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Frequently Asked
Questions
What
are the minumum GPAs
and GRE scores needed to make me competitive as an applicant
to the DVM program?
While the minimum GPA for eligibility is a 3.00, just meeting
the minimum GPA requirement will not make an applicant competitive.
There is no minimum GRE score; however applicants should certainly
have a score as close to the average as possible (obviously
higher than the average is better). An applicant has to be competitive
on a broad scale, as there are three objective areas and two
subjective areas (for more qualified applicants) that are evaluated
during the admissions process. Interested
applicants should visit the "Previous
Class Statistics" page to get a better idea of what
the class averages are that it will take to be competitive in
the applicant pool. It is also strongly advised that interested
applicants also read through the "Applicant
Selection Procedure" page.
What
are the academic requirements
needed to apply to veterinary school?
A minimum of 66 semester hours is required for admission to
the professional DVM program. This includes 12 semester
hours of Biological Science (including Microbiology),
8 semester hours of General Chemistry, 3 semester hours of Organic
Chemistry, 3 semester hours of Biochemistry, 5 semester hours
of Mathematics (college algebra or higher), 6 semester hours
of Physics, 6 semester hours of English Composition, 3 hours
of Speech Communication, and 20 hours of Electives. Applicants
must also take the General GRE exam. (See more specific course
descriptions under "Course
Prerequisites".)
Does it matter how long ago the
required course work was taken?
The LSU SVM requires that all applicants have taken at least
one Biology, one Physics, and the Organic Chemistry course within
the past six years. You may choose to re-take a course
to better master the subject at any point. If you re-take
a course that is more than six years old, the most recent grade
will be used otherwise the two grades will be averaged together
when computing grade point averages.
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What does the Admission Committee use as criteria
in the selection of applicants admitted to the DVM program?
Academic and non-academic qualifications are considered
in the selection process. Selection for admission is based on
the sum of two scores: an objective score which comprises approximately
65 percent of the final calculation and a subjective score which
comprises the remaining 35%. Please visit the "Applicant
Selection Procedure" page for more information.
What is the deadline to submit my
GRE scores?
All Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Sections Verbal and Quantitative
scores must be received at the LSU SVM no later than November
15, 2008. Inquiries concerning the GRE should be directed to
the address/phone number below. You must have your scores sent
directly to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine [school
code 6381 - Louisiana St U Vet Medicine; department
code - 0617] and NOT any other LSU. If scores are not
sent to the specific school code and department code given above,
the LSU SVM Admissions Office will NOT receive your score. All
GRE scores are sent electronically to the LSU SVM, and there
are no exceptions to the November 15th deadline.
Graduate Record Examinations
P.O. Box 6000
Princeton, NJ 08541-6000
(609) 771-7670
My GRE scores are more than five years
old. Do I need to retake the exam?
Yes. All GRE scores must have been taken within the past
five years.
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If I don't do as well on the GRE as I would like, may I
re-take the exam?
Yes. You can take the General GRE exam as many times
as you'd like. When the GRE has been taken more than once, the
highest score from a single test date will be used.
Can I take the VCAT or MCAT instead of
the GRE?
No. We only accept the General GRE.
Are my chances of being admitted to
the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine better if I attend LSU
as an undergraduate and/or take the required science courses
there?
No. The pre-veterinary requirements may be completed
at LSU or at any other accredited college or university offering
courses of the quality and content of those prescribed in the
LSU General Catalogue. No preference is given to one school
over another; however the caliber of the school(s) attended
may be looked at during the folder reviews.
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What
should I choose as an undergraduate major?
We do not give preference to one area of study over another;
however we strongly encourage all applicants to pursue a degree
path in the event an applicant is not accepted after numerous
application attempts. The majority of our applicants pursue
studies in the sciences. However, an applicant may study or
possess a degree in any major provided the prerequisite courses
are taken. Students who take the majority of their course
work in the sciences, may be better prepared for the veterinary
curriculum.
Is a bachelor's degree required to be
admitted to veterinary school?
No. An applicant must have completed 66 semester hours
at an accredited college prior to entering the DVM program (requirements
are listed on the school web site under Course
Prerequisites), but does not need to earn a degree in order
to apply.
