Frequently Asked Admissions Questions

The admissions committee strongly recommends completing a bachelor’s degree before beginning the DVM program. If a baccalaureate degree has not been earned by the time of application or matriculation, the committee will base its decisions on the strength and breadth of the applicant’s educational background.

Applicants to the DVM program can major in any subject area and will be evaluated on the rigor of the coursework completed as a requirement of that major. When evaluating an applicant, emphasis is placed on physical and biological science preparation. Prerequisite coursework is considered an essential foundation, while excellence in additional upper division science courses further indicates an applicant is more likely to successfully complete the program.

While some prerequisite courses may be taken at a community college, other coursework may only be available at a four-year institution. If you do attend a community college, consult with a pre-veterinary advisor at your institution to ensure your classes satisfy the prerequisites for the DVM program.

No, success in your academic program is more important. The committee will review the rigor of the program and its courses. Some schools have 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, qualified students are accepted from academic institutions around the world. A student’s state of residency, however, is a consideration.

A tracking curriculum, in which students are asked to identify species or discipline interests early in their veterinary education, is not practiced at WSU. Our curriculum is designed to provide graduates with a core knowledge base to function as entry-level veterinarians across the full range of domestic species. Students can enhance their preparation in specific areas by taking electives, supplemental core courses, and participating in off-campus experiences.

A high school student should follow a solid college preparatory program, including English, mathematics, sciences (particularly biology, chemistry, and physics), and social sciences. Please see our prepare for admission page for more information.

No, the admissions committee will look for evidence physical and biological science prerequisites have been satisfactorily completed or will be completed with a C- or better prior to entry into the DVM program. Applicants are evaluated on the strength of prerequisite coursework completed at the time of application.

Prerequisite coursework is checked at the time of application review. We highly recommend speaking with a pre-veterinary or pre-health advisor at your institution if you have questions about prerequisite courses to determine which courses will fulfill our prerequisites.

Yes. WSU participates in the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) professional student exchange program (PSEP), an affordable pathway to healthcare education. For veterinary medicine, the programs serves students from Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

For more information, see our guidelines for residency certification.

Applicants from WICHE states that are not selected to receive WICHE sponsored support, as well as those applicants who do not receive certification through their state, will be considered in the nonresident applicant pool.

Yes, if they are relevant to one of the application sections. Many applicants participate in service activities, national and international mission work, and gain other life experiences from participation in a belief system. Applicants should feel welcome to include this information where appropriate.

Yes. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) priority deadline for our program is typically in late January of the year you plan on entering our program, however, FAFSA applications will be accepted throughout the spring.

Please see our Tuition and Financial Resources page for more information.

Washington, Idaho, and Montana applicants who are invited to interview will receive notification via email approximately one month before interview dates. See our application timeline.

Non-resident applicants are not interviewed for our program and will receive their admissions decision via email by the end of December.

Upon completion of interviews, all applicants will receive a status update within four weeks. Interviewed applicants who are not initially made offers of admission may be given waitlist status and may be admitted at a later date.

WICHE applicants should be notified by early spring unless there are delays in the ranking process. Some WICHE applicants are also given waitlist status.

The admissions committee assumes the applicant, if admitted, is fully prepared to enter the veterinary program starting the next fall semester.

Deferral of admission is considered by the Director of Admissions on a case-by-case basis and granted only under special circumstances.

Yes, many of our successful applicants have applied more than once.

No. See the AVMA website for more information on veterinary technician and assistant training programs.