Veterinary Medicine

The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine provides a rich environment for learning, and provides students with the opportunity to learn in context. Our students receive a world-class education at a College with internationally renowned faculty and facilities, a unique, innovative educational approach, and an unmatched network of academic support.

Cornell students work with animals from day one of our program, building their clinical skills while fostering critical thinking and communication.

At the same time, they build a strong foundation of biomedical and clinical knowledge while training on state-of the-art technology.

Most Cornell veterinary students accept offers of employment before graduating, with graduates going on to careers in private practice, conservation, academia, and beyond.  No matter what they do, our alums are known to become leaders and innovators in their field, carrying on a tradition of excellence that our College has established since its inception.

Comprising approximately 70% of the professional curriculum, Foundation courses are required of all students. They are scheduled in sequential blocks of time, and vary in length and teaching modality. Three of them incorporate a problem-based approach. Each Foundation course is prerequisite to the ones that follows.

The Foundation Courses are:

• The Animal Body
• Neuroanatomy
• General Pathology
• Cell Biology and Genetics
• Function and Dysfunction
• Host, Agent, and Defense
• Parasitology
• Animal Health and Disease
• Clinical Rotations
• Veterinary Practice

Distribution Courses

Distribution courses represent opportunities for students to pursue areas of interest in greater depth, or explore other aspects of the profession.

Cornell faculty offer more than 100 Distribution courses on a wide range of topics. Courses are grouped into sets, and students must fulfill credit requirements for each set. This "structured choice" accounts for approximately 30% of the curriculum, and includes opportunities for students to gain additional clinical experience off campus, or in research.

Requirements

• The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) 
• The Medical College Application Test (MCAT)
• International applicants must submit a Test of English for a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score if educated in a country English is not the first, official language.  The minimum scores required are 600 (paper-based); 100 (Internet-based); or 250 (computer-based). 
• Transcripts - All course work taken at a college outside the U.S. must have all credits and grades converted to the U.S. system.  There are a number of organizations that provide this service for a fee. Below find a few organizations that provide credential conversions. The International Credential Report is required and should be sent to VMCAS by September 15th deadline for all international applicants (including Canada).