Students

DVM Application Procedures

The Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences explains their application process very succinctly. Please review it carefully and adhere to all deadlines when submitting your applications. The applications (VMCAS and CSA) must be completed on time to be considered. The attached documents are from 2019 - please visit the CSU website often for updates and application instructions.

Colorado Supplemental Application Information

Sample Colorado Supplemental Application (PDF)

"Becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine involves a program of academic preparation..." If you are considering this profession visit the CSU Advising website.

High School Students

Thinking about your future? There are two files below which will give you important information for college if you are thinking about becoming a veterinarian. Please be aware that applying to vet school will take you years (4 or more) to complete the course work needed to apply. If you are accepted it will take another 4 years to get your doctor of veterinary medicine degree (DVM).

In High School you should focus on: MATH, MATH, MATH with LOTS of Science!

In college there are certain requisites to achieve a Bachelor’s Degree. Then, there are certain pre-requisites to be eligible for applying to Veterinary School. and there are more recommendations for courses which increase your chances of being accepted.

If your goal is to become a veterinarian, there are several tracks at the University of Alaska (Biology, Chemistry, School of Natural Resources; at UAA College of Arts & Sciences, and UAS; and likely more). Contact us at 907-474-1928 or uaf-vet-med@alaska.edu for a personal advising appointment. You will need to provide an unofficial transcript, a couple of paragraphs explaining your career goals, and a resume (or similar) prior to the appointment. And, of course bring your parents so that they will know what a committment you are working toward, and the costs involved.

Veterinary medicine holds great appeal for many students today. It offers both an opportunity to earn a good income and to be of service to the environment, animals and people (One Health).

Earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine involves a program of academic preparation, usually 8 – 10 years after high school. Most applicants to a veterinary medical school have completed 3 to 4 years of college and the majority have earned a baccalaureate degree. The veterinary medical school is 4 years of education in basic sciences and clinical procedures. If you are seriously considering a future career as a veterinarian, you should prepare now for admission to college. Although it is important to take as many math and science classes in high school that you can, courses which will provide the best foundation for our college pre-veterinary curriculum are:

  • 4 years of English
  • 3 or 4 years of mathematics
  • 2 or 3 years of laboratory science (chemistry, physics, and biology)

These courses usually form the basic requirements of many life science baccalaureate programs such as animal sciences, zoology, biology, environmental health and microbiology.

More people apply for admission to veterinary medicine schools than can be admitted. In choosing the most qualified applicants, the Admissions Committees look for those who have shown high scholastic ability and who have gained an understanding of animals and of the profession through such activities as 4-H, Medical Explorer Scouts, hobbies, extracurricular programs at school, community service, and paid or volunteer work on farms or ranches, in pet stores, kennels, animal shelters, research laboratories, and veterinary clinics.

Employment opportunities for veterinarians are almost endless and include private or corporate clinical practice, teaching and research, regulatory medicine, public health, and military service.

Vet School Admission 101

Veterinary Course Requirements (PDF)