Auburn vs. UF vs. Cornell

[HorseObsessed]

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Hi! First UF and Auburn decisions have not come out, but I'm asking because we are trying to figure out where to put a deposit down for my partner's medical school as he will hear back before me (and I secretly think he'll get good news). If we decide Cornell is the best option we'll forego the deposits in Alabama and Florida if he gets into the New York school, which he should hear back from first. I've already been admitted to Cornell. I've also been accepted to Oregon, Tennessee, Colorado, and Midwestern, and my partner has options in all of these states but hasn't gotten interviews yet. Will take opinions on all!

-I am lucky to have enough support and savings that tuition is not a concern (however my supporters would prefer Cornell so they can see me more often). Midwestern is probably off the table because it's just too high.
-cost of living is a concern
-I am looking to pursue exclusively equine medicine, and would prefer a school that either tracks or offers LOTS of equine specific electives
- I would like ample opportunities for externships, as I intend to pursue an internship at minimum and want to build connections.
-I would prefer access to some people/ some culture of left wing/ progressive politics although this isn't a dealbreaker
-I am dreading any far move from Texas so will also take advice on handling that with an apartment full of stuff, two cats, a horse, and a dog

I am reading all the stuff online and will hopefully attend Cornell accepted students day but would love any opinions from students on schools and areas!

 

[JaynaAli]

Does UF still do the thing where you start clinics after second year for summer and fall of third year, then go back to the classroom for spring 3rd yr and fall of 4th, then resume clinics for the last half of fourth year? It’s absolutely doable to specialize and do lots of externships as a student there and I don’t mean this as a slight against their students, but I must say, as a resident teaching students, you could tell a big difference in the knowledge and experience level between the students who were glorified second years (technically they are third years but with only two years of didactics) and those who were on their final stretch of clinics and had completed that final year of didactics/electives. Because of that, if you’re planning on trying to visit clinics to make a big impression and get an internship, it may be simpler or more favorable to go somewhere with a more classic rotation schedule. At UF most of your available time for rotations pre-equine internship season is mostly when you were essentially just finished with second year and you have a lot of learning left to do. You’ll be back in class in that summer/fall of fourth year when a lot of your competition is on rotations and making those connections. But the rotations later in fourth year would be largely after internship season. I’m not saying you can’t make a great impression as a younger vet student, but the logistics of that atypical rotation schedule may be something to think about logistics wise with your stated plan. Maybe you view it as a positive where you can visit places early in your third year and get a jump on the next year’s cycle, but I just remember feeling like there was a big knowledge gap between the two cohorts of students when I was teaching there.

 

[pp9]

Hi! First UF and Auburn decisions have not come out, but I'm asking because we are trying to figure out where to put a deposit down for my partner's medical school as he will hear back before me (and I secretly think he'll get good news). If we decide Cornell is the best option we'll forego the deposits in Alabama and Florida if he gets into the New York school, which he should hear back from first. I've already been admitted to Cornell. I've also been accepted to Oregon, Tennessee, Colorado, and Midwestern, and my partner has options in all of these states but hasn't gotten interviews yet. Will take opinions on all!

-I am lucky to have enough support and savings that tuition is not a concern (however my supporters would prefer Cornell so they can see me more often). Midwestern is probably off the table because it's just too high.
-cost of living is a concern
-I am looking to pursue exclusively equine medicine, and would prefer a school that either tracks or offers LOTS of equine specific electives
- I would like ample opportunities for externships, as I intend to pursue an internship at minimum and want to build connections.
-I would prefer access to some people/ some culture of left wing/ progressive politics although this isn't a dealbreaker
-I am dreading any far move from Texas so will also take advice on handling that with an apartment full of stuff, two cats, a horse, and a dog

I am reading all the stuff online and will hopefully attend Cornell accepted students day but would love any opinions from students on schools and areas!

Tagging @katiemcat for more UF specifics, but I'll toss out some info from when I was applying to UF/living in Central FL. I don't think we have any Auburn students active, maybe not even a Cornell student?

