Frequently Asked Questions
Also See: "Ask a Vet Student" Videos
No preference is given for any particular undergraduate major. Any
undergraduate major will qualify for application as long as the
prospective applicant has fulfilled all CVM prerequisites (see
academic and non-academic criteria). Applicants are encouraged to
develop a plan for an alternate career. It is strongly recommended
that applicants pursue a bachelor’s degree in a desired field in the
event they are not accepted into a DVM program, rather than
concentrating on a major solely with an eye toward gaining entry
into the DVM program.
No, what is more important is your success in your academic program.
The committee will review the rigor of the program and its courses,
as well as the rigor of an applicant’s schedule at a given period of
time. Some schools do offer more or less rigorous programs and this
should be considered by prospective students.
Four years of study are required in the professional program to
obtain a DVM degree, regardless of the number of years spent in
pre-professional or pre-veterinary preparation.
No. While we prefer that applicants have a majority of all required
coursework completed at the time of application, pending coursework
may be completed throughout the application process. However, all
required coursework must be completed prior to starting the DVM
program, if admitted.
Some prerequisite equivalency information can be found at
https://webapps.wsu.edu/ais/myinfoservices/darwintce. You should
also check with your academic advisor (from the institution where
the courses were taken). If you are still unable to determine
equivalency, you can contact the WSU CVM admissions program
coordinator for assistance. You will need to provide an unofficial
transcript, as well as a course description and syllabus. Keep in
mind there are periods of time when these requests will not be
fielded as quickly due to admissions processing.
No. Qualified students have been accepted from academic institutions
around the world. A student’s state of residency is a consideration,
however. Of the 95–99 seats in a given year, ~60 will be filled by
Washington state residents, 11 by Idaho state residents, and the
remaining seats are offered to a combination of WICHE-funded and
out-of-area students.
No. Tracking curricula, in which students are asked to identify
species and/or discipline interests very early on in their
veterinary education, carry the advantage of efficiency, but this
benefit is outweighed by some distinct disadvantages. Our
DVM curriculum is designed to provide our graduates with a core
knowledge base, meaning that each graduate leaves the DVM program
with the knowledge they need to function as an entry-level
veterinarian across the full range of domestic species. Students are
able to enhance their preparation in specific areas of interest by
taking
various electives and participating in off campus experiences.
The WSU program is committed to assisting students who have disabilities with
reasonable accommodations. Students with concerns should contact the WSU
Disability Resource Center.
The program is sincerely interested in and committed to recruiting and admitting
a highly-qualified, diverse student body. In keeping with this commitment, the
Admissions Committee seeks to select students who are racially, ethnically, and
experientially diverse.
To begin, you should verify if you have fulfilled any of the prerequisites or
determine which courses you need to take. You should also build your experience
hours, if you have not already. If you have not taken the GRE, or it has been
more than five years since you took the test, you should study for and take the
exam. Since each non-traditional student’s situation is unique, we encourage you
to contact our assistant director of admissions, Abbie DeMeerleer, who can help
make sure you are on track.
Entering classes for the past five years have included approximately 80% women
and 20% men.
No. We do not accept any substitutions for the general GRE exam.
Yes. WSU will consider the highest score per section from exams taken within the
five year period.
Yes, if they are relevant to one of the application sections. Many applicants
will participate in service activities, national & international mission work
and gain other life experience from participation in a belief system. Applicants
should feel welcome to include this information where appropriate.
These evaluations help no more than those from any other individual. Generally,
the best evaluations are written by people who know the applicant well enough to
provide candid and detailed information about his/her technical and
non-technical abilities.
YES, DEFINITELY! Can I reapply if I don't get accepted to vet school? Yes. The
average student accepted into the WSU CVM program has applied 1.76 times. If you
are not successful with your application, you may request an evaluation of your
application materials from the Director of Admissions before May 15th. Remember
that you must submit a new application for each admission cycle.
Yes. Applications are not carried over from year to year, so if you are
unsuccessful and wish to be reconsidered for admission in a different year, you
must submit a completely new VMCAS application, WSU supplemental application, as
well as all new supporting materials (such as GRE scores, transcripts,
evaluations, etc.).
Transfer is possible if open seats are available in the corresponding WSU DVM
class. When you accept a veterinary program position, you should be prepared to
remain in that program for its entirety as transferring is not a guarantee. If
you are still interested in trying to pursue a potential transfer to WSU, you
can contact Abbie DeMeerleer,
abbiedem@vetmed.wsu.edu, for the
WSU CVM transfer request policy and information.
With a true four-season climate, there is excellent outdoor recreation available
ranging from hiking, renowned golf courses, and whitewater rafting to mountain
biking and both water and snow skiing, as well as theater and arts. Pullman is
also home to the National Lentil Festival, the Chipman Trail (an 8+ mile paved
trail that connects the communities of Pullman and Moscow, Idaho), and
Ferdinand’s (known for delicious ice cream and world-famous award-winning Cougar
Gold cheese). WSU features lectures by public figures such as Tom Brokaw and
Jane Goodall, art exhibits by Roy Lichtenstein, and performances on campus by
top entertainers such as Elton John, Jay Leno, Dierks Bentley, Mercy Me, Taylor
Swift, and Everclear.
A high school student should follow a solid college preparatory course,
including English, mathematics, sciences (particularly biology, chemistry, and
physics), and social sciences.
