Frequently Asked Questions

Has COVID-19 impacted the admissions process at all?
Our deadlines and requirements remain the same. While we understand veterinary observation/experience hours have been difficult to obtain, we remain flexible in our 180 hour requirement.
How do I apply for admission and what is the application deadline?
Applicants to UC Davis apply through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). The online application is available at http://www.aavmc.org beginning in mid-January. Follow the VMCAS application instructions very carefully. In addition, review the application information available on our website for specific instructions regarding our requirements. The application deadline is September 15 (if the 15th falls on the weekend, the deadline will be the following Monday) for entry the following DVM academic year.
What criteria does UC Davis use in selecting applicants?
Academic performance is the major factor in selecting applicants for admission. At UC Davis, the overall VMCAS science GPA, most recent 45 semester units (68 quarter units) GPAs, and letters of recommendation are the best predictors of how successful an applicant will be in completing the veterinary curriculum. In addition, UC Davis considers economic, environmental, and educational factors (distance traveled) that may have impacted an applicants lived experiences.

The majority of our CA admitted students have earned a 3.6-3.7 in their overall science GPA and their most recent 45 semester units (68 quarter units) GPA. Nonresident student GPA's average 3.90. A statistical profile of admitted students is available on our Application Statistics page.

What are MMIs?
Virtual Interviews are required for admission and will be conducted using the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) technique. MMI's are conducted using Kira Talent, a video technology platform that provides the structure for a seamless interview experience. The MMI is a series of short, structured interviews used to assess personal traits/qualities. Each mini interview provides a candidate with a few minutes to read a question/scenario and mentally prepare before entering the virtual interview room. Upon entering, the candidate has several minutes of dialogue with one interviewer/rater (or, in some cases, a third party as the interviewer/rater observes). At the conclusion of the interview, the interviewer/rater has a few minutes to evaluate while the candidate is moved to the next scenario. This pattern is repeated through a circuit of up to 10 stations. The MMI does not test knowledge of veterinary medicine but rather personal attributes such as communication skills and ability to work as part of a team, ethical and critical decision-making abilities, and behaviors important to being a veterinarian such as empathy, honesty and reliability.
If I’m granted an interview, how do you select your class?
At the conclusion of the MMI interview process, all applicants will be ranked based on a percentage of their MMI scores and initial ranking. The initial ranking includes science GPA, most recent 45 semester/68 quarter unit GPA, composite eLOR score, and distance traveled score. The distance traveled score takes into account an applicants background and lived experiences. Factors considered may be based on economic, environmental, or educational experiences.
What are the academic course requirements for admission to veterinary school?
You must complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university no later than the end of the spring term prior to matriculation in the DVM Program. Course work must include 4 quarter/3 semester units of statistics and all required science courses. A listing of basic requirements is available on our website Academic Preparation & Pre-veterinary Required Courses.
How do I know my college courses satisfy course requirements for veterinary school?
If you are taking science courses at California public colleges:
You must refer to our Transferable Course page to review the listing of science courses at your school that will satisfy our prerequisites. To produce an articulation agreement, find your school under the alphabetized index. Please note that UC's will be listed under Q-U and California State Universities will be listed under A-D. These are the courses you need to take at your college. No other science courses are acceptable to fulfill our prerequisites.

If you are taking the required science courses at a private college in California or at a school outside California, please see our Transferable Course page to see if your school is listed. If it is not listed, please follow this process for the lower division courses:

THESE COURSES MAY BE TAKEN AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Complete one year (2 semesters/3 quarters) of a college chemistry sequence with labs
Complete one year (2 semesters/3 quarters) of a general biology sequence with labs
Complete (2 semesters/2-3 quarters) of organic chemistry with one lab
Complete (2 semesters/2-3 quarters) of college physics – no labs required
Complete (1 semester/1 quarter) of statistics. ANY course in statistics (biology, business, psychology, etc) will satisfy the requirement

Follow this process for the upper division courses:

THESE COURSES MUST BE TAKEN AT THE UPPER (Junior/senior level) DIVISION LEVEL AT A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY.
Submit a “Science Prerequisites Substitution Request Form” online for these required courses:
Genetics-Genes and Gene Transcription (1 semester/quarter)
Biochemistry w/metabolism (1 semester/quarter)
Physiology (1 semester/quarter). Combined anatomy/physiology courses will not satisfy requirement unless it’s pre-approved or a year-long sequence at the upper division level. Systemic, medical, vertebrate, mammalian, human, animal, comparative physiology courses at the upper division level fulfill the requirement.

