Auburn or Tennessee?

[SillyFilly]

HELP!

Okay, so it's totally my best drama scary situation that could happen. And I just. can't. decide. It's been a week of non-stop "which one" madness. So a little insight would be very, very helpful.

I'm equine focused, interested in track medicine, rehabilitation and sports medicine. I love lameness and repro. I would love more experience with large animals (dairy and other SRs). Of course, this could change in a big way - who knows, but this is where I stand now. I'm also paying for vet school on my own, loans ahoy! I have no one else to consider, so that's helpful!

Auburn - Well established Sports Medicine program (unlike NCSU that just SAYS it has a SM program ), gorgeous new large animal facilities, $6k less a year plus interest, lameness diagnosis facilities were AWESOME.
Tennessee - Rehabilitaton focus, acupuncture staff, hyperbaric ox chamber, underwater treadmill, much larger caseload, looking to expand facilities, loved Knoxville/mountains/school life, not as strict dress code, 2.5 hours closer to home, "warm fuzzy feeling", exotics caseload that could really expand my knowledge - 0 experience now.

Your thoughts? Please weigh in, even if it is only a little. I feel like UTK "pulled out all the stops" so I got a much better feel - plus I stayed with the awesome pressmom who gave me the 411 and dyachei gave us a tour which really helped! Auburn was the 1st school I saw almost 3 mos ago. Cost of living I believe is similar in both places. I'm from a city atmosphere, but don't mind going smaller. I am liberal, Christian, and into eating more organically and I bake a lot. Uhh... yeah. I feel more drawn to UTK, like I would be disappointed not to go there, but I did love Auburn too.

Help??? Hahaha, c'mon vet school fairy, help me out!
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[VAgirl]

Is there the possibility of establishing in-state residency at one or the other to help lower tuition costs? Looks like Auburn is $24K (w/out interest) lower right now, but maybe that gets helped or offset by ability to establish residency.

Other than that, I'd say warm fuzzy is big. I also liked someone's (I think Wishinandhopin's) advice on imagining yourself as a student at one school meeting a student from the other school. Any jealousy, sad, "What if" feelings emerging? Then reverse it. Seems like an interesting exercise.

Good luck!!!

 

[dyachei]

HELP!

Okay, so it's totally my best drama scary situation that could happen. And I just. can't. decide. It's been a week of non-stop "which one" madness. So a little insight would be very, very helpful.

I'm equine focused, interested in track medicine, rehabilitation and sports medicine. I love lameness and repro. I would love more experience with large animals (dairy and other SRs). Of course, this could change in a big way - who knows, but this is where I stand now. I'm also paying for vet school on my own, loans ahoy! I have no one else to consider, so that's helpful!

Auburn - Well established Sports Medicine program (unlike NCSU that just SAYS it has a SM program ), gorgeous new large animal facilities, $6k less a year plus interest, lameness diagnosis facilities were AWESOME.
Tennessee - Rehabilitaton focus, acupuncture staff, hyperbaric ox chamber, underwater treadmill, much larger caseload, looking to expand facilities, loved Knoxville/mountains/school life, not as strict dress code, 2.5 hours closer to home, "warm fuzzy feeling", exotics caseload that could really expand my knowledge - 0 experience now.

Your thoughts? Please weigh in, even if it is only a little. I feel like UTK "pulled out all the stops" so I got a much better feel - plus I stayed with the awesome pressmom who gave me the 411 and dyachei gave us a tour which really helped! Auburn was the 1st school I saw almost 3 mos ago. Cost of living I believe is similar in both places. I'm from a city atmosphere, but don't mind going smaller. I am liberal, Christian, and into eating more organically and I bake a lot. Uhh... yeah. I feel more drawn to UTK, like I would be disappointed not to go there, but I did love Auburn too.

Help??? Hahaha, c'mon vet school fairy, help me out!
​

Ok, so I know I'm biased, but I say UTK. Not because I love the school, but because of YOUR description of how you feel about it. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them (as I'm sure Pressmom and Critterfixer would). But if you're interested in exotics at all, UTK is awesome for that.

Good luck making a decision. Also, I'd go through the finances and see which would be cheaper for you (tuition, cost of living, etc.) even if its not by much.

 

[Aquavet]

It seems to me that deep down you have already made your decision. In reading your comments about both schools you gave a very basic pro/con description of Auburn while when discussing UTK you talk about how wonderful you felt about the school. I think that money is a huge issue for everyone (I can totally relate to being on your own financially for vet school ) but maybe it's worth a little more debt to go where you truly feel you are meant to be. My advice to you is follow your heart and have faith that all the little details will work themselves out. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Electrophile]

That'd be a toughie...Auburn would also be a pretty easy one day drive to the beach in Florida. I used to live in Ft. Benning (in Georgia a short drive from Auburn) when I was younger and I really enjoyed it. Except for the fire ants, kudzu, and huge roaches. But other than that.... 😉 I would like UTK for the exotics stuff for sure. Getting a broad range of case work is best cause like I've said, sooooooo many people change their minds what they want to do. Do either do the 2 year/2 year thing for classes versus clinics? That'd be a preference for me. And whatever's cheaper and has cheaper housing. 😀

 

[pressmom]

Well, I had to make the same decision since I got into both, and since you know me, you know which one I chose.

When it came down to it for me, despite the fact that Auburn was cheaper, UTK just had the programs and caseload I was interested in. I think, if I were equine though, I would have had a lot tougher time. Auburn's facilities are what UTK wants to make theirs as soon as they get funding from the government. But our facilities are nothing to sneeze at, though. And neither is our caseload.

As far as living there or here, housing is in shorter supply in Auburn. I think the students that go there can attest to that as well. My friend from high school that goes to vet school at Auburn lives in a trailer since there is such a shortage of housing. Although, I found the apartment prices there pretty similar with the ones here. Honestly, I like living in more of a city. Auburn kind of reminded me of Chapel Hill without having Durham and Raleigh around--beautiful, but small. I think I would've found it to be an easier adjustment if it were closer to Birmingham or ATL, but it's not. Plus, I've gotta think it's harder to escape the undergrads at apartment complexes there, since everything is so centrally located. Having gone back there for Symposium this spring, I think I made the right decision, but Auburn's a great school with a really strong tradition and great facilities. You really can't go wrong.

Good luck with your decision.......but I really hope we're school-mates next year. 😉

 

[VAgirl]

Honestly, I like living in more of a city. Auburn kind of reminded me of Chapel Hill without having Durham and Raleigh around--beautiful, but small.

That might be the first time I've heard of having Durham around as a plus. Ok, I'm awful, I know, but man, five years later and I am still not very fond of that town.

 

[sofficat]

It does kinda sound like you already made up your mind. I'm a first year at Auburn and I absolutely love it. I'm from a small town similar to auburn and that is a big plus for me. Also, I'm from Florida and the cold in Auburn is almost enough to send me running home, so I know I couldn't handle it in Tenn. About the shortage of housing... that is the first time I have heard that. I think what was meant is that there are more trailers than actual houses, which is fine with me, since we brought our own trailer from Florida. Anyways, our LA facility does kick butt, and we had a zebra come in a few weeks ago . Good luck making up your mind. You can PM me if you have any questions. Our CVF (christian vet fellowship) is awesome, just fyi 😀

 

[twelvetigers]

Go to Auburn, silly! It's cheaper!

I mean, why would you want to be more in debt than you could be if both schools are good? I mean, you'll get your DVM either way. It's common sense.

Okay, so if you balked after reading that, then you should pick the other one.

🙂

 

[pressmom]

That might be the first time I've heard of having Durham around as a plus. Ok, I'm awful, I know, but man, five years later and I am still not very fond of that town.

