AVC/UPEI c/o 2025 Applicants

Started by Mel13
Veterinary Science Graduate Programs from U. of I.
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Alyssa2080 said:
Alternate
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congrats!
Arielll6 said:
International acceptance! Congrats everyone!!
Are y'all waiting for other schools or AVC is your top choice? just curious 🙂
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tufts is my in-state, I interview Monday. I’m also waiting on Penn. for logistics Tufts is first (I have 2 kids) but part of me really wants to just go to AVC so I’m waiting to weigh all options. 🙂
 
Arielll6 said:
International acceptance! Congrats everyone!!
Are y'all waiting for other schools or AVC is your top choice? just curious 🙂
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I'm really drawn to AVC, but since I live in NJ it's a hike from all of my family. The programs seem awesome though! I'm going to try and visit the campus in March after I get the vaccine.
 
Tjuo said:
I'm really drawn to AVC, but since I live in NJ it's a hike from all of my family. The programs seem awesome though! I'm going to try and visit the campus in March after I get the vaccine.
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I'm not sure I'll be eligible for a vaccine before the commitment date...but I'm hoping 🙂
 
Congrats guys!! Hoping I get to meet some of you guys next year. If anyone has questions on the program, housing, or the Island feel free to shoot me a message! I'm a Canadian resident but do live with an international student who I can ask questions to 🙂
 
ZZ801832 said:
Congrats guys!! Hoping I get to meet some of you guys next year. If anyone has questions on the program, housing, or the Island feel free to shoot me a message! I'm a Canadian resident but do live with an international student who I can ask questions to 🙂
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If you happen to have a lead on anyone who relocated with a whole family lol that would be tremendously helpful 🙂
 
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Hey everyone! For our fourth year of the DVM program at UPEI, do your clinical rotations have to be in PEI or could you do them in a different province? does anyone know? Just curious!
 
Are there any current international students that would be able to answer a few questions?
 
Nina3832 said:
Hey everyone! For our fourth year of the DVM program at UPEI, do your clinical rotations have to be in PEI or could you do them in a different province? does anyone know? Just curious!
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You can do them in a different province! Or even a different country🙂 one of the doctors I work with graduated from AVC and she went down to the states for hers!!
 
that redhead said:
If anyone has questions about going to AVC as a US student, I'd be happy to help! Probably most useful in answering questions about making the transition and the school itself; it's been a long time since I actually applied/interviewed so I'm sure my information in that realm is out of date. Good luck :luck:
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Hi there! I have a couple of questions for any current/past students willing to chime in (or future students who know the answers)! An international perspective would be helpful for questions 1 and 7!

1) Would any of you be able to comment on the price/ease of process for acquiring health insurance? Also, have you or anyone you know needed to use the healthcare services in PEI? What is the availability of health services on the island?
2) Do students get to use UPEI facilities or engage in UPEI activities? Like using the fitness center/gym or participating in intramurals? What kinds of activities or clubs are available for vet students? (This is not super important, but good to know!)
3) Are there opportunities for students to work at the vet hospital? Can first years spend time shadowing at the hospital?
4) Is the style of teaching mostly lecture-based for the first couple of years? How do you like the teaching style?
5) Are there study abroad opportunities?
6) Are there research opportunities?
7) Were there any surprise costs/obstacles when moving to PEI as an international?

I know this is a lot! If anyone can answer any of these questions, I would really appreciate it! Thanks!!
 
SprucetheGoose said:
Hi there! I have a couple of questions for any current/past students willing to chime in (or future students who know the answers)! An international perspective would be helpful for questions 1 and 7!

1) Would any of you be able to comment on the price/ease of process for acquiring health insurance? Also, have you or anyone you know needed to use the healthcare services in PEI? What is the availability of health services on the island?
2) Do students get to use UPEI facilities or engage in UPEI activities? Like using the fitness center/gym or participating in intramurals? What kinds of activities or clubs are available for vet students? (This is not super important, but good to know!)
3) Are there opportunities for students to work at the vet hospital? Can first years spend time shadowing at the hospital?
4) Is the style of teaching mostly lecture-based for the first couple of years? How do you like the teaching style?
5) Are there study abroad opportunities?
6) Are there research opportunities?
7) Were there any surprise costs/obstacles when moving to PEI as an international?

I know this is a lot! If anyone can answer any of these questions, I would really appreciate it! Thanks!!
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I can answer the insurance question- for yourself you can buy it through the school. It’s not cheap but it is straight forward. 🙂
 
Cassafrass said:
I can answer the insurance question- for yourself you can buy it through the school. It’s not cheap but it is straight forward. 🙂
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Ooh I see that now, thank you! And it lets you add dependents! I was looking at the province health card and a bit confused by the requirements. That’s great that the school facilities health coverage!
 
