Admissions Newsletter of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

The DVM degree in the United States does not require a discipline focus or area of specialization. Graduates of the four-year DVM program may begin practice after they pass their licensing exam. The DVM degree is a general degree which allows veterinarians to practice medicine on all species of animals. Some students, however, wish to specialize, and for them an internship and residency after the four-year DVM program are almost always required. Internships and residencies may include three to five years of work after the four-year DVM program.

The following fields are formally recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association as veterinary specialties: Anesthesiology, Behavior, Clinical Pharmacology, Dermatology, Emergency/Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Lab Animal Medicine, Microbiology, Nutrition, Ophthalmology, Pathology, Poultry, Preventive Medicine, Radiology, Surgery, Toxicology, Theriogenology, and Zoological Medicine. Please note that only one of the specializations is species specific.

Cornell's professional curriculum allows students to pursue many of these fields in greater depth, but not at the expense of a broad knowledge base. In addition to a series of "core" clinical rotations that all students are required to complete, students choose a clinical "pathway" that allows them to to continue a multi-species focus or to concentrate on a species or area of veteruinary medicine of special interest to them. Cornell graduates are still generalist veterinarians, but for students who are interested in seeking internships or residency training, the flexibility of our professional curriculum helps students develop relevant knowledge and skills before they graduate.

A Topical Index of Articles for Pre-Vets and Advisors

Over the past 7 years, the Director of Admissions has written extensively to help pre-vets and advisors to better understand the veterinary profession and veterinary admissions. He and his assistant have put together a Topical Index of Articles that may be of interest to you.

To access these articles, please note the month and year of the article, and then click any of the links below to the issue archive. The issue archive is in chronological order - so you would need to remember the month and year to find the article. All of us at Cornell hope at least one of these articles will be of assistance to you.

A) Animal and Veterinary Experience - All Newsletters are archived at:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/newsletters/issuearchive.htm
Sept. 2003 Animal and Veterinary Experience: Breadth or Depth?
Sept. 1999 How Many Letters of Evaluation Do I Need?
Mar. 2004 Two Common Mistakes with Letters of Evaluation
May 2002 Your Animal and Veterinary Experience are Important to Us
May 2002 Your Letters of Evaluation are Essential to our Selection Process
July 1999 Confidentiality of Letters of Evaluation

B) Planning for Vet. School including pre-requisitecourses - All Newsletters are archived at:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/newsletters/issuearchive.htm
June 2004 Are You Starting College Soon? Wondering What Courses to Take?
Apr. 2003 Most Common Advice Given to Denied Applicants
Aug. 2000 Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirement (VMSAR)
Oct. 1998 Do Veterinary Technician Programs Enhance a DVM Applicant?
April 1998 Should I Consider Applying to Foreign Veterinary Schools?
Feb. 1998 I am a Pre-Med; Can I also be a Pre-Vet?
Feb. 1998 Words of Wisdom from our Current Vet Students
June 2000 Advice for Returning Students Contemplating Veterinary Medicine.
June 2000 Courses You Might Find Helpful
Mar. 2004 Visiting a Veterinary School is Important.
April 1998 Can I Defer Admission if I am not Ready to Begin Veterinary School
Aug. 1998 Frequently Asked Questions about Pre-Requisites
Jan. 1999 Do Your Pre-Requisite Courses Meet Our DVM Admissions Requirements?
Sept. 1999 AP Credit and DVM Admissions at Cornell

C) Cornell's Cased-Based Learning - All Newsletters are archived at:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/newsletters/issuearchive.htm
March 1999 Cornell's DVM Program is Problem-Based Learning
Nov. 1999 FAQ: How is Problem Based Learning Different?
July 2001 FAQ: Do All Groups Learn the Same Material at the Same Time?
Dec. 2000 Elective Courses During Veterinary College
Aug. 2000 Summers Off During Veterinary School
Sept. 1999 FAQ on Textbooks and Other Learning Resources
July 1999 FAQ: Tests and Evaluations in Our Problem-Based Program
March 1999 FAQ: What is Problem-Based Learning?
Oct. 1998 A Unique Curriculum: Transfer Students Please Take Note
Feb. 1998 Fewer Lectures in Our Case-Based Curriculum

