Minimum Academic Requirements for Admission
- At least 43 semester or 66 quarter units from a regionally accredited college or university. (If a student intends to practice in the state of New York, they require at least 60 semester units.)
- Minimum overall 2.8 GPA or higher in all coursework as calculated by VMCAS. Students not meeting these criteria, with a GPA of <2.8, who have demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence in the last 2 years of study or most recent 60 semester hours may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Pre-Requisite Coursework for Admission
In order to fulfill the prerequisite, the coursework must meet the following criteria:
- Courses must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university
- Courses must be completed with a grade of a "C-" or higher. Final grades for all prerequisite courses must be verified by LMU-CVM.
- Courses for all science prerequisites must have been completed within the last 10 years of application. Science prerequisites include: Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Advanced Science Electives, Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, Physics and Anatomy and/or Physiology. Beginning with the class of 2027 admissions cycle, both 3 credits of Anatomy and Physiology will be required.
In Progress or Planned Courses
Prerequisites courses can be "in progress" or "planned" at the time of application submission; however, official transcripts reflecting successful completion of those prerequisites must be submitted to LMU by the published deadlines.
Advanced Placement (AP) Credits
AP credits will be accepted for prerequisite courses if they appear on an official college transcript with the subject and number of credits received and are equivalent to the appropriate college-level coursework. A generic listing of "AP credit" or "transfer credit" without the specific subject and number of credits will not be accepted.
Minimum Academic Requirements for Admissions | |||
| LMU-CVM Pre-Requisite | Semester Units | Quarter Units | Notes |
| Biology | 8 | 12 | General biology series; lecture & lab. |
| Genetics | 3 | 4 | Lecture; Animal Breeding or Reproduction courses must be approved on a case-by-case basis.* |
| Biochemistry | 3 | 4 | Lecture |
| Anatomy | 3 | 4 | Lecture & Lab |
| Physiology | 3 | 4 | Lecture |
| Advanced Science Electives | 8 | 12 | Lecture. Courses must be 300 level or higher. Examples may include Anatomy, Cell Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Physiology or Virology, depending on the school's course numbering. |
| Organic Chemistry | 3 | 5 | Lecture & Lab |
| General Chemistry | 6 | 9 | Lecture & Lab |
| Physics | 3 | 4 | Lecture (Algebra or calculus-based acceptable) |
| English | 3 | 4 | |
| Social Sciences | 3 | 4 | Potential courses include, but are not limited to: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Philosophy, Political Science or Sociology. Also included: Ethics, Critical Thinking, Cultural Diversity, Social Responsibility, One Health, & Human-Animal Bond. |
| Minimum | 43 | 66 | |
| *To verify if an Animal Breeding/Reproduction course satisfies the Genetics prerequisite, send an email with the course description to veterinaryadmissions@lmunet.edu. | |||
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
Applicants are not required to take the GRE.
Veterinary Experience
Applicants must demonstrate experience and knowledge of the veterinary profession. There is not a minimum number of hours applicants must complete. However, time spent actively participating in the profession is beneficial.
Admissions for the Fall or Spring Cohort
All admissions to the DVM program will be processed through a VMCAS application. Within the VMCAS application, students can choose to apply to either the fall or spring cohorts or they can apply to both. Although the deadline for VMCAS applications occurs in September, any student with interest in applying for the spring cohort should plan to apply early so that their application can be reviewed in a timely manner by the admissions committee.
Veterinary Early Acceptance Pathway
The Early Acceptance Pathway allows high-achieving, highly motivated high school seniors to earn guaranteed acceptance into the Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine upon successful completion of their undergraduate degree at LMU, provided they meet benchmarks determined by the Admissions Committee. The applicant must remain in good standing both academically and professionally with the university to remain eligible for DVM Admission.
Admitted students can expect to complete three years of undergraduate studies. In lieu of a fourth year of undergraduate studies, the fourth year will be comprised of their first year of veterinary school. Students will receive their Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Health Science (BS VHS) following completion of their first year of veterinary school. Accepted students will save one year of undergraduate study and tuition.
Admissions Requirements for Veterinary Early Acceptance Pathway
Students must complete both the Early Acceptance Pathway (EAP) and general LMU applications.
Entering freshmen will enroll in the EAP under the Veterinary Health Science (VHS) program.
Applicants must meet specific academic requirements:
Reading ACT ≥ 24, SAT 570-590
Math ACT ≥ 24, SAT 570-590
High school GPA ≥ 3.5
Submit LMU Guaranteed Professional Admission (GPA) Supplemental Application, including:
Two letters of reference which must be written by a non-relative, and ideally speak to your character, academic disposition, or any field-relevant experience you have garnered to date. These letters should be submitted by a guidance counselor, science teacher, coach, or employer.
A 650-word (minimum) written personal statement that details how you chose this professional path and what your professional career goals are.
Applicants Previously Enrolled in a DVM Program
Any applicant who has attempted DVM-level coursework prior to applying to the DVM program at LMU-CVM must demonstrate a cumulative GPA of 2.0+ in their professional coursework and request a Recommendation Questionnaire from the Dean or Administrator at their previous CVM. Applicants who fail to meet this standard and/or do not receive a recommendation from their past CVM Dean/Administrator do not qualify for admission to the DVM program at LMU-CVM. To access the Recommendation Questionaire, please email: veterinaryadmissions@lmunet.edu
Failure to disclose enrollment in a DVM program in their VMCAS application may result in immediate dismissal from the DVM program.
For all applicants to the DVM program:
By accepting a seat in the Lincoln Memorial University, Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine, you acknowledge will be held to the policies and procedures included in this handbook.