@Tbeezer Here's my take:
- **typical caseload in SA/LA/exotics/Wildlife Clinic/etc. Do you get to see exotic companion animals in the SA clinic?
Yes, as long as you're on the exotics/zoo med rotation. We have a decent exotics program here (electives and faculty).
- typical cost of living per month in champaign (studio/1 bedroom apartments are mostly what I'm interested in)
I'd say it's about average for most college towns. A 1 bed would probably be around 700-800 before utilities (that's what I've found).
- likelihood of getting some sort of scholarship
The school ha quite a few scholarships that anyone can apply for each January. Many have their own requirements that you may/may not qualify for, and then it depends on how competitive you are (in regard to your essays, financial need, etc.)
- ***any info on what is happening with the classroom renovation situation would be awesome (specifically if this will be over with by the fall...)
No one besides the politicians could answer this. It's completely dependent on the state government signing the budget for the year (which they did not do)
- PBL opportunities?
We have a clinical correlations course which is close to PBL where we are sometimes given cases to analyze, but it's not the bulk of our curriculum.
- what kind of surgical experience do you get/how much of it? (spays, neuters, etc.)
You can easily graduate with only have done 1 spay and 1 neuter (I think that applies for almost any school) if you don't luck out on rotations. If you take shelter med, you will get around 50-60 surgeries done. The surgery rotations allow students to scrub in and assist, but it's not that common for a student to actually operate as far as I know.
- ***thoughts on building facilities (anatomy labs, classrooms, teaching hospital, etc)? I remember touring Illinois a few years ago and overall it seemed fairly dark, cramped spaces, and in need of some renovations
The hospital is definitely too small for the current class sizes and case load, especially when 1st/2nd years are on rotations. You just make it work though. The classrooms are fine (assuming they open...) and we have the 24 hour skills lab which is good.
- Do you get exams back? How are these scheduled with the new curriculum?
All exams are on your laptop. You don't get exams back or get to see the questions ever again, but you get a score report with a breakdown of how well you did in each subject. Our prof set up time for us to review the anatomy exam answers with our answer sheets, but you can't keep anything. You have 1 quiz, 1 midterm, and one final per quarter (except for rotation quarters). We are the first class to have quizzes.
- Are all classes recorded?
Echo360 (voice recording and any scribbles on the projection during class)
- How are class notes distributed (for free online, printed for you, etc.)?
They are uploaded as PDFs or Powerpoints on the class website. You can use them however you want
- Thoughts on the elective courses?
We have a good variety, and you aren't limited to one track.
- Is parking easily available to students? If so, how much does it cost? Located near school?
Parking is available for $600/year. There is no close parking that is free. You'd park right across the street.
- How are the gym facilities at UofI?
My roommate loves the gym, and it's free to students!
- overall thoughts on the curriculum structure? are there any changes that incoming first years should expect? *Is the clinical experience in your first year even that beneficial?
I think the clinical experience is beneficial. I haven't heard of any upcoming changes. I personally dislike that all of our subjects are on one exam, but that's just how I feel. You need to have a 70% overall for the year and at least a 60% in each quarter to pass, and some people find that intimidating (no school is easy, though)
- *Any proposed tuition increases in the near future? As you might be able to tell, I'm kind of nervous about the budget situation in Illinois...
I'm pretty sure almost every school increases tuition each year. I don't foresee the school doing some crazy increase to make up for a lack of budget.
- 24 hour building access?
Yep! Access to skills center, anatomy lab, everything.
- Are you able to freely observe procedures in the hospital (even as first years)?
You won't really have time during the week, but the small animal surgery suites have large windows. The farms clinicians also welcome you to come in and help/watch at any time.
- job/volunteer opportunities for first years in the teaching hospital?
Front desk, unsterile surgical assistant (on call), ICU assistant (on call), library aide are the ones we've gotten emails for.
- opportunities for vet students to get experience at Shedd/Brookfield?
You can apply for externships there, but know that they are quite competitive. There is a zoo med resident that goes through Shedd you could connect with, but as for you getting to go there, it would depend.
- thoughts on the location of the school itself
The college town itself is busy with traffic on the main roads. Surrounding the school is a lot of farmland. We're about 2 hours from Chicago.
- how long are the summers for students? What years do vet students have the summers available for externships?
We have a standard 3 month summer. You have the summers after your first and second years.
- thoughts on the class size? too large? (I guess 130 isn't too bad compared to places like OSU)
I think we're a little large personally, but I don't think it has effected my learning at all.
- how are breaks structured on a typical class day? enough time to workout, study, etc. during this time?
You have an hour (sometimes 2) for lunch each day, that's guaranteed. You start at 8 or 9AM. You will be done anywhere from 3-5 depending on the day/your electives. Sometimes you'll have an hour between your last class and an elective. Definitely time to study, but idk about hitting the gym.
- any other annoying nuances (or good things)?
I think the faculty are regularly pretty disorganized. Communication mishaps happen, we're told the wrong things, etc. No school is perfect, but that annoys me a lot.
Oh jeez just ignore me! Completely misread that. Probably shouldn't SDN and cook at the same time.
)
