Early Entry Pathway to Veterinary Medicine

A four-year undergraduate degree is not required to gain admission to Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Students are eligible to apply once they fulfill the admissions requirements. By applying and being admitted early, a student could save on undergraduate tuition, housing, and other expenses while starting their career sooner. This guide can help plan the time spent in undergraduate studies so that the coursework required for application to the College of Veterinary Medicine can be completed in as little as four semesters. Students are encouraged to consult the CVM admissions office when considering this option.

The following is a suggested 2-year pathway, including courses taken in the summer. Students also apply after 3 years of undergraduate education.

Approved Upper-Level Biomedical Course Topics (Required beginning 2024-25 admissions cycle – Entering Fall 2025)

Advanced Placement

AP Biology and Chemistry – Scores of 4-5 on each of these meets the General Biology & lab requirement and the General Chemistry & lab requirement for veterinary medicine.
AP English for English 150 or with 24 ACT, 550 SAT can take English 250 and get credit for both if the person earns a C or better.
AP Physics 1 or Physics C-mechanics – Scores of 4-5 on this exam meets the General Physics 1 and lab requirement for veterinary medicine.
Social sciences, humanities, and electives may also be completed with AP exams or taken at a community college while in high school.

If a student completes all of these above courses in high school, then:

Early Entry Pathway to Veterinary Medicine

General College/University Courses

Iowa State University Courses

Advanced Placement

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