The Veterinary Admissions Committee at Colorado State University strives to admit a class of students who will be able to actively contribute to the current and future needs of the veterinary profession (click here for further details about the Admissions Committee's philosophy). Although unique attributes perceived to address these needs will be considered on an individual basis, the basic evaluative criteria for application review are:
1. Quality of Academic Program
Factors to be considered in the evaluation include the quality of the academic program, number and quality of upper level biomedical science courses, ability to carry a full schedule of courses, employment during academic terms, course and degree variety, academic trends, GRE scores (verbal, quantitative and analytical) and special circumstances.
Given the current statistics, few applicants are admitted with a GPA below 3.2. For profiles of past admitted candidates, click here.
2. Additional Factors
Other factors considered in the review process include participation in a variety of extracurricular and community activities with evidence of achievement and leadership in these activities; experience working with animals and familiarity with the many facets of veterinary medicine; diverse experiences; written communication skills; three recommendations; presentation of a carefully prepared application; consideration of economic, educational, or cultural/environmental disadvantage.
Economic factors include: a demonstrated history of low income of applicant and family unit prior to college entrance and preveterinary education; level of financial support provided by applicant to the family unit prior to and during preveterinary education; if applicant has a major financial responsibility to a household; and history of financial aid. Educational factors include: inadequate early education because of frequent change of schools during elementary and secondary education; unusual number of hours of employment or necessitated other time commitments for supporting self or family unit during high school and preveterinary education; lack of exposure to academic role models and of participation in sound educational programs. Cultural/environmental factors include: born to immigrant parents; raised in an ethnic minority culture; raised 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; raised in an economically depressed area; raised by someone other than parents; raised in an environment lacking exposure to opportunities offered by higher education; raised in an environment of abuse such as alcohol, drugs, child abuse, and other physical abuse.
3. Interview
By invitation to selected candidates. In the recent past, the Admissions Committee has interviewed a select group of candidates only for the Colorado positions. WICHE and non-sponsored candidates have not been interviewed the last few years. Each fall, Committee members decide on the number and category of candidates who will be interviewed.
4. Non-sponsored Decisions
Given the size of the Non-sponsored applicant pool, applications from Non-sponsored candidates undergo an early screening process for evidence of the candidate's academic performance and extra-curricular experiences to date and ability to handle a rigorous upper division biomedical science curriculum comparable to previous year's admitted pools of applicants. Candidates who do not meet these expectations will be denied.
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