How to Apply

1. Request and fill out a transfer Application
2. Show proof of meeting all pre-veterinary requirements for first-year entry at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine:
   1. Undergraduate prerequisite coursework
   2. Animal veterinary experience
   3. Official transcripts of all colleges attended

The Two Fall/Spring Points of Entry

Curricula and courses do not align perfectly across veterinary colleges. To ensure students enter the program without deficiencies in their academic background, the Admissions Committee uses the Cornell DVM syllabus to assess an applicant’s academic preparation and determine the best point of entry for transfer students.

• Fall Semester of Second Year (application due June 1)
• Spring Semester of Second year (application due October 1) 

The prerequisite courses for these entry points are listed in the table below:

Note that transfer students may be required to repeat part of the curriculum and must spend a minimum of five semesters of study at Cornell.

How to Apply

International students fulfill the same requirements as all other students and follow the general admissions process and deadlines.

Language Requirements For Non-Native English Speakers

If you are not a native English speaker and your education was not taught in English, you should:

• Have completed at least one year (30 semester credits) of undergraduate studies at an accredited college or university in the U.S.
• Provide official documentation of your TOEFL score. The Official documentation of the TOEFL score must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Use college code 1510 for the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores must be at least: 

• 100 for an internet-based test (iBT)
• 250 for a computer-based test (CBT)
• 600 for a paper-based test (PBT)

International Credential Report

All international applicants must provide an international credential report:

• All courses taken at a college outside the U.S. (except study abroad) must have all credits and grades converted to the U.S. system.
• International credential reports should be sent to VMCAS. Note that VMCAS only accepts electronic foreign evaluations from World Education Services (WES). Paper WES evaluations are not accepted.
• The evaluations should be completed and electronically sent to VMCAS by the application deadline.

Note for Canada:

• Canadian schools that issue transcripts in French must submit a report.
• Canadian schools that provide English transcripts are exempt from submitting an international credential report.

Transcript Translation

The transcripts must be translated if the courses listed on official transcripts are in a language other than English.

Study Abroad

If you are in a study abroad program through your home college, you do not need to convert your transcripts through an outside organization. However, if you took a prerequisite course while studying abroad and it was transferred back to your institution without a grade, you must have that course grade and credit converted.

CEGEP Diploma Courses (Quebec)

The courses count toward entry-level prerequisite courses, but the grades and credits will not be used in the GPA calculations (cumulative, prerequisite, or science).

Student Visa and Funding

A Certification of Finances form will be mailed to all admitted students and alternates. Admitted international students who have submitted their deposit for the DVM degree program must complete the form to show their ability to pay for all four years. Once the form and documentation are received, along with a copy of the student's passport, a student visa can be generated. Note that international students are billed by semester, just like all students.

Overview

Exceptionally well-qualified students finishing their second year of college with 60-semester credits may apply to Cornell's D.V.M. program. Admission is based on outstanding academic performance in the first two years of college and the applicant's plan for their intended use of the third year in college. 

Accepted students enter the D.V.M. program after completing their junior year, and completing a bachelor's degree before matriculation is not required. 

The deadline for the early application and all supporting documents is June 1, 2025 for Fall entrance into the Class of 2030.

Eligibility for Early Acceptance

• 3.7 GPA.
• Have all but 12 credits of prerequisite coursework completed.
• Completed one semester of organic chemistry and one semester of upper-level biology, biochemistry, or physics courses at the time of application.
• Completed all prerequisite coursework by the end of the junior year with a grade of B or better.
• Have a written plan describing how you will use your time between acceptance and matriculation. This may include studying in challenging courses in diverse areas of interest, initiation or completion of a research project, or spending time in unique life experiences.

How to Apply

• Request and fill out an early acceptance application.
• Complete the general admissions application process.

Timeline

• March 1st - Application opens.
• June 1st - Application deadline.
• July 1st - Decisions. You will be notified of your status by the second week of July.
• If your application is accepted or placed on a waitlist, you must provide a Dean's Certification form (see below).
   

Dean's Certification

We require that accepted and alternate/waitlisted students supply confirmation that they are in good standing at their institution and notice of all disciplinary actions or proceedings involving the applicant. When they receive their decision letter, admitted students and alternates will be provided a Dean's Certification Form.

• Students from external institutions should submit it to their Dean of Students Office.
• Cornell students should contact the registrar within their college of study.

This form is due March 15 of the year they are admitted.

Overview

Established by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), this is an accelerated route to a veterinary degree for Cornell CALS students.

This program's requirements differ from other application paths, including experience hours and requirements. The requirements listed below only apply to the accelerated 7-year BS/DVM pathway applicants.

How it works

• A CALS faculty member sends out a call to interested students and creates a list of exceptionally well-qualified CALS students.
• The CVM director of admissions will review the list and forward an application form and instructions to selected students (provisional acceptance).
• Students apply in the fall semester of their sophomore year.

Criteria for the 2-Step Acceptance Process

Provisional Acceptance

• Minimum GPA of 3.7 during freshman year and first semester of the sophomore year.
• If you transfer to Cornell for your sophomore year, you must have a 3.7 cumulative GPA from your original institution and a 3.7 GPA for the fall semester of your sophomore year at Cornell.
• No more than 30 of the 108 semester credits can be transfer credits.
• Up to 12 of the 108 credits may be AP credits.
• All prerequisite courses must be taken at CALS or your original institution.
• A minimum grade of B or higher for all prerequisite courses.

Final Acceptance

• Positive review of academic transcripts and supporting materials following the spring semester of junior year in CALS
• Successful completion of a minimum of 108 semester credits at the college level (including all prerequisite courses) before entering the DVM curriculum
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 with a minimum grade of “B” for prerequisite courses
• All prerequisites must be taken at Cornell or the transfer college before matriculating at Cornell. Once matriculated at Cornell, the remainder of the prerequisites must be completed at Cornell.
• At least 200 hours of work with a veterinarian in a clinical situation primarily involving traditional veterinary species.
• An additional 200 hours of animal or veterinary-related experience or biomedical research
• 75 of the 400 hours must be completed after students have received provisional acceptance.
• Three letters of evaluation from supervisors (with at least one from a veterinarian) documenting your 400 hours of work experience

Applicants are required to meet with the CVM director of admissions during the application process.

Overview

The Combined DVM/PhD program pathway integrates the veterinary and graduate curricula. It allows you to complete both degrees in less time than it would to do them independently. The program enables you to bring a basic science approach to veterinary training, leading to careers in academia, industry, and government service.

If you are interested in research but not the Combined DVM/PhD program pathway, explore other Research & Training Opportunities.

How to Apply

• Follow and complete the general admissions application process in addition to the extra steps outlined below:
  • In the VMCAS application, complete the added section that collects additional information about your research.
  • Provide three letters of evaluation (a maximum of four), with at least one from a veterinarian and one from an academic advisor or college professor) for the VMCAS application.
• Provide three additional letters from research mentors or individuals who have personal knowledge of your research activities and send this through the Cornell tracking page. When setting up your Cornell Tracking Page, indicate you are applying for the DVM/PhD program pathway.
• If your application is accepted or placed on an alternate/waitlist, you must provide a Dean's Certification form (see Requirements).

Additional details are available on the Biomedical and Biological Sciences (BBS) PhD program page.