Admissions FAQs

Are there any scholarships available to incoming students?

Yes. The Bardsley Scholarship Program (https://www.vetmed.msstate.edu/alumni-friends/bardsley-scholarship-program) is awarded to incoming first-year veterinary students who demonstrate high academic performance and leadership potential. Other CVM scholarships are available for students to apply beginning in January of their first year. For more information about CVM scholarships, visit https://www.vetmed.msstate.edu/alumni-friends/opportunities-for-giving#scholarships.  

How and when do I apply?

All applicants must apply through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). The VMCAS application is available online at VMCAS beginning late-January, the year before you intend to enroll. The deadline for submission of application and all application materials is mid-September and will be stated on the VMCAS website.  

Do I have to send transcripts from every college I’ve attended?

Yes. You must submit an original, official transcript from every college or university you have attended. Transcripts must be submitted directly to VMCAS. Visit “Sending Official Transcripts to VMCAS” for more information.    

What if the transcripts from my current school contain the grades from my previous schools?

Even if grades from one college or university are reported on a later transcript, you must submit an official transcript to VMCAS from every college or university attended. If not, VMCAS will not verify your application which will render your application incomplete.  

If I’m at school at MSU, do I still have to send my MSU transcripts?

Yes. Official transcripts can be requested through the Office of the Registrar at “Requesting a Transcript”.   

When do I have to send transcripts showing my fall classes and grades?

Current applicants should initially submit all transcript(s) to VMCAS. Final official transcripts will be requested if you are invited to be part of an entering class. 

Does MSU CVM accept Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credit?

Yes. AP and IB credits must either appear on your official college transcripts and be equivalent to the appropriate college-level coursework or your institution's Registrar's Office must provide us with an AP/IB Certification listing the AP/IB credit and the equivalent college-level course it fulfilled. If AP/IB credits are not listed on your official transcript, contact your institution's Registrar's Office to have an AP/IB Certification sent to admit@vetmed.msstate.edu. 

Does MSU CVM have a supplemental application?

Yes. Additional questions specific to MSU CVM should be answered in the “Questions” section on the MSU CVM section of VMCAS. You will only see the supplemental application if you have selected to apply to our program. 

Does MSU CVM require a supplemental processing fee?

Yes. MSU CVM requires a non-refundable $60 processing fee. Within 24 hours of selecting Mississippi State University in the VMCAS portal, you will receive an email from admit@vetmed.msstate.edu with instructions on creating a MSU account in order to pay your supplemental application fee and monitor your MSU DVM application. This application fee is a required portion of your application, and your application will not be reviewed until we have received payment. If you do not receive an email from us within 24 hours, please email and inform us of this at admit@vetmed.msstate.edu. 

Do I send (or have my evaluators send) Letters of Recommendation directly to MSU CVM?

No. Letters of recommendation (LORs) should be submitted electronically to VMCAS. Do not send any LORs directly to the MSU CVM.

How many letters of recommendation does MSU CVM Admissions Committee review?

MSU CVM Admissions Committee reviews only three letters of recommendation (eLORs). Applicants will list the names of the three recommenders in one of the MSU CVM supplemental questions within the VMCAS application. 

Who should my evaluators be?

MSU CVM requires that at least one LOR be completed by a veterinarian who is listed in one of your experience categories (i.e., shadowing, working, classroom, or laboratory. Family members cannot be used as evaluators. The remaining two LORs can be completed by veterinarians, researchers, professors, employers, or other individuals who can attest to the candidate’s qualities evaluated on the LOR form. The key is not “who” the evaluator is, but how well the evaluator knows the candidate with regard to the qualities assessed on the LOR form.

Does MSU CVM require the GRE General Exam?

No, MSU CVM does not require the GRE General Exam.

When and how are interview notifications sent?

Interview notifications are sent on a rolling basis via email beginning in mid-late October. All notifications will be sent out by late December. If you do not receive any information from us by late December, please contact us at admit@vetmed.msstate.edu. 

When is the class chosen and notified?

The class is typically chosen in mid-February and is notified immediately thereafter. Notification letters are sent via email and U.S. mail.

Is there an alternate list?

Yes. The MSU CVM Admissions Committee creates a list of alternate candidates. Lists are designated as Mississippi (resident) alternates, South Carolina (contract) alternates, West Virginia (contract) alternates, and non- resident pool alternates. Candidates pulled from these lists are invited to fill appropriate positions as Mississippi resident students, South Carolina contract students, West Virginia contract students, or Mississippi non-resident students if a position becomes available. 

How many students are selected for each first-year class?

The class size has increased from 95 students to 112 students beginning with the Class of 2025. Approximately 45-50 of that number are Mississippi residents, ten are South Carolina students on contract, seven are West Virginia students on contract, and the remainder are non-resident students (from other states, from South Carolina or West Virginia not on contract, or from other countries). 

How many applicants does MSU CVM normally have?

Our typical applicant pool has about 1,400 candidates. The Mississippi pool usually has 100-120 applicants, with the remaining applicants being non-resident and contract state applicants. 

What is the average GPA of the Class of 2026?

The average overall GPA for the Class of 2026 is 3.6. The GPA range was 3.0-4.0.  

If I am accepted to MSU CVM as a non-resident, can I change my residency or lower my fees after I am in school?

No. Prior to the final acceptance for admission, each successful applicant must enter a contract with the MSU CVM in which the applicant agrees and obligates himself/herself to pay the tuition, fees, and expenses applicable to the applicant's resident or non-resident status that exists at the time the applicant submits their VMCAS application. In addition, the applicant must agree and obligate himself/herself in the contract to continue to pay the tuition, fees and expenses during the applicant's entire MSU CVM DVM education experience that are applicable to that same initial status determination, thereby waiving any right to petition for a change in residency status for the purpose of calculating tuition. 

An admitted applicant’s status will not change for his or her entire MSU CVM veterinary medical educational period. 

How will MSU-CVM communicate with me after I have applied?

MSU CVM communicates almost exclusively through email. Please be sure that you are receiving email correspondence from MSU CVM before and after you have submitted your application. If you are not receiving emails from MSU CVM Admissions, please email us admit@vetmed.msstate.edu.