Congratulations on your recent acceptance to The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. The information below is to help you on your journey to becoming an official vet student at UGA CVM.
If you have any questions, please e-mail the admissions counselor or call 706.542.5727.
We look forward to seeing everyone in August!
Estimated Cost of Attendance
Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) for two semesters: $33,020
(includes: tuition, fees, books, transportation, and personal expenses)
Breakdown of the DVM Estimated Cost of Attendance:
Tuition and Fees: $16,670
Books: $1,400
Room and Board: $11,190
Transportation: $1,230
Miscellaneous: $2,530
Total for Fall & Spring combined, living off-campus: $33,020
The COA may be able to be increased due to special circumstances (including, but not limited to: purchase of a computer for educational purposes or having children in daycare/after school daycare program). Please contact OFSA for more information about the COA.
Download the OSFA's Guide to Student Consumer Information [PDF]
Verification of Lawful Presence
The Board of Regents is requiring that we verify the lawful presence of all admitted students for fall 2011 and beyond. Until you have been verified, you will not be allowed to register for classes.
This is a new policy that we are having to follow, so there will potentially be a few "bumps in the road." To avoid these bumps, we highly encourage each student to fill out the FAFSA application, as this is the best and easiest way to be verified and have the flag that will not allow you to register removed from your student account. We have been told that if you fill out the FAFSA application you should be verified and have the flag cleared from your account within 48 hours.
We will not register everyone into UGA’s student system until later during the summer. Once this is done, you will receive a checklist of things to complete via email, including instructions on how to register for DVM courses.
After you have received the checklist email, if you still have the flag on your account, do not panic. Simply give us a call and we will work together to remove the flag from your account. There are several additional documents that we can use to verify you in order to allow you to register. All accepted DVM students are guaranteed a spot in all first year courses.
Last year we had no major issues in getting all students cleared in the system to register.
Additional acceptable documents to verify lawful presence in the US:
- A U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
- A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship
- A current U.S. passport with signature page
- A current Georgia driver’s license issued after January 1, 2008
- A current Georgia state-issued ID issued after January 1, 2008
- Permanent Resident Card
- Military ID submitted in-person (service members only, not valid for dependents)
- Original, Certified U.S. Birth certificates (copies are not acceptable)
Immunizations
Find your UGA required immunization forms and information here.
All students at the University of Georgia must show proof of immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox) if born 1966 or later, and a tetanus shot within the past 10 years. You will be permitted to register only after the form has been completed and verified by personnel in the University Health Center.
If you have never been enrolled at UGA: Please visit the University Health Center website and
download the required forms for new students. The deadline to submit the completed Immunization forms to the CVM Office for Academic Affairs is June 1, 2012. Once the Office for Academic Affairs receives the immunization forms, we will make a copy for our records and send the original to UHS Patient Registration & Health Information.
If you have been enrolled at UGA: You do not need to complete the immunization form again, but you must provide the Office of Academic Affairs with a copy of your immunization records by June 1, 2012. To provide a copy of your immunization record:
- Log into the University Health Center Open Communicator using your MyID and password.
- When prompted, enter your date of birth to confirm your identity and click "proceed."
- On the left side of your screen, under the UHS logo, click on "immunizations."
- Your immunization records should now appear. Print or create a PDF of this page and send it to the Office for Academic Affairs either by mail or fax (706.542.1004).
Rabies
Rabies vaccinations are required of all students. If you have not already taken the pre-exposure series, you must complete the series within your first semester of enrolling in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis vaccination against rabies is mandatory for all students of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The benefits of the pre-exposure vaccine series far outweigh the risks and inconvenience. If you are ever exposed to rabies — and it is an occupational risk for veterinarians and veterinary students — the post-exposure regimen will be much more expensive and unpleasant if you have not taken the pre-exposure series.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis consists of a three-dose series, and the timing of these doses is critical for development of immunity. This means you must take EACH dose when it is scheduled or you will need to start over with the series.
If you want to receive the series from the University Health Center, each shot costs $213* (total $639*) for a UHC health-fees paid student and $235* (total $705*) for a non-fees paid student. The UHC will submit the charges to your insurance company if you show proof of insurance. However, each policy will differ as to whether the vaccine will be covered.
* Prices are subject to change.
Download the rabies vaccine information sheet from the CDC [updated as of 10/6/2009].
Housing
The College of Veterinary Medicine keeps a list of available housing in Athens and surrounding counties. Check the housing list [PDF].
Each of the fraternities — Alpha Psi (706.546.6382) or Omega Tau Sigma (706.548.8110) — offers rooms at very modest rates. You should contact them directly if you are interested in living there. The fraternities also are helpful in arranging roommates. Do not hesitate to call on the fraternities for any information which will be helpful in your move to Athens.
The University-owned family and graduate student housing areas (706.542.1473) are conveniently located near the College of Veterinary Medicine. Monthly rates range anywhere from $383 to $633 (includes water, cable, phone line, and internet access).
