DVM Behavioral Interview

College of Veterinary Medicine adopts behavioral interview to
D.V.M. admissions process

The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has  adopted a behavioral interview format as part of the selection process for admission to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. The University of Minnesota was one of the first among veterinary colleges to do so. The change reflects a growing trend in candidate evaluation and a response to changes in the veterinary profession, where success depends on the ability to handle more than just animal issues.

Why is this change being adopted at the University of Minnesota?
In response to a trend of falling incomes and growing disparities between veterinary skill and employer demands, the University of Minnesota partnered with a small group of veterinary colleges to conduct a nationwide study of success in the veterinary medical profession. The study examined the professional success of practicing veterinarians as a combination of factors, with a focus on competencies gained through veterinary medical schooling.

Research results revealed a set of nontechnical competencies developed over time, consisting of personality traits, abilities, interests, and values, which have a very important role in determining the success of a veterinarian. Yet unlike technical competencies, many non technical competencies cannot be acquired during the short period of veterinary training. Participants agreed that veterinary students who do not possess certain nontechnical competencies may not be adequately prepared for the profession.

What is a behavioral interview?
In the past, traditional interviews used to select veterinary candidates have focused on experience, largely ignoring the more enduring nontechnical competencies.

The behavioral interviewer is trained to objectively collect and evaluate information, using a series of questions that focus on the competencies required for success in the profession. A typical question in a behavioral interview would be "Tell me about a time when . . ." This allows the candidate to illustrate knowledge, skills, and abilities by giving specific examples from past experiences, thus revealing the nontechnical competencies a candidate has demonstrated in previous similar situations. Behavioral interviews have become quite popular in industry and business, as they have shown to be a much more effective indication of future performance than traditional interviews that ask a candidate to describe what he or she would do.

How will this affect admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine?
The CVM remains devoted to the professional success of its veterinary students, who improve the health and well-being of animals and people in Minnesota and around the world every day. The behavioral interview was first used by the College of Veterinary Medicine for the veterinary class beginning their studies in the fall of 2004.  For more information, contact the Office of Academic and Student Affairs at 612-624-4747.