Application Checklist

Due to the large number of application materials we receive in our office, we are unable to respond to each applicant regarding the status of specific items that are submitted to us.  Once your application is complete and we have received all of your materials, you will receive an email from us notifying you of your complete status.  Alternately, if you are missing any items from your application, we will notify you and you will be given the opportunity to resubmit the missing component of your application.  We sincerely appreciate your patience in this process. 

• Succesful completion of required prerequisite courses by the end of the winter quarter or spring semester preceding matriculation
• VMCAS application (deadline October 2)
• Supplemental application (deadline October 1) - click here for supplemental application (please complete and submit your VMCAS application before submitting supplemental application)
• Test scores (GRE or MCAT) (must be taken by September 30).  Scores must be received by October 15. 
• All academic transcripts to the Office of Professional Admissions (deadline October 1)
• 80-hour veterinary verification form  to the Office of Student Affairs (deadline October 1)
• Three letters of recommendation submitted electronically through VMCAS (Two references must be from veterinarians - deadline October 1)
• Personal interview (based on pre-screening)

If you do not meet the minimum GPA or test score requirements, your application will not be considered. 

Prerequisite Courses -  No more than one required prerequisite course may remain to be completed after autumn term of the academic year in which you apply.  All courses must be completed by the end of the winter quarter or spring semester preceding matriculation.  A grade of C or better must be earned in all prerequisite course work.  Courses can be completed at any accredited college or university as long as the courses are determined by the Office of Professional Admission to be equivalent to our required courses. For a list of prerequisite courses, click here.

VMCAS Application - The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) coordinates the national and international affairs of most veterinary medical colleges in the United States and Canada.  All applicants are required to apply online through AAVMC's Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS).  Applicants can begin submitting their VMCAS applications in June.  The deadline to submit is October 2.  For more information, visit aavmc.org

Supplemental Application - Applicants who designate The Ohio State University on the electronic VMCAS application are required to complete a supplemental application.  This supplemental application consists of several essay questions.  The supplemental application will be available on line at vet.osu.edu in June and must be completed and submitted by October 1.  Please do not complete the supplemental application until you have first completed and submitted your VMCAS application.  You must provide an accurate VMCAS ID as part of your supplemental application.  There is a non-refundable application fee of $60 to be paid electronically, upon submission of the application.

• Click here for the supplemental application.

Graduate Records Exam (GRE) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) - Applicants are required to take the General GRE or the MCAT no later than September 30, but within five years of their application.  Most applicants choose to take the GRE.  The GRE measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills.  Applicants are required to take all parts including the analytical writing section.  Minimum GRE score is a combined score of 1000.  The GRE is offered multiple times per year at locations throughout the United States and Canada.  To register for the GRE, go to ets.org or call 1-800-GRE-CALL.  You will need to provide the following codes to ETS in order for the college to receive your test scores:  GRE Code: 1592 - Department Code: 0617.  Mininimum MCAT is 24. For information about the MCAT, visit aamc.org.  To access your MCAT scores, we will need your 16-digit verification code. 

Academic Transcripts - Students who complete a VMCAS application are required to submit all their official transcripts to the Office of Professional Admissions by October 1. 

Address to send transcript to:
Office of Professional Admissions
P.O. Box 182003
Columbus, OH 43218-2003
(614) 292-9444 phone
E-mail professional@osu.edu
Web: http://www.professional.osu.edu

80-hour Veterinary Verification Form - Applicants are required to spend a minimum of 80 hours with one veterinarian.  To verify these hours, applicants must submit one Veterinary Experience form.  This form must be completed by ONE veterinarian with whom you have accumulated a minimum of 80 hours of veterinary experience.  Please fax or send the 80-hour form to the Office of Students Affairs at (614) 292-6989.  The deadline to submit this form is October 1.  Applicants reapplying from the previous year do not to resubmit the 80-hour Veterinary Verification Form as applications are kept on file up to one year. Applicants do not need to submit more than one verification form.

• Click  for 80-hour veterinary verification form.

Letters of Recommendation - Letters of recommendation are an important part of the application.  We require a total of three references.  Two references must be from veterinarians, and one additional reference (no relatives) is also required.  Letters of recommendation should be submitted directly through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) by October 1.  Applicants should request letters from veterinarians, professors, employers, etc., who know them well and are able to comment accurately on their ability to be successful in veterinary school.  We will not accept letters of recommendations that are not submitted through VMCAS.

Personal Interview - After evaluation of each applicant's academic record, test score, and non-academic portions of the application, a point value is assigned.  This value will determine which applicants will be invited for a personal interview.  Competitive applicants typically exceed the minimum GRE and GPA requirements.  Therefore, just meeting the minimum GPA & GRE requirements will not guarantee your application will be considered.  For information about presenting a competitive application, click here.   For those that qualify for an interview, the interview is typically 30 minutes with two members of the Admission Committee.  The personal interview will be used to clarify any issues arising from academic and non-academic evaluation and to assess the applicant's maturity, motivation, communication skills, knowledge of the profession, and desire to contribute to society through veterinary medicine.

Please note:  If we are missing admission materials, we will contact you.  If you have questions, please e-mail students@cvm.osu.edu.