You must receive a passing grade for all prerequisites (C or higher; C- grades will not be accepted).

Please note: The upper division requirements cannot be satisfied by taking lower division courses! Lower division courses will not be accepted. Failure to take approved course work may result in admission being rescinded if accepted to the DVM program.
I took courses on the semester system and UC Davis is on the quarter system. How do I know I have completed the correct number of units?
If taking courses at a California public college, refer to Transferable Course page. You do not have to convert units when using our transferable course page – the courses listed on the articulation agreement will satisfy our requirements regardless of unit value. To convert semester units to quarter units, multiply the number of semester units by 1.5. The converted units may not exactly match the number of quarter units listed for the required science courses; therefore, always review articulation agreements on our Transferable Course page to be sure that you are taking equivalent courses. If you are unsure of a course equivalency, use the Course Substitution Form if your school is not on our Transferable Courses list.

It is recommended that students stick to similar calendars when taking courses; all semester or all quarters for each required sequence. For example, do not take a semester of Biology and a quarter of Biology. You will be required to take an additional quarter or semester to fulfill the prerequisite requirement. You can, however, take the biology sequence on the quarter calendar and chemistry on the semester calendar.
Does it matter how long ago the required course work was taken?
No, there is no specific time limit on acceptance of required courses; they count regardless how long ago they were completed. However, you may choose to re-take a course to better understand the subject. Grades for courses that have been re-taken will be averaged in your overall science GPA (if re-taking science courses) or most recent 45 units (68 quarter units) GPA depending on when the course was completed. We occasionally change requirements and it is your responsibility to know those changes. We suggest checking our website frequently to make sure you are still taking the correct courses.
Can required science courses be repeated for a higher grade?
Yes. Required science courses may be repeated for a higher grade and will be averaged into your overall science GPA. These repeated courses may also be calculated into your most recent 45 semester units (68 quarter units) GPA if taken within your most recent 45 semester units prior to submitting a VMCAS application.
Are my chances of admission to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine better if I attend UC Davis as an undergraduate and/or take required science courses there?
No. You may attend any regionally accredited college or university. We do not have preferred schools from which we select applicants. Choosing a college is an important personal decision. Attend a college that provides a challenging curriculum in an environment where you will succeed academically. Consider schools that offer strong science programs and majors that interest you. Consider also the location and size of the school, extracurricular activities, weather, etc., and decide which school suits your needs best.
May I complete some of my courses at a community college?
Yes. Only lower-division required science courses (general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and general physics) and statistics may be completed at a community college. ALL upper-division course work (biochemistry, genetics, and physiology) MUST BE TAKEN at a four-year university. If you attend a community college, you should plan to transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor’s degree and complete the upper-division course work. A bachelor’s degree must be earned by the end of the spring term prior to matriculation.
What should I choose as an undergraduate major?
You may study or earn a degree in any major; however, if you take the majority of your course work in the sciences, you may be better prepared for the veterinary curriculum. The majority of students accepted to our program pursue studies in the life or health sciences. Biology, animal science, zoology, and chemistry are the most common majors.
Must I complete all requirements before I submit an application?
No. However, the majority of your required science course work must be completed by the time you apply (3 courses may be pending at application) so that we can appropriately evaluate your overall Science GPA. You must complete all required courses by the end of the spring term prior to matriculation in the DVM program. Grades for course work completed after you have submitted your application (i.e., fall semester) will not be used to calculate your GPAs for that application cycle. You must meet all pre-professional requirements regardless of any undergraduate or graduate degrees you may currently hold.
I’m interested in taking a gap year. Will that jeopardize my application?
No, not at all. Many applicants take advantage of a gap year to obtain more veterinary experience and a solid understanding of the profession, diversify their veterinary experience and/or develop a relationship with a veterinarian so they can request a letter of recommendation from that person. Also, applicants find this is a good time to travel and learn about veterinary medicine around the world or simply to work for financial reasons.
Is it advantageous to take science courses beyond the required course work?
On a personal level, additional courses in the sciences may be beneficial in preparing for the veterinary curriculum. Extra consideration is not given in the application process for extra course work. If your most recent 45 semester (68 quarter) units GPA is not competitive, you may want to consider taking additional science courses to improve both your most recent 45 semester (68 quarter) units and science GPAs.
What should I do to enhance or improve my application?
Earn high grades and perform well academically. Receive strong letters of recommendation (eLORs) and gain quality veterinary experience.
Can I use Advanced Placement (AP) credit to fulfill the prerequisite courses?
Yes. If you receive a ‘3’ score or higher, AP credit may fulfill lower-division course work for the general biology, general chemistry, general physics, organic chemistry and statistics requirements. The number of units awarded and subject title must appear on your primary college transcript in order to use the AP credit to fulfill course requirements. An official score report from College Board may be requested upon admission into the program.
May I take courses pass/fail?
Grade point averages are very important in the evaluation process; therefore, the pass-fail grading option should be avoided, particularly in the required sciences. Some schools consider a C- as a passing grade. Unfortunately, we do not accept a C- for a required prerequisite course.
How much veterinary experience is required?
A minimum of 180 hours of veterinary experience are required to have your application considered for admission; however, admitted applicants have an average of ~1,400 hours of quality “hands-on” experience in the veterinary field. While it is not necessary to obtain hundreds of hours for your application, you are expected to have a realistic and appropriate perspective of the responsibilities of the veterinary profession. Your experience may come from a job or volunteer service. You may acquire experience by working with veterinarians in private practice, farms, ranches, animal shelters, zoos, aquaria, etc.

