Admissions Decisions
The admissions committee views a solid and broad undergraduate experience to be crucial preparation for successful completion of the veterinary curriculum. When evaluating an applicant, the committee considers both academic and non-academic qualities.
At WSU we know that people have very different gifts, backgrounds and lived experiences. Students can take many pathways to find their way into our profession. At WSU, we have tried to reduce barriers to access for our educational program—and this includes a holistic admissions process that reflects our priorities as a school and your individual strengths as a student.
-Dr. Dori Borjesson, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine
Holistic review process
The holistic evaluation process for applicants to the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine DVM program takes a comprehensive and inclusive approach to assess the potential of each candidate. The goal is to identify individuals who not only demonstrate academic excellence but also possess diverse experiences, strong recommendation letters, and essays that reflect their passion for veterinary medicine.
The holistic evaluation process ensures that each applicant is evaluated as a whole person, rather than being judged solely on academic metrics. By considering academic excellence, experiences, recommendation letters, and essays collectively, our process aims to identify individuals who not only have the academic capability but also possess the dedication, compassion, and potential to become successful and impactful veterinarians. The holisitic review process also considers extenuating circumstances, such as work and family demands, as well as economic, cultural, and educational challenges, when evaluating an applicant.
The primary goal remains to select candidates who will contribute positively to the veterinary profession and enrich our learning community.
A strong academic foundation is essential to succeed in the rigorous DVM program, and high academic achievement is an indicator of a candidate’s ability to successfully complete the DVM curriculum. Application reviewers consider academic history, including review of the four calculated GPAs, course load, and course rigor in conjunction with applicant-identified extenuating circumstances, and challenges or barriers the applicant may have faced.
All Washington residents, and certified residents of Idaho, Montana, and participating WICHE states are advanced through the preliminary screening to receive further review.
Due to the size and strength of the non-resident pool, all non-resident applicants first receive a preliminary screening based on their academic record.
Applicants with a science GPA above 3.5 and a last 45 semester (60 quarter) credit GPA above 3.6 are generally considered to have a previous record of academic excellence indicative of success within the professional veterinary curriculum. Non-resident applicants who meet the GPA criteria are automatically forwarded to the admissions committee for further review of their academic background and additional application criteria.
Non-resident applicants who do not automatically advance through the preliminary screen are further evaluated for additional evidence of academic success in a secondary screening. This process is designed to identify qualified applicants despite a more modest academic background. Factors such as the last 45 credit hour GPA, prerequisite GPA, academic rigor, work or family responsibilities, and extenuating circumstances are considered. Both the academic and non-academic criteria of an application are reviewed during this process to ensure that the college is admitting a class that reflects a broad diversity of anticipated career pathways and goals, life experience and circumstance, and stated interests in serving the veterinary profession and society.
Review of the non-academic application criteria centers around assessing whether or not the applicant possess the qualities of a successful veterinarian. During evaluation we consider various criteria such as:
- Communication and teamwork skills
- Motivation and leadership ability
- Maturity and professionalism
- Compassion and empathy
- Integrity and ethics
- Knowledge of the profession
- Diversity of background, interests, and experiences
- Special circumstances that may have affected the applicant’s record
After applications have been reviewed, the admissions committee will meet to recommend which applicants it feels are best suited to enter the professional DVM program. Recommendations of applicants who are acceptable for admission, those who should be waitlisted, and those recommended for denial of admission are submitted to the DVM director of admissions and associate dean of professional programs for final review to ensure the college is admitting a class that reflects a broad diversity of anticipated career pathways and goals, life experience, and stated interests in serving the veterinary profession and society. All applicants will receive email notification of their admissions decision. All decisions are final.
WICHE applicants –In addition to admissions decisions for our program, the admissions committee provides each participating WICHE state with a ranked list of certified applicants. This information, along with information provided by other participating Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, assists each WICHE state in determining which applicants will receive conditional state funding.