Did you used to live there? I lived there for 4.5 years and Raleigh for 2.5. I love the area....even Durham. 🙂

 

[VAgirl]

Did you used to live there? I lived there for 4.5 years and Raleigh for 2.5. I love the area....even Durham. 🙂

Oh yea, four years. I went back to see a good friend graduate from med school and it seemed like it had gotten better in recent years. But I also just had my fill of the area. I'm glad you enjoyed it, though. 🙂

 

[SillyFilly]

Ugggggggggggggggggggh guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuysssssss....

I feel like UTK has SUCH a draw to me, especially since the caseload is so much larger - Is this for real, UTK peeps?

I asked one of our ortho residents (though he went to Penn and berated me for not applying there 🙄) and he gave me his insight. SIGH.

I need to do a more thorough cost analysis!!!

 

[alonepear]

Auburn kind of reminded me of Chapel Hill without having Durham and Raleigh around--beautiful, but small.

This made me laugh, because I literally had the exact same thought this year when I visited Auburn for the SAVMA Symposium. Although, compared to Starkville, Auburn is a metropolis

As for Durham -- I get to work 7 weeks at a Banfield in downtown Durham this summer (I've worked there before -- QUITE an experience 😱)

Not that this is useful advice SillyFilly, but I was in your shoes this time last year. Another rejection from my in-state school (NCSU), and two fabulous out-of-schools inviting me. I ended up going for my "warm fuzzies" school, and I am absolutely glad I did. I may be a city girl in a country town for 4 years, but I love my school and the people in it, and having finished my first year yesterday (yay!), I wouldn't change a thing (and at this point, I definitely no longer lament NCSU not wanting me -- just wasn't meant to be!)

Your decision is more difficult than mine, because I also used the cold weather as an excuse to turn down Illinois. I think you'll end up being happy with either decision, so I say just follow that deep down gut instinct. Either choice will be amazing... good luck

 

[VAgirl]

As for Durham -- I get to work 7 weeks at a Banfield in downtown Durham this summer (I've worked there before -- QUITE an experience 😱)

Sorry, off topic, but I worked in the Banfield in Durham (back when there was only one) my senior year of college! The first one in Durham was the one right off of 85 and kinda down the road from Duke's East Campus (I think it's the "North" one now, though I'm not really sure where the new one was built...never been there). Which one are you working in?

 

[WishingnHoping]

Is there the possibility of establishing in-state residency at one or the other to help lower tuition costs? Looks like Auburn is $24K (w/out interest) lower right now, but maybe that gets helped or offset by ability to establish residency.

Other than that, I'd say warm fuzzy is big. I also liked someone's (I think Wishinandhopin's) advice on imagining yourself as a student at one school meeting a student from the other school. Any jealousy, sad, "What if" feelings emerging? Then reverse it. Seems like an interesting exercise.

Good luck!!!

Awww, that was me! 😍 Yes, I think you should do this SillyFilly! I felt at home at UPenn, even though I am a country girl, so UPenn is what I picked. I even asked my friends "is it worth $40k (in my case) to attend somewhere that I feel fits me?" And, in my case, EVERYONE said yes. So I went with my heart.

I've read your posts and since UTK is what your gut told you was good, go with that one. I personally would be jealous of anyone going to UPenn if I went anywhere else. Penn just seemed *fun* to me -- doesn't UTK seem *fun*??? 😉 But, if cost really is very important (which it was to me too but honestly I'm very happy with my choice 😛) then go with the other one. They are both good!

 

[SillyFilly]

Well guys, thanks so much for being helpful and pointing out what was right in front of my face!

I am off to Tennessee - it's what I really want. If UTK was cheaper, it would be a no brainer.

I liked Auburn, but Tennessee just... fits better. Esp since my family is considering a move to Asheville. I was thinking of moving to Knoxville if I didn't get into a school to work at their hospital if they did.

<3<3 the SDN vet family!