Veterinary (DVM)
Most applicants to veterinary medical programs have completed a bachelor’s degree, and some have additional graduate study. Admission requirements vary by school, so applicants should review the specific prerequisites and entrance exam requirements for each program of interest. For information about general admissions and entrance exam requirements, visit the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC).
What does a D.V.M. do?
A D.V.M. diagnoses and treats animal diseases, helps prevent disease transmission between animals and people, supports food safety by maintaining the health of food-producing animals, and may contribute to wildlife conservation and public health.
Where do veterinarians work?
Veterinarians may work in private practice, teaching and research, public health, government service, the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, or private industry. They are licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Application Timeline
This timeline assumes you begin your dental school application preparation in the fall before the application cycle you plan to apply to.
January – April: Core Preparation
- HPAP Process
- Submit Health Professions Applicant Preparation Materials
- Schedule an appointment with an HPAP advisor
- Application Content
- January 2026: VMCAS Application Launches
- Plan and sit for GRE exam (if not already taken)
- Request Letters of Evaluation/Recommendation
- Letters will be sent to the veterinary schools through the VMCAS application service
- Begin drafting your personal statement
- Create a school list
May/June: Finalize Application
- Request transcripts be sent to application services
- It takes up to four weeks for transcript verification and this process must be completed/verified before the September deadline.
- Information about Situational Judgement Tests
- Take Acuity Insights Assessments for select programs (note: if applying to both US and Canadian schools there will be two different assessments)
- PrepMatch offers practice resources for CASPer
June – December: Interview Season
- Complete secondary applications
- September 2026: VMCAS Application Submission Deadline
- Watch “Interviewing for the Health Professions” video
- In preparation, read veterinary journals/articles, and review potential ethical dilemmas that may be asked about during the interview process
- Interview at veterinary schools
December – April: Decide and Matriculate
- Evaluate offers of acceptance and financial aid
- Final decision due by mid-April
Application Resources
Vet Application
- VMCAS
- Application Opens January 2026
- Begin adding schools May 2026
- Application closes September 2026
- Vet School Prerequites Database