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For international students, how are you proving your ability to financially support yourself/pay tuition if you haven't gotten loans or anything yet? I'm not 100% sure I'm going to UPEI but I saw that they recommend you apply for your study permit early.
 
Tjuo said:
For international students, how are you proving your ability to financially support yourself/pay tuition if you haven't gotten loans or anything yet? I'm not 100% sure I'm going to UPEI but I saw that they recommend you apply for your study permit early.
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I've read about people applying at the border and having it approved for all 4 years. You can't do that for others though--so if you had an SO etc they'd need to apply before hand.
 
SprucetheGoose said:
Hi there! I have a couple of questions for any current/past students willing to chime in (or future students who know the answers)! An international perspective would be helpful for questions 1 and 7!

1) Would any of you be able to comment on the price/ease of process for acquiring health insurance? Also, have you or anyone you know needed to use the healthcare services in PEI? What is the availability of health services on the island?
2) Do students get to use UPEI facilities or engage in UPEI activities? Like using the fitness center/gym or participating in intramurals? What kinds of activities or clubs are available for vet students? (This is not super important, but good to know!)
3) Are there opportunities for students to work at the vet hospital? Can first years spend time shadowing at the hospital?
4) Is the style of teaching mostly lecture-based for the first couple of years? How do you like the teaching style?
5) Are there study abroad opportunities?
6) Are there research opportunities?
7) Were there any surprise costs/obstacles when moving to PEI as an international?

I know this is a lot! If anyone can answer any of these questions, I would really appreciate it! Thanks!!
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1) Health insurance can be obtained through the school. The school health care system is pretty good, but the waitlist to get a primary care doctor is a few years. Some specialists are off island but most of what you'll need is on island.
2) We get to use all of UPEI facilities, take part in activities and sports. The big thing right now is broom ball, which is only for vet students. Some other intramural include volleyball, soccer, a couple others (sorry not a sports person haha). Most of the clubs are vet-related. such as pathology club, theriogenology, aquatics, etc. The campus pub also has activities like trivia and such thrown by the student union.
3) Normally, I think this is possible but at the moment due to covid things are restricted to course-related stuff. We get 2 ICU shifts per semester, can volunteer for wildlife shifts and lambing, etc.
4) Teaching style is lecture based, 1 class is case-based, and we have quite a few hands-on labs. Things are obviously weird due to COVID and most of the stuff being online but I've been happy with most of the profs.
5) I think there are some during summers/4th year rotations.
6) Yes, the school for sure has a summer research program, maybe opportunity for more but I haven't looked into it.
7) "Winter tires are an absolute must. Transferring money from the US banks to Canadian banks can have some fees associated with it. Some complications related to COVID."
 
ZZ801832 said:
1) Health insurance can be obtained through the school. The school health care system is pretty good, but the waitlist to get a primary care doctor is a few years. Some specialists are off island but most of what you'll need is on island.
2) We get to use all of UPEI facilities, take part in activities and sports. The big thing right now is broom ball, which is only for vet students. Some other intramural include volleyball, soccer, a couple others (sorry not a sports person haha). Most of the clubs are vet-related. such as pathology club, theriogenology, aquatics, etc. The campus pub also has activities like trivia and such thrown by the student union.
3) Normally, I think this is possible but at the moment due to covid things are restricted to course-related stuff. We get 2 ICU shifts per semester, can volunteer for wildlife shifts and lambing, etc.
4) Teaching style is lecture based, 1 class is case-based, and we have quite a few hands-on labs. Things are obviously weird due to COVID and most of the stuff being online but I've been happy with most of the profs.
5) I think there are some during summers/4th year rotations.
6) Yes, the school for sure has a summer research program, maybe opportunity for more but I haven't looked into it.
7) "Winter tires are an absolute must. Transferring money from the US banks to Canadian banks can have some fees associated with it. Some complications related to COVID."
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Awesome!! Thank you so much!!
 
Cassafrass said:
I'll look forward to reading it as well 🙂 If you have thoughts about spouses finding work of any kind that would be helpful too 🙂 I'm sort of guessing it's nigh unto impossible.
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Yes, this! I have a spouse who will need to work as well! He has found several job postings in his industry, which seems promising, but any insight into getting a job on PEI would be super helpful!
 
