Introduction
XUSOVM employs a holistic approach in the selection of students for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. Holistic review is a flexible and individualized admissions process that provides balanced consideration of an applicant’s academic achievements, experiences, personal attributes, competencies, and potential for success in veterinary medicine.
The admissions process seeks to identify candidates who demonstrate academic preparedness, professionalism, integrity, compassion, leadership potential, communication skills, and a commitment to service and lifelong learning as future veterinary professionals.
General Criteria for Selection
XUSOVM uses the following criteria to balance academic achievement, relevant experience, and personal qualities in support of its mission and educational goals.
Academic Background
(e.g., major, grade point average and grade trends, science background, academic achievements, other academic interests, enthusiasm of recommenders, quality of the undergraduate institution, quality of the personal statement or essay, rigor of undergraduate coursework, and academic course load).
Personal Attributes
(e.g., culture, socioeconomic background, geographic origin, rural or urban experiences, race/ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith, family status, national origin, individual interests, values and beliefs, maturity, leadership, multilingual abilities, and other characteristics that contribute to a diverse learning environment).
Personal Experiences
(e.g., overcoming hardship, employment history, community service, veterinary or healthcare experience, research experience, success in prior careers, leadership activities, and other life experiences that demonstrate resilience, commitment, and personal growth).
Key Elements of Admissions Committee Criteria
- Admissions criteria are aligned with the mission, vision, and goals of the School of Veterinary Medicine.
- Admissions criteria are approved by the faculty.
- Admissions criteria balance academic accomplishments and personal factors to support mission-related goals.
- Enrollment outcomes are continuously evaluated to assess the effectiveness of the admissions process. Measures may include program completion rates, attrition rates, professionalism concerns, performance on standardized examinations, achievement of Day One competencies, and career outcomes in clinical practice, research, academia, industry, public health, and other veterinary professions.
Publication
The admissions policies, procedures, and technical standards are included in the Admissions Bulletin distributed to all applicants and are also published on the school’s website.