Veterinary Food Animal Scholars Track (VetFAST)
From dairy farms and turkey barns to stockyards and laboratories, veterinarians play a vital role in maintaining the health of food animals and safeguarding the nation’s food production systems. Across the United States, veterinary positions in rural areas and government agencies remain vacant, driving a demand for more veterinary graduates specializing in food animal medicine.
To help address this veterinarian shortage and fill these critical jobs, the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine offers the Veterinary Food Animal Scholars Track (VetFAST), an opportunity for accelerated acceptance into its Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program.
Benefits
Through the VetFAST program, eligible University of Minnesota System students can:
- Apply for VetFAST program acceptance in their undergraduate career. Students accepted into the program can start the DVM program once they have met all program eligibility requirements.
- Complete bachelor of science and doctor of veterinary medicine degrees in seven years rather than eight.
- Waive the $85 application processing fee.
- Participate in mentorship opportunities with veterinary faculty and DVM students.
- Obtain scholarships and summer internships.
Make your impact
The future of food animal medicine is taking shape at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Here, students have access to a large array of experiential learning opportunities in the college’s Veterinary Medical Center and in real-world environments such as food animal production farms and research laboratories.
Medical rotations featuring dairy and beef cattle, swine, poultry, small ruminants, and other animals are part of more than 60 offerings available to fourth-year veterinary students. Research programs and positions available to students allow them to see and contribute firsthand to crucial work advancing food animal medicine and production.
The College of Veterinary Medicine is nestled in the heart of UMN’s St. Paul campus. Ample green space, easy navigation, and safe surroundings bring a small-town feel to this area, but its suburban location means amenities such as grocery stores, restaurants, and more are easily accessible to commuters of all types.
In addition to clinical, research, and learning spaces, the campus also serves as a hub for more than 20 student organizations within CVM, encouraging students to forge connections based on their passions and interests—including food animal medicine.
Who is eligible?
Eligible students must be/have/complete:
- Enrolled in one of the following degree programs:
- Experience working, caring for, and/or volunteering with food animals, including dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, poultry, small ruminants such as sheep and goats, etc.
- Demonstrated a firm commitment to practice food animal medicine upon graduation from the U of M CVM.
- Complete the full VetFAST application. Applications are accepted one time per year and are due by the application deadline during spring semester. Applicants with a strong academic record and extensive food animal related experience will be asked to participate in an admissions interview.
In addition, students must meet the following:
- Complete at least two semesters at full-time attendance with coursework graded A-F, by the end of the spring term in which the application is submitted, while enrolled in an approved VetFAST program at the University of Minnesota.
- Will take at least 8 math and science prerequisite courses at the University of Minnesota.
- Will have at least two additional semesters of enrollment at the University of Minnesota after the VetFAST application is submitted and prior to graduation and/or DVM program start.
- Have not previously received a Bachelor's degree
Competitive applicants will possess the following characteristics:
- A University of Minnesota Cumulative GPA of approximately 3.4 or higher
- Maintained full-time college enrollment of at least 12 credits per semester with no lapse in enrollment (summer semester enrollment not required).
- Pursued coursework consistent with admissions requirements for the DVM program, including introductory chemistry, introductory biology, English, algebra, pre-calculus, or calculus, and introductory courses in science such as agriculture, biology, and veterinary medicine.
- Demonstrated experience related to food animal medicine. This includes experience gained on a farm, participation in 4-H or FFA, or involvement in relevant activities during first and/or second year at the U of M. Demonstrated experience working with, volunteering for, or shadowing a food animal veterinarian.
- Can provide three letters of recommendation. At least one should come from a veterinarian who can speak to the applicant's potential for success within the food animal profession. Other references should be from evaluators who know the applicant from an educational or professional setting.
Applying to VetFAST
Dates
VetFAST applications will be accepted starting Friday, March 21, through 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
How to apply
Applying for VetFAST consists of four steps. All steps must be completed and requested documents must be received by the application deadline of 4 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Step 1: Complete the VetFAST application.
Complete and submit the VetFAST application by 4 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025. You can reference a list of the questions here (opens in new tab) (pdf). When you are ready, enter information into the online application (opens in new tab). Please note that the application itself may take a while to complete online, so it's important to have your responses saved separately, in case the application website times out due to inactivity.
Apply online (opens in new tab)
Step 2: Request official college transcripts be sent directly to the College of Veterinary Medicine from the issuing institution.
This includes a transcript from the University of Minnesota and all other colleges you may have attended, including those attended through PSEO in high school. Transcripts are needed even if your college credit transferred to the University of Minnesota.
*Digital Copies can be sent to:
University of Minnesota
College of Veterinary Medicine
Academic and Student Affairs
[email protected]
*Preferred method of receipt
Paper copies can be sent to:
Attn: Admissions Team
108 Ben Pomeroy Center
1964 Fitch Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
Step 3: Email a digital copy of your APAS or other University of Minnesota advisement report to [email protected]
- Please specify the following in the subject line: VetFAST Application, your first and last name, and the document title.
Step 4: Identify at least three references (maximum six) who will submit an evaluation on your behalf and send them the standardized evaluation form link below.
- It is strongly recommended that at least one of the references should be from a food animal D.V.M. who can speak to your potential for success within the profession.
- A sample list of the questions included in the evaluation form (opens in new tab).
- Each reference must fill out a standardized evaluation form (opens in new tab). Please share this link with your reference letter writers.
Important! All references are due back by the application deadline of 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025. The applicant is responsible for communicating the deadline to the reference writers and for sending reminders as needed. Applicants submitting less than three references will be considered incomplete and therefore ineligible for admission. References may contact us at [email protected] or 612-624-4747 with any questions they may have.
The VetFAST application review is extensive and consists of several evaluation steps. Applications will be evaluated for academic standing once spring semester grades are posted (late May 2025). Interviews for VetFAST program acceptance will take place in late June/early July. Program acceptance will be granted to qualified students in mid-July, 2025.
Completing the VetFAST program
VetFAST program participants must meet the following criteria in order to gain full admission to the DVM program:
- Continue to take animal production courses
- Complete all required pre-veterinary coursework
- Maintain a University of Minnesota cumulative, undergraduate GPA of 3.40 or higher
- Continue to participate in food animal related activities and experiences
Students not meeting the criteria by the end of their junior year will be deferred by one academic year. Students not meeting the criteria by the end of their deferred year will lose program eligibility. Ineligible students may apply to the DVM program through the traditional admission process at a later date with no penalty.