High School Preparation
While in high school, those interested in veterinary medicine should take
college preparatory courses with emphasis in the sciences and mathematics as well as
obtain a strong background in oral and written communications. In addition to an
interest in the sciences and in animals, those who are interested in a career in
veterinary medicine should also enjoy working with people and have a sincere interest in
the health and welfare of both animals and humans. Because veterinary medicine is so
diverse, it is advisable to become acquainted with several areas of practice as well as
with veterinarians in industry, public health and research.
For the pre-professional program, the high school graduate should have a strong academic record and have completed one and one-half units of algebra and one unit of plane geometry. Other high school subjects that are highly recommended are chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology. A strong background in oral and written communications and computer literacy is also desirable.
College Pre-Professional Preparation
There is no limit to the number of academically qualified students who can
be admitted to the pre-professional program. However, admittance to the
pre-professional program does not guarantee admittance to the professional curriculum in
the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Whether the pre-professional education is completed at K-State or at another accredited college or university, the courses listed below must be included as minimum preparation.
| Prerequisite Courses | Hrs |
| Expository Writing I and II | 6 |
| Public Speaking IA | 2 |
| Chemistry I and II | 8 |
| General Organic Chemistry and Laboratory | 5 |
| General Biochemistry | 3 |
| Physics I and II | 8 |
| Principles of Biology or Zoology | 4 |
| Microbiology (with laboratory) | 4 |
| Genetics | 3 |
| Social sciences and/or humanities | 12 |
| Electives | 9 |
| Total | 64 |
|
All required science courses (chemistry, physics, biology, and genetics) must have been taken within six years of the date of enrollment in the professional program. All pre-professional requirements must be graded. Course substitutions must be petitioned in writing to the Admissions Committee through the Office of the Associate Dean for Admissions. |
|
Professional Program Admission Requirements
Prerequisite Courses: A student must complete the pre-professional requirements with a minimum of 2.800 average GPA (on an A=4 basis) in an accredited college or university, and a minimum 2.800 average GPA in the last 45 semester hours of undergraduate work. Please see the conversion table to convert quarters to semester hours. Any grade less than a C in a required course, or a grade of F in any course, cannot be accepted. Only those students who can complete the required 64 semester hours of pre-professional courses by the end of the spring term of the year in which they are seeking admission will be considered for admission to the professional curriculum.
GRE: The General Test of the Graduate Record of Examination (GRE) is also required and must be taken before making application to the professional program. When taking the GRE be sure to use institutional code 6334 and departmental code 0617.
Applicants completing ALL of the prerequisite courses for the DVM degree program at Kansas State University are not required to submit GRE scores. The academic ranking of these applicants is based on the GPA of the prerequisite science courses for the DVM degree program.
Applicants NOT completing all of the required prerequisites at Kansas State University ARE required to submit scores for the general GRE. Both the scores for the general GRE and the prerequisite science GPA are used in evaluating the academic ranking of these applicants.
Application: Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine applications are available starting June 1 and are due by October 1.
A complete application includes:
- Completed VMCAS online application (http://www.aavmc.org)
- KSU Supplemental Application Packet which includes:
Completed KSU supplemental application form
Transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended (in sealed envelopes)
Non-refundable $50 application processing fee (made payable to Dean of Veterinary Medicine)
Photocopy of GRE score report (official GRE scores must also be sent from ETS to institutional code 6334 and departmental code 0617)
Interviews: Interview offers are extended to some qualified applicants. If invited, attendance at the interview is required for further consideration of admission and all interviews are held on campus. No phone or off-campus interviews will be granted. Applicants are evaluated on motivation, maturity, communication skills, experience with and knowledge of animals and veterinary medicine, general knowledge, career awareness, goals, and leadership potential. To demonstrate to the admissions committee an understanding of the profession, all students interested in applying to the College of Veterinary Medicine are encouraged to have broad animal experience and to have related veterinary work experience.
Mission Statement
The admissions committee is committed to identifying applicants who possess the following characteristics: