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[HopefulVet0502]

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How long did it take everyone to receive their CAS letter after getting their student email?? I'm still waiting on mine and I'm just getting nervous that I might need to contact Victoria.

Thanks for any info!

 

[Knockout4]

How long did it take everyone to receive their CAS letter after getting their student email?? I'm still waiting on mine and I'm just getting nervous that I might need to contact Victoria.

Thanks for any info!

Ahh I still haven't gotten my student email yet!!! I feel like I am so behind... maybe it is just because I am in the 5 year program? I have completed all my requirements to become unconditional and as far as I can tell Victoria is supposed to be sending me my CAS soon, but I still don't have an email or anything. I know that was no help to you, but wanted to make you feel better in that I am further behind than you 🙂

On another note, how long does it usually take to find housing once you are there? I am trying to decide when to purchase my plane ticket for

 

[Packen]

I didn't get my CAS letter through my student email, although it might have been mentioned in a student email. It was on a separate part of the website. I am not at my computer right now, so I don't have the page infront of me, but I thought it was supposed to be an email and was surprised when it wasn't. Sorry I couldn't be more help right now. If I remember when I get home tonight I will try and figure out where I printed my letter from.

 

[vettobe2014]

Beware if you got accepted here. I was told by 3 successful applicants that they were treated horribly, before even starting there. One girl went all the way there and they were rude and wouldn't even show her around. They lied to another applicant and now she isn't going there and lost her chance at the other schools because she was planning to go there. Had many wishy washy emails from them.

They were jerks to me as well. I thought I would want to go there, but after hearing everything from other students who got accepted, I decided against it.

 

[Kbelle07]

Vettobe2014 -- You have posted several times in the past hour on multiple threads trashing UK schools. I am not able to ascertain whether or not you are actually a vet student in the UK, but making rash generalizations about Glasgow and Edinburgh is quite annoying and not appreciated. You claim to cite friends as your support for your argument, but it just comes across as hearsay. As someone who will be attending a UK school this fall (Glasgow), I do not appreciate someone coming to the boards with the sole purpose of trashing my school. Find some evidence (not I heard that...) don't just post all over the board. I have many friends at Glasgow (I don't know much about Edinburgh) but I have heard many positive things. Students are given four chances to pass their exams (1. written, 2 oral, 3 written, 4 oral). They want you to succeed. If you have a problem with these schools, please give sound evidence or don't post at all.

 

[Packen]

Beware if you got accepted here. I was told by 3 successful applicants that they were treated horribly, before even starting there. One girl went all the way there and they were rude and wouldn't even show her around. They lied to another applicant and now she isn't going there and lost her chance at the other schools because she was planning to go there. Had many wishy washy emails from them.

They were jerks to me as well. I thought I would want to go there, but after hearing everything from other students who got accepted, I decided against it.

I don't really know how to respond to this. I read some of your other posts to get a better idea of where these statements might be coming from - but as the previous poster wrote, I can't tell if this is based on personal experience or hearsay.

All I can speak to is my personal experience with Dick Vet to date, and they have been extremely nice and patient with me. I have been a little needy at times😳, but I felt like they have answered every question and addressed all concerns. I have even been really pleased with my student mentor who has answered all my questions too. When I asked about failures, he said that there may be a few who fail, but they get more than one chance to try and pass the year before being forced to repeat the year. From other discussions on this board, I feel this is typical of most schools.

Sorry that you may have had a difficult experience, or your friends may have had a difficult experience. I am not worried about this though, at least not yet 😛! Too many other worries at the present!! BTW, my UK Visa arrived today - thought they forgot it in the package until I flipped through my passport and found it as a page in there! phew! 30 days and counting for me!!!!!😀

 

[Kem9987221]

Beware if you got accepted here. I was told by 3 successful applicants that they were treated horribly, before even starting there. One girl went all the way there and they were rude and wouldn't even show her around. They lied to another applicant and now she isn't going there and lost her chance at the other schools because she was planning to go there. Had many wishy washy emails from them.

They were jerks to me as well. I thought I would want to go there, but after hearing everything from other students who got accepted, I decided against it.

As Packen said, all I can state are my experiences with the Dick Vet and Glasgow. I found both schools to be very nice and helpful. Both schools have responded to my *many many* emails promptly and gave very good information.

