Eligibility Criteria

• All candidates must have completed a minimum of 60 college credit hours from an accredited institution with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. All course grades will be used in the calculation of the overall GPA including any repeated courses and graduate courses.
  
  
• Prospective international students must show proof of English language proficiency according to the Rowan University English Language Policy http://sites.rowan.edu/international/englishlanguagepolicy.html
  
  

Important Considerations:

• A baccalaureate degree is not required for admission, but most successful candidates will have completed an undergraduate degree prior to matriculation.
  
  
• No minimum number of hours of documented animal or veterinary experience is required. However, it is strongly recommended that applicants have a demonstrated understanding of the veterinary profession and evidence of exposure to varied animal and veterinary experiences.
  
  
• Standardized tests such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and the CASPer test are not required for admissions and will not be evaluated during admission decisions.

Prerequisites

• The following courses must be completed prior to matriculation. A maximum of two prerequisite courses may be in progress at the time of application but must be completed and transcripts submitted prior to July 31st of the year of planned matriculation.
  
  
• Applicants must have received a minimum of C- or equivalent grade in all prerequisite courses to fulfill these requirements.
  
  
• Online courses that meet all prerequisite standards will be accepted.  If a lab component is required, the lab component must be completed in-person.  
  
  
• Considerations due to COVID-19  We understand that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some courses may have been graded as Pass/Fail and/or delivered online. We will accept such prerequisites if they meet the following criteria: 
  
  
  • Pass/Fail grading - Prerequisites completed during the Spring 2020 through Spring 2022 semesters that were graded as Pass/Fail will be accepted providing a “Pass” grade was achieved. Pass/Fail courses will not be included in GPA calculations.
    
    
  • Online courses with laboratory components – Prerequisites that require a laboratory component that was completed online during the spring 2020 through spring 2022 semesters will be accepted.

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• English or Writing-Intensive courses (6 semester credit hours)
  • Advanced placement (AP) credit is accepted for up to 3 credit hours, but one college-level course on
    composition or technical writing is required.
    
    
• Math (3 semester credit hours)
  • The math requirement may be satisfied with 3 credits of a Calculus I or higher level math course, a statistics course, or physics course.
    
    
• General Biology* (8 semester credit hours)
  • Two semester courses in general biology or the equivalent with in-person, physical laboratory
    components. If your institution does not offer 8 credits of general biology, a higher-level biology course (with lab) may be used as a substitute for a portion (eg. 4) of the required general biology credits.
    
    
•  Upper-Level Biology* (6 semester credit hours)
  • Two upper-level biology (200-level or above) courses are required. These courses must be in the areas of anatomy, cell biology, immunology, microbiology, neuroscience, physiology, virology, or zoology. Courses must meet the requirements for transfer to Rowan University at the 200-level or above to qualify. Applicants can use the Rowan Transfer Credit Evaluation Database https://sites.rowan.edu/registrar/transferring-credits/transfer-credit-evaluation-database.html to confirm course eligibility.
    
    
•  Genetics* (3 semester credit hours)
  • This course must include both Mendelian and molecular genetics.
    
    
• General Chemistry* (6 semester credit hours)
  • Two semester courses in chemistry with an in-person, physical laboratory component is required.

• Organic Chemistry* (4 semester credit hours)
  • A one-semester course in organic chemistry with an in-person, physical laboratory component is required.
    
    
•  Biochemistry* (3 semester credit hours)
  • A one-semester course with or without a laboratory component meets the minimum requirement.

• Social Science or Humanities (6 semester credit hours)

 

* There is no recency requirement for science prerequisites.  However, to succeed in a veterinary medical curriculum, students require a solid foundation of knowledge of the biological sciences. This is important to consider if there has been an extended period of time between when prerequisites were completed and applying for the program.

Selection Process

SSVM is committed to providing accessible, affordable, high-quality veterinary education. In keeping with institutional diversity efforts, SSVM will foster an inclusive climate that does not discriminate based on factors including but not limited to race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, cultural and socioeconomic background, national origin, and disability consistent with applicable laws.

Financial Preparation

Pursuing a DVM degree is a professional, personal, and financial investment. Adhering to Rowan University’s strategic pillars of affordability and quality, Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine is committed to delivering a high value educational experience.

We encourage prospective students to familiarize themselves with the cost of a DVM education and financially prepare for this journey using tools and services such as the AAVMC Cost Comparison.

Scholarships will be available via a competitive application process to help reduce the student educational costs.

Residency Information

In-state tuition rates will be available for admitted New Jersey resident students. Please note, students admitted as non-residents cannot change their status (i.e. they will remain at the non-resident tuition rate) during the course of their DVM program.

SSVM welcomes applications for admission from both in-state and out-of-state applicants. Applicants to SSVM should only indicate on the application that they are New Jersey residents if they can show evidence of domicile in New Jersey for the twelve months preceding application for admission. Domicile is a legal term which refers to an individual’s state of legal residence and is defined as the place where a person has his or her true, fixed, permanent home and principal establishment, and to which, whenever he or she is absent, he or she has the intention of returning. While an individual can maintain a residence in more than one state, an individual has only one state of legal residence, i.e., domicile. Residence in New Jersey that is established solely for the purpose of attending a particular educational institution does not constitute domicile in New Jersey. SSVM may request documentation to support the declaration of New Jersey domicile.

State Licensure

Veterinarians practicing in the State of New Jersey apply for their license through the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. Further information on that process can be found at https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/vet/Pages/applications.aspx. For veterinarians seeking to work in another state, the appropriate page on that state's Board of Veterinary Medicine website will provide more specific detail on that process.

SSVM Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

For related questions, please email SVM Admissions.