Penn Vet School’s motto is “Many species. One Medicine.” Read on to see why!

Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris (VMD)

University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School’s clinics see a myriad of patients. At the large animal clinic, over 6,000 patients are seen annually. The field services team visits over 19,000 animals each year. The small animal teaching hospital sees more than 13,000 patients annually which is the largest number of patients at any teaching hospital. Students at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School spend the first two years on the Philadelphia campus which includes approximately 30 to 35 class hours per week.

Penn Vet School is divided into four departments:

• Animal Biology
• Pathobiology
• Clinical Studies in Philadelphia
• Clinical Studies in New Bolton Center

Basic fundamentals of veterinary medicine are taught in the first two years including biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology and anatomy.

Junior year includes increased clinical exposure and therefore will be spent partly on the main campus and at the New Bolton Center.

Senior year is spent in clinical rotations at various locations. Rotations include Internal Medicine, Surgery, Oncology, Emergency Service and others.

Contact

Admissions Office
Phone: (215) 898-5434
Fax: (215) 573-8819
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.vet.upenn.edu/

University of Pennsylvania
Admissions Office
School of Veterinary Medicine
3800 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6044

 

Quick Facts

1. Application Deadline
Applications are due October 2nd.

2. GRE or MCAT
The GRE is required; MCAT is not permissible as a substitute. Results must be electronically reported by November 1.

3. Four-year Total Tuition Cost
Based on 2014-2015 tuition rates for the VDM degree

*In State Tuition: $149,232 ($47,668/year)
Out of State Tuition: $190,672 ($47,668/year)

*Legal residents of Pennsylvania are awarded a subsidy each year ($10,360) as a result of Penn Vet funding by the State of Pennsylvania.

Total for Room & Board, Books/Instruments, Misc: $120,000 ($30,000/year)

4. Accreditation

Penn Veterinary Medicine School was given full accreditation status by the American Veterinary Medical Association. The next site visit scheduled is 2016.

NAVLE Minimum Pass Rate to remain in Good Standing: 80%
NAVLE pass rate for Oregon State Veterinary School: 98% (Class of 2011)
NAVLE – North American Veterinary Licensing Examination

5. School Rank
Pennsylvania Veterinary School was ranked #5 by US News and World Reports in 2011.

6. School History
Penn Vet School was founded in 1884. The first class graduated in 1887 – a class of 10 men. In 1891, a doctor from Penn Vet School uses tuberculin to control bovine tuberculosis. Key doctors and graduates continued their contribution to the profession throughout the 1900s and 2000s.

7. Transfer Students 

Not Accepted

8. Facilities
Penn Veterinary Medicine is located in West Philadelphia. Within the Philadelphia campus, a small animal hospital, classrooms and research facilities are housed. Additional research facilities and the large animal hospital are located at the New Bolton Center, an 800-acre farm and is located 40 miles from Philadelphia and houses the food-animal and equine medicine programs. Penn Vet School is one of the only vet schools integrated with a medical school which allows for a team approach which provides the ability to see impacts between humans and animals directly.

 

Admissions Information

Admissions Criteria

Preference is given to Pennsylvania residents for Penn Veterinary Medicine School. Overall, applicants are selected on a comparative basis. There is no minimum GPA or GRE score. The entire application file is considered for each student – however, the following criteria are the most important:

• Academic Ability
• Familiarity with the veterinary profession
• Interest and drive for the veterinary profession
• Recommendation letters
• GRE scores
• Character, personality, general fitness and adaptability for veterinary career

Letters of Recommendation/Evaluations (3 are required)

1. Veterinarian (at least 1 is required)
2. Science-related Academic Source (at least 1 is required)
3. Others of student’s choice

 

Acceptance Rate
9% (Typically 125 applicants are accepted, for the Class of 2015, 119 were accepted out of 1,296 applicants).

Out of the typical 125 of the accepted incoming students:

• 45 are for residents
• Remaining (80) are for non-residents

Timetable

• VMCAS Application Deadline – Oct 2 at 1:00 pm EST
• Supplemental Application and Fee Deadline – Oct 2
• GRE Score Deadline – November 1
• Interviews take place in January
• Acceptances Mailed – within 14 days after interview

Before you Apply
Junior year applicants are considered at Penn Vet School, however, the stronger your academic course load, the better your application. A bachelor’s degree is NOT required; neither is a specific major as long as the required courses are completed.

All pre-requisite courses must be completed with a C or better.

Pre-requisite Course Requirements
All pre-requisite courses should be completed with a C or better. All pre-requisite courses must by the end of the summer term of the year in which admission is desired.

Math and Science Prerequisite Courses (semester hours)

• Biology or Zoology (9) – one course must cover basic genetics
• Chemistry (12)
• General Chemistry (8)
• Organic Chemistry (4)
• One laboratory in one of the above
• Microbiology (3)
• Biochemistry (3)
• One laboratory in one of the above
• Physics (8) – including 2 labs
• Calculus (3)
• Biostats or Math Stats (3)

General Education Requirements (semester hours)

• English (6) – a minimum of 3 semester hours must be in composition
• Social Sciences or Humanities (6)

Required Experience
Veterinary Experience
A minimum of 500 hours is recommended and this may include experience working with animals, direct veterinary work, or research. It is suggested that enough experience should be completed to show motivation, interest and understanding of the applicant for the veterinary profession.

Other Achievements
Also valued as part of your application are the extracurricular and community service activities and evidence of leadership.

Statistics for the Admitted Class of 2015

Total Applications………………………1,296
Number of PA Residents…………………..219
Number of Non-Resident……………………1,296
Mean cumulative GPA…………………………3.58
Mean Verbal GRE……………………………….570
Mean Quantitative GRE…………………………710

 

Degrees Offered

Dual Degree

• VMD-PhD – Veterinary Medical Scientist Training Program
• VMD-MBA

VMD