The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) explains the difference between veterinary experience and animal experience on their website at https://portal.vmcas.org/vmcasHelpPages/instructions/experiences/index.html.
“Veterinary Experience” is defined as work related to animals and supervised by a veterinarian. It should be different from what you enter for Animal and Employment experience. Veterinary experiences should relate to any veterinary clinical, agribusiness, or health science experiences that you had under a veterinarian.

“Animal Experience” is defined as work related to animals not supervised by a veterinarian. It should be different from those entered for Veterinary and Employment experience. They should include farm and ranch experiences, 4-H membership, animal training, animal shelter work or other similar activities, and should not have occurred under the supervision of a veterinarian.
I’m a non-traditional and/or older applicant and veterinary medicine is a second career. What steps should I take to pursue my new career choice?
The process is the same for non-traditional/older applicants as it is for undergraduates. Start by making sure veterinary medicine is right for you. Read our website and review our admission statistics to take note of competitive GPAs, attributes and competencies that are important. Acquire experience working/volunteering with a veterinarian to gain hands-on experience and affirm that veterinary medicine is the appropriate career for you. This can be done part time or full time based on your individual circumstances. If prerequisite course work needs to be completed, locate accredited colleges where the required courses are offered. Visit our Transferable Courses page for current articulation agreements to find out what courses you need to take at your selected college. Courses may be taken during regular college sessions or summer sessions, as evening classes, online classes, or Extension/Open Campus classes. You should enroll at a college and courses leading to a bachelor’s degree if you do not already have a degree. Complete all prerequisite courses and earn a degree by the end of the spring term prior to matriculation in the DVM program. You must meet all pre-professional requirements regardless of the undergraduate or graduate degrees you may already possess. Review our website for information about the application process.
May I have my application reviewed by an advisor prior to submitting it?
Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate these requests.
May I apply again if I am not accepted after my first application?
Yes. Review the statistics of the students admitted to the DVM program and compare your application. Make sure you earn high grades in all continuing college course work. You may want to consider a graduate program (especially in the sciences) to raise your science and most recent 45 semester units (68 quarter units) GPAs.
Do I need to submit a new application the next year I wish to apply?
Yes. Refer to the VMCAS website for instructions on re-applying.
What does it cost to attend veterinary school?
The current annual enrollment and registration fees are available online at http://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/graduate/vet/cost.html
How can I establish California residency?
Rules and regulations for establishing residency in California are explained on the UC Davis Registrar's website at http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/tuition/index.cfm
Does UC Davis have the only veterinary school in California?
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is the only public veterinary college in California. A private college of veterinary medicine is located at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA.
Does UC Davis accept transfer students from other veterinary schools?
Applications may be considered if available positions exist within the third-year class only. Visit our DVM Transfer Program page on our website for more information.
Does UC Davis participate in the WICHE program?
Beginning with the 2018-19 application cycle, we will no longer participate in the WICHE program (current WICHE students in the DVM program will continue WICHE participation until graduation). Applicants from WICHE states will be evaluated for admission as out-of-state applicants.
Are tours of the teaching hospital available?
Yes. Information about tours of the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital is on the School’s website at https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/hospital/schedule-tour or call 530-752-1507.