D) Financial Aid and Salary Information - All Newsletters are archived at:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/newsletters/issuearchive.htm
Feb. 2004 New U.S. Loan Forgiveness Program for Veterinary Graduates
Aug. 2001 Comparative DVM Salary Information
Dec. 2000 Military Scholarships for Veterinary Medicine
Apr. 1998 The Length and Cost of a Medical Education
Feb. 2004 File Now for Financial Aid: U.S. Vet School Deposits Due April 15
Aug. 2001 A 7 Year Stipend and Free Tuition in Our DVM/PhD Program
Aug. 2001 Financial Aid at Cornell's Veterinary College
Oct. 1998 Free Search Service for Scholarships and Grants

E)Graduate Education Before or During Vet School - All Newsletters are archived at:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/newsletters/issuearchive.htm
Apr. 2003 Should I Go to Graduate School Before Applying to Vet School?
Apr. 1998 Are You Thinking About Graduate School?
May 2002 Free Tuition and Generous Stipend in our DVM/PhD Program
Oct. 2001 More Information on Our Fully Funded DVM/PhD Program
Aug. 1998 Graduate Education at Cornell's Veterinary College

F) The Profession of Veterinary Medicine - All Newsletters are archived at:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/newsletters/issuearchive.htm
Dec. 2003 Do Veterinarians Need to Specialize?
Dec. 2003 Veterinary Specialty Boards Resource List
Dec. 2003 National Veterinary Salary Statistics
Sept. 2003 Veterinary Career Information from the AVMA
Oct. 1998 Do Veterinary Technician Programs Enhance a DVM Application?
Mar. 2000 Web Site for Veterinary Career Information

G) State Residency - All Newsletters are archived at:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/newsletters/issuearchive.htm
July 2003 Your State Residency Affects Our Decision
May 2001 Am I Considered a NY Resident? Or NJ or NH Resident?
Dec. 1997 Your Home State Veterinary College is Always Your Best Bet

H) Tests and Test Preparation - All Newsletters are archived at:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/newsletters/issuearchive.htm
June 2004 Veterinary School Test Requirements
Apr. 2003 Most Common Advise Given to Denied Applicants
Mar. 2004 Should I Take the GRE or MCAT?
April 2002 Preparing for the GRE May Make the Difference
June 2000 Advice for Returning Students Contemplating Veterinary Medicine
Apr. 2000 Cornell Will Now Accept MCAT or GRE Scores
March 2000 Most Common Advice Given to Denied Applicants
Aug. 1998 The Importance of Standardized Tests for Medical Schools

All Cornell Admissions Decisions Have Been Made

If you applied to Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine, you should have received notice of our decision. All letters have been posted at our secure web site https://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/application/track.asp.

An email message has been sent asking each applicant to check his or her application account for our decision. If you have trouble accessing our decision, please send email to vet_admissions@cornell.edu.

Cornell Veterinary Admissions Presentation Schedule - You Are Invited

Admissions Presentations in Washington DC

If you are interested in learning more about the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at Cornell and are planning to be in the Baltimore/Washington DC area on March 9 2005 you are invited to attend an admissions presentation at one of the following locations. If you would like to attend either of these presentations please register at our web site http://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/application/regform.asp.

Venue: Johns Hopkins University
Time: 12:00-1:30pm March 9, 2005

Venue: George Washington University
Time: 7:00-8:30pm March 9, 2005

Topics discussed during these admissions presentations will include:
-DVM degree requirements in the U.S.
-DVM specialties, residencies, internships, and licensure
-Is Cornell's curriculum right for you?
-DVM admissions requirements at Cornell and nationwide
-How to Increase Your Chances of Admission to Veterinary College
-DVM national admissions statistics and Cornell statistics
-DVM financial aid and national salary statistics
-Questions and answers

American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges Hosts High School/College Veterinary Career Fair in Washington DC.

Students from area high schools are invited to attend this event and learn more about veterinary medicine as a unique science career path. Meet college representatives from veterinary colleges and pre-veterinary program and find about the diversity of opportunities available to students interested in a career in veterinary medicine.

Venue: Wyndam Washington Hotel
1400 M Street NW
Washington DC 20005
Date: Friday, March 11, 2005
3:00-6:00pm

For futher information regarding this event please contact Lisa Greenhill at 202-371-9195 x47 or lgreenhill@aavmc.org.

