience with veterinarians and/or scientists engaged in research.
2. What undergraduate major should someone pursue to prepare for
the study of veterinary medicine?
A large percentage of veterinary students have undergraduate majors in
biology or animal science. But such a major is not required. Students
who applied , and were accepted, have pursued majors in diverse areas
of study including fine arts, English, business, etc. All competitive
applicants, however, must demonstrate solid achievement in the mandatory
science prerequisite courses.
3. Is there an advantage in taking more science courses than the minimum
prerequisites?
The first two years of study in veterinary medicine consist of challenging
science course work. A student will find it beneficial to have had as
much science course work in their undergraduate studies as possible, especially
biological sciences.
4. What types of veterinary experiences are expected?**
It is expected that a student will make every possible attempt to at least
observe veterinarians in a variety of settings (large animal practice,
small animal practice, research, wildlife/conservation work, etc.) to
acquire an overview of what the profession is all about. There is no minimum
hour amount of experience designated, but the Admissions Committee definitely
wants to see a student articulate the learning they acquired in these
experiences.
5. How much animal experience is necessary?**
We don’t indicate a requirement for animal experience in a specific
number of hours. Students are encouraged to seek opportunities with as
broad a spectrum of species as possible. It is the learning that comes
from veterinary and animal experience that will be important to the Admissions
Committee.
6. Are graduates of the University of Illinois favored for admission?
We encourage students to attend college at a fully accredited institution
that provides a challenging curriculum in a setting where they are comfortable
enough to become highly successful. Those who attend the University of Illinois
are given no preferential treatment in the application process.
7. Do you really only need a 2.75 GPA to be admitted?
We accept applications from students who have a minimum of a 2.75 cumulative
and science GPA in their undergraduate studies. We have generally had about
500+ students in the application pool with grade point averages of a 3.0
(on a 4.0 scale) and above so it is unlikely someone with less than a 3.0
will receive serious consideration at this time.
8. Do Illinois residents have a better chance of being admitted?
Of the seats available through the admission process each year, 80 – 85%
of those accepted are Illinois residents. 20 – 25% of those accepted
are, obviously, non residents and may come from a nearby state or from the
far corners of the world.
9. Should I be sure to complete a set out “pre-veterinary
curriculum” in
order to be a more attractive applicant?
A “pre-veterinary curriculum” is usually designed to simply
provide the courses that are the
required minimum prerequisites for admission. This may be very useful, but
really is not
mandated in any way. Following the required prerequisites can provide the
same guide for undergraduate choices as a student moves toward admission.
10: What if I am not admitted after I apply? Can I apply again?
We offer every unsuccessful applicant the opportunity to review their application
with the Assistant Dean/Academic Advisor in order to learn what elements
of the application could be strengthened. These meetings usually are useful
in submitting a more competitive future application. At this time, there
is no limit on the times one may apply for admission.
**Those interested in becoming research veterinarians are
encouraged to have some veterinary practice and animal experience as well.
Ultimately, your studies for a DVM cover the breadth of biomedical education.
Likewise, research experiences from all applicants are highly regarded.
For additional information:
www.admissions@cvm.uiuc.edu
217-265-0380