• Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university must be completed prior to matriculation (exceptions may be made and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis; including exceptions that pertain to faith-based and/or strong international universities).
  • In the event of coursework completed at foreign institutions, official detailed course-by-course evaluations must be completed by an approved agency. Please see the list of approved agencies in the RVU Student Handbook and Catalog, under the ‘Matriculation’ section. 
•  GPA: A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00.
• Prerequisite Coursework: Applicants must complete the following college-level prerequisite courses with a grade of “C” or higher. Grades of “C-” or below will not satisfy the requirements.
  • Biological Sciences
    • Biology with laboratory | Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory | Organic Chemistry with Laboratory | Genetics 
  • Physical Sciences
    • Biochemistry | Physics with Laboratory 
  • Mathematics
    • Introduction to Statistics | Algebra, pre-calculus, or higher 
  • Communication
    • English Composition | Oral Communication/Speech 
  • Behavioral & Social Sciences
    • Psychology | Sociology 
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE): While completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is planned to be optional for applicants, the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is expected to be a competitive admission program. Preference will be extended to applicants with a cumulative GRE of 310 or higher.  
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two (2) letters of recommendation will be required.
  • Experience: Applicants with research experience, veterinarian-supervised experiences, and other animal experiences are preferred.

An applicant’s file is considered complete upon the receipt of the VMCAS application and completion of minimum requirements being met.

The Office of Admissions reviews all completed files and notifies applicants of their interview status. All applicants invited for an interview are given the choice of several interview dates. Applicants meeting these minimum requirements will receive an email with information on their status for an interview.

Applicants who do not initially meet the minimum academic requirements will also be notified of missing components and are welcome to submit missing information through VMCAS. Applicants resubmitting qualifying information will then be invited to proceed through the process upon verification that their minimum requirements have been met.

All applications are fully reviewed using a holistic approach by the RVU Office of Admissions and interviews will be offered to competitive applicants. Applicant interviews will be conducted virtually, and an official campus visit day will be offered to accepted students. The virtual interviews will be conducted by an RVUCVM Faculty or Staff member. Interviewers will have access to the applicant’s personal statement and letters of recommendation, however, the interviewers will be blinded to the applicant’s grades, GRE scores, and undergraduate institution information.

The RVUCVM Admissions Committee will evaluate interviewers’ recommendations and meet at least once a month to determine each applicant’s admissions recommendation. They may recommend acceptance, placement on the alternate list, or denial. The final decision will be confirmed by the Dean.

The RVU Office of Admissions will notify applicants of their admissions decisions. Acceptances will be communicated first by phone, followed by formal written confirmation and matriculation details. Alternate and denial decisions will be sent in writing.

The RVU Office of Admissions will notify applicants of their admissions decisions. Acceptances will be communicated first by phone, followed by formal written confirmation and matriculation details. Alternate and denial decisions will be sent in writing.

All acceptance offers are provisional pending the successful completion of all conditions set forth in the matriculation agreement including:

• Submit official transcripts confirming completion of all prerequisite coursework and a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university. If the degree is not yet posted, provide a letter from the registrar verifying completion.
• Pay a non-refundable deposit on or prior to the date designated in the matriculation agreement. Deposits will be applied to tuition. 
• Successful passage of a drug screen and background check; managed through PreCheck by the dates specified. Any abnormalities will be reviewed by a sub-committee. 
• Submit required documentation through SentryMD.
• Provide proof of coverage or enroll in the University’s plan for medical insurance coverage.
• Submit a waiver confirming adherence to technical standards, RVU’s Code of Student Conduct, and the policy on physical exposure in classroom activities. Questions about accommodations must be addressed with the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
• Applicants must submit official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions. If a degree is not posted before matriculation, a letter from the registrar confirming degree completion and expected posting date is required. Official transcripts must be sent to RVU as soon as the degree is posted.
• In the event of course work completed at foreign institutions; submit a detailed course-by-course evaluation from an approved agency confirming equivalency to a U.S. degree. Approved agencies include:
  • World Education Services, Inc.  (212) 966-6311
  • AACRAO (202) 296-3359
  • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.  (414) 289-3400
  • Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.  (305) 273-1616

Applicants must also fulfill any additional requirements outlined in the matriculation agreement.

Only students who have been admitted, received an official acceptance letter from RVU, and have fully deposited may request a deferral.  Deferral requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students who wish to request a deferral must submit a written request, via email, to the Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment. The request must include the following:

• Student’s full name and contact information, including current phone number, address, and email.
• The reason for the deferral request, along with relevant supporting documentation (e.g., medical documentation, official military orders, etc.).
• Written commitment to the start date for the next enrolled class start date.

All deferral requests will be reviewed and considered. A decision will be communicated to the student in writing within 30 days of the request submission. Requests may not be considered if received less than 30 days prior to the program’s start. Exceptions to requests may be approved by Program Dean.

Deferral may be granted for a maximum of one academic year, per program. If approved, the student’s enrollment will be automatically deferred to the approved start date. 

RVUCVM does not accept transfer credits, at this time.

An involuntary withdrawal/dismissal is a University-initiated process that can occur for both academic (such as multiple course failures) and non-academic reasons (unprofessional conduct, violation of University policies, and/or violation of the Student Code of Conduct). In addition, students who fail to complete any academically related activity for ten (10) consecutive days without notifying the Associate/Assistant Dean of Student Affairs shall be considered withdrawn.

A voluntary withdrawal is a student-initiated resignation under which he/she surrenders all rights and privileges as a student of the University. Students must notify the Associate/Assistant Dean of Student Affairs of their request for a voluntary withdrawal verbally or in writing. To return to the University, students must initiate a new application through the Office of Admissions.

Students who voluntarily withdraw from the University are required to meet with or verbally notify their Dean or Program Director, the Associate/Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, and the Office of Student Financial Services.