What is the Accelerated 7-year BS/DVM pathway?

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.

The requirements for this program are different from other application paths, including experience hours and requirements. 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 for 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 application instructions to selected students (provisional acceptance).
• Students apply the fall semester of their sophomore year.

Criteria for Provisional Acceptance

• Minimum GPA 3.7 during freshman year and first semester of the sophomore year.
• If you transfer into Cornell for your sophomore year, you must have a 3.7 cumulative GPA from your original institution, as well as 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 at your original institution.
• Minimum grade of B or higher for all prerequisite courses.

Criteria for Final Acceptance

• Positive review of academic transcripts and supporting materials following spring semester of junior year in CALS
• Successful completion of minimally 108 semester credits at the college level (including all prerequisite courses) before entering 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 at the transfer college prior to matriculating to Cornell. Once matriculated at Cornell, the remainder of prerequisites must be completed at Cornell
• At least 200 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
• A total of 75 of the 400 hours must be done 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

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