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Incoming Students

Student with child at Open HouseWelcome to the Class of 2029!

Welcome to the Cornell veterinary community! Starting a new academic journey is exciting. To make sure it’s not also overwhelming, we invite you to use the information and resources on this page. It will help you navigate your transition to the veterinary college and the Ithaca community.

Time Sensitive Items

Please note that certain items require timely action on your part to ensure a smooth transition.

New Student Orientation

  • Orientation will be from Monday, August 11, 2025 to Saturday, August 16, 2025 and classes will begin on Monday, August 18, 2025. Orientation details will be shared later in the summer.
  • There is a Pre-Orientation course in Canvas that has your list of supplies and information your need to be prepared. You will be automatically enrolled and the Office of Student and Academic Services will communicate with you once the course is live.
  • We plan to have a Littman Stethoscope representative at the college during Orientation for those who would like to wait and test stethoscopes before purchasing.

Student Health Insurance 

Health Insurance is mandatory for all full-time registered students at Cornell. Students need to confirm enrollment or waive by July 31st. After this time if you have not waived the insurance, you will automatically be enrolled in the Student Health Plan. For more details, visit the Student Health Plan page.

The Office of Student Health Benefits is located at 110 Ho Plaza. For directions, contact information, and more about the services provided please visit the Student Health Benefits page.

Waiver/Appeal

Students who successfully waive or appeal will be charged an annual Student Health Fee to support equitable access to low-cost care at Cornell Health and to help support campus-wide services.

Rabies Vaccination

Prophylactic (pre-exposure) immunization against rabies is mandatory for all veterinary students because of an increased risk of exposure to rabies in this area. The College requires that students be vaccinated prior to the start of Fall 2025 classes. The Office of Student and Academic Services will schedule rabies vaccination series through Cornell Health for first-year students at the college during Orientation.

  • If you are enrolled in the Cornell Student Health Insurance Plan (SHP or SHP-M), the cost of the pre-exposure rabies vaccination series (2 shots) is covered by your health insurance.
  • If you do not have the Cornell Student Health Plan you may still receive the vaccination series through Cornell Health for a fee. The fees are paid by the student to University Health Services via bursar bill or credit card.

If you have already received a pre-exposure or post-exposure rabies vaccination series, you must bring documentation with you to determine your status and current needs. This includes a written proof from the institution where the vaccines were administered, the product type, route of administration, dose and dates of the series. You must bring this information with you to Orientation and upload them to your Cornell Health health record by logging in to myCornellHealth (Cornell NetID required).

Use the Listserv to Communicate

The members of the veterinary community at Cornell rely heavily on email listservs to communicate. Each DVM class has its own listserv. Students can post messages to just their listserv or to other class lists. Vet college listservs are used to share information related to academic and social life. The listservs are:

Class of 2029 - dvmcl2029-l@list.cornell.edu 

Class of 2028 - dvmcl2028-l@list.cornell.edu

Class of 2027 - dvmcl2027-l@list.cornell.edu

Class of 2026 - dvmcl2026-l@list.cornell.edu

Review the Student Handbook 

Use as a reference guide throughout your four years as a veterinary student. It contains vital information on financial planning, curriculum, college and university policies, and support services. Please note that we are currently reviewing the 2025-2026 handbook and there may be updates throughout the summer. More information will be shared here soon.

Browse the Internal Student Website

  • Once you have activated your Cornell Net ID, you can access the (password protected) internal student site: http://students.vet.cornell.edu
  • In order to access the internal home page from remote locations, you must have a *VPN installed. Follow these instructions to install the VPN.
  • You will also need to set up Two-Step Login. 

Explore Ithaca

Ithaca offers a tremendous quality of life for students and long-term residents. Ithacans enjoy the diversity of a large city and the familiarity and friendliness of a small town. Learn more about what Ithaca can offer you: http://www.visitithaca.com