The University of Tennessee veterinary interview format

The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine selects in three phases, and its admissions procedure page says the third is a live virtual interview with members of the College faculty, staff, alumni, regional practitioners and/or students. Each interview team member scores the applicant independently.

Item	What Tennessee says
Delivery	Live virtual meeting
Interviewers	College faculty, staff, alumni, regional practitioners and/or students; each scores independently
Scoring	Up to 32 points in phase three, normalized to 100%
Weight	Interview is 25% of the total score; academic review 40%; holistic packet review 35%
Who is invited	Not all applicants. Most selected after phases one and two are contacted, and some may receive pre-interview offers
Screening video	Some nonresident applicants may be offered a short self-recorded video answering 3 to 4 targeted questions; exceptional ones are invited to the live interview
Interview length, number of interviewers, MMI or conventional, questions	Not published

What Tennessee looks for

The page lists criteria interviewers may evaluate, and says they are not limited to these:

Motivation
Maturity
Experience with animals
Knowledge of the veterinary profession
Leadership potential
Personal statement
Demonstration of critical thinking skills
Potential to contribute to the profession

In our reading, this list is closer to a conventional interview than to a scenario circuit. Tennessee does not say its interview is an MMI, so prepare for conversation about your experiences and your reasoning.

The cycle in brief

Deadline: VMCAS, the supplemental hardship statement deadline, the application fee and letters were due September 15, 2026, with no late submissions accepted.
Selection timeline: the process is normally completed by mid-February.
Phase one: an academic point value from your transcripts, using overall GPA, math and science GPA and your most recent 45 hours.
Phase two: faculty and practicing veterinarians review your complete application, including veterinary experience, letters of reference and personal statement.
Minimum GPA: 3.2 cumulative for nonresidents and 2.8 for Tennessee residents, unless a qualifying hardship statement is provided.
Early admission: based on phases one and two, a select number of early offers may go out.

How to prepare for Tennessee

Build your answers from the criteria list. Write one example each for motivation, maturity, animal experience, knowledge of the profession, leadership and critical thinking.
Prepare for a mixed panel. Interviewers can be faculty, staff, alumni, practitioners or students. Practice explaining your reasons to a practitioner and to a student.
Know your personal statement. It is on the list. Reread it and be ready to discuss any claim in it.
If you get the video screen, prepare 3 to 4 short answers on motivation, experience and the profession and practice recording them.
Know the profession beyond your hours. Be able to describe at least one area of practice you have not worked in.

Tennessee veterinary practice questions (written by us, not Tennessee)

Tennessee does not publish its questions. These are ours, built from its criteria. Answer each aloud in about two minutes.

Why do you want to be a veterinarian, and what have you seen that tested that decision?
Tell me about the most challenging moment during your animal experience.
What does a veterinarian contribute to the profession and to the public beyond treating animals?
Describe a time you led a team or project. What would you change?
A client declines a recommended procedure. How do you respond?
Tell me about a mistake you made and how you handled it.
How would you approach a difficult case when you are not sure of the diagnosis?
What part of the veterinary profession do you know least about?
How would you contribute to the profession in your first five years?
Tell me about a time you used critical thinking to solve a problem with limited information.

For a wider set, see our vet school interview questions guide.

A drill for a conversation-style interview

Write one story per criterion in four sentences each.
Run a 20-minute mock with two people, one acting as a practitioner and one as a student.
Ask each to score you independently from 1 to 4 on the criteria and compare.
Redo the criterion with the lowest score.
Record 3 short answers in case a video screen applies to you.

Confetto's vet school interview prep uses AI mock interviews, including timed MMI-style stations, that ask follow-up questions based on what you actually said and give rubric-based feedback afterward. The question bank has over 500 questions, and you can start with a 7-day free trial.

University of Tennessee veterinary interview FAQ

Is the Tennessee veterinary interview virtual?

Yes. The page says interviews are conducted in a live virtual meeting.

Does Tennessee use an MMI?

The page describes a live virtual interview with a team of interviewers and does not describe an MMI.

How much does the interview count?

25% of the total score, with 40% for the academic review and 35% for the holistic packet review.

What is the screening video?

Some nonresident applicants may be offered a short self-recorded video answering 3 to 4 targeted questions.

Can I interview with a low GPA?

The page sets a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 for nonresidents and 2.8 for Tennessee residents, with an exception for a qualifying hardship declaration.

Applying to other veterinary schools? See our guides to the Virginia-Maryland and University of Arizona interviews, or our vet school interview prep page.

Sources: University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine admissions procedure page.

Confetto isn't affiliated with the University of Tennessee. Everything here about the program comes from its public admissions pages, checked in October 2026. Formats and dates can change between cycles, so go by your invitation email.