DVM Application Information

DVM Application and Requirements

This page will guide you through the entire DVM application process. To be eligible for application review, the following criteria must be met:

  • Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 with no more than three remaining math or science prerequisite courses at the submission of application
  • Three letters of recommendation with one being from a licensed veterinarian that can be found in the VMCAS experience section of your application
  • Documented Veterinary experience on VMCAS Application
  • Payment of Supplemental Application Processing Fee
  • Submission and verification of VMCAS application 

The Application Academic Requirements Non-Academic Requirements Call the Admissions Team Email the Admissions Team

The Application

All applicants must apply through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). The VMCAS application is available online *here* beginning in late January, the year before you intend to enroll. The deadline for the submission of applications and all application materials is generally mid-September and will be stated on the VMCAS website. The application deadline and other important dates for each cycle can be found at VMCAS Application Cycle Dates. 

To be considered for admission, in addition to meeting all academic, testing, and deadline requirements, an applicant must be in good standing at his/her current university, as well as at all colleges or universities he/she has attended. A student who has been dismissed from another college/school of veterinary medicine cannot be considered for admission to MSU CVM.

Apply Now Admissions FAQ VMCAS Applicant Guide

Transcripts

Transcripts must be submitted to VMCAS from all institutions attended by the stated VMCAS deadline. This includes any high school/college dual credit coursework or AP/IB/CLEP credits. AP/IB/CLEP 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 /CLEP credit and the equivalent college-level course it fulfilled. If AP/IB /CLEP credits are not listed on your official transcript, contact your institution's Registrar's Office to have an AP/IB /CLEP Certification sent to admit@vetmed.msstate.edu. Exempted credits or waived requirements from an undergraduate institution will not be accepted for fulfilling prerequisite coursework. Credit hours must be awarded. 

Note: Mississippi State University recognizes the IB Program. Credit will be considered for the higher-level subject examinations with scores of 5, 6, or 7 pending approvals of the various colleges, schools, and major departments of the university. 

Failure to submit all transcripts could result in an incomplete application. If coursework from one institution is listed as "transfer coursework" from another institution, the official transcript from the transfer institution must be sent to VMCAS as well. 

Do not submit transcripts to MSU for the verification process. Transcripts sent directly to MSU CVM will not be evaluated as a part of your application. Late transcripts will not be accepted. 

If you are taking courses during the summer term, wait until summer grades are posted before sending transcripts to VMCAS. VMCAS will only verify your transcripts one time during the admissions cycle. To learn more about the verification process, click *here*.

Standardized Testing

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE®) is not required for admission and will not be considered as part of the application process regardless if an applicant has submitted their score.

An applicant whose primary language is not English is required to submit either a TOEFL score or an IELTS score. A minimum TOEFL score of 79 iBT or an IELTS score of 6.5 is required to be considered for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. The results of this test should be submitted using MSU's institutional code 1480.

Candidates from Puerto Rico and English-speaking Canadian territories are not required to submit test results. Applicants that have completed their undergraduate or graduate degree within the US (prior to submission of their application) also do not have to submit English language test results.

Supplemental Application Processing Fee

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

Please note that this information is subject to change at the discretion of the CVM Admissions Committee.

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Academic Requirements

Below are the academic requirements necessary for eligibility for consideration for the DVM program.

Standardized Testing

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE®) is not required for admission and will not be considered as part of the application process regardless if an applicant has submitted their score.

An applicant whose primary language is not English is required to submit either a TOEFL score or an IELTS score. A minimum TOEFL score of 79 iBT or an IELTS score of 6.5 is required to be considered for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. The results of this test should be submitted using MSU's institutional code 1480.

Candidates from Puerto Rico and English-speaking Canadian territories are not required to submit test results. Applicants that have completed their undergraduate or graduate degree within the US (prior to submission of their application) also do not have to submit English language test results.

Supplemental Application Processing Fee

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

Course Requirments

All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the spring semester prior to matriculation and cannot be taken during a May-mester or summer term of the matriculation year. Please note the academic year at MSU CVM for first-year students begins mid to late June.

The courses that are listed below are examples of courses offered by MSU and may vary at your institution.

We require the prerequisites listed below for entry into our DVM program. The same course cannot be used to satisfy two prerequisite requirements. MSU CVM accepts courses from accredited colleges or universities (verified by VMCAS) to fulfill prerequisites and to calculate GPAs. Currently, courses from an accredited institution may be in-person or online.

  • Writing - 3 semester hours (e.g., English Composition 1 or 2)
  • Humanties, Social/Behavioral Sciences, and Fine Arts - 15 semester hours
  • Math - 6 semester hours
  • Biology I and II - semester hours
  • Microbiology - 4 semester hours
  • Chemistry I and II - 8 semester hours
  • Organic Chemistry I and II - 8 semester hours
  • Biochemistry - 3 semester hours
  • Physics I and II - 6 semester hours
  • Upper Level Science/Math - 6 semester hours

Students on the Quarter System

Students on the quarter system are required to complete a 3-quarter sequence in biology, chemistry, and organic chemistry.