I have also talked to other American and Canadian students at both schools and they are very happy. They told me that if you fail you have a chance to resit later and if you fail a second time then you retake the course (and have another two chances to pass the exam).

Overall, I dunno if you and the people you have talked to just have gotten the short end of the stick, but everybody who I have talked to says that the schools are awesome and I am personally really excited to start in Edinburgh in September.

 

[shortnsweet]

Vettobe2014 -- You have posted several times in the past hour on multiple threads trashing UK schools. I am not able to ascertain whether or not you are actually a vet student in the UK, but making rash generalizations about Glasgow and Edinburgh is quite annoying and not appreciated. You claim to cite friends as your support for your argument, but it just comes across as hearsay. As someone who will be attending a UK school this fall (Glasgow), I do not appreciate someone coming to the boards with the sole purpose of trashing my school. Find some evidence (not I heard that...) don't just post all over the board. I have many friends at Glasgow (I don't know much about Edinburgh) but I have heard many positive things. Students are given four chances to pass their exams (1. written, 2 oral, 3 written, 4 oral). They want you to succeed. If you have a problem with these schools, please give sound evidence or don't post at all.

:troll: I believe we have a troll in our midst my friends...


Well said KBelle. I know the Glasgow vets are SUPER excited to meet the freshies, and we are all happy to hear about the other schools and share our experiences at events like Dick Day and AVS. I can't imagine our admins EVER being rude to anyone. Joyce and Jill are sooo nice.

Glasgow and UK school love!! 😍

 

[Tambotie]

I concur with Shortnsweet, Kbelle07, Packen and others....everyone has been very nice to me and very pleasant to work with (I will be going to Glasgow)... but to assume that the alternative to negative reception / treatment (as was suggested by vettobe2014) for those going to Edinburgh (or Glasgow) is rosy, peachy and the glass is always full, and everyone treated like royalty all of time might be a bit of a stretch and pretty naive. We are all humans; and all schools will have limitations/ faults/flaws to some degree... but to trash talk a school(s) is very inappropriate.

 

[FinleyMonkey]

I'm a student at Edinburgh, and I can assure you the professors and administration at the Dick Vet are nothing but extremely helpful. Not sure what someone has to gain by saying otherwise, but either way. I'm constantly thankful that I chose to go to Edinburgh because I know the experiences that I am getting would not be the same if I stayed in the States. Hope to see some of you around the new building next year 🙂

 

[zap86]

Have any GEP students received their joining packs in the mail? I got one e-mailed to me a while ago and they said one would also be coming in the mail but I haven't received one so far. It seems like it's been a long time and I am wondering if they forgot me. 🙁

 

[FinleyMonkey]

Does anyone know when the first scheduled event is during Fresher's week?

 

[tamsdivision]

Have any GEP students received their joining packs in the mail? I got one e-mailed to me a while ago and they said one would also be coming in the mail but I haven't received one so far. It seems like it's been a long time and I am wondering if they forgot me. 🙁

I'm still waiting for mine as well. Maybe we were both forgotten 🙁

 

[futurevet3000]

I'm still waiting for mine as well. Maybe we were both forgotten 🙁

I did not get one either, but I assume everything we really needed to do or see was emailed to us by Victoria, she is very on top of stuff for us... so I am not fretting...
Got clothing and supplies ordered, plus a few books... now I just have to show up I guess. Getting close! 😱

 

[Knockout4]

I am not sure if anyone will see this, since I have not seen this thread pop up in a while, but I thought I would try! I am in the 5 year program, so I still have not arrived or set all the details up yet. Looking through clothing order forms, I am trying to decide if I really need to order any more boots. I have really good insulated, waterproof muck boots and leather type working boots. I have always used these working with horses and cattle. Is it necessary to get the exact ones listed by the university? I already know these fit and somehow I got them stuffed into my suitcase, so if I do not have to purchase new ones I would rather not. Or if anyone knows a particular staff member I should ask, let me know. I know this might be a silly question but I figured I would see what y'all thought. Thanks!

 

[Packen]

I am not sure if anyone will see this, since I have not seen this thread pop up in a while, but I thought I would try! I am in the 5 year program, so I still have not arrived or set all the details up yet. Looking through clothing order forms, I am trying to decide if I really need to order any more boots. I have really good insulated, waterproof muck boots and leather type working boots. I have always used these working with horses and cattle. Is it necessary to get the exact ones listed by the university? I already know these fit and somehow I got them stuffed into my suitcase, so if I do not have to purchase new ones I would rather not. Or if anyone knows a particular staff member I should ask, let me know. I know this might be a silly question but I figured I would see what y'all thought. Thanks!

