The University of Colorado School of Medicine (CU SOM) collaborated with Colorado State University (CSU) to develop a four-year branch campus in Fort Collins. The leadership at both the CU SOM and at CSU looked to expand their integrated efforts in human health and build upon their long standing collaborations on numerous robust research programs.

This collaboration came to fruition as the first four-year cohort of 12 medical students matriculated in July 2021. The Fort Collins Branch Campus works closely with the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at CSU to effectively teach foundational and advanced science content.

Since 2020, the program has also welcomed medical student cohorts from the CU Anschutz Medical Campus to complete their core clinical training year in the Fort Collins medical community. The clinical community and the patients in Northern Colorado have been tremendous partners in this endeavor, paving the way for excellent clinical training. The Fort Collins community at large has also played a key role in this successful partnership.

It was exciting to start this new branch campus as the CU SOM simultaneously launched a new curriculum. We are partnering on many levels with the goal of preparing graduates to address the complex health care issues that individuals and society face. The new campus provides novel opportunities by integrating some of the best of what both institutions have to offer from science education to translational research to a One Health framework and more.

Admissions Information

Evaluation Basis

1. Quality of Academic Program – This category includes the academic performance of the applicant, including GRE, the type of upper level biomedical science courses taken, ability of applicant to carry a full schedule, employment during academic term, and special circumstances.
2. Additional Factors – The items considered under this category are outside of the typical academic background.These include extracurricular activities,overall achievement and leadership roles, animal and veterinary experiences,written communication skills, recommendations, the application itself and any disadvantages the applicant may have (economic, educational,cultural/environmental).
3. Early Review Decisions – Based upon the number of applicants, an early screening will be completed based upon the applicant’s perceived capability to manage a tough upper level science curriculum.
4. Overall Philosophy of Admissions Committee –Each year, the committee discusses the acceptance criteria due to changes in the profession.

Letters of Recommendation/Evaluations (a total of 3)

1. Veterinarian
2. Advisor/Professor
3. Employer

Acceptance Rate
9.2% (138 accepted out of 1,494 applicants – 2012).

Out of the typical 138 of the accepted incoming students:

• 75 are for residents of Colorado
• 30-35 are for WICHE contracts which include Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming
• 30-35 are for non-residents; 5 of which are reserved for North Dakota residents

Timetable

• VMCAS Application Deadline – Oct 2 at 11:00 am MST
Supplemental Deadline – Oct 2 at 11:00 am MST
• GRE Score Deadline – Nov 30
• Acceptances Mailed – December and January

Before you Apply

A bachelor’s degree is NOT required; neither is a specific major as long as the required courses are completed.However, 60 semester credits are needed for admission.

There is no time limit for the prerequisite course work; however all pre-requisite courses must be completed with a C- or better. If the course work is more than 10 years old,an indication of the current ability of the applicant may be required.

Pre-requisite Course Requirements
All pre-requisite courses should be completed with a C- or better. All prerequisite course grades must be received by July 15 prior to the fall semester the student will matriculate into the DVM program.

Math and Science Prerequisite Courses (minimum semester credits)

• Biology lab (1)
• Genetics (3)
• Chemistry lab (1)
• Biochemistry (3)
• Physics I and lab (4)
• Statistics (3)

General Education Requirements (minimum semester credits)

• *Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences (12)
• English (3)
• Electives (30)

*Art, dance, English, humanities, foreign language, music, philosophy, speech, theater, anthropology, economics, geography, history, political sciences, psychology, sociology

Additional Recommended Courses

• Microbiology
• Cell Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Computer Sciences
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Histology
• Nutrition

Required Experience
Veterinary and Animal Experience
A specific amount of veterinary medical experience is not required but highly recommended. The average level of experience for the last admitted class to the Colorado State University Veterinary School was 1,000 to 2,000 hours of each – Veterinary AND Animal.

