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The Ohio State University

College of Veterinary Medicine

Selection Process

Admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine is granted only for the fall quarter of each year and only on a full-time basis.  The selection process is designed to admit applicants who can both succeed academically in a rigorous, intensive four-year professional science program and demonstrate dedication and commitment to the veterinary profession.  Our process for evaluating applicants for admission is detailed and complex to ensure that we select the most highly qualified students who possess the potential for successful completion of the DVM program. 

Academic and non-academic qualifications are considered in the selection process.  Selection for admission is based on the sum of the objective and subjective scores.  The exact combination of each component to the total score may vary slightly from year to year and is determined by the Admissions Committee.

Objective Evaluation

The objective evaluation is based on academic achievement and standardized test scores.  All official transcripts of college course grades are examined to determine academic achievement. 

Subjective Evaluation

The subjective evaluation of applicants is based on non-academic qualifications that include:

  • References
  • Motivation
  • Commitment to the profession
  • Maturity
  • Comprehension of the profession
  • Knowledge of the profession
  • Animal handling experience
  • Interpersonal/communication skills
  • Leadership ability
  • Knowledge of Animals/Veterinary Experience
  • Community involvement
  • Knowledge of current events
  • Written communication

The Admission committee does a file review of applicants who meet our academic requirements.  Qualified applicants are invited to participate in a personal interview.