I know a few of us Dick Vet SDNers that just started the GEP are swamped, so probably why not many of us have posted anything. When they said we would hit the ground running, they weren't joking. I have to say that some of the info we got before starting regarding clothing has been incorrect and there have been some issues getting things we ordered from the Final Year Club. Here are my two cents on what you will need, or at least what we have needed so far:

Dissection Labs - Lab coat (most of us have 2)
Equine Practicals - overalls (boiler suit) and steel toe boots (I wear my Muck boots)
Pig Practicals - Parlour top (waterproof shirt) and waterproof pants and steel toe wellies (again I plan on wearing my Muck boots)
Cattle Practicals - You must wear farm supplied clothes and wellies (although I wear scrubs there since your clothes smell like cattle after)
Sheep Practicals - You must wear farm supplied clothes and wellies

And that's really it for necessary clothing. You might want to wear your boots on some EMS, and the waterproof clothing too, although if you do EMS at the school's farms, then you will still have to wear their stuff.

Due to the issues that we are having with things we have ordered through the Final Year Club, my suggestion is to buy anything on that list (i.e. overalls or lab coats) at a local store called Hewats. I also have a link to two different UK online stores that sell parlour tops since Hewats doesn't sell them. As a side note, anything ordered directly through the school, the VTO has been fine and we have not had problems collecting those supplies.

Hope this helps!! Hope to see you soon!

Oh and for Finley Monkey - did you bring your dog over here? Just curious...going through some serious puppy withdrawal...if you ever need him walked 😀 (after AB1 exams though!)

 

[FinleyMonkey]

Is it necessary to get the exact ones listed by the university?

Nope, as long as yours are steel-toed they should be perfectly fine.


My pup and I are still in sunny Florida, we fly over in two weeks! Hope the GEPs are having at least a little fun through all the stress. You all will be great! We should have a SDN get together after AB1.

 

[Knockout4]

Packen - that is a huge help! I had definitely gotten the impression it would be much easier for me to go to Hewat's or something similar when I arrived as opposed to the FYC, so I am glad you confirmed that. Seems like the payment is a bit mixed up. Like you said ordering right from the school seemed easy; I did order my locker, notes, dissection kit and stuff right from the school. I arrive 2 weeks before my classes start so I figured that would be enough time to find other clothes, supplies, and books and not have to pay lots of foreign transaction fees and such. Thanks for the input on what clothing I should need!

Finley Monkey - thank you! That is kind of what I was afraid of... I do not think my Muck boots are steel toed... they are pretty heavy duty though, and have always provided more than enough protection, but if I am required to have ones that are steel toed I might have to get some new ones. I guess since they are in my suitcase I will just bring them and see if they will work or not. I dunno where you are in Florida, it has been rainy every day here in Tampa for about a week!

Hope to see you both soon, if you have any other suggestions let me know 🙂 Can't wait!

 

[FinleyMonkey]

I dunno where you are in Florida, it has been rainy every day here in Tampa for about a week!

Haha, yeah it definitely has been rainy, with it's sunny moments in Orlando. I'm heading to the beach for my last week here and supposedly it is going to be nice and I am very excited 🙂. I've heard it's unusually cold in Edinburgh right now... enjoy you last few days of heat!

 

[Knockout4]

I am heeeeere! (in Edinburgh) I had a weird question. Is it normal to tip waiters and waitresses and everything? I remember one of the professors saying at orientation how weird it was that we (in the US) have to work in a tip for many things.

Also Packen (or anyone 🙂) - I got some stuff from Hewat's today, but where is a good place to get the parlour tops? Also does anyone have suggestions for where to get books?

Thanks in advance for any help, I am sure everyone is busy studying. See you all soooon.

 

[laitmanvet]

I am heeeeere! (in Edinburgh) I had a weird question. Is it normal to tip waiters and waitresses and everything? I remember one of the professors saying at orientation how weird it was that we (in the US) have to work in a tip for many things.

