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September 2003

All articles are by Joseph M. Piekunka, Director of Admissions for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Program, unless otherwise indicated. This is an open newsletter; please forward it to anyone who may be interested.

Articles in This Issue:

         

Animal and Veterinary Experience: Breadth or Depth?

Many students are under the false impression that veterinary schools prefer depth of experience over breadth of experience. That is not true at Cornell and is most likely untrue at most other veterinary schools. Why? The DVM degree in the U.S. and Canada is a general degree that allows one to work with all species -- it is not a specialty degree or narrowly focused education. Licensing exams test your breadth of knowledge of all species, not depth of knowledge about one or two species.

So we look for breadth of experience from our applicants. The applicant that gains admission typically has 1000 hours of experience working primarily with 4 or 5 species in 3 or 4 environments (large animal practice, small animal practice, zoo, lab, etc.) and submits 5 letters of evaluation. If all your experience is in working with small animals -- stop working with small animals and start working with large animals or at a zoo. The applicants with which you will compete will likely have broader experience, and broad experience is what we prefer.

Veterinary Career Information from the AVMA

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) collects and distributes significant amounts of data on its members. They also provide a Veterinary Career Center on-line at http://www.avma.org/vcc/default.asp. Many people think of veterinarians as practitioners. However, there are many veterinarians who work in governmental and corporate organizations.
The AVMA posts much of the data they collect at their web site. The average practicing veterinarian, in 2001, earned about $84,000. The average veterinarian working for government or corporate organizations earned about $92,000. If you are interested in more career and salary information, you may wish to visit their Veterinary Market Statistics page at http://www.avma.org/membshp/marketstats/default.asp

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

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell is proud to announce a newly revised dual DVM/PhD program. The Veterinary Scientist Training Program will provide a limited number of highly motivated and academically exceptional students the opportunity to pursue training designed to prepare them for careers in biomedical research. Broadly stated, the academic objective is to integrate the veterinary and graduate curricula, leveraging a broad comparative biomedical education in animal biology with rigorous training in basic experimental biology. The program's foundation and primary attribute is the strength and scope of the educational opportunity.

An important feature is an initial one- or two-year period for laboratory rotations, graduate coursework, and PhD thesis lab identification. This allows students the opportunity to establish a foundation for their research training prior to starting the veterinary curriculum. Additionally, students must pass their PhD qualifying examination prior to beginning clinical rotations. Full tuition and fees, an annual living allowance ($17,580), health insurance (~$1,000/year), and an annual academic stipend ($3,000/year) are paid during the entire seven-year program for students that maintain performance expectations.

Coursework and research integration enables students to complete DVM and PhD degree requirements in approximately 1.5 years less time than would be required if they enrolled in veterinary and graduate studies sequentially. It is anticipated that graduates of the program will develop into future leaders in biomedical research and veterinary arenas. The application deadline for this program is November 15, 2003.

         

Cornell Veterinary Admissions Presentation Schedule - You Are Invited

Visiting a veterinary campus can be a very important step in a veterinary career. Many students gain enthusiasm for the profession, others discover that veterinary medicine is not for them after visiting a veterinary school. (Most veterinary school tours will take you through "Gross Anatomy," which to many is, well, gross.) If you would like to learn more about our profession, the best time to visit is on a Friday afternoon when we have admissions presentations and tours planned. Enrolled DVM students give the tours on these Friday afternoons. During the tours, student tour guides describe the educational program and life as a veterinary student. The tour groups are shown the veterinary hospitals and clinical facilities here at the veterinary college (which cannot be shown during our annual Open House-held each April) as well as the learning facilities.

The admissions presentation occurs before the tours so that prospective students can ask more informed questions later while on the tours. The presentations and the tours take about one hour each.

The admissions presentations schedule is listed below in #5. Everyone is welcome for these visitation days, although the very young are not allowed in the hospitals for health and safety reasons. If you wish to register for one of these visitation days, please go to our web site at https://secure.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/regform.asp Coordinators of group visits may call 607-253-3700. We must arrange one tour guide for every 10 visitors, so it is important to pre-register.

