UC Davis Weill DVM Admissions Guide (2027)

Quick facts

• Degree: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), four years.
• School name: UC Davis Joan and Sanford I. Weill School of Veterinary Medicine since January 2026.
• Location: Davis, California.
• Application: VMCAS plus a $100 UC Davis supplemental application.
• Deadlines: VMCAS and all materials September 15, 2026; supplemental October 15.
• Education: bachelor's required before matriculation.
• GPA: minimum 2.50.
• Experience: at least 180 in-person veterinary hours by the VMCAS deadline.
• Testing: GRE not considered; Casper not used.
• Interview: required virtual MMI, December 3, 4, 7 or 8, about 100 minutes.
• Accreditation: accredited; last evaluation 2025. Current 2026-27 timeline

Admission requirements

A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university is required before matriculation. Prerequisites, each with C or higher, are college physics; general biology and chemistry with labs; organic chemistry with one lab; statistics; and upper-division biochemistry with metabolism, genetics and systemic physiology. The three upper-division sciences must be taken at a four-year institution; other prerequisites may be completed at community college. Online courses and labs are accepted, AP credit may count when awarded by the institution, and applicants may apply with about three prerequisites pending. Current academic preparation

A minimum 2.50 GPA and 180 in-person veterinary experience hours by September 15 are required. Applicants submit at least three recommendations; UC Davis considers exactly three, including one from a veterinarian. The GRE is not required or considered, and Casper is not used. Current criteria

International applicants may apply through VMCAS and need a four-year bachelor's degree plus the school's additional transcript and English-proficiency requirements. California residency materially affects the interview pool: the current process flags approximately 200 California residents and 40 nonresidents for holistic review.

Important dates

VMCAS 2027 opened January 21 on the UC Davis timeline, programmes became selectable May 7, and all VMCAS application materials are due September 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. UC Davis imports verified applications from mid-August; the $100 supplemental application and 2,000-character statement are due October 15 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. Interview decisions post in mid-November. Current UC Davis timeline

Virtual MMIs run December 3, 4, 7 and 8, 2026. Admission and waitlist decisions post mid- to late January 2027, Admitted Student Day is in late February, offers must be accepted or declined by April 15, and classes begin mid-August. UC Davis is not rolling; early submission provides no interview-selection advantage.

How selection works

Initial ranking uses science GPA, the most recent 45 semester or 68 quarter units GPA, a composite from three recommendation ratings and a distance-traveled score. Approximately 240 applicants, about 200 California residents and 40 nonresidents, are flagged for holistic review of the full file. The committee may remove a candidate for concerns including poor grade trends, weak prerequisites, unfavorable letters, poor essays, insufficient veterinary hours or lack of understanding of the profession. Current selection process

Approximately 240 candidates with strong holistic reviews advance to the MMI. After interview, UC Davis re-ranks candidates using percentages of MMI score; science GPA, recent-course GPA and recommendation composite; and distance traveled. The exact percentages, committee voting rules and waitlist order are not published.

Interview details

Confirmed

The required virtual MMI uses Kira Talent and is offered December 3, 4, 7 or 8, 2026; candidates choose a day and the process lasts about 100 minutes. The circuit has up to ten short, structured stations with preparation time and dialogue with one interviewer or, in some cases, a third party while the rater observes. It assesses communication, teamwork, ethical and critical decision-making, empathy, honesty and reliability rather than veterinary knowledge. Scores are normalized by a third-party statistician. Current interview criteria

Not published

The current source does not publish exact station and preparation durations, interviewer roles or file access, prompts, scoring anchors, final MMI percentage, accommodations or technical-support procedure. One timeline sentence says interviews may be face-to-face or virtual, but the detailed current criteria and selection pages say virtual; use the detailed virtual contract and flag the inconsistency.

Who this program may suit

UC Davis Weill may suit applicants seeking a four-year DVM with broad comparative-veterinary foundations and later species-focused streams. Its current process strongly rewards recent science performance, evaluated recommendations, sustained in-person veterinary exposure and the ability to communicate and reason in a structured MMI. Current DVM programme

The school was renamed the UC Davis Joan and Sanford I. Weill School of Veterinary Medicine in January 2026 and remains one canonical DVM in Davis; Southern California facilities and specialty programmes are not separate first-year admissions. The school reports accredited status after a 2025 evaluation, with the next site visit in 2032.

Practice and next step

Record a response about difficult feedback that changed how you worked on a veterinary, research, service or team task. Review whether your example demonstrates honesty, adaptability and a measurable adjustment, then record a second attempt that answers earlier and removes repeated setup.

Frequently asked questions

Is a bachelor's degree required?

Yes, before matriculation.

How many veterinary hours are required?

At least 180 in-person veterinary experience hours by the September 15 application deadline.

Does UC Davis use the GRE or Casper?

No. The GRE is not considered and the school says it does not use Casper.

Is the MMI virtual?

The detailed current criteria say yes, using Kira Talent, although one timeline sentence also mentions face-to-face or virtual; applicants should follow their invitation.

Sources

Verified August 12, 2026. Current official sources: UC Davis 2026-27 application timeline, academic preparation, criteria and MMI, DVM programme, accreditation, 2026 school rename and AAVMC VMCAS 2027 guide.