Admissions

Admission to the DVM Program

NC State announces the following advisory regarding admissions requirements for the 2022 admissions cycle.

• P/F grades:  NC State will allow a Pass in P/F or Satisfactory in the S/U grading systems for prerequisites completed in Spring or Summer 2020. For Fall 2020, P/F and S/U will be accepted if it’s the only option at the institution. A letter grade is expected if it is an option. Letter grades with at least a C- or better will be required in all semesters following spring and summer 2020.

• (a) courses submitted in the P/F or S/U scale will not be factored into the Required Course GPA calculation.
• A “Pass” or “Satisfactory” grade for a prerequisite taken in Spring or Summer 2020 will be accepted in any future admissions cycle.

• GRE:  NC State has removed the GRE as a requirement for admission into the DVM program, starting with the 2021 admissions cycle.
• LORs: NC State will continue to require three (3) letters of recommendation. Additionally, we still highly recommend that two of three letters come from DVMs or Ph.D. scientists with whom you have worked.
• Experience Hours: NC State requires 200 hours of veterinary experience hours.

Please contact the Student Services Office at dvminformation@ncsu.edu if you have any questions about these changes.

Overview

Admission to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at NC State is competitive. To maximize your chances of acceptance, we recommend you carefully read through the current eligibility criteria and follow the steps in the application process.

Most often, successful candidates:

• Ensure they meet, and exceed, the current eligibility criteria and admissions requirements.
• Visit the college.
• Attend an information session.
• Follow the application process carefully.
• Verify all application materials are submitted correctly and on time.

Whether you’re a student, adviser, pre-applicant, or just someone interested in the profession of veterinary medicine, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) offers helpful information.

The university complies with all federal and state statutes regarding nondiscrimination. While applications for nonresidents are accepted, distinct admission priority is given to residents of North Carolina. To determine whether you qualify, or what it takes to qualify, as a resident of North Carolina read the information here.

Prospective clinical students from St. George’s or Ross, please read this information.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are evaluated on their academic performance, their understanding of the veterinary medical profession, their achievements, and their professional potential.

Pre-veterinary students can pursue any undergraduate major they choose, and the required pre-professional courses can be obtained through the curricula of a number of fields of study. An undergraduate degree, however, is not required for admission. “Pre-vet” is not a major; it is a track that can be chosen within a major. Popular majors for pre-professional students include animal science, poultry science, zoology, biology, biochemistry, and microbiology. Applicants must complete only prerequisite courses to fulfill academic admission requirements.

If you have any questions, please email us at dvminformation@ncsu.edu or call us at 919-513-6262.

Review Process

NC State CVM employs a holistic review process for admission to the DVM program.  Once all applicants are determined to have met eligibility criteria and completed their applications by the relevant deadlines, applications are reviewed.  

For applicants who are residents of North Carolina, each complete application that meets the criteria indicated above is reviewed independently by three members of the College Committee for Admissions, with each committee member assigning a rank to the application.  The sum of ranks assigned by each committee member informs the committee’s recommendation to accept, waitlist, or deny acceptance to each applicant.  For the 2022-23 admissions cycle, the CVM is piloting the use of a video multiple mini-interview for North Carolina residents only.  North Carolina residents will comprise 80% of the admitted class. 

Due to large numbers of non-resident applicants, each complete application is reviewed independently by two trained individuals.  Recommendation by either initial reviewer will result in review of a candidate’s application by three members of the College Committee for Admissions as for resident applicants.  

The Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine ultimately approves admissions decisions recommended by the College Committee for Admissions.

NOTE: The criteria for admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine are determined and reviewed periodically by the dean and the Faculty Committee on Admissions. The Admissions Committee is comprised of faculty from the College of Veterinary Medicine with representatives from the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association, the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the University of North Carolina system. Changes in the admissions process may be made without announcement as a result of continual review by the Faculty Committee on Admissions.