Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Application Procedures

How do I apply to the UF College of Veterinary Medicine (UFCVM)?

Complete a VMCAS application

The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) is required for all UF applicants. More information about the VMCAS application can be found at: http://www.aavmc.org/Students-Applicants-and-Advisors/Veterinary-Medical-College-Application-Service.aspx

Complete the University of Florida Professional Application

The University of Florida Professional Application is required for all applicants to UF professional schools. Once you complete the application, you will be assigned a University of Florida Identification (UF ID) number which will be required to set up an account with the UFCVM. You can find the UF Professional Application here: https://www.isis.ufl.edu/cgi-bin/eaglec?MDASTRAN=IVA-INTRO. Please note that UF charges a $30 fee for this application.

Complete the Supplemental Documents

Applicants will need to complete a Supplemental Information Sheet, Inventory of Pre-requisites, and Supplemental Essay. These documents can only be accessed once the UF Professional Application has been completed. Once completed, the Supplemental Documents and applicants’ official transcripts should be mailed to:

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
Office for Students and Instruction
PO Box 100125
Gainesville, FL 32610
ATTN: Lynnette Chaparro

Deadlines and Additional Information

For up-to-date information regarding admissions deadlines in the current admissions cycle, please visit our website at: http://education.vetmed.ufl.edu/admissions/application/

Does UF charge a separate fee for the UF Professional Application?

Yes. The fee is $30.

Where should I send the payment for the UF Professional Application?

University of Florida
Office of Admissions
PO Box 2946
Gainesville, FL 32627-2946

Please note that if you mail the application fee to the UFCVM by mistake, the payment will be returned to sender, delaying the application process.

Transcripts

Do I need a transcript from every college I’ve ever attended?

Yes, including transcripts from any college courses taken while in high school. However, if your coursework from a previous institution is listed in full on the official transcript of another institution, that will also be accepted.

If I am taking classes at the University of Florida, do I still need to send you a transcript?

Yes. We are not able to print transcripts for University of Florida applicants.

Can I collect my official transcripts and mail them to the college together, or should I have them sent directly from my school to your office?

Either way is acceptable. If you decide to collect them, they must be received in our office officially sealed.

Where do I mail my transcripts?

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
Office for Students and Instruction
PO Box 100125
Gainesville, FL 32610
ATTN: Lynnette Chaparro

My name on my VMCAS application is different from the name on my transcripts. Would this be a problem?

Yes. Please contact the Office for Students and Instruction (send e-mail to chaparrol@ufl.edu) if your transcripts are under a name different from the VMCAS application.

Please note that it is important to notify the Office for Students and Instruction should you change your name. This will allow us to update your records and will ensure that all application materials are received and matched up correctly.

How do I know if my transcripts have been received?

By checking into the account you created after completing the UF Professional Application and the UF Supplemental Documents. Please note: It can take up to 5 business days for us to update your account after receiving your transcripts.

GRE Scores

What is your GRE school code?

The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine GRE school code is 5753.

Please note: the University of Florida code is 5812. Although scores sent to this code will eventually reach our office, we would prefer that all scores be reported on 5753.

For more information about the GRE, please visit the ETS site at: http://www.ets.org/gre.

When do you need to receive my GRE scores?

The last day to take the GRE is August 31, 2012. If you have a legitimate reason for needing an extension, please contact Jonathan Orsini, Director of Admissions, at jorsini@ufl.edu.

How do I know if my GRE scores have been received?

By checking into the account you created after completing the UF Professional Application and the UF Supplemental Documents. Please note: It can take up to 5 business days for us to update your account after receiving your GRE scores.

Advance Placement (AP) and Courses Taken Abroad

Will you accept Advance Placement credit taken in high school?

Yes. We will accept them as long as it’s documented on an undergraduate transcript.

Can College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit be used to fulfill prerequisites?

CLEP will be accepted based on the rules put forth by the University Registrar. More information can be found here: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/advising/info/CLEP-examination-credit-info.aspx

Will you accept credits from courses taken at foreign institutions?