Do
all of the requirements need to be complete
before I submit an application?
No. However, we prefer that applicants have most or
the required course work completed at the time of application. Required
course work in the process of completion at the time of application
must be complete by the end of the spring semester prior to
matriculation.
(I.E. - If you apply for matriculation into the fall '09 semester,
all prerequisites must be completed by the end of the spring
'09 semester.)
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Is it advantageous to take extra
science courses in addition to the required coursework?
Additional coursework is beneficial in preparation for the
professional DVM program; courses such as Animal Science, Biological
Science, Physical Science, and/or Business courses.
How
are the Required Course GPA and Last 45 Credit Hour GPA calculated?
The LSU SVM does not use an overall cumulative GPA when computing
an overall score. The Required Course GPA is
computed by using all of the specific 46 required prerequisite
courses (or equivalents). In addition to the specific prerequisite
courses, also factored into the Required Course GPA are any
other Animal Science, Physical Science or Biological Science
courses that are taken and in which an "A" grade is
earned. Social
science, humanities, business, kinesiology, and any general
education courses are NOT calculated into the Required Course
GPA; however these courses (with the exception of kinesiology
courses) will still be used for the Last 45 Credit Hour as seen
below.
The Last 45 Credit Hour GPA is computed by
using the most recent 45-60 semester hours of course work, with
the exception of kinesiology courses. The entire last semester
is included when calculating the Last 45 Credit Hour GPA. (If
only 3 more credit hours is needed from one semester during
which 18 credit hours were taken, all 18 credit hours would
be factored into the Last 45 Credit Hour GPA.)
Applicants
may choose to re-take a course to better master the subject
at any point or to try to improve upon their Required Courses
GPA or Last 45 Credit Hour GPA. If a course that is more
than six years old is retaken, the most recent grade will be
used in calculating the Required Course GPA, otherwise the two
grades will be averaged together when computing grade point
averages. (If a course is retaken more than twice within
the past six years, all grades will be used.) If a course
substitution is approved by the Admissions Office, the course
being used as the prerequisite will be calculated into the Required
Course GPA. (NOTE - Course Substitutions are on a case-by-case
basis and are not guaranteed.)
Can I use Advanced Placement (AP) credit
to fulfill the prerequisite courses?
Credit earned through advanced standing is acceptable, although
it is not used in the computation of the grade point average.
Official credit earned from the AP exam must be reflected on
your undergraduate transcripts.
Can I take courses pass/fail?
Yes, however, they will not be used in the computation of
grade point averages. Also, only graded courses will be
used in determining the last 45-60 hour GPA.
How much veterinary experience is
required?
Hands on veterinary or animal handling experience is not
required but is strongly recommended. We are looking for
the vision that an applicant has of how they see themselves
fitting into the profession. Generally, the more experiences
an applicant has and the more varied those experiences are (small
animal, large animal, exotic, etc.) the better the vision of
the applicant will be.
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How many letters of evaluation do I
need?
A maximum of three letters of evaluation are required. One
or two of the evaluations should be from veterinarians with
whom you have worked and who can evaluate your potential as
a veterinarian. Letters of evaluation MUST be submitted via
the VMCAS application. Please carefully follow the application
instructions for more details.
How do I obtain an application
for admission to you DVM program?
We use the VMCAS (Veterinary Medical College Application
Service) as well as a supplemental application specific for
the LSU SVM. Please carefully follow the application
instructions for more details.
When
is the deadline to submit an
application?
The deadline for the VMCAS application is October 2, 2008
at noon (EDT). Supplemental applications must be RECEIVED
- not postmarked - no later than November 15, 2008.
Can
I re-apply if I don't get accepted on
my first application?
Yes. You are encouraged to make improvements to your application
and to re-apply. You may make an appointment to discuss
ways to improve your application with the Director of Admissions
at admissions@vetmed.lsu.edu.
Do
I need to submit a new application each year I apply?
Yes. All applicants must submit a current application each year
they wish to be considered for admissions to the LSU School
of Veterinary Medicine. This includes all official college transcripts
and three letters of evaluation prepared using the current year's
forms.
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