Current student, see you in the fall
1. I'm a weird case - I'm in the army reserves (not veterinary, completely unrelated job), and it's extraordinarily difficult! I have friends and classmates that have outside jobs that sometimes interfere with school work, but they manage as best as they can. Some have had to quit their outside jobs. Those who work within the university, the vet school, or as company reps find it much easier to manage since their employers are in the veterinary school at UT and understand the demands of our school schedule. I would say it's a case by case, personal choice/evaluation that you would need to make, but a legit 20/hr week part-time job is out of the question - we're talking one day or night a week if that!
2. Yes, there is a dress code, and if you try "weasling in your workout clothes" you'll be taken aside by Dr. Kirk and told to go home and change (not joking or being facetious). We have few leniency such as: nice jeans are allowed for classes, but if you go into clinics you cannot wear jeans. We're allowed to wear sweatshirts, but only if they're vet school sweatshirts. A few of my classmates have been showing up in less than appropriate attire and they are spoken to on a regular basis by faculty and Dr. Kirk. It doesn't look good, and I don't mean visually. I think they've been cracking down on the dress code because of previous years. The ONLY time when your workout clothing would be tolerated is on a weekend when you're only in a study room or the library, or during finals week when everyone is so zombified and on edge that they just leave us alone! I certainly wear much nicer workout clothes on weekends but I don't go anywhere near the clinics like that. If you stepped into the clinics with workout clothes on, even the super nice street kind, you'd better think twice! If a faculty member didn't get you, another student would. They take professionalism extremely seriously here and attire is their first impression. You don't have to wear a suit or anything - scroll through business casual in pinterest and you'll see what's appropriate. I'd say something to you myself if I saw you sporting workout clothes to class. It's a pride thing here, so please take that part seriously and don't make an effort to work in your workout clothes or find a way to sneak a piece into your class attire. I would take it as an insult and so would many faculty and other students. (off my soapbox!)
3. I am starting the "official as of 2016/2017" dual DVM/PhD program (there are only 3 of us in the entire school doing it). I'm insane, my class is filled with gunners, they call us the anal class, among other things!
Quite a few are doing the DVM/MPH program, and they're stressed with everything they're required to do. I advise waiting to commit to anything until you see what you can handle. Like I said, I'm insane to tackle the dual PhD program, but I need it for where I'm heading. The program is great and it's phenomenal that they're offering all of this to us, but gauge your capacity to maintain sanity with just the vet program first, then re-evaluate and decide if you want to take on anything extra. I hope I'm not sounding like a naysayer - I'm in the program myself and can't wait to get cracking - it's just the reality of the workload needs to be experienced before you decide if you can get slapped with more
Also on the plus side, they're NOT veterinary classes so it'll be a nice break from all the medical "stuff"!!
I hope this info helps!
glad we can be cry buddies!
. I plan on coming up sooner rather than later to talk to someone about the dual program. I'm glad you're enjoying it! 
. Also, I still don't think it's sunk in yet. I imagine it won't until Im actually looking for places to live and all that!