Yes. We will accept courses that have been transferred to a U.S. college and have been noted on a U.S. college transcript with a grade. All courses that are not included in a U.S. transcript must be evaluated by an education service in order for us to decide if it is acceptable.

Financial Aid

How much does vet school cost?

For the 2012-2013 academic year:

Tuition for Florida Residents is $28,100 per year.

Tuition for Non-Sponsored students (out-of-state) is $45,500 per year and is fixed for all four years of your education regardless of any future changes in residency status.

You can find useful financial aid links and information at: http://education.vetmed.ufl.edu/admissions/financial-aid-information/.

How do I pay for vet school?

It is possible for students to fund their entire education with federally insured Direct Loans.

The primary financial aid instruments available to vet students are Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans.  You can find more information about these loan instruments here: http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans.

Are there scholarships available at the UFCVM?

Yes. The scholarships are awarded bi-annually by a faculty committee. There are very few scholarships that require an application, and almost all scholarships are reserved for enrolled students. There are a small number of scholarships given to incoming freshmen based on residency and academic merit.

Admissions Questions

What are the average GPA and GRE statistics of an accepted UF vet student?

The average overall GPA of an incoming vet student to the Class of 2016 was a 3.57. The average scores on the GRE were 539 on the Verbal section and 684 on the Quantitative section. This would be equivalent to a 156 Verbal, 154 Quantitative on the new revised GRE test that went live last fall. You can see complete class statistics and demographic information on our website here: http://education.vetmed.ufl.edu/admissions/dvm-specifics/admission-statistics-by-class/

Is there a minimum GPA or GRE requirement?

No. It’s recommended that you have a GPA above 3.00 and that you have a GRE above 1000 (roughly 294-295 combined on the revised GRE).

How much pre-vet experience should I have before I apply?

There is not a minimum requirement for pre-vet experience when applying to the UFCVM. However, we recommend that you have at least 500 hours of experience working with veterinarians, preferably in a practice setting. All types of experience are accepted, including, but not limited to paid experience, volunteering, shadowing, etc…

How many references do I need to apply?

The UFCVM requires three references. There are no specific requirements, although it is recommended that at least one reference is from a veterinarian.

Do I have to participate in an interview to be accepted to the UFCVM?

Yes. The final step in the UFCVM admissions process is a 50-minute panel interview normally conducted in the beginning of February.

What undergraduate majors does the UFCVM prefer in the admissions process?

The most common majors are: Biology and Animal Science. That being said, the UFCVM does not have a preferred undergraduate major. The pre-requisite courses can be completed in any major.

What are the pre-requisite courses?

The UFCVM requires 80 credits of college coursework in order to be eligible for admission. A complete list of pre-requisites can be found on our website here: http://education.vetmed.ufl.edu/admissions/undergraduate-course-requirements/. Please note that the pre-requisite courses are listed with UF prefixes and that many colleges and universities do not match up exactly with these classes. Should you have any questions regarding a class you are taking and whether or not it will fulfill a pre-requisite, please contact Lynnette Chaparro at chaparrol@ufl.edu or Terri Weldon at weldont@ufl.edu.

If you aren’t sure, please check with us. You don’t want to be scrambling the summer before vet school trying to complete a pre-requisite you thought you had already finished.

Where should I take the prerequisite courses?

You can take the prerequisite courses at any accredited two-year or four-year college or university. Our admissions committee values course work completed at a university at a higher level than course work completed at a community college.  Be advised that many of our students complete some of their course work at community college but we encourage upper level science courses to be completed at a major university.

Please note that Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Animal Science, and Animal Nutrition must be completed at an accredited 4-year institution.

General Questions

If I am out of the country or otherwise unable to check the status of my application, can I have friends or family contact you?

No. Your application is confidential. We can only release the information to the applicant.

What is UF’s NAVLE pass rate?

Our NAVLE pass rate can be found here. Our current pass rate of 98% is significantly higher than the AVMA’s minimum requirement of 80%.

Who do I contact if I have other questions?

You can call our office at 352-294-4244. However, the best way to reach us is by email.

Our contact information can be found here: http://education.vetmed.ufl.edu/admissions/staff-contact-information/