How to Apply

Information for Applicants Entering Fall 2025

Below is for the 2024-2025 application cycle--watch for information about the 2025-2026 cycle in spring 2025

The Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine is a cooperative agreement between the states of Nebraska and Iowa.  Students will attend two years of Professional Veterinary School at UNL before transferring to ISU.  Students who complete the four-year program will receive a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  Only verified Nebraska residents are eligible for admission to the Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine.

Please read all information carefully and keep copies of everything you submit.  Detailed information for each section of the application is given below.  If you have any questions, contact the University of Nebraska PPVM Program Office at ppvm@unl.edu or (402) 472-7306. 

VMCAS Application

Applicants must apply through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). The application can be accessed at www.aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas.htm.  The VMCAS application and fee must be submitted to VMCAS by September 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.  Refer to the VMCAS 2024 Applicant Guide for information about the VMCAS application.

Please note:  By selecting the UNL PPVM as one of your programs in VMCAS, you will only be considered for admission at UNL.  If you also wish to be considered for admission at Iowa State University, you must select ISU as one of your programs in VMCAS in addition to the UNL PPVM.

Recommendations

Three recommendations are required to be submitted through VMCAS. Up to six recommendations will be accepted.  References can include professors, advisors (academic), employers and preferably at least one veterinarian.  Family members (blood or marriage) are not to be used.  References should be able to comment on the personal characteristics and attributes of the applicant.  Instructions on submitting recommendations to VMCAS can be found at www.aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas.htm.  Recommendations must be submitted to VMCAS by September 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.  It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the recommendations are done properly and on time.

Please note:  Should the Admissions Committee need to clarify information provided in the application or recommendation, they may elect to contact the applicant or evaluator. 

Transcripts

Official transcripts for ALL college-level coursework (undergraduate, graduate and continuing education) must be sent directly to VMCAS.  Follow instructions provided in VMCAS.  

Official transcripts from ALL postsecondary institutions you have attended are required. This is necessary even though credits may show up as transfer credits on another institution's transcript, you took only one course at the institution, or you took the college credits during high school.

If credits have been taken at a foreign (non-U.S.) institution, the applicant must follow the VMCAS instructions for foreign transcripts.  Applicants are urged to start this process shortly after the VMCAS application opens.  Applicants must provide a copy of the foreign institution's transcript, even if they appear as transfer credits on a U.S. institution's transcript. This includes courses taken as study abroad.

In order for your application to be eligible for Transcript Verification, all official transcripts for schools you list in the "Institutions Attended" section of the application must be received or postmarked by September 16, 2024.

Summer 2024 and Fall 2024 transcripts must be received in the PPVM office by January 20, 2025.  Spring 2025 transcripts must be received by the PPVM office by July 1, 2025.  Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 transcripts should be sent electronically if your school offers that option.

Email to:  ppvm@unl.edu

OR

Mailing address:
Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
PO Box 830906
1880 North 42nd Street
Lincoln, NE  68583-0906

Nebraska Residency Application 

Verified Nebraska residency is required to be considered for the PPVM.  We strongly recommend that all applicants complete this step and be granted Nebrask resident status BEFORE submitting the rest of their application materials.  A Nebraska Residency Application must be completed by all applicants, including current UNL students.  A new Nebraska Residency Application must be completed every year, even if the applicant has previously been granted resident status.  Complete the Nebraska Residency Application https://go.unl.edu/ppvm-ne-residency.   

You must be a Nebraska Resident, as verified by this form, to be eligible to attend the Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine.  Tuition for four years in the PPVM program is the same as ISU resident tuition.  The State of Nebraska pays the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for students when they attend ISU CVM.  Residency status is determined by the UNL Office of Admissions following criteria listed in the "Qualifying for Residency Status for the Purpose of In-State Tuition" section at: https://admissions.unl.edu/cost/residency-policy/.  Do not follow the deadlines and application process indicated on the UNL Office of Admissions Residency Policy website.  The completed application must be submitted, and any required documentation must be postmarked by September 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.  All applicants must complete the Nebraska Residency Application and submit required documentation to:

Email (preferred):  ppvm@unl.edu

OR

Mailing address:
Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
PO Box 830906
1880 North 42nd Street
Lincoln NE 68583-0906

Hand delivery:
Room 120, Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Hall
East Campus, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

PPVM Application Fee

All applicants are required to pay the non-refundable $75.00 PPVM application fee by September 16, 2024. The PPVM Application Fee must be paid every year by all applicants, including reapplicants.  The PPVM Application fee is separate from Iowa State University's application fee. Link to pay the PPVM application fee is closed.  The link will be published here when the site is open for the next cycle.  

Application Fee Waiver – If you receive an application fee waiver from AAVMC/VMCAS, you may be eligible for a PPVM application fee waiver. Please contact the PPVM office at ppvm@unl.edu for more information.

CASPer Test

CASPer is a situational judgement test that assesses behavioral tendencies in tough situations, measuring elements of professionalism that are important to success in our DVM program and beyond. CASPer helps you demonstrate the diversity of strengths you bring to veterinary school, complementing factors such as academic performance and prior experience.  CASPer must be taken no later than September 17, 2024. Select Iowa State University to share your results with.  Learn more about CASPer and schedule your test date here: https://acuityinsights.app/casper/ Please Note: Acuity Insights offers four assessments: CASPer, Snapshot, Duet, and Acuity Insight for GME.  We only require the CASPer assessment. You do not need to take Snapshot, Duet, or Acuity Insight for GME unless another institution you are applying to requires them.

Checking the Status of Your Application

Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application in VMCAS.  Applicants should check their local status in VMCAS to be informed when all application materials have been received.  We will move applicants to "Application Review" or "Application Review" local status once we have verified receipt of all application components.  We STRONGLY recommend that applicants submit all materials at least one week before the deadline.

The PPVM office will communicate by email using the VMCAS preferred email address you provided.  Applicants are responsible for providing an email address that will be regularly checked throughout the application cycle.  It is imperative that you check your e-mail and status frequently as we cannot guarantee all e-mails will be received. Please note that some e-mail providers such as Hotmail, Yahoo and MSN may reject mail from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln or place it in a junk mail folder. The PPVM office is not responsible for undeliverable or unread messages. 

It is the applicant's responsibility to see that all materials are received and that the PPVM is notified of how problems with their application will be remedied.

Please note:  Questions concerning the application will only be discussed with the applicant. Due to confidentiality, we cannot discuss the application with anyone else including parents, spouses, friends, employers, etc.

Financial Aid Information

All financial aid is processed through the Iowa State University Office of Student Financial Aid.  Please contact the ISU Office of Student Financial Aid at 515-294-2223 or vmfinancialaid@iastate.edu for more information.

http://www.financialaid.iastate.edu/students/vet-med.php

https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

https://vetmed.iastate.edu/future-dvm-students