The
SprucetheGoose said:
Yes, this! I have a spouse who will need to work as well! He has found several job postings in his industry, which seems promising, but any insight into getting a job on PEI would be super helpful!
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I think we might have a bunch in common-I have 2 kiddos. I’m in MA 🙂 fee free to pm me and I’ll share anything I find out. I have som friends who went to PEI as well 🙂
 
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Hey guys! Does anyone have any comments on doing a master's program? I am considering options (in the case that this year is not my year) just so I can keep myself busy in the meantime throughout the next application cycle. My honours supervisor has offered me a 1-year master's program (that would theoretically end by the time I would potentially start vet school if I got in). It is animal-based research as well. Has anyone done this and does anyone have any recommendations? Would working for a year in a clinic/animal environment be better? 🙂
 
hoofsandhearts444 said:
Hey guys! Does anyone have any comments on doing a master's program? I am considering options (in the case that this year is not my year) just so I can keep myself busy in the meantime throughout the next application cycle. My honours supervisor has offered me a 1-year master's program (that would theoretically end by the time I would potentially start vet school if I got in). It is animal-based research as well. Has anyone done this and does anyone have any recommendations? Would working for a year in a clinic/animal environment be better? 🙂
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Hi there! Your situation is pretty different from my own, so I personally can’t give much advice on what to do. However, I strongly suggest meeting with a vet school admissions counselor and asking their advice! Ideally, meet with someone at a school you really want to attend since different schools look for different things. An advisor at one of my top schools I applied to helped me decide what types of classes to take ASAP (for example, I was told to leave physics for my last prereq since they cared way more about grades in other prereqs like Biochem). I was also told that quality of experience is valued over quantity. I don’t know if that’s the case for all schools! They can help you decide what makes sense to emphasize in your essay based on your goals. Or what parts of your resume or transcript might require an explanation in the explanation statement. They can also tell you what kind of experience makes sense for your goals (ex. a masters if you’re interested in lab work or a more academic route, shelter work if you’re interested in shelter animal medicine, etc. etc.)(just examples.. I am very not qualified to advise you on this😅). They can even help answer how focused your goals need to be during the app cycle even if you might change your mind in school. I had a one on one meeting at one school and attended applicant info sessions at other schools. All were extremely helpful. And if anyone offers an application review definitely take advantage of that! It really helps to make a list of questions ahead of time and you can easily cover all of this in a 20 min meeting!

The only personal advice I have to offer is to spend your year doing something you’re actually interested in! But again that’s just my personal advice 🙂. Good luck and I hope everything works out!!
 
SprucetheGoose said:
Hi there! Your situation is pretty different from my own, so I personally can’t give much advice on what to do. However, I strongly suggest meeting with a vet school admissions counselor and asking their advice! Ideally, meet with someone at a school you really want to attend since different schools look for different things. An advisor at one of my top schools I applied to helped me decide what types of classes to take ASAP (for example, I was told to leave physics for my last prereq since they cared way more about grades in other prereqs like Biochem). I was also told that quality of experience is valued over quantity. I don’t know if that’s the case for all schools! They can help you decide what makes sense to emphasize in your essay based on your goals. Or what parts of your resume or transcript might require an explanation in the explanation statement. They can also tell you what kind of experience makes sense for your goals (ex. a masters if you’re interested in lab work or a more academic route, shelter work if you’re interested in shelter animal medicine, etc. etc.)(just examples.. I am very not qualified to advise you on this😅). They can even help answer how focused your goals need to be during the app cycle even if you might change your mind in school. I had a one on one meeting at one school and attended applicant info sessions at other schools. All were extremely helpful. And if anyone offers an application review definitely take advantage of that! It really helps to make a list of questions ahead of time and you can easily cover all of this in a 20 min meeting!

The only personal advice I have to offer is to spend your year doing something you’re actually interested in! But again that’s just my personal advice 🙂. Good luck and I hope everything works out!!
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Thank you so much! As of yet, the only school that I am applying to is AVC, as I am considered an Atlantic Canadian applicant. I will try my best to contact our local advisor but she is often very busy and has made it very clear that she's new to doing this part of the job so she can't help with a whole lot unfortunatly... but I'll ask her what she thinks!
 
hoofsandhearts444 said:
Thank you so much! As of yet, the only school that I am applying to is AVC, as I am considered an Atlantic Canadian applicant. I will try my best to contact our local advisor but she is often very busy and has made it very clear that she's new to doing this part of the job so she can't help with a whole lot unfortunatly... but I'll ask her what she thinks!
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Oh shoot, I’m sorry to hear that! I was coming from a US perspective. It might be worth reaching out to a US school that offers advising! I know Colorado state offers advising appointments remotely for applicants and I think many others do too. I’m sorry I can’t help more.
 
SprucetheGoose said:
Oh shoot, I’m sorry to hear that! I was coming from a US perspective. It might be worth reaching out to a US school that offers advising! I know Colorado state offers advising appointments remotely for applicants and I think many others do too. I’m sorry I can’t help more.
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That's ok! Thank you I will look into that! 🙂
 
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