Prerequisites

• Complete the necessary prerequisite courses with a grade of C- or above. You can apply and be admitted under provisional admission before completing all required courses.
• Online courses must be taken for credit and a grade and show as completed on an official transcript.
• It is beneficial to the applicant to submit transcripts with letter grades or letter grade equivalents that use a grading scale with 4.0 as the highest score. Transcripts using only narrative evaluations make assessing academic performance difficult.
• Course Substitution Request Form

Evaluation Factors

When reviewing applications, we take into consideration the quality of the academic program, number and quality of upper-level biomedical science courses, ability to carry a full schedule of courses, academic trends, and employment during academic terms.

Other factors include participation in a variety of extracurricular and community activities with evidence of achievement and leadership; experience working with animals and familiarity with the many facets of veterinary medicine; diverse experiences; written and verbal communication skills, presentation of a carefully prepared application; and a candidate’s potential as a successful veterinarian.

Admission Philosophy

The philosophy of the Veterinary Admissions Committee is to strive to admit a class of veterinary students who will successfully complete the program and actively contribute to current and future needs of the veterinary profession.

Holistic Reviews

The admissions committee uses a holistic approach in the review of every application. Each component helps build the full 360 degree picture of who you are and your story. Each piece, coursework, quality/hours of experience, personal statement, and letters of recommendation are all considered individually and as a whole to select candidates who will not only be able to handle the academic rigor of a veterinary program, but also contribute to the veterinary profession.

Our holistic evaluation does not use calculated GPAs, nor required minimums for any category.

Interview

Multiple mini interviews (MMI) are canceled and no longer a requirement for admission.

Special Circumstances

An applicant’s unique attributes that may positively impact future professional success are considered on an individual basis. Also considered are potential economic, educational, and/or cultural/environmental factors.

Early Academic Review

Applications with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or lower will undergo an early screening process for evidence of the candidate’s ability to handle a rigorous upper-division biomedical sciences curriculum. Some candidates will be denied and some will move forward.

Vet Prep Program

This one-year program assists disadvantaged students. Candidates in the regular D.V.M. admissions pool with a qualified disadvantage and an application that presents an ability to handle a rigorous biomedical sciences curriculum (often showing an upward trend in academic coursework/credit load) will be considered for the Vet Prep Program. There is not a separate application – candidates do not apply for this program.

Evaluation Process

The Office of D.V.M. Admissions uses a phased admissions evaluation and notification process.

Diversity Statement

Colorado State University’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Combined Degree Programs welcome all applicants without discrimination. These programs have a long-standing commitment to increasing the number of veterinarians that are racially and ethnically underrepresented, from the LGBTQ community, of socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, are first-generation college attendees, hold veteran status, and have disabilities.

We are also committed to providing an accessible and inclusive environment where all learners have access to our programs. The D.V.M. Program works with campus resources to implement approved accommodations for learners with disabilities.

The CSU community is committed to, and embraces, diversity in all forms. All candidates are encouraged to explore diversity resources for students.

Tips For Creating A Strong Application

Demonstrate Quality Academic Performance And Prove That You’re Ready For The Rigor Of The D.V.M. Program.

When reviewing applications, we take into consideration the quality of the academic program, number and quality of upper level biomedical science courses, ability to carry a full schedule of courses, employment during academic terms, course and degree variety, academic trends, and special circumstances.

Share Your Experience Working With Animals And In The Veterinary Field.

Demonstrate responsibility with animals outside of pet ownership.

Paint A Complete Picture Of Who You Are.

We value the diverse contributions of each candidate, so demonstrate what makes you unique throughout your application and in the personal essay. Think about veterinary, animal, employment, and research experiences, community or volunteer involvement, awards and honors, etc.

Select References Carefully And Contact Them Early.

Ensure the people you choose to write your letters of recommendation really know who are, and share your educational and career goals with them. Ask them well in advance so they have time to prepare a genuine recommendation. We suggest the following for references: one from a veterinarian, one from an academic source, and one from an employment or personal source. Ultimately, select recommenders with whom you are most comfortable, with at least one being a veterinarian. Recommendations that can speak to both academic and non-academic experiences will provide valuable insights – these can be from faculty, advisors, or supervisors, for example.