- **typical caseload in SA/LA/etc. Do you get to see exotic companion animals in the SA clinic? During the tour, I was a little nervous to find that not much was going on at the hospital, especially in LA.
We have a pretty decent caseload overall, whether you are talking about food animal, equine, or small animal. I am not in clinics, so I can't speak to it as well as some others. But I feel, working in the ICU, that our case load from a small animal perspective is pretty substantial. In terms of large animal, the number of large animals that are typically within the hospital are not fairly large as the cost to stay at the hospital is fairly large, and the owners are only willing to spend as much as their animal is worth. A lot of the case load is seen outside of the hospital, only a portion of your large animal rotation is actually done in the veterinary teaching hospital.
In terms of exotic companion animals, I know there is some degree that they are seen, but do keep in mind that we do not have an board certified clinician for exotics on staff. With that said, if you are interested in exotics, I feel University of Missouri is actually one of the best places to go. A HUGE aspect of getting into the exotics world is networking, and you can do a lot of networking with up to 20 weeks (2 free 8 week blocks + 2 free 2 week blocks) (16 weeks if you get 6 week blocks as your off blocks) of free blocks, which is not quite seen with other schools. So if that is something you are interested in, you could do a ton of exotics work during that time, even more so then an exotics tracking school (for my frame of reference, I am comparing my original IS, may be different elsewhere)
- typical cost of living per month (studio/1 bedroom apartments are mostly what I'm interested in)
If you are looking for a 1 bedroom apartment, I originally lived in a place that a bunch of vet students lived in with single apartments for 375 a month (and they allow 2 pets). Generally if you are looking for a 1 bedroom as opposed to an apartment with others, it will be more expensive. But if you wanted to live with others, you are looking less in the 300s/400/500s range and more in the 200/300s range
- likelihood of getting some sort of scholarship
The "likelihood" is not great for the bigger scholarships, AKA you don't see the majority of students getting scholarships. However, you can apply for up to 6? (I should know the exact number since I am in the process of applying for them right now, but it's somewhere around there) scholarships, as well as receive scholarships that you didn't apply for (ie. based off of performances in certain courses). For me, scholarships were much less of a worry, as this is your second cheapest option for an OOS school (only behind NC-state).
As ashgirl stated, and I forgot, you do get a little bit your first year.
- PBL opportunities?
There is a PBL elective in IP11, but otherwise, PBL is not currently emphasized a whole lot.
- what kind of surgical experience do you get/how much of it? (spays, neuters, etc.)
Once again, I am probably not the best to ask on this, but in terms of spays and neuters, I know the program is aiming to get you 30 spays and neuters by the time that you graduate. This number and program was recently implemented, but from what I have heard from 3rd and 4th years, people are starting to get fairly close to that number. Also remember that this is specifically for stuff you do that is required by the vet school. I cannot emphasize how much this school allows you to follow your own track with the amount of free time that you have during clinics. So if you want to get a ton more surgery experience in your free blocks, go ahead!
In terms of other surgeries, you will be trained in dentals and mass removals. However, some of the more difficult surgeries, for liability reasons, won't be performed by you. You of course will be scrubbing in, and better know exactly how that procedure is done, but you will play an assisting role in the more complicated surgeries.
- ***thoughts on building facilities (anatomy labs, classrooms, teaching hospital, etc)? Honestly when I went on the tour, I wasn't all that impressed. Overall everything seemed fairly dark and cramped, especially the classrooms/cafeteria
I get what you are saying with this. The auditorium has no windows, which is unfortunate in that there is no sunlight and gives a dungeon feel, but is also beneficial in that you stay more focused (I can say I notice a drastic difference in how attentive I am in Adams conference center, which is full of windows, vs. the auditorium. I would not describe the anatomy lab as cramped personally. I feel like there is more than enough room to get everything done that you would need to. In terms of study rooms/cafeteria feeling cramped, you have to remember that during free time/lunch, people are eating/studying/relaxing in a wide range of areas. Thus, it doesn't have a cramped feel, as there simply isn't enough people in any one area to make it feel particularly cramped.
Compared to other vet schools, I was impressed with the facilities at the veterinary hospital. The chute system is pretty fantastic, and (I am probably biased here) I love the ICU. I am not sure what your qualms may have been about the veterinary hospital, but I could try and better answer them (or get someone currently in clinics to better answer them) for you.
- Do you get exams back? How do you feel about the exam schedule that Missouri uses? It seemed pretty unnecessarily compact/intense just to make sure people get two years of clinics.
Only a couple of teachers at our school do written exams, so if you are looking for a physical copy of the test, you will get it from some teachers and not others. Most of our tests are on the computer, and those you will normally receive instant feedback for. AKA, I submit the exam, and then the questions with answers and answer that I chose will come up, allowing you to review where you may have had confusion.