Gainesville is a fairly short drive from Ocala which is the 'Horse Capital of the World' or whatever. I have to imagine their equine services have a pretty decent caseload as a result? It's been years since I've been at UF but I remember their large animal/equine hospital seemed really nice.

Cornell is PBL-heavy so you should be comfortable with a few years of that. It doesn't work for everyone.

As for the political concerns, most large university/college towns will be blue bubbles regardless of the state they are in.

you could tell a big difference in the knowledge and experience level between the students who were glorified second years (technically they are third years but with only two years of didactics) and those who were on their final stretch of clinics and had completed that final year of didactics/electives

They do still do this I believe. @katiemcat can you save all of your externships for the latter portion of your clinics? Jayna does make a great point here. Even getting externs at the beginning of their clinical year (from a traditional curriculum) are lightyears behind those that come toward the end of their year.

 

[JaynaAli]

In my experience at UF, they do a fair amount of equine, but not as much as you’d expect for the location. The private clinics do a lot of that sport horse crowd’s medicine unless they need quarantined. But I was there right before the facilities at WEC opened so maybe there’s more now or it’s changed. Hopefully someone with more recent knowledge can chime in about that.

 

[HorseObsessed]

In my experience at UF, they do a fair amount of equine, but not as much as you’d expect for the location. The private clinics do a lot of that sport horse crowd’s medicine unless they need quarantined. But I was there right before the facilities at WEC opened so maybe there’s more now or it’s changed. Hopefully someone with more recent knowledge can chime in about that.

Thank you! I lived in Wellington for one show season, and no one referred to UF- there were indeed plenty of private practice specialists so there was no need. I wasn't sure about Ocala since it's closer to UF.
I know Cornell has Cornell Ruffian equine specialists-- I can't find much information about specific rotations/ electives on their website, but I assume that increases exposure at Cornell?

 

[katiemcat]

Hey! I am a 4th year at UF. I am at a wedding today so I don’t have time to write out a lot currently but I’m happy to answer any questions you have.

Cost of living in Gainesville is honestly really not bad compared to most of the rest of the state. My husband and I have paid $1200/month for our apartment 10 minutes from the teaching hospital all four years.

As @pp9 mentioned we are about a 45 minute drive from Ocala, the horse capital of FL. Florida has its own hospital at the world equestrian center, and a lot of our equine / large animal focused students choose to do externships and rotations there. Our main teaching hospital in Gainesville has a decent equine case load - but nothing compared to Ocala.

As @JaynaAli mentioned we have a unique clinics schedule. Honestly I was a huge fan. We had the summer off before starting 4th year to do externships. Being on clinics already prior gave me a lot of confidence and a leg up knowledge wise on my externships. A lot of people in my class (including myself) were offered internships on externships after making a good impression. This summer and the following low stress didactic fall also gave the opportunity to start NAVLE studying, which I passed very comfortably.

I am small animal tracked, but I know a few people tracking equine I can ask any more specific questions you have. I also took a few equine rotations (large animal surgery, equine based practices) as required for all students.

 

[JaynaAli]

We had the summer off before starting 4th year to do externships.

Oh good. I didn’t remember this part, so glad to hear that is there. Definitely makes some of what I wrote above a little less of a concern!

 

[mkg323]

Paging @Aprilthearab - do you know about if Ruffian is an option for rotations? And would you have any advice for her for COL up there at Cornell with a horse and other pets?

 

[HorseObsessed]

I might have to make a different post— Did not get the call from Auburn today so I'm assuming post interview rejection, but my partner got an interview in Knoxville so now UTK is definitely on the table!

I am having so much anxiety waiting for TWO sets of results and meanwhile he's cool as a cucumber. He's completely nonchalant every time he gets an interview. I envy it.

 

[breezywonton]

but my partner got an interview in Knoxville so now UTK is definitely on the table!

first year at UTK, let me know if you have any questions about the program!

