Fall and Spring official transcripts must be submitted by Feb. 5th, 2024 and June 10th, 2024, respectively, to the Office of Veterinary Admissions no later than June 1st, 2023. Contact SVMAdmissions@lsu.edu. 

Students who were contacted to submit a LA residency application from our office must submit any outstanding proof of residency information by July 1st, 2023. 

AR Contract students must complete the ADHE Scholarship Application and receive approval by July, 1st 2023 to guarantee their contract offer. 

Freshman Leadership Experience (FLE) and Orientation is mandatory. They will take place during the day, August 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2024. Students who do not attend Orientation may face forfeiture of their seat in the program. 

For questions, contact Leslie Nevarez. 

• Wednesday August 2nd, 2023
  • Freshman Leadership Experience 8:00 am - 4:30 pm LSU University Recreation Center (lunch provided)
• Thursday August 3rd, 2023
  • Class of 2027 Orientation 7:30 am - 4:30 pm at LSU Vet Med (breakfast and lunch provided)
• Friday August 4th, 2023
  • Class of 2027 Orientation 7:30 am - 3:30 pm at
    LSU Vet Med (breakfast and lunch provided)
  • Family & Friends Orientation 8:00 am - 1:00 pm at LSU Vet Med (breakfast and lunch provided)
  • Blue Coat Ceremony 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Bo Campbell Auditorium at the LSU Cox Communications
    Academic Center

To order your Blue Coat, respond to this form by May 12th. 

Blue Coat Ceremony celebrates the candidates' admission into the professional DVM program with the awarding of their blue laboratory coat that will be worn in the first phase of the program.

Blue Coat Ceremony will take place August 4th, 2023 at 6:00pm at the Bo Campbell Auditorium at the Cox Center. 5 guests allowed per student due to space capacity. Students should wear professional dress on stage to receive their coat. 

For questions, contact Leslie Nevarez. 

LSU DVM Student Ambassadors would like to welcome you to campus with fun events hosted around LSU Vet Med and Baton Rouge. This week will precede the week of orientation and will include a club fair for you to meet and sign up for student clubs. 

A welcome week schedule will be communicated later in the summer. We anticipate events to be scheduled for the last week of July, beginning of August. 

Students are required to be vaccinated against rabies to participate in live-animal handling labs and clinical experiences. The 2-dose may be acquired independently or through LSU. Proof of vaccination from an outside provider or completion of the series through LSU must be completed no later than 45 days from the start of the program. The 2-dose series will require a titer check before entering the clinics in year 3 of the program. Per CDC guidelines, we accept the 2-dose series; however, the 3-dose series is also accepted. 

CDC - Rabies Vaccine Guide

By July 1st indicate your intention to be vaccinated through LSU or your own provider on the Rabies Vaccination Plan Form. If you choose to vaccinate at LSU, upload the LSU Student Health Center Rabies Vaccination Reservation Form with your response (linked in Rabies Plan Form above).

For those electing to receive the vaccine through the LSU Student Health Center, please note:

• Rabies vaccine is special ordered by the Health Center. Requesting a vaccine indicates that you assume responsibility for the cost of the vaccine.
• The price is approximately $420/dose ($840 total for the 2-dose series). 
• You cannot cancel your order or change your vaccination plans to avoid charges.
• Payment options include paying out of pocket, billing personal insurance, or requesting additional student loan money to reimburse you.
  • Pay out of pocket with a check, money order, cash or charge to your student fee bill. Payment is due at point of service.
  • Students without insurance will be billed directly by Acadiana Computer Systems (ACS) for the self-pay cost. ACS does allow students to arrange payment plans with their office when necessary.
  • To have LSU Student Health bill your personal insurance, you will need to submit a copy of your health insurance card (front and back) and policyholder information to the LSU Student Health Center patient portal. Be sure to choose “LSU State University” as your option, NOT the “Health Sciences Center” option. The LSU Student Health Center is considered out of network by all insurance companies other than LSU student health insurance. 
    Students will receive a bill for the amount that their insurance did not cover if they choose to bill their personal insurance.
  • If you want to request additional student loan money to cover vaccination costs, you will have to pay out of pocket or charge your student fee bill. Then submit your receipt to the LSU SVM financial aid counselor, Heather Kimball , and request a “Cost of Attendance" increase to cover the amount paid for the required rabies vaccinations.” If approved, this will permit you to borrow additional student loan funds to cover the cost of the vaccinations.
• Vaccination clinics are scheduled to optimize vaccine effectiveness and are built into your class schedule to avoid course interruptions. You must sign-up to receive your vaccines on these dates. Dates will be provided once they are confirmed.

