Procedure for Evaluating Applicants

While the actual procedure may vary each year, applicants are evaluated academically and non-academically.

Academic Evaluation:

An academic score will be assigned to each student by using cumulative grade point average (20%), the last three full-time undergraduate semesters while working toward a bachelors degree (summer not included) 10%), average undergraduate course load (6%), and performance on the MCAT or GRE general examination (4%). Cumulative GPA must be at least 3.00/4.00. Grades for repeated courses are averaged for calculation of GPA.

Non-Academic Evaluation:

Each applicant will be scored by the Admissions Committee based upon non-academic factors. The committee will evaluate the following:

• Motivation and concepts of the veterinary profession
• Animal/medical/biomedical research/public health experience (a higher value will be assigned to observation or experience with a veterinarian than with a non veterinarian)
• Communication skills
• Leadership
• Extracurricular activities
• Work experience (while enrolled in school)
• Diversity and life experience

The non academic calculation will constitute 40% of the total score.

Overall impression

Each applicant will receive a score for overall impression that is assigned by admissions committee members and will take into account the academic and non academic characteristics of the applicant. The score for overall impression will constitute 20% of the total score.

Applicants must meet all academic requirements regardless of degrees held. If currently enrolled in a graduate program, an applicant should submit his or her application with a letter from his or her major professor stating knowledge and approval of the student’s application to the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Applicants must submit scores attained within the last three years from the general GRE or the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). A minimum acceptable score on the GRE is 640 (total of verbal and quantitative scores) with a 1.5 on the analytical section and a score of 15 on the MCAT (combined score from the verbal reasoning, physical and biological sciences section).

For GRE and MCAT information:

GRE
www.GRE.org

MCAT
P.O. Box 4056
Iowa City, IA 52243
www.aamc.org

Six Year Academic Elimination Option:

Applicants may elect to have all courses taken and grades received prior to and including Spring semester 2003 ignored in the academic evaluation. If the applicant elects to eliminate courses and grades six or more years old, the required 60 semester hours of academic credit and all required courses (10 semester credit hours of physical science, etc.), including at least 3 semesters as a full-time undergraduate student, must have been taken within the last six years prior to application. Repeating courses previously taken is not required or recommended. New courses that will fulfill course category requirements are preferred. If the applicant elects to eliminate courses and grades more than six years old, another evaluation using all courses and grades will not be done during the same year of application as part of the same application evaluation.

Personal Interviews:

Each Missouri applicant is invited for an interview with the Admissions and Scholarship Committee, provided they:

1. Have satisfactorily completed the required courses with a verified cumulative GPA of 3.00/4.00 or greater,
2. Had at least 3 letters of evaluation submitted with at least one being from a veterinarian,
3. Scored at least 640 on the GRE and a 1.5 on the analytical section or a 15 on the MCAT.

A few whose academic score and nonacademic score based on the written application and reference letters are exceptionally high may be accepted without an interview.

Based on a preliminary review of their application 80-90 non-resident applicants will be invited to interview for non-resident positions.

Admission requirements are the same for non-residents as for residents.

The Committee usually interviews non-resident applicants in early January and Missouri applicants from February through late March. Applicants are notified of their interview appointment during this time period.

The interview is required and intended to clarify and supplement the written application.

Notification of Selection:

Notification of acceptance or non-acceptance are mailed by April 15. All necessary information to prepare for entering the College of Veterinary Medicine is mailed to accepted students either at the time of notification of acceptance or before the beginning of the fall session.

Each accepted applicant is required:

(1) to sign a statement agreeing to accept a position in the class and
(2) to send a check for $100 ($250 for non-residents) which is applied toward first semester fees.

Questions regarding admissions can be sent to:

Kathy Seay
Admissions Advisor
W-203 Veterinary Medicine Building
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211
E-mail: VetAdmissions@missouri.edu
Phone: (573) 884-6435
FAX: (573) 884-5044