Prospective Veterinary Students Packet
University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University
The following information is intended to give Winona State University Pre-Veterinary Medicine majors
an overview of the application process and what to expect when applying to the University of
Minnesota, University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University Veterinary Medicine Program. It is not
intended to be the only source of information for this process. Each prospective student needs to use
the web pages from each of these institutions for all the details pertaining to this process.
Deadlines: All 3 Schools require you to apply online using the online application service VMCAS by
October 1 of the year prior to admittance. Your formal application plus letters of recommendation will
go through VMCAS. However, you will send your GRE scores and transcripts directly to the school you
are applying to. Look online for dates that GRE scores and transcripts need to arrive as they change
yearly.
NOTE: Iowa residents applying to Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine must apply BY SEPTEMBER
1 of the year prior to admittance. That means all letters of recommendations, transcripts and GRE
scores must also be received/postmarked by September 1.
Statistics:
Total Applications
Class Size
Men
Women
Mean GPAs:
Cumulative Undergrad.
Required Pre-req.’s
Most Recent 30 credits
Most Recent 45 credits
Mean Age
Mean GRE
Verbal
Quantitative
Writing
Minnesota
1033
100*
27 (27%)
73 (73%)
Wisconsin
1047
80*
11 (13.75%)
69 (86.25%)
Iowa
No Data
149*
47 (31.5%)
102 (68.5%)
No Data
3.58
No Data
3.71
24
1190
530
660
No Data
3.57-R, 3.77- N.R. **
3.56-R, 3.79- N.R.
3.65-R, 3.88- N.R.
No Data
23
No Data
540-R, 585-N.R.
687-R, 711- N.R.
4.5- R, 4.7- N.R.
No Data
3.31
No Data
3.58
23.8
No Data
490
630
4.0
*- See Residency and Tuition Costs Table below for breakdown of residents vs. non-residents.
**-R= resident, N.R.= Non-resident
Required Undergraduate Coursework
Course and Title
English Composition
S.H.
6
Which School Requires
MN, WI, IA*
Oral Communication
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
3
8
3-7
Biochemistry
Physics
3-4
4-8
General Biology
4-8
Genetics
3
IA
MN, WI, IA
MN- 4-5 credits
Wi- 3 credits, no lab
required
IA- 7 credits (2 semesters,
1 with lab, the other no
lab required)
MN, WI, IA
MN- Two semesters with
lab
WI- Two semesters, no lab
required
IA- One semester with lab
MN- One semester with
lab + 4 cr Zoology**
WI- One semester with lab
(or 4 cr. Zoology)
IA- Two semesters with
lab
MN, WI, IA (no labs
required)
Mammalian Anatomy
And/or Physiology
3
IA
Statistics
Microbiology
Arts, Humanities
and/or Social Sciences
3
4
612
WI
MN
MN-6 from History and
Social Sciences, 6 from
Arts and Humanities
WI-6 from Social Sciences
OR Humanities
IA- 8 total, mix and match
Electives
8
IA
WSU Equivalent Course(s)
Engl 111, Engl 210, Engl 211, Engl 222, Engl
439
CMST 191
Chem 212 & Chem 213
MN- Chem 340 or 350
WI- Chem 340 or 350
IA- Chem 350 & 351
Chem 400
Phys 201 (MN, WI, IA)
Phys 202 (MN, WI)
Biol 241 (MN, WI, IA)
Biol 242 (MN, IA)
**Biol 242= Zoology
Biol 310
Biol 201, Biol 323, Biol 441
(note- Biol 319 MAY satisfy this
requirement- ask Iowa)
Stat 110 or Stat 305
Biol 409
Lots to choose from. Use your University
Studies list to choose courses that satisfy
both WSU and pre-vet requirements.
*B.S. degree counts for ½ of this requirement at IA.
A “C” or better is necessary to fulfill the requirements. Up to two required science courses may be
taken the spring term prior to matriculation. All others must be completed before the spring term.
Required courses must be taken from an accredited college or university on a graded A-F basis (no
Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Fail grading system).
Selection Criteria
Minnesota
GPA
Cumulative GPA
Required Science GPA
Last 30-45 credits GPA
GRE
Coursework Rigor
Admissions Committee Review
Personal Statement
Recommendations
Supplemental Application Essays
Extracurricular/Community
Activities
Veterinary Experience
Animal Experience
Personal Development
Diversity
Special Circumstances
Interview
1/3 of score=
academic
GPA in last 45
credits(max 25 pts.)
GPA in Prereq
courses,(max= 20 pts.)
GRE (max 12.5 pts
verbal, 12.5 pts
quant.)
No supplemental
1/3 Score=Nonacademic
Behavioral= 1/3
Score
Wisconsin
Iowa
Academic = 30%
30%
10%
20%
Supplemental
Non-academic=
30% (letters of rec
from at least 2
veterinarians is
HIGHLY
encouraged)
Other- 20%
None
Supplemental
20%
Behavioral-20%
Experience in veterinary medicine is crucial. Madison would like a minimum of 400 hours working with
a veterinarian. Working with multiple veterinarians in different practices is encouraged. Experience in
both large animal (food animal) and small animal is also encouraged. Working with animals in other
capacities is also looked upon favorably, such as working at the Humane Society, working on a farm,
training animals, giving horseback riding lessons and others. Experience in High School counts, so keep
records of everything you have done in the field since High School.
