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University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine in Oro Valley accepts first class
The University of Arizona’s new College of Veterinary Medicine in Oro Valley recently accepted its first class of students for fall 2020. The school, which will be the first public veterinary medine program in Arizona, received more than 500 applications from multiple states and universities for its 110 seats. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many elements for this first class remain to be decided. The UA administration remains “cautiously optimistic” that the fall 2020 semester can take place in-person, but announcements about whether these classes will be online are slated for July. Despite this, Julie Funk, the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, says the school is well-poised for the challenge.
Funk said she expects some students will be able to complete their studies remotely while others may need to attend classes on campus or via other means as they see fit based on their personal circumstances. While there is no official date set yet for when classes will begin at CVM’s new home in Oro Valley, officials have said they expect fall 2020 classes could begin late August or early September if all goes according
“As a startup college we have a lot of innovative thinkers, which actually puts us at a unique advantage to be prepared for an uncertain future for all of us,” Funk said. “Our hope is our students can be here for us on campus as we originally planned, but the silver lining is that our faculty are also working on alternative strategies for what can happen in the fall.”
The veterinary college’s first class announcement also came with the demographics of its soon-to-be students: 46 of the students are in-state and 64 are from out-of-state. Their ages range from 19 to 51, and 35 percent identify as an underrepresented minority. The class is also overwhelmingly female, with only 18 of the 110 students identifying as male. The graduate students will begin their classes in August, with an expected graduation date of 2023.
According to Funk, the majority of students being from out-of-state will help balance the College’s economics; nonresident tuition dollars, which are at a higher rate, help to keep Arizona residents’ tuition lower.
The College of Veterinary Medicine has served as an economic boon for Oro Valley since its announcement. With this pandemic, the local business landscape is especially welcoming positive news from the college, which will be headquartered within the Foothills Business Park.
“It’s been a sort of isolating time for us, but I know a lot of people are affirmed by this,” said Dave Perry, president and CEO of the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. “What really caught me were the number of relative applications to openings. That was an encouraging thing to me; we have five times as many applicants as we have open seats. I believe that demonstrates there’s a need for veterinary education, not just in Arizona but across the country.”
According to Funk, the amount of applicants is actually lower than it could have been. Veterinary medicine schools use a common online application system where students can pay one fee and apply to multiple colleges. But because of the timing of this new college, the UA school was not able to join that common application system, and had to make their own application process.
“Given that we had a very short timeline and had to ask students to apply to our own, we were really pleased with our numbers,” Funk said. “I actually expect that number to go up quite significantly next year because we’ll be able to be in the common application system.”
Of the 110 selected students, 26 are from UA and four are from Arizona State University, with dozens from other universities across the nation, including Washington State University, University of California Davis, Colorado State University, Texas A&M and Rutgers University.
The cost of attendance is the university’s estimate of your academic-year expenses. Total cost estimate for attendance includes charges billed directly to you, as well as an approximated budget of indirect expenses.
Below you will find breakdown of total costs for both residents and non-resident students. Theses estimated costs detail the total amount per year for our three-year program.
University Of Arizona Vet School Admission Statistics
RESIDENT COST
Direct Cost:
- Resident Tuition: $47,219*
Indirect Cost:
- Housing: $19,560
- Books: $1,452
- Insurance: $2,664
- Misc./Personal $5,196
- Loan Fees: $501
- Transportation: $5,196
Total Estimated Resident Cost of Attendance: $80,792
*Tuition rate is subject to annual review by ABOR and excludes fees that may be assessed by the CVM and/or the University of Arizona.
NON-RESIDENT COST
Direct Cost:
- Non-Resident Tuition: $72,719*
Indirect Cost:
- Housing: $19,560
- Books: $1,452
- Insurance: $2,664
- Misc./Personal $5,196
- Loan Fees: $501
- Transportation: $5,196
Total Estimated Non-Resident Cost of Attendance: $108,293
*Tuition rate is subject to annual review by ABOR and excludes fees that may be assessed by the CVM and/or the University of Arizona.
FINANCIAL PREPARATION
. Check Your Credit
The University of Arizona offers the Unsubsidized Loan and the Grad Plus Loan as part of the financial aid packages. The Grad Plus Loan requires a credit check. Students are encouraged to check their credit for and clear any inconsistencies and derogatory marks. Students can check their credit for free at creditkarma.com.