RabAvert contains negligible residues of egg protein, so those with severe anaphylactic reactions to egg products may want to discuss receiving the vaccine with their provider. Students receiving the vaccine at LSU will complete an allergy consent form. If you are taking corticosteroids at the time or a few weeks in advance of the vaccine or if you have an immunosuppressive illness, the rabies vaccine may not produce active immunity. If you are in this situation, email Dr. Bonnie Boudreaux to request special arrangements.

If you opt to get vaccinated through a provider other than LSU, you may consider the following options: 

• Check with your State Health Department.  Some states will vaccinate citizens against rabies free of charge.  Louisiana does not vaccinate its citizens for free. 
• Call your insurance company to ask whether or not it will cover all or part of the cost for your vaccinations (Rabies Vaccine CPT=90675).  If so, it is likely most cost effective for you to obtain the vaccines from a provider within your insurance network.  This may be your primary care doctor or a pharmacist at a local drug store.

You may use this webpage for proof of vaccine requirement if your insurance requests proof that it is a requirement for the program.

If you have questions please contact Leslie Nevarez for more information.

Students are required to upload proof of immunizations to LSU. Louisiana residents may have their immunizations automatically submitted through the Louisiana Immunization Network for Kids Statewide program. Visit the Health Center Immunizations page for more information. 

Submit immunization records through the LSU Student Health Center patient portal. Select Louisiana State University as your home organization (not the Health Science Center - New Orleans). 

Health insurance is required upon enrollment. Students may purchase insurance through LSU Sponsored Health Insurance Plan. Visit the Student Health Insurance page and scroll to Helpful Resources and then click on LSU Sponsored Health Insurance Plan.

Students should obtain these items for the program:

1. Blue Coat - Place your order for your free Blue Coat by May 12th, 2023 using this form https://forms.gle/Scx5ehb6yKd5RBTy8. (Same form as above).
2. Anatomy Lab Disposable Gowns - Students are responsible for purchasing disposable gowns to be used in anatomy lab for the first and second semester of first year. Option 1 Option2. One 10-pack of gowns would be appropriate to order to begin with.
3.  Waterproof boots - Any rubber of similar product boot that is non-water absorbent. The whole boot should be of this material. Boots should extend to the mid-calf. For use in Anatomy.
4. Boots for Large Animal Work - A second pair of boots of any length may be purchased for large animal work. 
5. Laptop - Laptops are required to run Examsoft for test taking. Check minimum system requirements. Recommend specs. for the Vet Program are Intel I7 2.1 GHz or better processor, 16GB ram, 512 SSD or NVME drive, video card support of 1080p,  MacOS or Windows10 build 2004 or higher. iPads, Android Tablets, and Chromebooks are not compatible for Examsoft assessments. 
6. Laptop privacy screen- Required for examinations. 
7. Scrubs - Scrubs will be needed for anatomy and clinical skills. Two sets are recommended. No requirement for color, brand, or style. Some later clinical courses may require green scrubs.
8. Analog or digital watch - No smart watches/phones are allowed in any examination. Watches should show seconds for monitoring heart and respiration rates. 
9. Stethoscope - Required for clinical skills and other areas throughout the program. Littman Classic model quality or better is recommended. Digital stethoscope not required. 
10. Textbooks - Textbooks are recommended for most courses and required for others. Visit the Vet Med Library Texts by Course page to learn more. Texts may be found online, in our library, rented, or purchased. LSU Barnes and Noble provides a Textbook look up for easy purchase/rental. 
11. Locks - Locks are used for securing lockers and must be purchased for $10 (at cost) from the Student Services front desk. We retain the combinations for locks purchased from us in case you forget your combination. Purchase can be made at Orientation.
12. Supply Kit - First year students are required to have several supply items for Clinical Skills, Surgical Skills, and Anatomy laboratories. Students may purchase these items independently or through LSU Vet Med. If purchased independently,  all supplies must be approved by the teaching staff before use. LSU Vet Med can purchase pre-approved items in bulk and with guaranteed quality for your convenience. The deadline to order through LSU Vet Med is June 14. Place your order on this form. Payment will be due in the Fall. 

If you have questions please contact Leslie Nevarez.

Year 1 students are required to complete the "Veterinary Professional Certification Program", which is 8 modules, online by August 1st, 2023. Low-stress handling and Fear Free skills are emphasized in many aspects of our teaching, including Clinical Skills labs and in our teaching hospital. Completion of Level One of this program is highly beneficial and will supplement learning opportunities. Completion of Level One will take approximately 12 hours. 

