collageIf you are contemplating a career in veterinary medicine, you should have a sound foundation in the biological and physical sciences and a general knowledge of the arts and humanities in both high school and college. In addition, you should be motivated by a respect for animals, a sincere desire to serve the public, a propensity for the biological and medical sciences, and a deep interest in promotion of the health of animal and human populations. You must have a high aptitude for scientific study and must possess an excellent moral and ethical character.
Candidates for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree must complete a minimum of six years of college education (two or more years of undergraduate or pre-veterinary coursework plus four years of veterinary school). The pre-veterinary requirements may be completed at LSU or at any other accredited college or university offering courses of the quality and content of those prescribed in the LSU General Catalog.
The minimum requirement of 66 semester hours, including 20 hours of elective courses, may be completed in a minimum of two years. A Bachelor’s degree is not a requirement for acceptance into LSU Vet Med’s DVM program, although applicants are strongly encouraged to follow an undergraduate degree path in the event that entrance into the DVM program is not granted. Successful completion of a pre-veterinary program does not ensure admission to the school for professional training. Typically, there are more qualified applicants each year than there are spaces available to the entering class.
Instruction in the four-year program is available only through LSU Vet Med. Scholastic achievement is measured by performance in the prescribed pre-professional courses. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (“A” = 4.00) in these courses is required for consideration for admission. A grade of less than “C” in a required course is unacceptable. Physical education activity courses may not be used as electives for meeting pre-professional requirements. Course requirements are not waived in lieu of work experience and/or earned degrees.
Credit earned through advanced standing is acceptable, but is not used in the computation of the grade-point average. Evaluation of the applicant’s record in the pre-professional program is made in accordance with LSU procedures. Credit is not granted for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) general examinations. Granting of credit for CLEP subject examinations may be considered in those subjects recommended by various departments of the University upon receipt of test scores indicating the student meets the minimum acceptable scores required by those departments.
Admissions Information
Evaluation Criteria
1. Folder/Application Review – includes review of:
• Letters of Recommendation
• Personal Characteristics
• Work and Animal Experience
• Knowledge of Animals and Function of the Profession
• Quality of Written Statements/Communication Skills
• Contribution to Class Diversity
• Transcripts (Course Load, Withdrawals, Quality of Courses, etc)
• Awards, Honors, and Extracurricular Activities
2. Interviews
Those who are qualified are interviewed by a three-member panel. Please note that not all applicants are interviewed. The applicant is evaluated on the following during the interview:
• Knowledge of Profession
• Knowledge of Animals
• Maturity/Motivation
• Professional Image
• Oral Communication Skills
• Professional Ethics
• Entrepreneurial/Business Knowledge
• Awareness of Rigors & Stress of Curriculum
• Work Ethic
Evaluation Weighting
Objective Components (65%)
• Required Course GPA – 29 points
• Last 45 Credit GPA – 18 points
• GRE Score – 18 points
Subjective Components (35%)
• Folder Review – 15 points
• Interview Score – 10 points
• Committee Discretion – 10 points
Letters of Recommendation/Evaluations (a total of 3)
• Veterinarian (at least 1 is recommended)
• Others of student’s choice
Acceptance Rate
11% (87 accepted out of 798 applicants – Class of 2016).
Out of the typical 87 of the accepted incoming students at LSU Vet School:
• 55-60 are for LA residents
• 9 are for AR contract students
• 18 are for non-residents
Timetable
• GRE Test Deadline – Oct 1
• VMCAS Application Deadline – Oct 2 at 1:00 pm EST
• Supplemental Application Deadline – Oct 15
• GRE scores due – Nov 15
• Interviews take place in January/February
• Acceptances Mailed –mid-March
Before you Apply
Pre-requisite Course Requirements
Math and Science Prerequisite Courses
• Biology 1 and 2 and labs
• General (Inorganic) Chemistry 1 & 2 and labs
• Organic Chemistry
• Physics 1 & 2
• Microbiology and lab
• Biochemistry
• College Algebra and Plane Trigonometry, OR College Algebra and Trigonometry, OR • Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
General Education Requirements (semester hours)
• English Composition (6)
• Speech Communications (3)
Required Experience
Veterinary Experience
Veterinary medical experience is not required, however it is strongly recommended for applicants to LSU Vet School. As a general rule, the more experience the application may have and the greater the variety of those experiences, the better for the applicant. Experience can be a part of clinical, medical, agribusiness, health science or medical related scientific research experience.
Statistics for the Admitted Class of 2016
Total Applications…………………………798
Number of LA Residents……………………154
Number of AR Residents…………………….39
Number of PR Residents…………………….26
Number of Non-Resident………………………579
Mean required course GPA……………………3.76
Last 45 credit hour GPA……………………….3.75
Number of students without a degree.……61
Average Age…………………………………………23.7
Male/Female Ratio………………………9/69 (0.27)
Degrees Offered
Graduate (M.S.)
• Comparative Biomedical Sciences
• Pathobiological Sciences
• Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Doctorate (Ph.D.)
• Comparative Biomedical Sciences
• Pathobiological Sciences
• Veterinary Clinical Sciences
Veterinary Medicine Student Cost | LSU Financial Aid & Scholarships
Estimated Yearly Cost
Estimated yearly cost is an estimate of the cost for the upcoming academic year based on the actual cost for the current academic year. The estimated cost below is based on the 2021-22 academic year and is subject to change.
| Estimated Yearly Cost: 2021-22 | Louisiana Resident | Non-Louisiana Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees (12 credit hours per semester) | $27,395 | $56,495 |
Cost of Attendance
Cost of attendance (COA) is the maximum amount of financial aid and scholarships a student can receive. Cost of attendance does not represent an amount you will owe to the university. COA includes tuition and fees, room and board, allowances for books and supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous/personal expenses. Students with an unusual expense that might affect their COA can contact Financial Aid to determine if an increase is appropriate.
Note 1: A computer cost may be added for students who purchase a computer for their major or residential college. The computer does not have to be required by the college or major to be added to the COA. The cost may be given each year with documentation of purchase of up to $1,100.
Note 2: A cost for Federal Loan Origination Fees will be added for those students who accept a Federal Stafford Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and/or Plus Loan.
| Cost of Attendance: Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 | Louisiana Resident | Non-Louisiana Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Student Living in an Apartment | $53,643 | $82,743 |
| Student Living with Parent/Family | $46,143 | $75,243 |
| Cost of Attendance: Summer 2021 | Louisiana Resident | Non-Louisiana Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Student Living in an Apartment | $6,996 | $6,996 |
| Student Living with Parent/Family | $5,104 | $5,104 |
What is the cost?
Graduate tuition costs for the certificate program and its associated fees are located on the LSU Budget and Planning page under Tuition and Fees >Graduate, or can be determined at the Graduate School’s Cost Calculator page. Students usually take 8 hours one semester and 9 during the other semester.
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