Other sources of housing information:
Athens MLS (multi-listing service) (or call 706.546.7000)
Rentals Athens (or call 706.354.4799)
ApartmentFinder.com
Tour Policy
Tours of the College of Veterinary Medicine are held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. Please call to make an appointment at least one week in advance so that we can guarantee your spot on a tour.
To schedule an appointment, please call 706.542.5727 or e-mail the admissions counselor. All tours start promptly at 12 p.m. (noon) from the Office for Academic Affairs, room 220, located in the administrative building of the College.
PLEASE NOTE: Your tour appointment is not scheduled/confirmed until a representative from the Office for Academic Affairs contacts you. This is important as the CVM is a secure-access facility, therefore self-guided tours are not allowed and we are unable to accommodate walk-in requests.
Information Updates
It is imperative that you keep the Office of Academic Affairs informed with your current contact information. You can update your information via e-mail. If updating your address, please indicate whether this is your current address, permanent address, or both.
Orientation
Your orientation dates are August 2-3 (Thursday-Friday) and August 6-8 (Monday-Wednesday). Fall classes will begin on Monday, August 13, 2012.
White Coat Ceremony
The White Coat Ceremony will be held on Sunday, August 12, 2012, at 12:30 p.m.
The White Coat Ceremony is a tradition at the College of Veterinary Medicine. The officers and representatives from the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association host this event. They will be present to welcome you to the profession. Each student’s name will be called, and you will be asked to come to the front of the room, receive your white lab coat from the Veterinary Medical Association representative of your state, and have your picture taken. Your family and guests are invited to this event as well. Professional attire (shirt, tie and slacks for men; dress or blouse and slacks for women) is appropriate. Please remember to wear your name tag.
The ceremony will be held at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. Following the ceremony, at approximately 2:45 p.m., we ask that all members of the Class of 2016 assemble on the front steps of the College of Veterinary Medicine for their class picture. We will also have a reception with beverages and deserts from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Student Lobby for all to attend. Tours of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Teaching Hospital for your family members and guests will be available starting at 3:30 p.m. Free parking is available in the Carlton Street Parking Deck.
The Hotel Indigo Athens has blocked a set of rooms for guests attending the White Coat Ceremony. If you are interested in staying in the room block, please contact Hotel Indigo at 706.546.0430.
Courses in progress
If you have coursework in progress, we must receive an official transcript by June 15, 2012, from the institution you are attending to document your satisfactory completion of all academic requirements. Even if you have completed our course requirements, we still require that you send your spring transcript to our office.
Computer Recommendations
Please remember these are recommendations, not requirements.
- We follow the UGA computer buying guide recommendations with exceptions and additions noted below.
- We recommend against using Windows Vista or XP. Recommended operating systems are Microsoft Windows 7 or current version of Apple's Mac OS.
- Strongly recommend a flash drive of at least 8GB. This can be used for bringing in assignments if the UGA CVM and/or UGA network is unreachable from your home.
- Strongly recommend an external hard disk (hard drive) to back up files regularly. There are several other online "cloud" alternatives as storage repositories. For questions about "cloud" alternatives, please contact vethelp@uga.edu.
- Recommend purchasing a new laptop. You can request an increase in student loans to cover the cost of a new computer if you purchase it at the beginning of your studies at the vet college. Vet school is taxing enough with all the classroom material presented without the added headache of having an older computer repaired on a regular basis. (For information regarding increasing loan amount to purchase a computer, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid).
- Recommend against using a "netbook" as the primary computer you bring to class. There is an increasing number of faculty giving online tests in the e-distance learning system used at UGA, called eLC. With the banners or headers in eLC and the small monitor size of a netbook, the testing experience may not be as pleasant as possible. In addition, the CVM is adopting a lecture-capture system. This system will display its content in eLC with the addition of banners for itself. These two sets of banners on a small computer screen will make viewing the material a less-than-desirable experience.
Listserv
Once we have the majority of UGA email accounts set up, we will create a Class of 2016 listerv that will be used for important information dispersal. You will also be allowed to use this listserv to communicate with your fellow classmates.
Health Insurance
The College of Veterinary Medicine does not provide health insurance for students, but having current health insurance while in veterinary college is extremely important. If you do not have health insurance, we strongly encourage you to obtain coverage as soon as possible. Fees incurred from a serious illness or injury can be devastating, and students without health insurance can incur astronomical healthcare costs.
The very nature of our curriculum implies that there are inherent risks for faculty and students. Your enrollment in courses is evidence that you are prepared to assume those risks. Listed below are two companies you may want to contact, both of which provide reduced rates for students.
AVMA/GHLIT insurance is sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Mr. Scott R. Satterfield
AVMA/GHLIT
P.O. Box 5546, Athens, GA 30604
706.549.4934 (Office), 706.549.4939 (Fax), 706.340.3356 (Cell), or scottvet@bellsouth.net
Pearce and Pearce, Inc. is endorsed by The University of Georgia. For information on this insurance group, please visit the Pearce and Pearce website or call 800.222.6491.
Parking Information
If you are interested in parking on campus, please visit the UGA Parking Services website. Registration for parking will end the first week of July, so please make sure to register if you want to park on campus.
