The South Dakota State University Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine (SDSU PPVM) is a participating member of a national application service called the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). With one Web-based application, prospective veterinary students may submit their application to most of the U.S. and many Canadian and international veterinary colleges that participate in VMCAS. The Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine requires that all applicants, resident, and non-resident, submit their initial application via VMCAS. International applicants are considered for admission only if their pre-veterinary coursework has been completed at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university.
The VMCAS applications for the Class of 2028/program start Fall 2024 are now open. The application deadline is Sept. 18, 2023. Please read the following information carefully for more details on our application requirements and evaluation policies.
Any changes to these requirements will be published on the VMCAS program information page and our website by the application opening date of the next cycle.
Please check this page often for any application requirement updates.
Information on the next cycle opening date
VMCAS will be open in January 2023 to begin working on your application for the class of 2028 / program start fall 2024. The application deadline is September 15, 2023. This is a firm deadline and late applications are not considered. Please visit the AAVMC/VMCAS website for details on the next deadline.
The Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine does not utilize a supplemental application. However, the SDSU PPVM does require an additional application processing fee of $85 due on the same date as the application deadline. Applicants who do not submit the application processing fee will not be considered for admission. The application fee can be paid online with a credit or debit card, once the application cycle opens.
Applicants must complete specific prerequisite courses prior to application and enrollment in the DVM program. This includes courses in chemistry, biology, physics, math, English composition and liberal arts education. To learn more, browse our list of prerequisite courses for admission starting fall 2023 and a complete list of prerequisite courses at individual regional institutions.
All prerequisite coursework must be taken for a letter grade unless only offered S/N or P/F by the educational institution in which it was taken. In this circumstance, we will accept pass and satisfactory grades towards meeting our prerequisite requirements. An exception will be made for courses where pass and satisfactory grades are earned for spring semester 2020 and summer semester 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants with satisfactory or pass graded coursework for spring semester 2020 and summer semester 2020 will be given the same consideration as applicants who have letter-graded coursework for these terms.
Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Postsecondary Enrollment Options, and International Baccalaureate credits are accepted if documented on an official undergraduate transcript.
All math and science prerequisites courses must be recent within 10 years of application deadline. Applicants may petition to have expired coursework considered if they can demonstrate significant use of course content. Please contact us for more details.
Prerequisites courses can be in progress during the fall and spring term of the application cycle, but can include no more than five math and science prerequisite courses. Summer classes taken immediately prior to fall semester enrollment in the DVM program may not be used to complete prerequisite courses. Students granted admission with prerequisites in progress will be accepted provisionally and must complete all remaining courses with a C or better by the end of the spring term (June 15).
Students may pursue their pre-veterinary studies at any accredited college or university and pursue a number of undergraduate majors. Many community and junior colleges offer the majority of courses required with the possible exception of some of the more advanced science courses such as higher-lever chemistry, genetics and biochemistry.
Although a Bachelor's degree is not required for admission to the DVM program, approximately 90 percent of the students entering the program each year have completed their Bachelor's degree. The most common majors of students entering the DVM program are biology and animal science, but also include a variety of majors such as engineering, business administration, history and music.
After careful consideration, the Admissions Committee has decided to discontinue the GRE requirement for the Class of 2028.
Official copies of all transcripts from any college or university attended should be sent to VMCAS by September 15. SDSU and the University of Minnesota will be unable to process or forward transcripts that are sent to the University and not to VMCAS. Deadlines as well as more information on the transcript verification process can be found on AAVMC .
The Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine requires three electronic Letters of Reference (eLOR) on behalf of each applicant. eLORs are submitted directly through VMCAS as part of the application. Applicants may submit up to six eLORs total. It is strongly recommended that at least one eLOR is written by a DVM. Other letters could come from individuals who know the applicant in a professional environment, such as employers, volunteer coordinators, instructors, advisors, other medical professionals etc.
Technical standards are non-academic criteria for admissions, continuing enrollment, and graduation that are essential for participation in a program of study. Primary purposes for technical standards are:
- To provide a consistent framework for remediation for students enrolled in the program who are struggling with non-academic issues
- To provide a baseline for all students to know and understand the skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary for full participation in the program.
- To provide students with disabilities an awareness of the technical standards that must be met with or without reasonable accommodations
All prospective students should review the SDSU PPVM Technical Standards document and contact Dr. Jessie Juarez with any questions. Students offered admission will be asked to signify their understanding of the technical standards prior to matriculation.