Application Procedure

The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine is a participant in the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). VMCAS is a national program in which a majority of the American veterinary colleges have agreed to participate. This centralized application service receives, processes, and forwards applications to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine for the Admission Committee's use in selecting a class of 80-88 matriculants. Applications are available after July 1 via the Veterinary Medical College Application Service website www.aavmc.org. Only one application is necessary for applying to any of the VMCAS colleges. The application must be completed with the VMCAS office no later than October 1, 2008. In addition, applicants must submit a required University of Florida Professional School application. The web address to obtain information for the Professional School application is www.vetmed.ufl.edu/admissions/dvm. Transcripts validating academic work through the end of the summer term must be received in the University of Florida Office for Students and Instruction, PO Box 100125, Gainesville, FL 32610-0125 by end of October. The GRE must be completed by the end of October. Completed test scores and Fall semester transcripts must be received in the University of Florida Office for Students and Instruction by early January.

There is a non-refundable processing fee for application to VMCAS colleges. The fee structure can be found on the VMCAS website. The University of Florida Professional School Application carries a non-refundable processing fee of $30.00. Each applicant is responsible for assuring that his or her file is complete and that the above deadlines are met. The mature, well-motivated applicant is expected to have all of the components of the admissions process submitted well in advance of the deadlines.

Fees

The fee schedule for entering students in the professional curriculum specifies a fee of $9,200.75 per semester for Florida residents and $19,688.36 for non-Florida residents. These fees are subject to change.

Immunization

Students enrolling in the College of Veterinary Medicine must complete a health history questionnaire and submit it to the University Student Health Care Center and must conform with the immunization requirements for Health Center Students. In addition, veterinary students must maintain effective immunization for tetanus and rabies according to recommendations made by the Center of Communicable Diseases.

Housing

University housing regulations do not apply to students in the College of Veterinary Medicine. However, students do have the option of applying for accommodations that the University of Florida offers students in a variety of facilities to meet individual needs. The Division of Housing of the University also maintains an extensive listing of off-campus apartments, houses, rooming units, and mobile home units offered for rent to students, faculty and staff. Inquires about housing should be directed to the Division of Housing, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.

Financial Aid

Most veterinary students in need of financial assistance rely heavily on federally insured loans. Eligible students can borrow up to $38,500 annually from this source. In addition, the College of Veterinary Medicine administers a few supplemental loan funds and awards some scholarships from endowments. Both of these are disbursed to students already enrolled and therefore cannot be committed in advance. Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL), College of Veterinary Medicine Scholarships and long- and short-term emergency loans are also administered by the College Awards and Scholarships Committee. In order to qualify for any of these, the student must have a current ‘Free Application for Federal Student Aid’ form on file. Information for filing is available at interview.

General

For general information applicable to all University of Florida students, reference should be made to the University Record.

The College of Veterinary Medicine is fully committed to recruiting into veterinary medicine students from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. If you are in high school or beyond, and have a desire to enter the College of Veterinary Medicine, you are encouraged to contact the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Office for Students and Instruction, PO Box 100125, Gainesville, FL 32610-0125, (352) 392-2213 Ext. 15300, Fax (352) 846-2744, E-mail: http://vetmed.ufl.edu/

Basis for Selecting Veterinary Students

Student selection for the College of Veterinary Medicine will be made by the Dean based on recommendation of the Faculty Committee on Admissions using the following criteria as the basis for selection.

1. Residency -- Admission priority will be given to Florida residents. Non-Florida residents with superior academic qualification and/or unique educational or personal backgrounds will be given consideration.
2. Academic Performance -- Evidence of superior scholastic achievement.
3. GRE Scores -- Graduate Record Examination.
4. Background and Experience -- Knowledge of the veterinary medical profession. Some type of animal care experience is highly desirable.
5. Evaluation Forms -- Evaluation of character and potential of applicant as a future veterinarian. Please use the evaluation forms provided on the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) website.
6. Extracurricular Activities -- Achievements, leadership ability, and participation in community activities.
7. Communicative Skill -- A brief statement from applicant concerning reasons for seeking admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine.
8. Personal Interview
9. Competitiveness -- In the case of repeated applications, there are no guarantees that an applicant who interviews one year will interview the next, or that pursuit of recommended experience and course work will guarantee success. The competitive quality of the applicant pool each year shapes the list of interviewees and successful candidates.