Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Overview About UCD SVM Application guidelines/requirements Admissions process Candidate selection MMI Curriculum Preparing now

About Ranked #1 in the United States by U.S. News & World Report Only public veterinary school in California One of 30 veterinary colleges in U.S. One of 6 on the west coast.

Application Guidelines

Admission Requirements VMCAS Application Includes three essay questions UC Davis SVM Supplemental Application Includes one personal statement Prerequisite Courses Veterinary Experience Letters of Recommendation (eLOR) GRE Quantitative Score Minimum GPA is 2.5 in all graded science courses and cumulative to apply Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)

What is VMCAS? Veterinary Medical Colleges Application Service – VMCAS provided by the AAVMC. (American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (aavmc.org) Applications available online May 9. Deadline is September 17, 2019 @ 8:59PM, Pacific Time.

VMCAS Application Create login Select schools for application Complete app Pay fee(s) Track app $215 fee, $110 for each additional program

VMCAS Application Available May 9, due by September 17 Sections applicants must complete: General applicant information Three essay questions College/Academic information ALL college transcripts must be sent to VMCAS GRE test scores Veterinary Experience, animal experience, research experience Community activities, honors/awards Employment Letters of Evaluation (eLORS)

Prerequisite Courses 75% must be complete upon application submission Lower Division: One year of General Biology w/lab One year of General Chemistry w/lab One year of Organic Chemistry w/lab One year of Physics (no lab required) Statistics—1 course Note: may be taken at a CC College Upper Division: One semester of Biochemistry w/metabolism One semester of Systemic Physiology One semester of Genetics Note: Must be taken at a four year college 75% must be complete upon application submission ~ Three outstanding courses Complete by the end of the spring/ prior to matriculation. Course equivalencies offered at California public colleges may be found on our website

Transcripts Submit official transcripts from all colleges/HS where units have been earned Transcripts must come from originating institution where credit was earned Must enter every course taken on the VMCAS application exactly the way it appears on your official college transcript. EX: BIOL SCI 101 - NOT - BIS 101 or Bio 101 Application will be returned Transcripts sent directly to VMCAS from each institution Transcripts must be received by deadline or application will be considered incomplete and not processed

Veterinary Experience What counts as veterinary experience? Any veterinary clinical, agribusiness, or health science experiences which took place under the supervision of a veterinarian 180 hours minimum. Average admitted student 1,400. Animal experience: Farm and ranch experience 4-H Animal training Animal shelter work Wildlife Rescue/rehabilitation NOT under supervision of a veterinarian.

Letters of Recommendation (eLORS) At least three eLORS. Ask 4-6 individuals to write evaluations for you. Confirm with the individual They will receive an e-mail from VMCAS with instructions Discuss the VMCAS deadline date with your evaluator MUST be received by September 17th, 2019 at 8:59pm PST. Other letters may be written by professors, researchers, employers.

Essay Questions Three essay questions as part of your VMCAS application. The questions for the 2019-20 application cycle are: There are many career choices within the veterinary profession. What are your future career goals and why? (2000 character limit) In what ways do veterinarians contribute to society and what do you hope to contribute? (2000 character limit) Consider the breadth of society which veterinarians serve. What attributes do you believe are essential to be successful within the veterinary profession? Of these attributes, which do you possess and how have you demonstrated these in the past? (2000 character limit)

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Exam must be taken by August 31st each year. Test scores are valid for five years. Test scores must be sent from ETS directly to VMCAS using school code 4804 for UC Davis Vet Med. The quantitative score is used in the equation to rank applicants for interviews (MMIs) Applicants may take the exam as many times as they wish. The highest scores will be used within the valid 5 year period. Average quantitative score for admitted CA residents is 71%. Average non-resident score is 86%.

UCD Supplemental Application VMCAS will set application stats to verified upon: All documents received Comparing transcripts with info you provided Calculating GPA’s Applicants will receive email from UCD to set up portal Allows applicant to track status and communication with Admissions Office Supplemental Application includes the following: Recording prerequisite courses Reviewing eLOR’s selection Vet intererst questions Personal statement Legal residence $60 application processing fee

Selecting Applicants for Interview Two Step Process: Ranking: GPA, GRE, eLOR Top 180 applicants invited for interview 10% of non-residents and 25% California residents Holistic Review Next 180 in rank order Reviewed by faculty admissions committee Will include vet, animal, research experience, personal statement/VMCAS essays, eLOR’s, leadership/community service, life experience, education, motivation to be a vet Select 60 10-25 applicants to be placed on interview waitlist

Selecting Applicants for Interview Most recent 45/68: calculated from last graded course completed prior to app deadline Science GPA: ALL sciences courses taken, not including tech schools/programs GRE: Do not consider verbal or analytical

What is the MMI? Multiple Mini Interview (MMI): Interview format, uses short independent assessments Timed circuit Measure communication skills & emotional intelligence, specifically verbal and nonverbal skills (not found in app process) It has been shown that traditional interview formats or simulations of educational situations do not accurately predict performance in medical professional schools. More quantitative and assesses attributes of future veterinarians that are important for success including: Interpersonal skills, critical thinking skills, communication skills, teamwork, reliability, responsibility and moral and ethical reasoning.

UCD SVM MMI Process Candidates rotate through a circuit of ten scenario stations 240 candidates will interview over the course of four days in early December Each scenario is 7 minutes long with 3 minutes in between Most of the scenarios have 3 questions that are asked one at a time Must manage time to complete all 3 questions

UCD SVM MMI Process After completion of MMI circuit: Tours are given of the teaching hospital Presentations are made by the Dean, Assoc. Deans and Financial Aid Information about the curriculum, financial aid, scholarships, research, computers, student programs Veterinary student panel discussion. Pizza social

UCD SVM Admission Decision Interviewees ranked based on MMI scores Offers of admission based solely on MMI scores Application information is not taken into consideration Admission notifications are posted to the Applicant Portal by the end of January Class size is 150 Approximately 45 interviewees will be placed on the waitlist in rank order of MMI score Admitted students must accept or decline offer by April 15th, the common accept date for all SVMs that participate in VMCAS

What if I am not admitted? Portal status notification will provide an overview of the evaluation process Will include GPA’s, GRE, and LOR scores of admitted applicants so you can make a comparison of your application Earn high grades in remaining course work Enter a graduate program Take additional science courses to increase GPA Re-take the GRE to improve your quantitative score Reapply!

Admitted Students Accept by April 15th Prepare to move to Davis Be ready for the Curriculum

Curriculum Years 1 and 2: foundational, comparative and core Year 3: Introduction to streams Small animal Large animal Equine/livestock/zoologic Avian/reptile Poultry Lab animal… Year 4: Core requirement by emphasis with electives to allow individual student choices

Curriculum- Clinical Rotations Year 4 Length 59 weeks Select from 5 emphases Small Animal Equine Livestock Zoologic Approved area: research, public health, pathology, poultry, fish

Curriculum Design Blocks that integrate disciplines Body systems Taught in context Early clinical exposure Outcome-based Delivery Student-centered Directed self-learning Inquiry-based with cases or problems Electronic format

Questions Website: Vetmed.ucdavis.edu Email: svmadmissions@ucdavis.edu Admissions Department: 530.752.1324