The program is free to admitted veterinary students ($500 value). We strongly recommend completion of all three levels prior to graduation. Studies also show students who graduate with Level Three certification are more attractive for hire and typically are offered a higher salary.

To fulfill this requirement:

1. Access the Fear Free Application
2. Select DVM, 1st Year.
3. Upload your DVM Program offer letter as proof of enrollment/acceptance as an incoming vet student.
4. Complete "Veterinary Professional Certification Program" (8 modules).
5. Print your Veterinary Professional Certification Program completion certificate.
6. Upload a copy of your Veterinary Professional Certification Program completion certificate here.

For questions about fear free training, email Dr. Nancy Welborn (Community Practice). 

For questions about uploading your certificate, email SVMAdmissions@lsu.edu.

Students who plan to request federal financial aid should complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov with the school code, 002010. You will later be asked to complete Verification Documents on your MyLSU account. Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (see lsu.edu/sap) in order to continue receiving financial aid for each semester, and must be enrolled at least half time for any semester to receive loans. Funds typically disburse the week before school begins.

The Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is not based on financial need, has a 6.54% fixed interest rate* and 1.057% origination fee. The maximum award is $40,500. Repayment begins 6 months after graduation or when the student ceases to be enrolled at least half time. First time borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at studentaid.gov.

Graduate Plus Loan has a 7.54% fixed interest rate, 4.228% origination fee and requires a credit check to be approved. Students must complete the application found on lsu.edu/financialaid under Financial Aid, Federal Loans in order to apply. The application is submitted to the Financial Aid Office for processing. Students will receive an email from Direct Loans Servicing informing of credit decision once processing is completed. Repayment begins 6 months after graduation or when the student ceases to be enrolled at least half time. First time borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling at studentaid.gov.

You can view your loan history and information regarding your federal loans at nslds.ed.gov. The federal student aid website has general information regarding federal aid including repayment at studentaid.ed.gov.

For questions about financial aid, including VA benefits/GI Bill use, email Heather Kimball, Assistant Director, Special Programs or call 225-578-3103.

*rates described here are subject to change. This information was last updated March 1st, 2023. 

Students may live on campus or off-campus. It is ideal to live within 20 min. of the hospital for the clinical training phase of the program in year 3 and 4. 

If you are interested in living on campus contact housing@lsu.edu to inquire about opportunities. Some veterinary students do live on campus, especially at Nicholson Gateway, an upperclassman housing unit near the vet school. 

Students should coordinate move in-dates that best align with the start of the DVM program. (Orientation begins Aug. 2nd)

Visit the annual LSU Graduate Housing Guide for more housing information. 

Visit the class Facebook page for more resources. You must be an admitted student to join this page. 

Email SVMAdmissions@lsu.edu with questions. 

LSU Vet Med does not follow the LSU Main Campus Academic Calendar.

First Year Veterinary Program Dates:

• Aug 2-4
  Year 1 Orientation
• Aug 4
  Blue Coat Ceremony
• Aug 7
  Begin Fall Semester
• Sept 4
  Labor Day Holiday
• Sept 28-29
  Year 1 Fall Holiday
• Nov 23-24 Thanksgiving Holiday
• Dec 8
  End Fall Semester
• Jan 8
  Begin Spring Semester
• Feb 12-13
  Mardi Gras Holiday
• March 11-15
  Year 1 Spring Break
• March 29
  Good Friday Holiday
• May 10
  End Spring Semester

Year 2-4 calendars may differ from the dates above. 

The WIT in Anatomy course will be offered in the Summer for Year 1 students who would like to get a head start in anatomy and develop metacognitive and time management skills useful for the professional training program.

Those without anatomy experience are especially encouraged to attend, but all would benefit. Students who take this program benefit from meeting fellow students and anatomy faculty, getting a head start on dissection skills and basic anatomy content, and taking practice exams and quizzes.

The WIT Full Course (Workshop & Lab) will take place July 24-28, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and August 31-September 2, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Enrollment for the full course is limited and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

The WIT Workshop (No Lab) will be from July 24-28, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and August 31-September 2, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

All sessions are in-person.

Participants must attend all 8 sessions.

There is a fee associated with this course. Fees can be paid here: https://commerce.cashnet.com/LSUVETMED

For more information, contact Dr. Michelle Osborn.

If you have not already received your LSU.edu email account after submission of your social security number through the LSU SVM IT Portal, please contact SVMAdmissions@lsu.edu.

You will receive an automated email with your LSU.edu email account name.

