Meet the CVM Class of 2023

August 4, 2019 Mike Charbonneau 2-min. read

class of 2023 white coat ceremony — The Class of 2023's White Coat Ceremony is set for Aug. 10. Photo by John Joyner/NC State Veterinary Medicine.

They’re coming from across town and across the United States, from Georgia and Texas and Puerto Rico. They’re here to study small animals and food animals, to pursue careers in public health and clinical research.

They range in age from 21 to 50. They include a former member of the U.S. Air Force, a stay-at-home mom and veterinary technicians. One is a third degree black belt — hopefully a really nice third degree black belt.

They’re the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2023, and after the CVM’s White Coat Ceremony — the college’s 20th — they’ll be officially part of the family.

The annual tradition, held 3 p.m. Aug 10 at the McKimmon Center following orientation Aug. 7-9, is the class’s formal welcome. They’ll receive a treasured white lab coat from an invaluable mentor, recite the veterinary version of the physician’s Oath of Geneva and launch the next four years of their lives. The first day of class is Aug. 14.

Here’s a closer look at the newest class at the CVM.

By the Numbers: CVM Class of 2023

1,219: The total number of applicants for 100 seats. That’s 153 more than last year and 297 more than the year before that.

77: North Carolina residents.

14: The number of other states represented. The most common: Florida and Delaware.

3: Students from Puerto Rico.

89-to-11: The ratio of women to men in the class.

33: The number of previous NC State undergraduates.

38: Incoming students who majored in animal science as an undergraduate, the most popular major. Almost as popular: biology and biological sciences (36 students).

25: Students expressing an interest in small animal medicine, the most popular interest area. Other popular fields include mixed animal (16 students), zoological medicine (13) and equine and food animal (9 each).

3.71: The average overall GPA.

7: Students with advanced degrees, including a master’s in animal science, master’s in physiology and a Ph.D. in biology.

1: Student who climbed Morocco’s Mount Toubkal, at 13,671 feet the highest peak of the Atlas Mountains.