Metropolitan State University of Denver
Biology Department
Last updated January 2024
The veterinary program leads to a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, or D.V.M. 60 credits of prerequisite courses must be completed, followed by 4 years of professional studies. Here is a video of the first year facilities at Colorado State University to get you excited. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clkS_E-x8uc
Criteria for selection to The College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University include: grades, quality of academic program (course load, challenging curriculum, honors), leadership, community and school activities, experience working with animals, contact with the veterinary medical profession, letters of recommendation, an essay and some schools require the G.R.E., but CSU does not. Applicants must apply online. CSU applicants must submit BOTH the VMCAS application http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas.htm) and a Colorado Supplemental Application by September 16, 2024. All Transcripts must be sent to VMCAS before September 16, 2024. VMCAS will perform Transcript Verification on all submitted VMCAS applications and will make online copies of transcripts available to the veterinary schools.
• VMCAS application & Colorado Supplemental Application
• You will need three letters of recommendation (at least one from a veterinarian)
• All transcripts due by July 15.
• NOTE: Interviews have been cancelled at CSU.
• The VMCAS Application . This opens in January and you may submit your application for submission mid May.
• The CSA Supplemental Application opens June 2024. The deadline is Sept 16, 2024. Please note the Sample Application for review purposes.
• Consider keeping a journal through your undergraduate years. This will provide you with much information to draw upon when filling out your application. Your application needs to be “dripping” with passion for this profession and avoid pointing out any of your weaknesses that the vet-school would see as a risk to accepting you.
PREREQUISITES: An absolute minimum of 60 semester hours is required, and the typical applicant is completing a baccalaureate degree in order to become a competitive candidate. (Prerequisites for vet. schools other than CSU may be found at http://www.aavmc.org). Prerequisites for CSU must include:
| BIO 1080, 1090 General Biology I with a lab | 4 | |
| BIO 3600 or 3610 Genetics | 4 | |
| CHE 1800 & 1801 General Chemistry I | 5 | |
| CHE 1810 & 1811 General Chemistry II | 5 | |
| CHE 4310 Biochemistry | 4 | Note, prerequisite for CHE 4310 is CHE 3100 & 3110 -Organic Chemistry I and II. Prerequisite for CHE 3100 is CHE 1800/01, and 1810/11. Therefore, even though CHE 1810 and CHE 3110 are not required for CSU vet school, they’re needed as prerequisites for CHE 4310, which is required. (Many vet schools besides CSU require the 2 semesters of organic chemistry.) |
| Physics with a lab (PHY 2010 and 2030, or 2020 and 2040, or 2310 and 2320, or 2330 and 2340) |
5 | Note prerequisite for PHY 2010 is MTH 1120; See MSU Catalog for other prerequisites. Some vet schools require 2 semesters physics, but CSU only requires one. |
| ENG 1010 Freshman Composition | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities/Behavioral and Social Sciences | 12 | Included are art, dance, English – excluding ENG 1010 listed above, foreign Language, music, philosophy, speech, theater, anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology |
| MTH 1210 Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| BIO 3050 (Cell Biology) | 4 | |
| BIO 2310 and 2320 (Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II), or BIO 3360 (Animal Physiology), or BIO 3320 (Advanced Human Physiology) | 4-8 | |
| 9 credits of Upper Division Biomedical Science Courses**: Accepted courses include: BIO 3210 (Histology), BIO 3220 (Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy), BIO 3270 (Parasitology), BIO 3340 (Endocrinology), BIO 3350 (Immunology), BIO 3400 (Microbial Physiology), BIO 4070 (Biology of Cancer), BIO 4300 (Neurobiology), BIO 4440 (Virology), BIO 4450 (Pathogenic Microbiology), BIO 4820 (Developmental Biology). | 9 |
Check with your current MSU Denver Catalog for prerequisites needed for all classes. (https://msudenver.edu/catalog/)
**Courses not accepted as upper division biomedical science courses include Animal Behavior, Issues in Conservation Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Mammalogy, Zoology, Ornithology.
Evaluators carefully assess the quality of an applicant’s academic history in terms of relative academic strengths and promise, including the number and quality of upper division science courses – especially if they have been taken recently. Evaluators try to determine if the academic history is stable, erratic, inconsistent, or improving over time. Short term declines can often be justified in the Special Circumstances section of the application (illness, injury). There is not a limit on the age of acceptable course work. However, if the majority of courses are older than 10 years, some indication of current proficiency in genetics and biochemistry may be required. Grades must be at least C- or above, but the majority should be A’s and B’s.
EXPERIENCE: The average applicant has spent a minimum of one summer (500-1000 hours) working with a veterinarian and another 500-1000 hours working with animals in other capacities.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS: The cost of attending veterinary school is very high and it is important to consider your financial situation before going to veterinary school. Your debts need to be minimal (e.g. paying off all credit cards) before you enter veterinary school. Please look at this link to see the cost of veterinary school and Financial Aid opportunities https://www.avma.org/about/savma/studentfinancialresources/pages/default.aspx.
Profile of 2023 Entering Class
| Total Applications | 4204 |
| Admitted Total* | 152 |
| Admitted Men | 14% |
| Admitted Women | 86% |
| Average Age | 24 |
| Average GPA** | 3.66 |
| Accepted upon first time applying | 106 |
*Once the new CSU veterinary teaching hospital is complete (2025 to 2026), admitted students will increase by 30. https://cvmbs.source.colostate.edu/construction-to-begin-on-veterinary-complex/
**Note: Few applicants are accepted with a GPA less than 3.2
Note that Outstanding Veterinarians:
1-have developed insights about the veterinary profession, animals and owners;
2-understand the importance of and participate in socially relevant community service;
3-are good leaders;
4-possess good social/people skills;
5-have excellent communication skills;
6-have a strong work ethic;
7-are problem solvers and actively seek to be life-long learners;
8-possess the basic qualities of integrity and honesty.
What do you do if you do not get accepted your first time to vet school? Contact the vet schools to see if they have suggestions to strengthen your application. Strengthen what you consider to be the weakest parts of your application. Improve your interview skills for schools requiring interviews. Take more rigorous upper division science courses, or consider, a Master’s Program. Obtain additional veterinary and animal experience. Do science research, volunteer work, community outreach, internships and leadership activities.
One Year Master’s Program in Anatomy
Resources
Colorado State University: Office of the Dean
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Colorado State University 1601 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1601
(970) 491-7052
CSU Pre-vet advising questions, e-mail [email protected]
www.cvmbs.colostate.edu has more information on CSU Veterinary School, choose Professional Veterinary Medicine Program, under Academic Programs. CSU veterinary school also has combined programs with MBA, MPH, and PhD. CSU Veterinary website is: http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/Pages/default.aspx
MSU Denver Biology Pre-Vet Advisor: Dr. Hays, (303)615-0777, [email protected];
