Reapplicants, Deferments & Transfer Admissions
Reapplicants
Applicants who were not offered admission are welcome to reapply. If you would like feedback on your previous application as well as advice on how to strengthen your candidacy, please contact the admissions office for an appointment at vetadmissions@tufts.edu. Reapplicants must apply through VMCAS.
Deferment of Matriculation
Occasionally, an admitted applicant may experience an unexpected circumstance that makes it impossible to begin the program as planned. For this reason, Cummings School considers requests to defer matriculation on a case-by-case basis. Deferments are not guaranteed and are granted only in limited situations.
When a deferment may be considered
In order to qualify for consideration of deferment, applicants must have accepted the admissions offer and paid the deposit. Deferments are generally considered only for significant, unanticipated circumstances that arise after an offer of admission has been made, such as:
- A serious personal medical issue
- A major illness or death in the immediate family
- An unforeseen family or caregiving crisis
Planned activities — including employment, research, travel, gap years, or personal preference - are not typically grounds for deferment.
If an offer letter includes provisional requirements (e.g., coursework), those must be completed before the deferral is granted, and cannot be postponed.
Length of deferment
If approved, a deferment is granted for one academic year only. The School does not approve multiple or consecutive deferments, and enrollment must occur in the immediately following academic year.
Enrollment at other institutions
Applicants who are granted a deferment are expected to remain committed to matriculating at this School. During the deferment year, students are expected not to apply or to enroll in another veterinary, medical, or professional degree program. Application to or enrollment in another professional program will result in withdrawal of the offer of admission.
Request process
Requests for deferment must be submitted in writing using this form and the attestation. This should be emailed to vetadmission@tufts.edu. Except in exceptional situations, the application for a deferral must be submitted by July 1 of the offered matriculation. All requests are reviewed by the School, and decisions are final.
D.V.M. Transfer Admission
Transfer students are admitted to the second year of our D.V.M. program when space is available. Compatibility between Cummings School and the current veterinary school’s curriculum is required. Please contact us before you apply to ensure eligibility.
Applicants are required to submit the following:
- Application for admission
- An official transcript from their current veterinary school, as well as official transcripts from all other schools, attended. Please note that applicants must have successfully fulfilled the D.V.M. prerequisites for admission
- A personal statement explaining the reasons for seeking transfer
- Letters of evaluation, which should be requested from those who know the applicant well, understand academic and professional demands and have had the opportunity to evaluate the applicant's personal qualities and potential as a veterinarian and veterinary medical student. You must submit three letters of evaluation, one from each of the following areas:
- Academic I: an advisor or faculty member in your veterinary program
- Academic II: a faculty member in your veterinary program
- Veterinary/Biomedical: a veterinarian or research scientist with whom you have had considerable experience