College of Veterinary Medicine Open House-April 16, 2005

Each year thousands of visitors attend our free veterinary college Open House. Both admission and parking are free for all who attend. This year Open House will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2004 from 10am to 4pm. Registration is not needed, all are welcome. Admissions presentations are one of many events during Open House and they will take place in our James Law Auditorium.

The schedule is:
11:30pm College/Adult students
Topics discussed during the college/adult student presentation include:
-DVM degree requirements in the U.S.
-DVM specialties, residencies, internships, and licensure
-Is Cornell's curriculum right for you?
-DVM admissions requirements at Cornell and nationwide
-How to Increase Your Chances of Admission to Veterinary College
-DVM national admissions statistics and Cornell statistics
-DVM financial aid and national salary statistics
-Questions and answers

2:30pm Grades 7-12
Topics discussed during the grades 7-12 presentations include:
-Is Veterinary Medicine Right for You
-Veterinary Career Paths
-How to Prepare at the High School Level
-How to Choose a Good College
-How to Choose a College Major
-How to Increase Your Chances of Admission to Veterinary College
-How to Choose a Veterinary School
-Questions and Answers
For driving directions and more information on this opportunity to learn about Cornell and the veterinary profession, visit: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/news/openhouse/

Cornell's DVM Admissions Web Site

Past Newsletters and Selected Articles

All Newsletters are archived at http://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/newsletters/issuearchive.htm.

June 2004
- Veterinary School Test Requirements
- Starting College Soon? Wondering What Courses to Take?

March 2004
- Should I Take the GRE or MCAT?
- Two Common Mistakes with Letters of Evaluation

February 2004
- New U.S. Loan Forgiveness Program for Veterinary Graduates

December 2003
- Do Veterinarians Need to Specialize?
- Veterinary Specialty Boards Resource List
- National Veterinary Salary Statistics

September 2003
- A 7-year Stipend and Free Tuition in Our DVM/PhD Program

July 2003
- Your State Residency Affects Our Decision

June 2002
- Do Veterinarians Need to Specialize?

April 2002
- Preparing for the GRE May Make the Difference
- Are You Planning a Visit to Cornell's Veterinary Campus?

February 2002
- Web Site for Veterinary Career Information
- Most Common Advice Given to Denied Applicants

November 2001
- Is Study-Abroad Experience Valued by Admissions Committees?
- Wildlife Medicine at Cornell

How to Subscribe/Unsubscribe to This Free Newsletter

Did you receive this newsletter from a friend or an advisor? You may sign-up for a free copy to come directly to you at https://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/application/inquiry.asp. We send this free newsletter about every 2 months to all interested individuals via email only. If you do not have email but have access to the World Wide Web, visit our web site to view our newsletters.

Alumni -- if you subscribe individually you may receive two copies, one from DVM Admissions and one from our Alumni Office.

Advisors -- if you subscribe to the health professions advisors' list serve, you do not need to sign-up separately for this newsletter. We will forward each new edition to the list serve. Advisors who do not subscribe to that list serve are encouraged to subscribe directly to our newsletter.

To unsubscribe, go to https://www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/application/inquiry.asp.

How To Contact Us

phone: 607-253-3700
e-mail: vet_admissions@cornell.edu
web: http://www.vet.cornell.edu

Office of DVM Admissions
Cornell University
Schurman Hall, Room S2-009
Ithaca, NY 14853-6401

Our phone lines are often busy.
Please, email us!

Summer hours: Mon.- Fri., 8am-4pm

Important Dates

July Supplemental & VMCAS forms available
October 1 VMCAS application deadline
October 5 Cornell's preferred Supplemental application deadline*
November 14 Latest acceptable GRE test date
November 15 Absolute final deadline for Cornell's on-line self-initiated supplemental*
January File the FAFSA + the CSS Profile for financial aid
February Decisions/Notifications are made
March Information Sessions for admitted & alternate students held
April 15 Deadline for all in USA to accept/decline DVM acceptance offer
May 31 All prerequisites must be completed if enrolling in August
August Orientation and beginning of classes

*The only difference between these deadlines is the application fee -- it costs us more to process your application if you apply after October 5.