The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University offers a year-long program to assist disadvantaged students in obtaining the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. The program offers coursework and mentoring to selected students who, upon successful completion of the one-year program, will be admitted to the professional veterinary medical program at Colorado State University .
Because of the limited number of positions in the veterinary program, many qualified applicants are denied admission each year. The Veterinary Admissions Committee ranks qualified disadvantaged* applicants who were denied admission (or ranked as alternates) in the regular admissions process and selects the top 7 applicants to be offered positions in the Vet Prep Program. If an offer is declined, the next-ranked candidate will be offered the position.
*Disadvantaged circumstances will be evaluated as one or a combination of economic, educational and cultural-social factors.Economic factors include: a demonstrated history of low income of applicant and family unit prior to college entrance and pre-veterinary education; level of financial support provided by applicant to the family unit prior and during pre-veterinary 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 pre-veterinary education; lack of exposure to academic role models and of participation in sound educational programs.
Cultural/environmental factors include: born to immigrant parents; reared in an ethnic minority culture; reared in a family with English as a second language; experienced 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 seven selected students will be expected to attend a half day orientation on Tuesday, August 19, 2008, starting at 8:00am in Room 103 of the Pathology Building . This orientation will introduce participating faculty and peer mentors and provide details of expectations of the program.
(No official enrollment required unless by choice of student)
*Veterinary students from disadvantaged backgrounds are considered for Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) all four years of the veterinary program (as funds are available and as individual students qualify). Qualified Vet Prep students are ranked preferentially for these scholarships (current range $5-7,000/year). Please contact Dr. Sherry Stewart at Sherry.Stewart@colostate.edu for additional information about the SDS award.
In order to meet the guaranteed admissions provision, students must:
Students who are dismissed from the VetPrep Program for failing to maintain minimum requirements may appeal the decision within 30 days. Appeals must be in writing and directed to the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs.
