I have narrowed down my choices to these two schools and would appreciate any and all feedback from anyone. I understand the tuition differences and I am trying to weigh the pros and cons without this as a factor. Thanks in advance!!
Auburn vs. Florida
- Thread starter ceg0002
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Have you taken a look at UF's brand new SA hospital? That alone would be my deciding factor. The fact that it's my IS is also helpful. 😛
http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/veterinary-hospitals/small-animal-hospital/
http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/veterinary-hospitals/small-animal-hospital/
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As far as the facilities go, our new classrooms should be finished by Fall of 2012 and the new hospital should be ready by the time your class gets there. Just saying...
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As far as presitge goes, I think it's all relative to the school. We are really proud of our history and our legacy here at Auburn (I guess part of that comes with being the oldest vet school in the South). As I'm sure you know, Florida does 2 + 2 which means that you would get more clinical experience if that's what you would like. I can't speak for other schools, but the only time I've ever seen case load numbers for Auburn was on VIRMP website under the various residencies/interships they had listed.
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i know the SA hospital at UF is beautiful, big and new, but that ultimately shouldn't be a factor in your decision. it's what they do at these facilities, not what they look like. from my experience, UF has a significantly smaller SA case load than the other schools I interviewed out (I have no idea about Auburn though). i've heard somewhere between 10-15,000 a year while other schools i interviewed at were from 25-40,000. i love UF but don't let the pretty, new SA hospital influence you one way or the other.
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Florida is not 2+2. Florida's unique in that you do the normal classroom learning for 2 years then starting the summer after you finish spring semester 2nd year you go into clinics. You stay in clinics from May-January. So for the 2nd summer and fall semester 3rd year. Then you go back to the classroom for a year, January-January (second semester 3rd year, first semester 4th year). You have that summer off to do externships and whatever else you'd like to do. Then you're back in clinics for the last few months of 4th year Jan-May.
According to what I've read UF has 16,000 small animal cases per year.
I e-mailed Dr. B and he said that he thought it was only the spring semester of your junior year that you were in classes. Also, the website lists a caseload of 16,000 small animal, 4,000 equine, and 1,000 large animal
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Maybe consider choosing your school based on what aspect of veterinary medicine you are most interested in. Pick the school that favors that area and has many opportunities for you.
Or just go with your gut feeling! Wherever you think you'll be the happiest!
Or just go with your gut feeling! Wherever you think you'll be the happiest!
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You should DEFINITELY go with AUBURN.
If that made you balk, then go with Florida. 🙂
Seriously, this is a choice that only you can make. If not tuition, facilities, weather, location, programs, faculty... then just pick wherever gave you the most warm fuzzy feelings.
If that made you balk, then go with Florida. 🙂
Seriously, this is a choice that only you can make. If not tuition, facilities, weather, location, programs, faculty... then just pick wherever gave you the most warm fuzzy feelings.
I just wanted to bump this thread because I may be making this same decision (accepted to Fl and hoping to be accepted at Auburn 
)
I have started a pros and cons list and its pretty equal to me right now. I want to do equine and was a little more impressed my Auburn's large animal facilities, BUT Florida's new small animal hospital is so nice it makes me want to do small animal! I got a GREAT feeling from both schools while there for the interviews and both are OOS (I really do not want to go to my IS) so the money really isn't a deciding factor.
Can anyone that made this decision already let me know why/how you did? Or can any current students tell me what you love/like/dislike about your school? I would like to know about the vet school, surrounding area, students, professors, caseloads, whatever you got!
Thanks!!!
)I have started a pros and cons list and its pretty equal to me right now. I want to do equine and was a little more impressed my Auburn's large animal facilities, BUT Florida's new small animal hospital is so nice it makes me want to do small animal! I got a GREAT feeling from both schools while there for the interviews and both are OOS (I really do not want to go to my IS) so the money really isn't a deciding factor.
Can anyone that made this decision already let me know why/how you did? Or can any current students tell me what you love/like/dislike about your school? I would like to know about the vet school, surrounding area, students, professors, caseloads, whatever you got!
Thanks!!!
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I just wanted to bump this thread because I may be making this same decision (accepted to Fl and hoping to be accepted at Auburn
I have started a pros and cons list and its pretty equal to me right now. I want to do equine and was a little more impressed my Auburn's large animal facilities, BUT Florida's new small animal hospital is so nice it makes me want to do small animal! I got a GREAT feeling from both schools while there for the interviews and both are OOS (I really do not want to go to my IS) so the money really isn't a deciding factor.
Can anyone that made this decision already let me know why/how you did? Or can any current students tell me what you love/like/dislike about your school? I would like to know about the vet school, surrounding area, students, professors, caseloads, whatever you got!
Thanks!!!