Please come listen to a presentation by Cornell's Admissions Officer, who will be presenting in these cities on or near these dates:

For College and Adult Pre-Vets
Oct. 6 7pm State College, PA, Penn. State U., ASI room 101, send E-mail*
Oct. 7 6pm New Brunswick, NJ, Cook College Campus Center, MPR A, send E-mail*
Oct. 8 1pm New York City, NY, Hunter College, room TBA, send E-mail*
Oct. 8 7:30p Saddle Brook NJ, Marriott, send E-mail*
http://www.marriott.com/dpp/map.asp?MarshaCode=EWRSB
Oct. 10 1:30 Ithaca, NY Cornell Veterinary Campus, 3pm tours, pre-register*
Driving directions /hospital/appoint.htm
Oct. 18 1:30 Ithaca, NY Cornell Veterinary Campus, 3pm tours, pre-register*
Nov. 14 1:30 Ithaca, NY Cornell Veterinary Campus, 3pm tours, pre-register*

Topics discussed during these College/Adult Student admissions presentations:
-DVM degree general program 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 on Cornell and non-Cornell veterinary issues

For Junior High and High School Students
Oct. 10 3pm Ithaca, NY Cornell Veterinary Campus, 4pm tours, pre-register*
Oct. 18 3pm Ithaca, NY Cornell Veterinary Campus, 4pm tours, pre-register*
Nov. 14 3pm Ithaca, NY Cornell Veterinary Campus, 4pm tours, pre-register*

Topics discussed during these High School level 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 on Cornell and non-Cornell veterinary issues

*Send Email mailto:vet_admissions@cornell.edu with subject line to read: "Interested in event on (date) in (city)." Some events are held only if enough interest is expressed. If you do not express interest soon, we may cancel the event before we hear from you.
*Pre-Register @ https://secure.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/application/regform.asp for Ithaca, NY presentations and tours (or you may/may not be accommodated).
Driving directions to Cornell /hospital/appoint.htm

Cornell's DVM Admissions Web Site

Home Page /admissions/
Procedures /admissions/approceed.htm
Preparation /admissions/prep.htm
Deadlines /admissions/approceed.htm#timetable
Who Gets In /admissions/prep.htm
Pre-Reqs. /admissions/despreq.htm
Case-Based Learning /about/edu.htm
Financial Aid https://www.vet.cornell.edu/financialaid/
High Schoolers /admissions/hsinfo.html
Request Info. https://secure.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/inquiry.asp
Pre-Vet Tours https://secure.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/regform.asp

Past Newsletters & Selected Articles

All Newsletters /admissions/newsletters.htm
July 2003 www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/July03news.htm
Your State Residency Affects Our Decision
June 2002 www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/June02news.htm
Do Veterinarians Need to Specialize?
April 2002 www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/April02news.htm
Preparing for the GRE May Make the Difference
Are You Planning a Visit to Cornell's Veterinary Campus?
February 2002 www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/Feb02news.htm
Web Site for Veterinary Career Information
Most Common Advice Given to Denied Applicants
November 2001 www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/Nov01news.htm
Is Study-Abroad Experience Valued by Admissions Committees?
Wildlife Medicine at Cornell
August 2001 /admissions/Aug01news.htm
Comparative DVM Salary Information
Financial Aid at Cornell's Veterinary College
A 7-year Stipend and Free Tuition in Our DVM/PhD Program
May 2001 /admissions/May01news.htm
Am I Considered a NY Resident? Or NJ or NH Resident?
May I Substitute Courses for Cornell's Pre-Requisites?
March 2001 /admissions/Mar01news.htm
Animal and Veterinary Experience: Breadth or Depth?
Should I Go to Graduate School Before Applying to Vet School?
October 2000 /admissions/Oct00news.htm
14 Tips on Letters of Evaluation for VMCAS/Cornell Applicants
May 2000 /admissions/May00news.htm
Your State Residency Affects Our Decision

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 www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/newsletters/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. /admissions/newsletters/newsletters.htm
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://secure.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/newsletters/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
Aug. 15 Latest date to request Cornell's Supplemental
Sept. 30 Latest acceptable GRE test date
October 1 VMCAS application deadline
October 5 Cornell's preferred Supplemental application deadline*
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


Minimum Prerequisite Credits (in semester hours)

6 cr. English Composition Full Year
6 cr. Biology or Zoology . Full Year with Lab
6 cr. General Chemistry . Full Year with Lab
6 cr. Organic Chemistry . Full Year with Lab
4 cr. Biochemistry (prefer Full Year)
6 cr. Introductory Physics Full Year with Lab
3 cr. Microbiology Half Year with Lab

These courses must have a letter grade of C- or better.

- Pass, Satisfactory or Narrative grades are not acceptable.
- AP credits are not acceptable, except for Physics and General Chemistry.
- Higher level course work in the same discipline is preferred.

Cornell's DVM Admissions Formula

30% Overall GPA (all grades from all colleges)
30% GRE (verbal & quantitative only)
5% Quality of Academic Program
20% Animal Experience (with Letters of Evaluation)
10% All Other Achievements & Letters of Evaluation
5% Personal Essay

(No minimum GPA or GRE; we use your highest of multiple GRE scores;
median GPA=3.55, GRE=1330/1600 from Class of 2002)

This is an open newsletter; please forward it to anyone who may be interested.

Questions or Comments?