The admissions committee is looking for well-rounded students with a passion for people, animals, science and learning. Each applicant is considered on a combination of factors which include:
Strong Academic Background
Applicants should have a strong overall GPA in undergraduate/graduate course work and prerequisite course requirements (specifically science courses). We need to be confident that the applicant will be able to successfully complete our rigorous, science-based veterinary curriculum. GPA for admission is not absolute; however, below is the breakdown for Ohio Residents and Non Residents who are given preferential consideration:
- Minimum Overall GPA: 3.0 average or above
- Competitive Overall GPA: 3.6 average or above
- Competitive Science GPA: 3.6 average or above
- Applicants with a GPA less than 3.0 will not be considered
- Applicants who have been dismissed from another Veterinary School will not be considered for admittance.
Veterinary and Animal Experience
- Volunteer or work with a veterinarian(s) to gain a realistic perspective of the profession.
- Gain experience with a variety of veterinary career paths to develop your knowledge of the profession.
- Experience should be of appropriate breadth and depth in order to gain an appreciation for and understanding of the duties and responsibilities of the veterinarian and the scope of veterinary medicine.
- Work with a variety of animals (companion animals, food animals, equine, exotic, and research).
- Gain unique and diverse experiences.
- No minimum number of hours with a veterinarian or animal experience, but most applicants demonstrate considerable experience.
Community Involvement and Extracurricular Activities
- Get involved in community service and extracurricular activities.
- Degree of involvement is considered.
- Balancing school and responsibilities outside of the classroom demonstrates your ability to handle the difficult demands of veterinary school.
Leadership Ability, Communication, and Interpersonal Skills
- Leadership ability can be demonstrated in many ways, such as positions of responsibility in employment, church, community, and school organizations including coaching, tutoring, and mentoring.
- Applicants must be able to communicate effectively and possess skills to express their thoughts and ideas.
- Applicants must have strong interpersonal skills and work experience with diverse groups of people.
If you have questions about applying to our college, please contact us at (614) 292-1171 or email dvmprospective@osu.edu. Consultation with the Office of Admissions and Recruitment is available to candidates who do not gain admission into our college. Please call (614) 292-1171 to schedule an appointment.