Extracurricular/Community Activities are important. You should be active in clubs and activities that
relate to your field and should be an officer in these clubs if at all possible. Volunteerism is also
something the schools are looking at, as they want their graduates to be the type of veterinarians who
give back to the community. Volunteerism can be animal related, but doesn’t have to be. Working with
the American Heart Association or Habitat for Humanity is equally as important.
Residency and Tuition Costs (Entering Class of 2010)
# Seats Reserved for
Residents
# Seats Reserved for
non-residents
# Seats Reserved for
Contract States
Tuition- Instate/contract
Tuition out of state
Contract States
Minnesota
55
Wisconsin
60-70
Iowa
60
45
10-20
45
(included as Residents)
0
40
$27, 162
$17, 714
$15, 682
$47, 206
N. Dakota, S. Dakota,
Manitoba
$25, 786
None
$38,788
N. Dakota, S. Dakota,
Nebraska, Connecticut
How to Apply:
1)
Fill out application materials on the VMCAS website
(http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas.htm). The application must be complete by noon
October 1 the year prior to entering Vet School. Iowa residents must apply to Iowa State by
September 1. See what to expect on the VMCAS site below.
2) Three letters of recommendation are required and should be submitted through VMCAS. Up to
6 letters will be accepted through this website. The applicant is strongly encouraged to have at
least one of these recommendations from a veterinarian. Madison strongly encourages 2 of
these letters be from veterinarians. Other evaluators could be from academic advisors,
professors or employers. The evaluator should know the applicant well enough to speak to their
personal characteristics and attributes. It is encouraged that the evaluators include comments
of a letter with the form evaluation. Evaluators cannot be related to the applicant by blood or
marriage. Instructions on submitting letters of recommendation to VMCAS can be found at the
VMCAS website.
3) Graduate Record Exam (GRE). You must have your GRE scores sent directly to the schools you
are applying to. NOTE: This date may change from year to year, so please check the VMCAS
website as well as the individual University’s for actual dates. All GRE testing must be
completed by September 15 the year prior to admittance. Iowa residents must have GRE scores
submitted by September 15.
4) Official transcripts for ALL college-level coursework must be sent directly to the
College/University you are applying to. This includes all undergraduate, graduate and
continuing education transcripts. DO NOT send transcripts to VMCAS, but to the following
addresses.
Office of Academic and Student
Affairs
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Minnesota
108 Pomeroy Center, 1964 Fitch
Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
University of Wisconsin
School of Veterinary Medicine
Office of Academic Affairs
2015 Linden Dr.
Madison, WI 53706
Veterinary Medicine Admissions
2270 Veterinary Medicine
Iowa State University
P.O. Box 3020
Ames, IA 50010-3020
5) Pay your application fees. Iowa and Wisconsin require an additional Supplemental Application
in addition to the VMCAS application. These will go directly to Iowa or Wisconsin and additional
fees will be charged. Iowa’s is due at the same time your VMCAS application is due. Wisconsin
will email you with the link and instructions for your Supplemental Application. Wisconsin also
requires a Required Applicant Data Form which gets mailed directly to Madison. Minnesota
also requires an additional processing fee, but doesn’t require a supplemental application.
6) Prepare yourself for interviews. Both Iowa and Minnesota conduct behavioral interviews.
These are based less on academics and experience and more on seeing how you react to certain
situations. The goal is to never become frustrated or flustered, but to remain calm even when
you feel the situation is slipping away from you. There are websites that will help you to
prepare for this type of interview.
What to Expect When Filling Out Your Application on the VMCAS site:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Academic record. You will have to fill in all classes you have taken at all schools.
Veterinary Experience (both paid and unpaid). Volunteer hours counts.
Animal experience other than what is supervised by a veterinarian.
All employment history.
Honors and Community involvement.
YOU CANNOT PUT SOMETHING IN MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY. This gets tricky sometimes. If
you volunteered at the Humane Society you can put that in either veterinary experience (if you
were at all supervised by a vet or did veterinary type duties) OR volunteerism OR animal
experience other than what is supervised by a veterinarian. Since you need something in each
category, you should put it in your weakest section in order to beef it up.
7. And remember, high school employment, shadowing and volunteerism counts too, so keep
track of everything you did even before you came to WSU.
VMCAS KEY ITEMS TO REMEMBER:
1. VMCAS Will Not Supply Evaluations to Evaluators or Applicants or to non-designated schools.
2. VMCAS will not send applications to schools for students that have outstanding VMCAS fees.
3. (related to #2): VMCAS will only accept credit card payment for applications.
4. VMCAS will not send VMCAS materials to non-VMCAS schools.
5. VMCAS will provide copies of applications to applicants as far back as the 2005/2006 cycle for a $50
administrative / processing fee.
6. VMCAS will retain Application Data for a Period of 5 years.
Alphabetical Listing of AAVMC Institutional (AVMA/COE Accredited) Members, by
Country
United States
Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Texas A & M University, College Station, TX
Tufts University, North Grafton, MA
Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL
University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
University of Georgia, Athens, GA
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA
Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
Australia
Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA
University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC
University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
Canada
Université de Montréal, St. Hyacinthe, QC
University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Ireland
University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin
New Zealand
Massey University, Palmerston North
United Kingdom
University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
Royal Veterinary College London/Hertfordshire, England
Alphabetical Listing of AAVMC Affiliate (Non-AVMA/COE Accredited
Institutions)Members
Ross University, St. Kitts, West Indies
St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies
St. Matthew’s University, Grand Cayman Island, B.W.I.
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico