DVM Professional Program Admissions

Admission Mission and Policy

Mission

The primary mission of the College of Veterinary Medicine is to provide an environment that promotes and nurtures independent and self-directed leaning, teaching and service in veterinary medicine and related disciplines. The Office of Veterinary Admissions and Recruitment is committed to special emphasis on the recruitment, enrollment, and retention of African American and other underrepresented ethnic minority groups. Our effort is to maintain our rich legacy of enrolling and graduating the most diverse entry-level veterinary medical graduates in the nation.

Admissions Policy

The Admissions Policy of the College of Veterinary Medicine embraces the philosophy of Tuskegee University and embodies the commitment for providing educational opportunities to all students, regardless of race, creed, or national origin. This philosophy embodies a commitment for providing high quality educational opportunities for individuals who have historically been under represented in the fields of veterinary medicine because of their racial, cultural, economic or educational backgrounds. However, the College invites a diversity of talented students from all racial, religious and ethnic backgrounds to participate in its program. The Admissions Committee selects students who exhibit intellectual, personal, moral, and social traits, which are considered desirable in a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Selection is based on all the data submitted by and on behalf of the applicant, not only on academic achievement. It should be noted that satisfactory completion of any number of credits or years of study does not guarantee admissions to the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Criteria for Admission

Applicants must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for admissions:

 •Applicants must obtain a minimum cumulative grade point average (3.0) and Science grade point average (2.8) on a (4.0 scale).

• Take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within three (3) years of the date of application.

• Submit all completed admissions application materials and request that official academic transcripts, test scores, evaluation forms, and related materials be submitted to the Office of Veterinary Admissions by the September deadline.

• Preference is giving to candidates from academic programs/institutions that have articulation agreements with TUCVM, Alabama and the cooperating states under the Southern Regional Plan, and states/territories with contractual agreements for veterinary medical training at Tuskegee University.

Regional Plan Program and Other Contractual Arrangements:

The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine has been designated as a Regional Service Institution by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), Atlanta, Georgia. A contractual agreement between SREB and Tuskegee University provides tuition supplements for a select number of qualified applicants from these states. Certification is required in accordance to each state’s policy; the application process for certification is the responsibility of the applicant.

• Candidates pursuing the pre-professional curriculum at Tuskegee University must also submit an application and supporting documents to the Office of Veterinary Admissions by the September deadline.

• The required supplemental application fee must be received with each application before it will be processed.

• Applicants will be required to complete a minimum of 200 clinical contact hours with a licensed veterinarian.

• Applicants will require 1 hour of Medical Terminology as a prerequisite. Online courses are accepted.

Factors Other Than Academic Achievement Used as Admissions Criteria

In additional to the applicant’s academic achievement record, the following items are taken into consideration:

•  evaluation forms and letters of recommendation from professors and veterinarians
• animal and veterinary experience
• work experience - commitment to service and community involvement
•  volunteer activities
•  interview process
•  personal statement of interest/personal essay

Pipeline Programs

The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine has a long history of successful pipeline programs since its inception in 1945.  The purpose of these pipeline programs was to increase underrepresented minorities (URMs), particularly African Americans in the veterinary profession.  The College has increased the number of pipeline programs designed to provide educational opportunities to URM students desiring to achieve a veterinary career that need support or have other challenges applying to or entering a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program.

Students from pipeline programs are required to meet the DVM program criteria.  If the students do not meet the criteria, they are required to enroll in and successfully complete the Summer Enhancement and Reinforcement Program (SERP) and/or enroll in the non-thesis Master’s degree program in the graduate program at Tuskegee University.  Successful completion of these enhancement programs are required and the applicant is re-evaluated prior to admission into the DVM program.

Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine offers the Early Assurance of Admission (EAA) Program in partnership with the participating academies in the TUCVM Pipeline Program. Through this program, students majoring (or minoring) in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, and participants in the TUCVM Pipeline program may be considered for early assurance of admissions into TUCVM.

Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine offers the Early Assurance of Admission (EAA) Program in partnership with the participating academies in the TUCVM Pipeline Program. Through this program, students majoring (or minoring) in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, and participants in the TUCVM Pipeline program may be considered for early assurance of admissions into TUCVM.

Early Assurance Admission Course Requirements

The curriculum and requirements for admission conform to the standards set forth by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Applicants must present a minimum of three pre-professional years of college credits (100 semester credits or 152 quarter credits) and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5+/4.0 or earned a math/science GPA of 3.3 or higher with a minimum of 30 credits of the TUCVM prerequisite courses at the time of application. The college or university credits must include courses in the categories listed below. Grades of less than “C are not acceptable. Additionally, courses taken on a pass/fail basis cannot be transferred for credit.

1. Introductory Animal Science (APSC 201 or equivalent)
2. General Biology (230, 231 or their equivalents)
3. General Chemistry (231, 233, 232, 234 or their equivalents)
4. Organic Chemistry (320, 321 or their equivalents)
5. Pre-calculus/Calculus I or Statistics (MATH 107, MATH 110, MATH 207, EVSC 500 or MATH 304 or their equivalents, totaling six credits)
6. English Composition and Literature (English 101 and 102 or their equivalents)

Student Selection Process

Selection is based on all of the data submitted by and on behalf of the applicant, not only on academic achievement.  The admissions process includes the four phases indicate below.

• Phase 1 - Assessment of applications by the Office of Admissions:  The Office of Admissions evaluates each application for completion and minimal academic requirements.
• Phase 2 - Assessment/Review of applications by the Committee: Following review by the Office of Admissions, the Admissions Committee reviews each application and places it into one of the five categories based upon the pre-veterinary academic performance (cumulative GPA, science GPA, and GRE scores) of the applicant. The categories are as follows:

1. Candidates who satisfy the criteria of articulation agreements for admission
2. Strong candidates who exceed the minimal academic requirements
3. Candidates who meet minimal academic requirements.

• Phase 3: Interview Process by Committee Members, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni:  The interview process is critical for admission to the professional program.  All applicants must successfully complete this phase before they can be recommended for admission. 
• Phase 4: Notification:  After completion of the interview process, the completed folders for applicants that have completed Phase Three will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee.  Based on this assessment, the Committee will submit recommendations to the Dean, who makes the final decision on admission offers. The Admissions Committee will recommend one of the following:

1. Admit
2. Alternate
3. Summer Program
4. Not recommended

Early Assurance Admission Process Timeline

The Early Assurance Admissions (EAA) process timetable is as follows:

• March 15: Letter of Intent to be submitted to the Pre-Vet club advisor by individuals to be considered for EAA
• June 1:  EAA online applications become available to eligible students who submitted a Letter of Intent who will receive an email with the link, user ID and password
• July 31: Deadline for all early assurance admissions application and documents to be submitted (including official transcripts, GRE scores and references)
• August: Review Process
• August: Applicant Interviews
• August: Notification of offers for admissions (generally a minimum of two weeks prior to the regular deadline for TUCVM admissions)

Technical Standards

As indicated by the mission statement of the veterinary College at Tuskegee University, inclusion has always been an important component. Therefore, admission to the TUCVM has no restrictions based upon gender, race, national origin, color or age. On the contrary, the College encourages and seeks to maintain as diverse a student population as possible. However, in order to be considered for admission into the professional program, all applicants must not only meet the minimum academic standards as stipulated in the College’s academic requirements for admission, but must also meet minimum technical standards. Any applicants whose disability would unavoidably potentiate an extremely hazardous safety environment for them and others while participating in the required components of the curriculum would not be considered for admission. In order to successfully complete and safely matriculate the professional veterinary medical curriculum, each student must have abilities in the following areas:

* Observation: The student must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences. Independently, a student must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. A student must be able to integrate all information received by whatever sense(s) employed.

* Communication: A student must be able to speak, to hear and to observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture and perceive nonverbal communications. A student must be able to communicate effectively, sensitively and rapidly with clients and with members of the health care team.

* Motor Coordination: The student must be able to independently elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic maneuvers. A student must be able to execute the motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatments to patients.

* Intellectual: A student must be able to problem-solve rapidly. This critical skill demanded of veterinarians requires the ability to learn and reason, and to integrate, analyze and synthesize data concurrently in a multi-task setting. In addition, the student must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.

Additionally, due to the curricular requirements placed upon the College by its accreditation agency, the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the demands of the Veterinary Medical Profession, applicants with severe physical disabilities must be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Course Requirements

The curriculum and requirements for admission conform to the standards set forth by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. Applicants must present a minimum of three pre-professional years of college credits (100 semester credits or 152 quarter credits) and minimum cumulative (3.0) and science (2.8) grade point average on a 4.00 scale or its equivalent from an accredited United States college or university. The college or university credits must include courses in the categories listed below. Grades of less than “C“ are not acceptable. Only science courses completed within six (6) academic years of the date of application will be considered. Additionally, courses taken on a pass/fail basis cannot be transferred for credit.

Minimum Course Requirements:

  VMCAS Fee Waiver

• Starting on June 2, 2025, a limited number of fee waivers are provided by VMCAS to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Each fee waiver covers only the initial application fee, so if you wish to apply to additional programs, you are responsible for the remaining balance. If you received a fee waiver during a previous cycle, you may still apply for another in the next cycle.

• Keep in mind that fee waiver funds can be quickly depleted. Contact customer service at 617-612-2884 before you submit a fee waiver request to determine if waivers are still available.

• All fee waiver forms will be available on June 2, 2025. Note that all fee waiver requests must be submitted by August 14, 2025.

• Please find more information at:

  • https://www.aavmc.org/becoming-a-veterinarian/how-to-apply/application-fees/vmcas-fee-reimbursement-program/

• If you are approved for the VMCAS fee waiver and send proof to the Veterinary Admissions and Recruitment office, TUCVM will waive your supplemental application fee for that cycle.

  • You must send proof in order to receive a waiver of the supplemental fee

  • Proof can be emailed to vetadmissions@tuskegee.edu

VMCAS Online Application

Admissions Policy

The Admissions Policy of the College of Veterinary Medicine embraces the philosophy of Tuskegee University and embodies the commitment for providing educational opportunities to all students, regardless of race, creed, or national origin. This philosophy embodies a commitment for providing high quality educational opportunities for individuals who have historically been under represented in the fields of veterinary medicine because of their racial, cultural, economic or educational backgrounds. However, the College invites a diversity of talented students from all racial, religious and ethnic backgrounds to participate in its program. The Admissions Committee selects students who exhibit intellectual, personal, moral, and social traits, which are considered desirable in a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Selection is based on all the data submitted by and on behalf of the applicant, not only on academic achievement. It should be noted that satisfactory completion of any number of credits or years of study does not guarantee admissions to the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The deadline for all applications and supporting documents is September 15th.

*Apply through VMCAS (Veterinary Medical College Application Service)

For more information regarding Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine admissions process please visit the website below:

https://www.tuskegee.edu/academics/colleges-schools/cvm/admissions/dvm-professional-program.html

NAVLE/Licensure                                                 

"Students who are accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine are required to take the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) before graduating. Prospective students may therefore go to the NAVLE website at www.nbvme.org for more information. Prospective students are also asked to note that upon completion of your study, and if you desire to enter into veterinary practice, the licensure requirements to practice vary from state-to-state.”

Admissions’ Process Timelines

The admissions’ process timetable is as follows:

• September 15th: Deadline for all VMCAS and TU supplemental application and documents to be submitted (including official transcripts, GRE scores and references).
• October to November: Review Process
• January to February: Applicant Interviews
• February to March: Notification of offers for admissions, alternate status, and applicants no longer under consideration.
• mid-August: College begins

Student Selection Process

Selection is based on all of the data submitted by and on behalf of the applicant, not only on academic achievement.

The admissions process includes:

Phase 1: Assessment of applications by the Office of Admissions

The Office of Admissions evaluates each application for completion and minimal academic requirements.

Phase 2: Assessment of applications ---- review by the Committee

Following review by the Office of Admissions, the Admissions Committee reviews each application and places it into one of the five categories based upon the pre-veterinary academic performance (cumulative GPA, science GPA, and GRE scores) of the applicant. The categories are as follows:

• Candidates who satisfy the criteria of articulation agreements for admission
• Strong candidates who exceed the minimal academic requirements
• Candidates who meet minimal academic requirements.
• Applicants who do not qualify for consideration due to poor academic performance and/or other weaknesses as specified in the College’s “Guidelines for Admissions“. These applicants are sent denial notices including reason(s) for denial.

The Committee reviews further the applicant folders in the first three of these groups and designates each applicant as:

• Good candidate, interview required
• Good candidate, no interview required (i.e., re-applicants who previously had a successful interview)

Phase 3: Interview Process ---- Committee Members, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni

The interview process is critical for admission to the professional program. All applicants must successfully complete this phase before they can be recommended for admission.

Phase 4: Notification

After completion of the interview process, the completed folders for applicants that have completed Phase Three will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee. Based on this assessment, the Committee will submit recommendations to the Dean, who makes the final decision on admission offers. The Admissions Committee will recommend one of the following:

• Admit
• Alternate
• Not recommended

Readmissions into the veterinary program following academic suspension is a privilege and not a right; i.e., readmission is not guaranteed. Furthermore, a student suspended from the veterinary program for a second time is not eligible for readmission. A student suspended from the veterinary program and seeking readmission will be required to submit a written request to the Director of Veterinary Admissions. The Director will forward the request to the Veterinary Admissions Committee. To be considered, the request must include:

* Reason(s) for the suspension

* Reason(s) for seeking readmission

* Transcripts of all college credits completed since last enrollment

* Job and/or other experiences obtained since last enrollment

* Reason(s) the applicant feels he/she will attain academic success if readmitted

* Any other pertinent information the applicant may wish to provide

Students who were suspended from the professional program for academic reasons that were related to significant health problem(s) or who withdrew from the professional program because of significant health-related problem(s) must submit documentation of stipulated health problem(s) before the Veterinary Admissions Committee will consider any request for readmission to the professional program. This documentation is to consist of written statement(s) from the appropriate physician(s) that attest to the stipulated health problem(s) being of sufficient magnitude to have resulted in poor academic performance and/or withdrawal.

Furthermore, the statement(s) must state that the stipulated health problem(s) has been sufficiently controlled so that it will not be likely to cause a reoccurrence of the preceding poor level of academic performance and/or withdrawal. The recommendation of the Committee of Veterinary Admissions for or against readmission will be forwarded to the Dean who will determine the final status of the applicant. A student readmitted into the professional program may be required to unofficially audit and/or fulfill requirements for specific courses completed at a satisfactory level prior to suspension. Official audits of clinical rotation courses may be required. Performance at a C grade level or higher is expected for those courses a student is required to repeat for credit and official audit. Specific stipulations will be provided in writing by a designated official in the Office of the Dean.

• Supplemental Application
• Admission Application Checklist
• Vet Evaluation Form
• Confidential Academic Evaluation Form

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• Financial Aid & TUCVM Scholarships
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Experience TUCVM (Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine)

Veterinary Campus Tour  
 Welcome to TUCVM! The Office of Veterinary Admissions and Recruitment wants you to have an unforgettable experience!Veterinary campus tours include the veterinary library, small and large animal teaching hospitals, classrooms, and specialty labs.
Prospective students and their families will see active teaching, students and interns at work, and sometimes animals.

Contact The Office of Veterinary Admissions & Recruitment to schedule your tour.

 (334) 727-8460

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