Free Credit Check
2. Complete your FAFSA
It is important to file your 2021-2022 FAFSA by the priority service date of March 1. Be sure to review the Financial Aid Student Aid Report (SAR) and make any important updates and changes to your FAFSA. The University of Arizona school code is 001083.
FAFSA More Information on FAFSA
3. Review Cost of Attendance Budget
The cost of attendance is the university’s estimate of your academic-year expenses. It includes charges billed directly to you (tuition and fees), as well as an estimated budget of indirect expenses (room/board, books and supplies, travel, miscellaneous, and loan fees). Although you may be awarded financial aid up to the cost of attendance, you may choose to borrow less.
Tuition and Cost
4. Apply for Merit and Need Based Scholarships
The College of Veterinary Medicine offers a generous scholarship program. All students are encouraged to apply for scholarships in which they are eligible to apply, between January 2021 and April 1, 2021. Additional scholarship opportunities can be found in the Scholarship Universe database.
Scholarship Universe Financial Resources
5. Meet with Financial Aid Office or Attend Information Sessions
If you have questions about financial aid, we encourage you to set up an appointment with a financial aid advisor regarding your funding opportunities. Additionally, many helpful information sessions on borrowing wisely are available to help you set up successful borrowing strategies and techniques.
APPLICATION PROCESS
he admission policies and procedures are developed by the College Admissions Committee. The Committee is charged with using policies that are evidenced-based and in alignment with the values of the College of Veterinary Medicine while meeting the legal requirements developed by the State of Arizona and the AVMA Council on Education Accreditation Standards.
Application ProcessDeadlines are subject to changes made by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) and the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine as the ever-evolving environment and options for future applicants are addressed. All updates will be made through this site as more information is released.
All applications should be made through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) and submitted to VMCAS no later than 11:59 pm EST on September 15.
1. Review the Essential Qualifications for Veterinary Medical Students
To ensure that incoming veterinary medical students can complete the entire curriculum established by the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College requires that each student meet the technical standards defined in the document below.
Prospective students do not need to sign this form as part of the application process but will be expected to if admitted into the program.
UA CVM Essential Qualifications and Technical Standards.pdf
2. Complete the VMCAS Application
The VMCAS general application portal opens on January 21, 2021, for those interested in beginning their DVM studies in fall 2022. Applicants may select college programs to apply to, including the University of Arizona, beginning May 2021. Apply today!
Components of the VMCAS Application include:
- Letters of Recommendation: VMCAS requires at least three but no more than six electronic recommendations (eLORs) to be submitted through VMCAS. At least one recommendation should be from an individual who can speak to your professional (not personal) interactions/experiences with animals. This could be a veterinarian, site coordinator, clinic manager, etc. VMCAS does not accept eLORs by email, express mail, or by postal mail.
- Personal Essay Prompts: VMCAS requires that applicants share their experiences (animal, research, veterinary, employment, and volunteer experiences) and achievements (awards, honors, scholarships). We do not specify the number of hours nor the type of experiences an applicant may offer – each applicant will have something unique to share. In addition to a personal statement essay required by VMCAS, we require one supplemental essay concerning your fit with the University of Arizona values. This essay is included within the VMCAS application program materials under The University of Arizona application questions. Responses to the essays play a significant part in determining whom we select to interview, so we encourage you to be thoughtful and reflective and suggest that you ask someone you trust to proofread your responses for clarity, syntax, grammar, and spelling.
- Standardized Test: No standardized test is required for admission to the Arizona DVM program, nor will any standardized test be considered. International students may need to provide proof of English Proficiency.
3. Applicants who meet GPA and 50% prerequisite requirements will be invited to complete a supplemental assessment. There is a nonrefundable $50 fee plus tax for this assessment.
- To earn a supplemental assessment, you must have a 3.0 cumulative, science, and prerequisite GPA and meet our 50% prerequisite requirement.
- Applicants who have a cumulative, science, or prerequisite GPA between 2.75 – 2.99 will be given an additional review. They will be screened for evidence of the candidate’s ability to navigate the rigors of the veterinary medicine curriculum. Some candidates will progress through the application cycle, and some will be denied at this point.
- If you have below a 2.75, we encourage you to meet with a pre-health advisor for advice on satisfying our minimum requirements.
4. Complete the MMI process.
- Invitations to interview will be sent following the assessment of both the VMCAS application and supplemental assessment.
5. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance, denial, or waitlist status and will be required to make a final decision by April 15. A seat fee may be imposed for accepted students.
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