The exam schedule is more challenging than other schools. I will not deny that. I hear what my girlfriend is doing in terms of exams, and I hear what my friends from undergrad (that are currently in vet school) are doing in terms of exams, and our schedule tends to be much worse. I wouldn't call it unnecessarily compact. The added clinic time is a huge bonus. Employers tend to value the extra time that we have in clinics. In any event, you get used to it. It sounds crazy, but that becomes your normal, and a week with 1 or 2 exams feels like a break week. And a week with 3 or 4 exams feels like a normal week. I know it sounds hectic, I came from an undergrad where I had at max 2 exams a week, but you honestly get adjusted to it fairly rapidly.
- Are all classes recorded?
Almost all of them. A couple of teachers may forget occasionally, and there may be a couple that don't record all of their lectures, but for the most part, they are almost all recorded. \
- How are class notes distributed (for free online, printed for you, etc.)?
A combination. Only one teacher prints them out for you to purchase, and that's only for your first semester. Otherwise, you will sporadically get some printed for you, but most people tend to use something like a surface pro, and write in your notes on the computer (rather than have hard copies of everything)
- Thoughts on the elective courses?
They look cool? I am excited for two in particular, but they are a little ways off for me. I think there may be 1 or 2 that happen before IP11, but they predominantly occur in IP11. Also, I remember you did mention that you may be interested in exotics earlier. We do have a raptor rehab course that just started this year, which you can take during your first year. Everyone I have talked to about it is a huge fan of the course.
- Is parking easily available to students? If so, how much does it cost? Located near school?
It is. But I would say this is my biggest con as a first year. It is a 7-10 minute walk to and from class during your first year. As a second year, you literally park right next to the school. In terms of cost, I feel like it was a bit more expensive for the lot next to the vet school, and was somewhere between like 150 and 500
- How are the gym facilities at Missouri? How far from the vet school?
They are decent. They are on par with my undergrads overall. It is technically walking distance from the vet school, or a quick 2-3 minute drive.
- overall thoughts on the curriculum structure? are there any changes that incoming first years should expect?
Curriculum structure is awesome. When you are learning about, lets say the respiratory system in one class, they try and make it so you are learning about it in all of the classes. Granted, they can't make this happen in all of the classes always (Ie. if a class allotted 2 weeks for respiratory system, and another course has it allotted for 3 weeks, then you will be learning about different stuff for a week). But overall, I feel like it is very helpful to be learning about the same subject, just from a different perspective. The overall curriculum of learn your basic sciences first and learn about abnormalities that deviates from normal afterwards, is a pretty typical approach at most vet schools.
- *Any proposed tuition increases in the near future?
I mean, all vet school do the typical 1-2k every year/couple of years. But nothing major (ie. like Wisconsin increase of 5k/year for 4 years)
- Are you able to freely observe procedures in the hospital (even as first years)?
Yes, if you have time. I am in the process of trying to shadow a radiologist in the hospital, in addition to working ICU (where a lot of cool stuff comes through). However, a lot of people do not feel like they have time to do something like that during your first year, so you have to figure out what would be best for you.
- job/volunteer opportunities for first years in the teaching hospital?
AHCC (after hours clinic crew) allows you to work in the ICU for as much as you are comfortable with during your first and second years. Colic team and foaling team allow you to get involved in terms of horses. There are other opportunities, but I am not thinking of them off the top of my head.
- thoughts on the location of the school itself
I love Columbia. I am a huge foodie, and the food of this area matches up with how particular I am (born and raised 30 minutes from NYC, and went to an undergrad with fantastic food places available). In terms of things to do, I feel like it has just about as much as any other college town, while also offering escapes to a more rural feel if that is more your thing. I personally love how outdoorsy Columbia is as well.
- how long are the summers for students? What years do vet students have the summers available for externships?
Another major con with the school. Summers are 6-8 weeks long (I think ours is 7 or 8 weeks this summer). When you say externships, you could be meaning two things, so I will answer both. If you mean like typical internships, you can do that during your first summer and second summers. During your third year summer, you may be doing an externship via clinics, but you would be in clinics at that time.
- thoughts on the class size?
I like it. We had 123 to start and lost a few during our first semester, most for personal reasons. I think it is just right in terms of size.
- how are breaks structured on a typical class day? enough time to workout, study, etc. during this time?
Definitely. You always get at least an hour each day. On some day you may end up with 3ish hours (or more). A lot of it tends to depend on what lab section you are in (A vs. B)
Let me know if you have any other questions
I'm sure other people from colder areas think this is just fine though! Haha
super nervous and have been checking my email non-stop ! Anyone else on the crazy boat like me?
I'm sure other people from colder areas think this is just fine though! Haha
I'm stalking my email!
