There is no single factor that will make an applicant stand out to the Admission Committee. The Committee conducts a holistic review of each application, carefully considering all components in the admissions process. Each aspect of the application plays an important role in determining admission decisions.

Carefully consider all portions of your application and provide thoughtful responses to the essay questions, personal statement, and sections where you describe your experiences. Be authentic and clearly articulate your interest in the veterinary field.

The NC State CVM no longer considers transfer application requests. Interested applicants may apply as an incoming first-year student.

International applicants, as well as US resident applicants attending colleges outside the United States must meet all of the listed admissions criteria as well as :

• have all international academic transcripts evaluated by a credential evaluation service. Applicants have used the following services in the past: Josef Silny & Associates, Trustforte, and World Education Services.
• submit proof of English proficiency. In order to be eligible for admission to the Graduate School all international applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate proficiency in English at a level necessary to be successful in a graduate program at NC State.

English Proficiency Requirements

Residents of Puerto Rico are not required to submit proof of English proficiency.

*Please note that transcript evaluation and transcription through the selected foreign credit translation service may take several weeks or longer to complete. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit foreign transcripts early to ensure that courses can be added to their VMCAS application prior to the application deadline.

We admit an incoming class of 125 students each year – approximately 100 North Carolina residents and 25 non-residents. Following are statistics of the number of applications received in recent years.

North Carolina State University is a land-grant university designed to serve the citizens of North Carolina in subject areas including, but not limited to, the practical teaching of agriculture, science, military science, engineering and education. The state of North Carolina funds higher education in an effort to offer strong educational opportunities to its citizenry. Therefore, slot allocation priority is given to North Carolina residents.

The Residency Determination Service (RDS) determines the process for obtaining residency for tuition purposes.  Here are helpful links regarding the  laws governing residency and procedures for seeking residency for tuition purposes

Residency status as determined by RDS will be used to classify candidates as either resident or non-resident applicants during the admissions review process. Applicants should ensure that their residency status has been updated and certified with RDS to ensure accurate review classification.

The residency deadline is October 30. Applicants will be reviewed according to their RDS status as of that date. Residency obtained after the deadline may allow a student to qualify for resident tuition benefits; however, it will not change the applicant’s review status as a resident or non-resident candidate after the deadline has passed.

“Pre-vet” is not a major, but rather a track that can be pursued within a variety of majors. Students preparing for veterinary school may choose any major, as the required pre-professional coursework can be completed through several different fields of study. Common majors among veterinary school applicants include Biology, Animal Science, Zoology, and Chemistry.

A bachelor’s degree is not required for admission into the DVM program. Applicants must simply complete the required prerequisite courses.

The prerequisite courses are listed on the DVM Admission Requirements web page. For the equivalent course at another college or university, check the NC State University catalog or ask the advisor at your college. Use the Basic Course Information to guide you on your assessment if a course taken at your home institution meets our prerequisites.

Where should I take the prerequisite courses?
You can take the prerequisite courses at any accredited two-year or four-year college or university. This includes courses taken via distance education at those institutions.

Several community colleges in North Carolina offer animal science programs including: Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, NC; James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville, NC; and Sampson Community College in Clinton, NC.

Do you accept online courses?
Yes, prerequisite courses may be completed either online or in a classroom setting. As above, the courses must be completed at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university.

Can Advanced Placement (AP) courses be used to fulfill prerequisites?
AP courses can be used to fulfill prerequisites. However, regardless if used to fulfill requirements or not, the applicant’s undergraduate institution must list the AP course by name (Biology, Calculus, English, etc.) on its transcript indicating the number of credits granted. Please note that AP courses are not considered when calculating grade point averages.

Can College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit be used to fulfill prerequisites?
No, the admissions committee does not accept CLEP credit in fulfillment of course prerequisites.

The Admissions Committee reviews all prerequisite courses and admission standards each year. We recommend potential applicants stay up to date on our website for information related to any changes to admission requirements.

A recent adjustment was determined by the Admission Committee regarding prerequisite course requirement. Beginning with applicants for the Class of 2030, animal nutrition will no longer be required, and students will be required to fulfill only four semester hours of physics.

The college offers over 140 CVM scholarships totaling over $1.8 million in awards annually. Admitted applicants complete the FAFSA and the NC State scholarship process through the university’s system, PackAssist.

Students also pursue outside scholarships through a variety of benefactors. The external scholarship page is a resource that is updated annually to include scholarships that are designated for veterinary students.

NC State CVM does not currently conduct interviews as part of the application process. Applicants are evaluated primarily based on their application materials, including academic records, letters of recommendation, and other criteria outlined on the admissions page.

Letters of recommendation are very important in the admissions process. They convey your knowledge of the veterinary profession, the depth and level of your commitment to the field, and the qualities of character that you have shown to the person you choose as your evaluator. We offer a set of guidelines for those individuals writing letters of recommendation.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer individual sessions due to staffing limitations. We encourage you to attend Admissions Information Sessions with other prospective applicants. These sessions provide valuable information that can often benefit applicants in ways that may not occur during an individual meeting.

The DVM professional curriculum is a four-year full-time, day program.

Are there any shorter courses of study leading to a career in veterinary medicine?Three colleges in North Carolina offers an associate’s degree in Veterinary Medical Technology: Central Carolina Community College in Sanford, NC, Gaston College in Dallas, NC and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, NC.

While we do not review your high school records for admission, courses in the sciences – biology, chemistry, etc. – will help you. In addition, take college preparation courses necessary for freshman admission into an undergraduate institution. Click here for information on undergraduate admission at NC State University.