To activate your myLSU account:

1. Visit the myLSU Portal.
2. Enter your myLSU username in the “myLSU account or Email Address” space. (Your myLSU username can be found in your LSU Admissions Portal ex: mtiger1).
3. Click “Forgot Password” and complete steps to create a password.
4. For troubleshooting, visit this GROK article. 

24-hours after activating your myLSU account, you will be able to access housing contracts and the other myLSU features. 

Veterinary students are enrolled into all courses by the Associate Registrar in the Office of Admissions and Student Success. You will not select courses and enroll yourself. Enrollment is completed on your behalf for the entire time you are a veterinary student.

You are required to pay your fee bill and complete registration each semester.

If you do not pay your fee bill and complete registration by the deadline, you will be purged from your courses and charged a $75 late fee.

If you receive financial aid or veteran’s benefits and your fee bill says you owe $0, you still must click Complete Registration.

Fee Bills for Fall 2023 will be available on Monday, July 17. The payment deadline is Thursday, August 3 by 4:30 p.m. central standard. Please follow the instructions below to pay your fee bill and complete registration. 

1. Sign in to the myLSU Portal.
2. On the left-hand panel, expand Registration Services, and click Fee Bill from the dropdown menu.
3. Select the Semester and the Year in the Fee Bill window.
4. Click the View Fee Bill button to the right of the 'Select Semester' and 'Select Year' options.
5. If you have not viewed your fee bill for the current semester yet, you must agree to the terms before you can view it.  
6. Your Fee Bill will display with your available Payment Options. Click the button at the bottom of the screen that corresponds with your chosen payment method. One of the two options below:
   1. Click Pay by Credit Card to pay the amount due with a credit card.  (2.5% processing fee assessed)
   2. Click Pay by Bank Draft to pay the amount due from a checking or savings account.  (no processing fees)

Once you have paid your fee bill, the link will no longer be active for that term. At that point, you can review your financial account by clicking Financial Services and selecting Billing Statement in the myLSU Portal.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding registration or fee bills, contact Stephanie Willis or 225-578-9544.

Time will be provided during First Year Orientation for students to obtain their SVM Badges. 

We recommend that you get your Tiger Card at the LSU Student Union the week before classes or a week or so after main campus begins classes to miss the undergraduate rush. Visit the Tiger Card Office on main campus in the LSU Student Union. This ID is used for accessing the LSU rec center, printing charges, food purchases, sporting events, etc. 

A parking pass is required to park at the Vet School. Visit LSU Parking and Transportation for more info and to purchase passes. 

The Park & Geaux (map) lot across the street from the veterinary school provides an affordable and convenient option for veterinary students. The Cow Pasture lot also across from Vet Med accepts all parking permits as well. 

LSU Vet Med Office of Inclusive Excellence provides support to DVM students and the School of Vet Med by offering resources, training, student club support, committee engagement, social, cultural, and wellness activities, and advocacy and advisement. 

Stephanie Johnson, Counselor and Associate Professor, is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) at LSU Vet Med who provides confidential consults, referral and resource information and short term solution focused and/or ongoing counseling for DVM students.

Kayla Baudoin, Wellbeing Manager, also an LCSW who can provide confidential consults, referral and resource information (not available for ongoing counseling). Mrs. Baudoin also manages the LSU Vet Med wellbeing resources and provides short-term counseling for clients of the Stephenson Pet Clinic through the Best Friend Gone Project.

DVM students may also seek counseling and/or psychiatric services at the LSU Mental Health Center on campus. LSU Vet Med counselors are happy to assist identifying resources and services.  

To receive approved accommodations please visit the Office of Disability Services. It is recommended to apply for accommodations in advance of the Fall semester so that accommodations are approved in advance of need. 

For assistance and questions, contact Stephanie Johnson.

The LSU Vet Med faculty have been developing a new curriculum for the last few years and officially voted to launch it this Fall 2023. Students will be engaged in classes through case-based and scenario discussions, laboratory activities including clinical and surgical skills training, and other active learning activities. Students are highly encouraged and in some cases required to attend class and to complete preparatory assignments. More information about the curriculum will be presented at orientation. 

Moodle is the academic platform that LSU uses for coursework. Students will gain access to their courses in Moodle around orientation week. You can find Moodle in your myLSU account.

Policies and other program information can be found in the annually updated bulletin. 

Download the LSU Shield App for resources, emergency response,  and transportation. More Vet Med information will be provided from LSU SVM Security at Orientation. Visit Safety at LSU for more campus safety information. 

• Admissions and Student Success Team
• Student Health Center
• LSU University Recreation
• Campus Interactive Map
• Life in Baton Rouge (Tab) from the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce