Application of admissions criteria to applicants with practice versus non-practice career goals in North American schools /colleges of veterinary medicine

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1240, USA. jfv@vet.purdue.edu

PURPOSE: The study was intended to determine whether North American veterinary schools/colleges apply admissions criteria differently to applicants with practice versus non-practice career goals. METHODOLOGY: A written questionnaire with seven queries on admissions criteria was sent to the associate deans for academic affairs at each of the 31 North American veterinary schools/colleges. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed and returned by 25 of the 31 institutions. The responses were summarized and individual comments were compiled. For veterinary and animal experience, similar amounts but different types of experiences were acceptable to most institutions for applicants with practice versus non-practice career goals. The required pre-veterinary course work was not different for the two groups of applicants. The backgrounds of mentors providing written evaluations were often allowed to be different for the two groups of applicants. The responses expected in applicant interviews were different for the two groups for queries related to veterinary and career experiences and knowledge of specific career areas but were similar for various basic qualities and skills expected of all applicants. CONCLUSION: Although institutions vary, North American veterinary schools/colleges tend to apply admissions criteria differently to applicants with practice versus non-practice goals, except for pre-veterinary course requirements.

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