I am in the SAME situation as you, and all I have to say is, although FL is my IS school, if I get accepted to Auburn, I'm paying the difference and going to Auburn! Auburn is awesome. You should also think about the surrounding areas and where you would be happier living. I personally am not a fan of Gainesville. But that's just me. I worked with 7 Auburn vets who had AMAZING things to say about Auburn and I fell even more in love when I interviewed. Everyone has different make or breaks about vet schools, so decide what yours are and chose 🙂. Hope this helped a little! And hope we both get good news from Auburn!
The only other thing I have to say is, if I get waitlisted at Auburn, you should definitely chose FL so I can have your spot! K? Thanks! 😀
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I think both of you should go to Auburn but I'm just saying for ya'lls benefit you know.
Well if I'm lucky enough to get accepted to Auburn and decide to go, I will be sure to let Florida know right away! And Jonathan said at the debriefing that the outlook for waitlisters is pretty good! Lots of
and 
to you!Emiloo, why would you choose Auburn over your IS? Did you just get a good feeling there or do you think the program is superior?? I know I'm jumping the gun to even think about this, but I think it's going to be a near impossible decision if I get in to Auburn 😕
As far as the area, I like things about both Auburn and Gainesville. I love that Auburn is so homey and everyone seems to know and like each other. I feel that it will be a less competitive and more relaxed feel there. However, I am afraid it is a littleeee too small for me. I know that Gainesville is also pretty much just a college town and not much else, but it felt more city-like to me. Also, I love that it is 1 hour from the beach, Orlando, Jacksonville, a bunch of other places. Auburn is near Atlanta, but thats about it.
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Well if I'm lucky enough to get accepted to Auburn and decide to go, I will be sure to let Florida know right away! And Jonathan said at the debriefing that the outlook for waitlisters is pretty good! Lots of
Emiloo, why would you choose Auburn over your IS? Did you just get a good feeling there or do you think the program is superior?? I know I'm jumping the gun to even think about this, but I think it's going to be a near impossible decision if I get in to Auburn 😕
As far as the area, I like things about both Auburn and Gainesville. I love that Auburn is so homey and everyone seems to know and like each other. I feel that it will be a less competitive and more relaxed feel there. However, I am afraid it is a littleeee too small for me. I know that Gainesville is also pretty much just a college town and not much else, but it felt more city-like to me. Also, I love that it is 1 hour from the beach, Orlando, Jacksonville, a bunch of other places. Auburn is near Atlanta, but thats about it.
PMing you...
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I know it seems like a huge decision right now, but I don't think it's going to matter as much as you think. I went to Florida, and whenever I hear things about other vet schools, I always find it interesting in a "that's different" sort of way, but I've never for a minute thought I would have been better off going somewhere else. Maybe that's because Florida was the right school for me, but honestly I think I would have felt the same regardless of where I went.... wherever you go to school will seem "normal" and you'll be fine with it, because you won't know to expect anything different. Regardless of which school you choose, you'll graduate in 4 years with a DVM and there will be things about your school that you loved and things that you hated.
I'd try to look more at what WILL matter ten years down the road, when you're six years out of vet school and looking back on it all. Unless you plan on specializing, the academic reputation of the school won't matter... the quality of your education won't matter (because much of what you learn in vet school has little to no bearing on day-to-day practice).... and it's unlikely that how much fun you had in school will really matter to you at that point. What will matter? Your loans. I know it's said over and over, but the only thing that's going to matter to you five years from now is the size of your loan payment. Look at tuition costs and do some real research on cost of living (look online for apartments to get an idea of where you'll want to live and how much you'll spend), then pick the school that's cheaper. I feel like a broken record saying that, but it really is the only thing that matter to you in ten years.
I'd try to look more at what WILL matter ten years down the road, when you're six years out of vet school and looking back on it all. Unless you plan on specializing, the academic reputation of the school won't matter... the quality of your education won't matter (because much of what you learn in vet school has little to no bearing on day-to-day practice).... and it's unlikely that how much fun you had in school will really matter to you at that point. What will matter? Your loans. I know it's said over and over, but the only thing that's going to matter to you five years from now is the size of your loan payment. Look at tuition costs and do some real research on cost of living (look online for apartments to get an idea of where you'll want to live and how much you'll spend), then pick the school that's cheaper. I feel like a broken record saying that, but it really is the only thing that matter to you in ten years.
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Chicken mentions good points that haven't been brought up. And there isn't any insight the rest of us will be able to glean for you that will be deal breaker/winners. Auburn is great, but DVM = DVM. If everything else is equal, which AU and UF pretty much are, look at community and the X-factors. Which area seemed "like you" and which one had available/afforadable housing. Which school when you visited made you go "eeeeeewwww, aaaaaaahhhh!" the most. When you met vet students, which one made you think, "They're pretty cool." Which one's curriculum fits what you're interested in (of course, odds say you'll change.) EVERYTHING else being equal, I say look at who has the better football team....
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Sadly, this is having way too much of an influence on my decisions lol. But football is a huge joy in my life so to each his own.
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*bump! 🙂
This is my situation now (if accepted)
This is my situation now (if accepted)
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This is my decision now too....
