The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University enrolls five high school graduates per year in Vet Start, a program which provides guidance through an undergraduate preveterinary preparation at Colorado State. Students who successfully complete this preparation will be guaranteed admission to the professional veterinary medical program. Undergraduate and professional program tuition scholarships will be given to all selected candidates as funds are available. Students with disadvantaged backgrounds will be given special consideration for selection to Vet Start. Vet Start Program information is publicly disclosed to all parties on the web site of the college. The college makes no warranties, express or implied, to provide individual notification to all parties who may be interested or who may apply to this program.
Economic factors: a demonstrated history of low income of applicant and family unit prior to college entrance and preveterinary education; level of financial support provided to applicant by the family unit prior to and during preveterinary education; applicant financial responsibility to a household and history of financial aid.
Educational factors: inadequate early education because of frequent change of schools during elementary and secondary education; unusual number of hours of employment or necessary other time commitments during high school for supporting self and family unit; lack of exposure to academic role models; limited participation in sound educational programs.
Cultural/environmental factors: born to immigrant parents; reared in an ethnic minority culture; reared in a family with English as a second language; experienced bi-cultural stress as a result of transition from a predominantly ethnic minority community to an academic environment; reared in an economically depressed area; reared by someone other than parents; reared in an environment lacking exposure to opportunities offered by higher education; reared in an environment of abuse such as alcohol, drugs, child abuse, and other physical abuse.
The focus of the program is on the preparation of students for the professional veterinary medical program. Students are actively guided through their undergraduate curriculum. Assigned individual advisers and mentors have the goal of helping the student to:
understand the workings of the University;
adjust to the social environment at Colorado State;
complete the requirements for admission to the professional veterinary medical program.
Students accepted to the Vet Start program attend an orientation session prior to their matriculation as an undergraduate at Colorado State. Features of the session include:
an introduction to the program and its goals;
an orientation to the University;
meeting assigned advisers and mentors;
meeting other Vet Start students.
The minimum requirements to qualify for the Vet Start program are:
graduation from high school;
acceptance at Colorado State University as an undergraduate;
interest in a career in veterinary medicine;
completion of no more than 15 semester credits at an accredited college or university (unless courses are completed while in high school).
The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State consists of four departments including Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences and Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital is one of the largest and best-equipped facilities in the world and houses the Department of Clinical Sciences. Opportunities exist for preveterinary students to observe state-of-the-art clinical applications at the hospital through a guided volunteer program. Other special opportunities for Vet Start students include:
guidance by a professional health professions (pre veterinary) adviser;
participation in an active and well-organized Preveterinary Club;
summer jobs at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (as funds are available).
To request an application to Colorado State University, contact:
Office of Admissions
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
(970) 491-6909(click here for on-line application to Undergraduate Program)
(Note: an additional application is required for Vet Start - see below)
Before you proceed to the Vet Start Web application, check the requirements below to be sure you qualify:
Please Note:
Vet Start Program
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Colorado State University
1601 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1601
Email contacts: Ken.Blehm@colostate.edu - Program administrator or Linda.Tarnoff@colostate.edu - Program staff
Note: You must have been admitted and officially accepted the offer of admission to Colorado State University by March 1, 2010 to be considered for Vet Start.
Click Here for the On-Line Application to the Vet Start Program
