Vet School Application Timeline: Your Guide

October 23, 2023
Contents

”Luke

Reviewed by:

Luke Hartstein

Former Admissions Committee Member, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Reviewed: 10/23/23

Here is everything you need to know about the vet school application timeline for all aspiring veterinarians!

Getting your school application in on time is the first step to kick-starting your education and, ultimately, becoming a veterinarian

Keep reading as we go through the vet school application timeline and answer your frequently asked questions about the process!

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Vet School Application Timeline

It is important to know the process, expectations, and dates for your vet school application. Vet schools are very competitive, so it’s best to be as prepared on your application as possible to maximize your chances of acceptance. 

Here is an outline of deadlines for vet school applications to help you plan your application. 

January 

The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) opens for all candidates. While college selections are not yet available, you can complete the standard application. 

May 

Specific programs open in May. You can start applying to college programs through the VMCAS. 

You may also be asked to complete additional materials for the school’s program. Make sure to read through all the requirements for each program you are interested in. 

The VMCAS is not a first come, first serve application portal, so you do not need to finish your application right away. Quality over speed; take your time to build a strong application. 

September 18th 

The VMCAS application closes at 11:59EST. After this date, you will not be able to create an account or submit any application materials.

October – February 

Successful applicants will be offered interview dates. 

Your exact interview date will depend on the specific school you applied to. Vet school interviews can happen as early as October, but some schools may do their interviews in early spring. 

The interview is crucial to your acceptance into a program. Be sure to brush up on common questions asked during vet school interviews and how to answer them. 

February – April 

While this date may vary depending on the school you applied to. Generally, acceptance decisions will be released during this time. 

Make sure to double-check the deadline to accept your offer, as this date will also change depending on the school.

Important Vet School Application Deadlines

There are many important dates to keep in mind when applying for vet programs, so we’ve put these dates together in a table below.

Date Step
Late January VMCAS open. You can begin filling out the standard application for vet schools.
May Program selection from specific schools opens.
August 15th The recommended deadline to complete and submit your application.
September 18th The final date to submit your application.
September – December Review of applications begins. Schools will also begin reaching out to qualifying candidates to schedule an interview.
January– February Interviews take place. However, some schools may still conduct interviews in the early spring.
February– April Decisions of acceptance will be announced.
April 15 Admissions offer deadline. However, make sure to double-check each school’s own acceptance deadline, as it may vary school by school.

Keep the vet school application timeline open as you begin your application. You don’t want to miss any of these dates, or else you could jeopardize your chances of getting accepted into a school.

Vet School Application Steps

Knowing the steps to apply to vet school is just as important as knowing the timeline. Here are the key steps you need to take for your application. 

Before You Apply

Preparation for your application to vet school begins as early as high school. You should discuss with your school’s counselor about the best courses to take to prepare you for vet school

You should work towards getting a high GPA to increase your chances of getting accepted. The average GPA for vet school applicants ranges from 3.5 to 3.8. Due to the competitive nature of vet schools, if you have a low GPA, you may not get accepted. 

Steps To Apply

First, you will need to create a VMCAS account. All vet school applications use this portal. Before you submit your application, you will need to pay an application fee on the website. 

Once you create your account and start your application, you will be asked to:

  • Provide personal information, such as your full name and address 
  • Fill out your academic history 
  • Submit additional materials, including letters of recommendation, personal statement, and relevant experience 
  • Compile additional materials, as requested by each school 

To complete your application, you will need to order your transcript and test scores. You do this directly on the application portal online or by mailing your official transcripts to the schools you are applying to.

All the application steps are completed through the VMCAS website. 

After You’ve Applied 

After you’ve completed all the steps and officially submitted your completed application, you can monitor its status online and follow up on any action items. 

Your application status can be found on your VMCAS account.

FAQs: Vet School Application Timeline

Still have questions about vet school application deadlines and process? We’ve got you covered! Keep reading as we answer some frequently asked questions below. 

1. How Long Does It Take to Hear Back From Vet Schools?

This will depend on when you had your interview with the school, and when the school releases their acceptance decisions. 

Generally, you will hear back from vet schools in February, and will have to accept your offer by mid-April. 

2. How Early Can I Apply to Vet School?

You can begin your application as soon as the VMCAS opens in January. 

However, you won’t be able to complete your application until May, when schools open up their application submissions and release their additional application materials. 

As we’ve mentioned before, while the application portal opens early, you do not need to complete the application right away. It is not a first-come, first-serve situation. All complete applications will be reviewed after the deadline, so you don’t need to rush to get yours in. 

Take your time and plan out your materials, such as reference letters. While we don’t recommend waiting until the last minute, focus on the quality of your application over getting it in as soon as possible.  

3. What Percentage of Vet School Applicants Get Accepted?

Acceptance rates differ from school to school, but vet schools are notoriously competitive to get into. This is largely because there are only a handful of vet schools in the country, so programs are very competitive. 

On average, the acceptance rate for vet schools in the US ranges from 10 to 15 percent.

Final Thoughts 

When applying to veterinary programs, it is essential to follow the strict deadlines and dates. Vet school is hard to get into—so make sure you are organized and on track at every step of the application process. 

Good luck!

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