Spring 2025 Start
Applications for matriculation in Spring 2025 are received August 15, 2024 through October 16, 2024. The admissions committee will review applications completed and verified in that window in late October 2024, with interviews conducted in early November 2024. Decision notifications will be delivered mid November 2024.
Fall 2025 Start
The application cycle for a Fall 2025 start date is October 17, 2024 through May 10, 2025. The admissions committee will review applications completed and verified in that window in early April 2025. Interviews will be conducted early-mid April 2025, with decision notifications delivered late April through late May 2025.
Complete and verified applications received after the posted deadline may be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on seat availability in the program.
Application Status and Review Requirements
Only complete and verified applications will be reviewed.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to monitor the status of their PostbacCAS application and ensure delivery of all application materials by the deadline for their desired start date. Applications that are incomplete or unverified will not be evaluated.
A complete application has all letters of recommendation, transcripts, and essays received through PostbacCAS.
All materials should be submitted through PostbacCAS. The Office of Graduate Programs is not responsible for transcripts, letters, or essays that were submitted outside the PostbacCAS system. Sending materials outside of PostbacCAS may delay or prevent the evaluation of an application.
Click here for the 2023-2024 PostbacCAS application cycle due dates. Any applications that are not verified by the end of the cycle will be required to re-submit. The admissions committee will not consider unverified applications.
Required Application Materials
Complete PostbacCAS Application
- Official Transcripts for all institutions attended
- Two (2) letters of recommendation*
- One (1) personal statement that professionally articulates a response to the following prompt:
How will the VBMS program help you achieve your career goals?
- Application fee (PostbacCAS fee + LMU Application fee)
- Full CV
*Letters should be requested from the applicant's instructors (natural science instructor recommended), a veterinarian familiar with the applicant's experiences in veterinary medicine, or a health professions advisory committee.
Previously enrolled in a DVM program?
Any applicant who has attempted or completed DVM-level coursework prior to or concurrent with their application to the VBMS program must disclose that fact in their application materials. Failure to disclose enrollment in a DVM program on the VBMS application may result in immediate dismissal from the VBMS program.
Any applicant to the VBMS program who has been enrolled in a DVM program must submit the following in addition to the standard application materials:
- Official transcript(s) reflecting DVM coursework from institution
- Recommendation Questionnaire from the Dean or Administrator at the CVM where they attempted or began coursework.
Download the Questionnaire at the link below.
Applicant Eligibility Requirements
All applicants to the VBMS program must:
- hold a bachelor's degree from an institution with regional accreditation or equivalent verification in the case of international degrees.
- have a cumulative (CUM) GPA of 2.7+
- demonstrate successful completion of the posted prerequisite coursework* with a GPA of 2.0+ in each subject matter.
*Applicants with unfinished prerequisite coursework may still apply, however, official transcripts must be provided to the CVM Graduate Programs office upon completion of the coursework.
Applicants who are currently or were previously enrolled in a DVM program must:
- have a cumulative (CUM) GPA in their DVM program of 2.0+
The typical applicant to the VBMS program meets or exceeds the following:
- GRE > 292, with a writing score of >3.5
- Science coursework GPA > 3.0, or CUM GPA > 3.0, or
- evidence of an improved trajectory in academic performance, especially in science coursework.
Application Process
1. Complete the PostbacCAS application.
All application materials should be uploaded and submitted via PostbacCAS, including reference letters.
2. Initial Review.
The LMU-CVM Office of Graduate Programs will confirm that all required elements of the application have been received. Complete and verified applications will be forwarded to the VBMS Admissions Committee for evaluation.
3. Committee Review.
The VBMS Admissions Committee will review the application to determine if the applicant meets admission criteria. Applicants who meet the criteria will be invited for a committee interview.
All application materials should be uploaded and submitted via PostbacCAS, including reference letters.
2. Initial Review.
The LMU-CVM Office of Graduate Programs will confirm that all required elements of the application have been received. Complete and verified applications will be forwarded to the VBMS Admissions Committee for evaluation.
3. Committee Review.
The VBMS Admissions Committee will review the application to determine if the applicant meets admission criteria. Applicants who meet the criteria will be invited for a committee interview.
4. Interview.
Applicants who pass the initial review will be invited for a 10-15 minute Zoom or phone interview with two faculty or staff members on the VBMS Admissions Committee.
5. Post-Interview Decision.
Following the interview and receipt of any requested additional information, the Admissions Committee will make a recommendation to the LMU-CVM Dean. Applicants will be notified in writing as soon as possible following the Dean's decision.
Any applicant who receives an "Accept" decision must still provide any further documentation as requested by CVM Graduate Programs and/or LMU.
Applicants who pass the initial review will be invited for a 10-15 minute Zoom or phone interview with two faculty or staff members on the VBMS Admissions Committee.
5. Post-Interview Decision.
Following the interview and receipt of any requested additional information, the Admissions Committee will make a recommendation to the LMU-CVM Dean. Applicants will be notified in writing as soon as possible following the Dean's decision.
Any applicant who receives an "Accept" decision must still provide any further documentation as requested by CVM Graduate Programs and/or LMU.
Applicants with Foreign Coursework
Applicants to the VBMS program who have completed coursework at an institution external to the United States must complete the standard application procedure outlined above. All data included in the application (essays, demographic information, reference letters, CVs, etc.) must be written in English.
Any transcripts from institutions located outside of the United States must be evaluated by either the World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silney & Associates, Inc. Transcripts and evaluations should be submitted as normal through PostbacCAS.
If English is not the applicant's native language, the applicant must submit one of the following test scores via an official report sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to PostbacCAS.
- iBT (Internet-based TOEFL): minimum score of 61.
- CBT (Computer-based TOEFL): minimum score of 173.
- PBT (Paper-based TOEFL): minimum score of 500.
TOEFL scores older than 2 years will not be accepted.
*Applicants who earned a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) from an American or English-speaking institution are not required to take the TOEFL.