 

[HorseObsessed]

first year at UTK, let me know if you have any questions about the program!

I honestly don't know much about UTK but Knoxville sounds amazing. Do you get a lot of electives/ do you get to track? Is there a large animal teaching herd? What's the clinical year situation like?
I worked with a student at UTK when I was a zookeeper and she was awesome. Super excited to get the early acceptance even though my partner won't hear back from LMU COM-Knoxville until April.

 

[breezywonton]

Knoxville is a super neat little city! Plenty to do but it's not overbearing like Nashville imo.
1) Electives/Clinical year: 5 elective credits must be accumulated across the pre-clinical years. There are A LOT to choose from! I will probably end up doing more than 5 credits haha. Most of them are pass/fail too. Some are more lecture based, while others are hands on. Some of my classmates are doing an equine/camelid elective which is very hands on. Right now I'm doing a basic surgical skills elective which is practicing suturing/tying/aseptic technique. We don't start surgery courses until 2nd year, so it's a nice elective as a first year if you want to get a head start. There are plenty of electives for each interest! We do not track here, you have to take all the required rotations, but you do get to pick elective rotations. Also, we have 5 semesters of didactics and then starting spring semester of 3rd year we start clinical rotations.
Core rotations: 36 credit hours (weeks) required for all students (including externships)
Selective/Elective Rotations/Courses—24–30 credit hours (weeks); assigned to and selected by the student.
Here's a link to our curriculum that lists the rotations!
And a link to our pre-clinical electives.
2) We do have a large animal and equine teaching herd. Starting first year, we have a class called "clinical skills and applications" where we practice clinical skills and handling. Fall semester is usually small animal based, second semester large animal. We practice on simulation animals for the first few labs and then go to teaching herd to practice on real animals. (for small animals, we practice on the research beagles or shelter animals).

Let me know if you have anymore questions!

 

[HorseObsessed]

Knoxville is a super neat little city! Plenty to do but it's not overbearing like Nashville imo.
1) Electives/Clinical year: 5 elective credits must be accumulated across the pre-clinical years. There are A LOT to choose from! I will probably end up doing more than 5 credits haha. Most of them are pass/fail too. Some are more lecture based, while others are hands on. Some of my classmates are doing an equine/camelid elective which is very hands on. Right now I'm doing a basic surgical skills elective which is practicing suturing/tying/aseptic technique. We don't start surgery courses until 2nd year, so it's a nice elective as a first year if you want to get a head start. There are plenty of electives for each interest! We do not track here, you have to take all the required rotations, but you do get to pick elective rotations. Also, we have 5 semesters of didactics and then starting spring semester of 3rd year we start clinical rotations.
Core rotations: 36 credit hours (weeks) required for all students (including externships)
Selective/Elective Rotations/Courses—24–30 credit hours (weeks); assigned to and selected by the student.
Here's a link to our curriculum that lists the rotations!
And a link to our pre-clinical electives.
2) We do have a large animal and equine teaching herd. Starting first year, we have a class called "clinical skills and applications" where we practice clinical skills and handling. Fall semester is usually small animal based, second semester large animal. We practice on simulation animals for the first few labs and then go to teaching herd to practice on real animals. (for small animals, we practice on the research beagles or shelter animals).

Let me know if you have anymore questions!

Thank you so much! I just got the rejection email from Auburn so UTK is now at the top of my list location wise! Sounds like a super cool curriculum.

 

[breezywonton]

Thank you so much! I just got the rejection email from Auburn so UTK is now at the top of my list location wise! Sounds like a super cool curriculum.

No problem! I'm really enjoying it so far. Also, all the professors, admin, and staff are very very supportive and accommodating. I think that's what I like most about UTK so far. Also, we have a smaller class size (~100) compared to some other schools which is nice. My anatomy prof knows everyone by name now and even bought us Christmas gifts LOL

 

[vetstudent9]

Cornell has a ton of equine experiences and opportunities!