Relevant Data
The number of applications from rural Georgia is in proportion to the population, and the chances of admission for rural applicants are similar to other sectors of the population.
The data below reflect admissions statistics over the last six years for Georgia applicants only.
| <50,000 |
119
|
2,212,000
|
234
|
||
| 50,000-80,000
|
11
|
694,459
|
57
|
||
| 80,000-150,000
|
16
|
1,715,311
|
289
|
||
| >150,000 |
13
|
5,063,974
|
507
|
||
| Total
|
159
|
9,685,744
|
1087
|
(No. Admitted/ No. Applied) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| <50,000 |
234
|
86
|
|
| 50,000-80,000
|
57
|
21
|
|
| 80,000-150,000
|
289
|
125
|
|
| >150,000 |
507
|
190
|
|
| Total
|
1087
|
422
|
Admissions data also show the acceptance rate for Georgians is similar for the undergraduate institutions in the University System:
- Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 43%
- Armstrong Atlantic State University 36%
- Augusta State University 33%
- Clayton State University 57%
- Columbus State University 33%
- Fort Valley State University 40%
- Gainesville State College 29%
- Georgia College and State University 32%
- Georgia Institute of Technology 53%
- Georgia Perimeter College 55%
- Georgia Southern University 38%
- Georgia State University 47%
- Kennesaw State University 21%
- North Georgia College and State University 35%
- University of Georgia 41%
- Valdosta State University 40%
The number of male applicants does not reflect the population; however, many of those who apply have excellent credentials and a favorable chance of being admitted.
Of the 1,087 Georgia applicants in the last six years, 216 (20%) were men. Of the last six classes admitted, 28% of the students were men. The acceptance rate (number accepted/number applied) for Georgia men in the last six years is 54%. The acceptance rate for Georgia women is 34%.
We are working with our GVMA members to educate young men and women in Georgia about the many diverse career opportunities in veterinary medicine. We also have a program in place to inform high school guidance counselors about veterinary medicine and the admissions process.
Our "Vet School for a Day" program is one example of such an effort. Through this program we welcome high school students, their parents, and high school counselors to spend a day with us learning about veterinary medicine and the career opportunities available. Governor Perdue spoke to the first group we welcomed to the College for "Vet School for a Day." One of the young people who attended that day will be starting veterinary school this fall.
We hope to see the results of these and other efforts in the coming years so that our applicant pool will reflect the deep pool of talent in the state: rural, suburban, and urban, male and female.
Our graduates are entering large animal and mixed animal practice at rates that exceed those seen nationally.
Over the last six years, 27% of our graduates have entered large animal or mixed animal practice careers. These career options include large or mixed animal practice (19%) or large animal internships and food animal graduate programs (8%). These figures are greater than those seen nationally.
We are taking steps to recruit students interested in careers in underserved areas such as food animal practice and public health. We have established courses and extra-curricular activities to maintain the students’ interest while enrolled in the DVM program. We also are working with state and federal legislators to provide loan repayment programs for graduates who work in careers and areas currently underserved.
In addition to recruiting efforts mentioned, the College of Veterinary Medicine has established the Food Animal Veterinary Incentive Program (FAVIP) in cooperation with the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. This program identifies students in high school with a demonstrated interest in food animal agriculture and veterinary medicine. These students are leaders in 4-H, FFA, and other local agriculture groups. Five students in each of three undergraduate classes currently are enrolled at UGA thus far (total of 15 students), and are guaranteed admission to the DVM program when they complete their bachelor’s degrees.
The CVM conducts a separate freshman orientation program for veterinary students interested in food animal medicine. The program is held at the College’s Rose Creek Farm during the students’ first week on campus. The students meet Georgia food animal veterinary practitioners, the CVM food animal faculty, the Georgia State Veterinarian, and food animal veterinary students in the sophomore, junior and senior classes. The FAVIP students also are invited and encouraged to attend this event. This orientation serves to help the new undergraduate and veterinary students understand the career possibilities in food animal medicine, and provides a network of people for the students to work with.
To maintain their interest in food animal practice, our faculty are actively engaged in courses and extracurricular learning opportunities for DVM students. The student chapter of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners is more active than it has been in decades. The CVM has expanded its course offerings to provide a broader and more intensive education in food animal medicine including a new food animal journal club course, expansion of the number of contact hours for the ruminant digestive diseases elective, offering a new Advanced Dairy Field Rotation, and increasing the number of field rotation opportunities.
The College has food animal faculty based in Athens, as well as one faculty member based at the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory. Students spend three weeks in Tifton working on farms in South Georgia with the faculty member to learn about beef production. This program has been expanded recently in response to increased student interest. To accommodate this expanded program, the College constructed a small dormitory in Tifton that houses up to ten students at any one time. We also are offering scholarships for post-DVM training including the Food Animal Health Management Masters degree, and the Masters of Public Health in cooperation with the College of Public Health.
We have worked with our sister Colleges to encourage the appropriation and implementation of the federal Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. This program will provide loan repayment for veterinarians who work in underserved areas. We are currently working with Representative Maddox to introduce similar legislation at the state level. By pursing these recruiting strategies, engaging veterinary students in learning opportunities, and providing financial assistance with educational loans in exchange for working in underserved areas, we are confident that the demand for veterinary services in Georgia will be met once we increase enrollment from 102 per class to 150.
This page was last reviewed on December 1, 2011.
