Fall 2013

"Suggested" deadlines are like suggested speed limits - observed by some and ignored by others. That's why the AAVMC's Veterinary Medical Application Service (VMCAS) would like to thank the significant number of applicants who completed veterinary medical school applications by the suggested September 1 deadline. Many incomplete applications remain in the system, awaiting a candidate's momentous, potentially life-changing decision to hit the "submit" button, and that's perfectly all right. The penalty-free, suggested deadline has come and gone and the "for-real" deadline of October 2 is now a mere two weeks away. Despite mounting deadline pressure, there is still time to complete the application process. It's a process that will launch approximately 2,800 successful applicants on a path that will eventually lead to rewarding careers in veterinary medicine. In that pursuit, we wish our readers every success.

AAVMC Executive Director

If you plan on applying to veterinary medical school, don't let the opportunity slip away. Please remember the following deadline for the submission of application materials:

Wednesday, October 2, 2013, at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Modernization is sometimes a bumpy ride. Prior to today's lightning-fast broadband speeds, getting online required waiting while listening to the buzz and hum of a dial-up connection. And not long ago, bandwidth issues often interrupted online videos with long, annoying buffering pauses. Eventually, gains in experience and technology overcame those roadblocks. Likewise, our transition to smoother, more efficient application processes may include an unintended consequence or two. In the end, though, this transition will create a vastly improved system. We thank you in advance for your patience and support as we modernize and refine our processes. Get the details.

Digging Into the "How's" and "Why's" of Veterinary Medical Education 

The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges is launching three surveys designed to reveal what inspires and motivates those who decide to pursue a veterinary medical education. The surveys will also look at the perceptions of educational advisors and practicing veterinarians. "We want to discover where likely veterinary medical school applicants are, what they're doing, and what drives them," said Tony Wynne, the AAVMC's director of admissions and recruitment affairs. "We also want to assess the mindset of academic advisors and practicing veterinarians who are in a position to influence and shape the decisions of prospective veterinary medical school applicants."  Learn more.

Did you know that VMCAS represents about 90 percent of the applicant pool? For the 2012-2013 school year, 6,766 VMCAS applicants submitted an average of 4.1 applications each.