New admissions process
being tested this year

The college's admissions director, Jonathan Orsini, left, with CVM admissions committee members Dr. Richard Carpenter and Dr. Mark Scribano prior to a committee meeting Jan. 27.

The college's admissions director, Jonathan Orsini, left, with CVM admissions committee members Dr. Richard Carpenter and Dr. Mark Scribano, Class of '89, prior to a committee meeting Jan. 27 in the Banfield Conference Room at the UF Small Animal Hospital.

In November 2011, the Office of Students and Instruction tested a brand new early admissions process that involved inviting strong veterinary applicants to shadow for a full day in real-life clerkships inside the small and large animal hospitals. The purpose of the new approach is to identify and recruit these talented prospective students to the college by providing a better opportunity to understand what the UF CVM is all about.

Thirty-seven applicants were chosen, said the college’s admissions director, Jonathan Orsini.

“Every part of the college was involved, from the faculty in the clerkships, to the freshmen and sophomore class who provided housing for the visiting students,” Orsini said. “At the end of their visit, the candidates were interviewed by a three-member panel, including two members of the admissions committee and a veterinary student. ”

Twenty-four additional applicants were also invited for interviews on Nov. 19. This process was very similar to the normal interviews in the spring, except that the applicants had a chance to eat lunch and meet with their interviewers at the end of the day.

“The process was well received,” Orsini said. “In all, 61 candidates participated in these various early admissions trials. The feedback that we have received regarding this pilot program was incredibly positive, but the admissions office will only keep the program if the number of high-profile acceptances is worthwhile.”

The invitations for the spring interviews were delivered by email on Jan. 17, with 192 applicants invited to attend interviews scheduled on Feb. 4 and Feb. 11. Ninety-six applicants will participate on each day, being interviewed by 12 groups of three-member interview panels.

The final meeting of the admissions committee will be held Feb. 17 and letters of acceptance will be sent a few days after that, Orsini said.

“The interview is a 50-minute long behavioral interview similar in format to others practiced in medical and veterinary medical school admissions,” he added.

The final day for applicants to accept a spot in the class of 2016 is April 15.

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January 2012

The college's admissions director, Jonathan Orsini, left, with CVM admissions committee members Dr. Richard Carpenter and Dr. Mark Scribano prior to a committee meeting Jan. 27.

New admissions process tested

A new early admissions process is being tested at the college this year, with the goal of identifying and recruiting talented applicants.

NAVC draws alumni crowd

Hundreds gather at the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando for UF’s traditional alumni reception.

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