College of Veterinary Medicine Honors Early Assurance Program
The College of Veterinary Medicine Honors Early Assurance Program, also known as HiVE (Honors in Veterinary Education) allows for academically talented students to gain early admission to the University of Arizona’s College of Veterinary Medicine (UA-CVM).
2026-27 Applications Open October 23, 2026
Program Overview
The Honors in Veterinary Education (HiVE) program allows students to apply for conditional admission to the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) during their junior year. HiVE seeks applicants who are poised to be the next generation of veterinarians. The goal of the program is to introduce a small group of W.A. Franke Honors students (up to 5 participants) to the University CVM’s active-learning and team-based curriculum, interactive case-based problem solving, live animal lab experiences, team and professional learning communities within a hybrid-distributive model.
Eligibility Requirements
HiVE is open to all undergraduate Juniors from any major. Juniors are defined as having three semesters remaining until their intended undergraduate graduation date upon application to the program.
Once accepted to the program, students will matriculate into the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine upon completion of program requirements, including satisfying all Franke Honors College graduation, bachelor’s degree, and CVM pre-requisite requirements.
Applications will be considered through a holistic review process. To be eligible, applicants must be an active W.A. Franke Honors College Student with a minimum 3.6 cumulative GPA.
The College of Veterinary Medicine looks for the following attributes in applicants. This is not an exact list and meeting these attributes will not guarantee admission in any capacity:
- Are clearly motivated to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
- Have previous veterinary experience and clinical exposure.
- Hold a high level of resilience, integrity, and emotional maturity.
- Are strongly service and community oriented.
- Maintain a high cultural competency.
- Possess strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
Application Process & Timeline
Applications will typically open in late October and remain open until January. Students apply during their junior year via a Qualtrics submission and a letter of recommendation request form. The HiVE application is separate from the traditional application to the College of Veterinary Medicine. Please note that applications submitted through the traditional pathway will not be considered for HiVE admission, and HiVE applications will not be considered for the traditional admissions pathway.
Students are encouraged to submit the letter of request form as soon as they know they intend to apply; they do not need to, and should not, wait until their full application is ready for submission to request letters of recommendation.
Students who are selected for the HiVE cohort will need to complete the VMCAS process for the College of Veterinary Medicine during the summer between their junior and senior year of undergraduate coursework; College of Veterinary Medicine staff will assist in this process. Accepted HiVE students will be eligible for scholarships, if available.
Applicants who are invited to interview will participate in College of Veterinary Medicine multiple mini interviews (MMIs) virtually. Opportunities to tour the campus and meet with current veterinary medical students and administrators will also be available.
The University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine reviews applicants with a holistic approach when selecting incoming students. The holistic review guarantees a fair and equitable consideration of your entire application, including your experiences, attributes, and metrics. This means that one portion of an application does not carry weight over another portion. College of Veterinary Medicine looks at applicants beyond metrics to ensure that each student is a good fit for the mission and values of the College of Veterinary Medicine and has a passion for veterinary medicine.
Timeline
(Fall Semester of Junior Year Students Apply)
| Fall Semester of Junior Year (4 semesters until intended undergraduate graduation) | Attend a program information session:
The application for the 2026-2027 cycle will open October 23, 2026. |
| Spring Semester of Junior Year (3 semesters until intended undergraduate graduation) | The application deadline for the 2026-2027 cycle is 11:59pm January 29, 2027. Selected applicants will be invited to interview for the program. These interviews will take place virtually on February 16, 2027. Following the interview, eligible applicants will be evaluated for conditional admission and admissions decisions will be communicated to applicants by the end of March. |
| Summer between Junior and Senior Year (2 semesters until intended undergraduate graduation) | Admitted HiVE students will attend summer programming |
| Senior Year | Admitted HiVE students will ensure they are on track to complete all University of Arizona and Franke Honors College graduation requirements and pre-requisite courses to prepare for matriculation to the College of Veterinary Medicine. |
| Summer Following Undergraduate Graduation | Admitted HEAP students begin their veterinary medicine program at CVM! |
Matriculation Requirements
Students accepted to the program receive a conditional acceptance, contingent upon successful completion of College of Veterinary Medicine pre-requisites and graduation from the University of Arizona and Franke Honors College. Students who are unable to maintain a minimum University of Arizona GPA of 3.6, do not complete Franke Honors Graduation requirements, and/or do not complete all pre-requisite courses will have their CVM offer rescinded. Disqualified students would be eligible to re-apply for admission to the University of Arizona CVM via the traditional admissions pathway.
Once all requirements are completed, acceptance will be offered. No deferrals or gap year will be allowed for HiVE participants.
Program-Relevant Information
Students who are accepted into the HiVE program are required to participate in the summer enrichment program in the summer between the Junior and Senior years.
FAQ
Yes, the program is open to out-of-state students.
No, students must be active members of the Franke Honors College for their application to be considered.
The program accepts 5 students each cycle.
No, all majors are welcome to apply.
Yes, international students are welcome to apply.
No, but it is highly encouraged.
There isn’t one single model for an ideal candidate! We encourage applicants to bring their unique strengths and interests to their application. The program is a partnership between the Franke Honors College and the College of Veterinary Medicine and we are looking for candidates that are committed to both college communities. On the Franke side, a strong candidate is someone who is deeply engaged and can communicate the value of their engagement in relation to their goal of becoming a veterinarian. On the CVM side, strong candidates have deep experiences in veterinary medicine and align with the mission and values of the program.
Affiliated Program Staff/Faculty
College of Veterinary Medicine:
- Katie Beringson | Director, Admissions and Recruitment | kberingson@arizona.edu
Franke Honors College:
- Dr. Karna Walter | Assistant Dean, Student Engagement | karna@arizona.edu
- Tori Nardinelli | Assistant Director, Research, Creative Expression, and Professional Initiatives | outfleet@arizona.edu
Gloria Cota Aguirre | Coordinator, Research & Early Assurance Programs | gcotaaguirre@arizona.edu