College of Veterinary Medicine > Education > Doctor of Veterinary Medicine > Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

The WSU College of Veterinary Medicine offers a four-year professional degree program leading to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. 

As you begin your application process, we encourage you to look over the prerequisite courses, work or volunteer with a veterinarian, and build relationships with academic mentors, employers, or community leaders who can write a recommendation letter for you.

The DVM admissions committee views a solid and broad undergraduate experience to be crucial preparation for successful completion of the veterinary curriculum.

When evaluating applicants, we consider both academic and non-academic criteria. We are looking for well-rounded applicants who are likely to succeed in our program.

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DVM student in surgery

Academic criteria

Our admissions committee considers several academic components when evaluating an applicant’s ability to successfully complete our veterinary curriculum.

  • Prerequisite coursework (with a grade of C- or higher before entering our program)
  • Four GPAs as calculated in the VMCAS application
    • Cumulative GPA (all courses)
    • Science GPA (physical and biological sciences)
    • Last semester (45 hours) or quarter (60 hours) GPA
    • DVM program science and math prerequisite courses GPA
  • Course load and rigor
  • Grades in upper-division science courses
  • Advanced degrees
  • Record of academic honors, scholarships, etc.

Non-academic criteria

Non-academic criteria are used to assess if an applicant possesses the qualities of a successful veterinarian and has a holistic understanding of the profession.

  • Veterinary experiences (work supervised by or in observation of a veterinarian)
  • Animal experiences (any work with animals not supervised by a veterinarian)
  • Employment experiences (other than veterinary or animal experience)
  • Research experiences
  • Volunteer and community services (outside of the veterinary field)
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Achievements (honors, awards, and scholarships)
DVM student with horse

Dig Deeper

Visit the DVM Admissions Hub site to find more detailed information about admission requirements and the application process.

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Accreditation – The AVMA Council on Education® (AVMA COE®) accredits DVM or equivalent educational programs. The AVMA COE assures that minimum standards in veterinary medical education are met by all AVMA-accredited colleges of veterinary medicine, and that students enrolled in those colleges receive an education which will prepare them for entry-level positions in the profession. The WSU College of Veterinary Medicine underwent accreditation review in 2017 and the current status is accredited. The next accreditation review will be in 2024.

Notice of Nondiscrimination – WSU does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, disability, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, protected veteran/military status, or immigration or citizenship status in any education program or activity that it operates complaint with Title IX and other civil rights laws and regulations. Inquiries regarding Title IX, ADA, or other civil rights laws, as well as reports of discrimination can be directed to the Compliance and Civil Rights, WSU ADA Coordinator, or WSU Title IX Coordinator. More information on WSU’s policies and procedures to respond to discrimination and harassment are available here: Nondiscrimination statement.