Please note that this information is subject to change at the discretion of the CVM Admissions Committee.

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Non-Academic Requirements

The MSU CVM Admissions Committee considers non-academic qualities in the initial review of applications to select candidates for interviews. The committee seeks to admit students who will succeed not only in the classroom, but also in clinical and research settings, and ultimately, in the profession. Letters of recommendation and veterinary experience are both required components of the MSU CVM admissions process. Other experiences that are reviewed and evaluated by the admissions committee include animal and research experience, extracurriculars, community service, employment history, leadership, awards, and achievements. 

It is highly recommended that applicants are thorough when completing the experience portion of the VMCAS application as MSU CVM values all of these experiences gained throughout an applicants' high school and undergraduate career.

Animal Experience

The admissions committee highly recommends applicants gain animal experience of good quality as it is part of the admissions evaluation process. It is important to track and log any animal experience you gain throughout your high school and undergraduate career. Animal experience comes from a variety of sources but must include the care for animals or the husbandry of animals. Examples of animal experience can include but are not limited to work or volunteer hours at a humane society/shelter, kennel technician, showing animals with 4H, a groomer, a farm, or stable. Companion animal ownership can be documented as animals experience only under special circumstances such as management of diseases or injuries requiring medications or rehabilitation under the guidance of a veterinarian.

Veterinary Experience

The admissions committee highly recommends applicants gain research experience as it is a part of the admissions evaluation process. Participating in research can lead applicants to discover specialty areas within veterinary medicine; providing a broader understanding of the profession. Research experience provides students with problem-solving skills that are essential in the veterinary field. It is important to explain your research which can be clinical, field, or lab-based research experience, including whether the experience provided an opportunity to present or publish your findings. The research does not have to be veterinary, or animal related to be added to this section.

Non-Animal Related Employment

Employment is an additional experience category that the admissions committee will review. Paid employment can further highlight positive non-academic characteristics and values of an applicant. This section should include any paid position an applicant has held since high school that does not involve working with a veterinarian, research, or working with animals as this information should be added to those designated areas. Applicants should include paid positions in retail, offices (student worker), restaurants/fast food, childcare, schools (or tutoring), paid coaching, etc.

Leadership Experience

Veterinarians are expected to be contributors and leaders in their communities. Students aspiring to become veterinarians should start early in their high school and college careers, building a record of service, leadership and involvement through student clubs, civic organizations and outreach projects. The admissions committee highly recommends applicants gain these types of experiences as it is a part of the admissions evaluation process. Leadership is a non-academic evaluation criterion that can be seen throughout an application. Applicants should place either leadership positions or leadership experiences within the appropriate VMCAS category.

These activities offer opportunities for students to learn the values of teamwork, individual and group responsibility, competition, and a sense of culture and community. Applicants should include sports/intramurals, clubs, honor societies, committees, community activities, social activities, fraternities/sororities, certifications, and hobbies. If you were involved in these activities in a leadership role, please include this information within your description. Some extracurriculars such as sororities and clubs, may provide members with chances to gain community service/volunteer hours. In these situations, applicants are encouraged to separate the time dedicated to the volunteer activities from the primary extracurricular activity.

Extracurricular

Volunteer Experience (Non-Animal Related)

These experiences offer essential help to worthwhile causes, people in need, and the wider community. Applicants should include times in which they served others or their community in capacities such as fundraisers (autism awareness, cancer research, food drive, school supply drive, etc.), tutoring (free), Habitat for Humanity, Big Brother/Big Sister, and beach or park clean up. Applicants involved in these activities in a leadership role should include this information within the description. Some extracurriculars such as sororities and clubs, may provide members with chances to gain community service/volunteer hours. In these situations, applicants are encouraged to separate the time dedicated to the volunteer activities from the primary extracurricular activity.

Awards and Achievements

This section highlights your work ethic, commitment, and dedication. These may include awards, honors, special distinctions (Eagle Scout/Girl Scout Gold Award, sport accolades, etc.), dean’s list, honor societies, scholarships, certifications, and other notable achievements, which the applicant should provide a detailed description of each.

Personal Statement

The one-page essay should provide the Admissions Committee with a clear picture of the applicant’s reasons for choosing a career in veterinary medicine and the reasons the applicant is a good candidate for veterinary school. It is important to include details that will differentiate one applicant from another while avoiding repeating information that is included in other parts of the application. The essay should convey the applicant’s passion for veterinary medicine and incorporate information that demonstrates character, ideals, and aspirations through a conversational tone. Essays should be original, thoughtful, and well-written, and include the applicant’s career goals and their contributions to the profession.

Please note that this information is subject to change at the discretion of the CVM Admissions Committee.

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