I just met with a friend this past weekend who is a grad student at Edinburgh and he said unless you're at a fancy restaurant, you don't tip. People sometimes round up to the next pound and leave the change. At fancy restaurants people sometimes leave ~10%. Unlike in the US, waiters there can make a good living on just their salary.
Its pretty similar at other places in Europe too.

 

[Knockout4]

I just met with a friend this past weekend who is a grad student at Edinburgh and he said unless you're at a fancy restaurant, you don't tip. People sometimes round up to the next pound and leave the change. At fancy restaurants people sometimes leave ~10%. Unlike in the US, waiters there can make a good living on just their salary.
Its pretty similar at other places in Europe too.

Ha I do not forsee going to any fancy restaurants anytime soon! Thank you, I wanted to make sure before I went out and didn't leave a tip when I was supposed to!

 

[Packen]

Welcome to Edinburgh Knockout! what Laitmanvet said about tipping is what the locals have told us as well. You might leave extra for some really good service - like a bartender making bunch of complicated shots, but otherwise don't add a tip.

As for parlour tops, I bought mine through http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/category/parlour-wear The only catch is that you need a UK credit/debit card number to order them. You shouldn't have your pig practical right away (only thing first semester you need your own parlour top for) so it shouldn't be a problem waiting until you get your bank card to order them. The ship super fast - I did regular shipping and had the top in about 2 business days.

Hope to see you at some of the Fresher events this week (you're not a field hockey player by any chance?? - trying to get more people to join the club with me, since apparently Futurevet prefers soccer 😛).

 

[Knockout4]

Thank you for the welcome! I realize it is going to be a bit of a tough adjustment... I am missing a lot of people back home already. but, it is really nice here and I think I will love it. Now I just gotta figure out how to get to the vet school and everything next week and I will be set! I am pretty close to town, and a lot of bus stops, so I just need to figure out which one and what time.

Thanks for the link, and I will just wait until I get my UK credit card or debit card. I went to the bank today and am just waiting to get stuff in the mail. I am finding that this is an issue with some other places as well so some other stuff may have to wait also.

Nah, I know nothing about field hockey! I am not quite sure what I am going to do yet, but I have always been active and I cant wait to sign up for some stuff, I will definitely be around at Fresher's week 🙂

 

[DickVetMan]

I hope everyone is doing fine in Edinburgh and are enjoying Fresher's Week! For those who are studying for the AB! exam, you'll be fine, think of it as just a memory match game except with muscles, vessels, and bones......or whatever analogy you gents and ladies think about! There will be a bowling event this Saturday at FountainPark, all are welcome since I don't know anybody here or FB for that matter! I thought it would be a good way to welcome back my classmates or newbies to the school, so join in on the fun if you can!

 

[Howister]

I applied to edinburgh and I was wondering how easy it is to bring over a large dog. I know that people have brought their medium sized dogs, but I have a 90+ pound german shepherd. I didn't see any breed restrictions to german shepherds, but I could have overlooked them. And, if anyone has that large of a dog, could you find housing that was friendly (i.e. had a backyard or close park). And last, but not least are there dog walkers for when you're in class all day?

 

[FinleyMonkey]

I applied to edinburgh and I was wondering how easy it is to bring over a large dog. I know that people have brought their medium sized dogs, but I have a 90+ pound german shepherd. I didn't see any breed restrictions to german shepherds, but I could have overlooked them. And, if anyone has that large of a dog, could you find housing that was friendly (i.e. had a backyard or close park). And last, but not least are there dog walkers for when you're in class all day?

My dog is about 80 pounds, and he cost a fortune to get over. Finding a place can be tough but I'm quite picky so it took me awhile; I was honest with the landlord and they offered it no pets allowed and I asked and they made an exception for me. I have a place just outside of the city (close to the school!) and have a nice fenced in garden in the back. Classes from 9-5 aren't that common so if you live close enough it is easy to sneak home to let a dog out, but for those days that you really do have class all day then hopefully you live near a friend. My dog has had to be locked up a couple times from 9-5 and he hasn't been happy, but he has survived.

 

[Howister]

My dog is about 80 pounds, and he cost a fortune to get over. Finding a place can be tough but I'm quite picky so it took me awhile; I was honest with the landlord and they offered it no pets allowed and I asked and they made an exception for me. I have a place just outside of the city (close to the school!) and have a nice fenced in garden in the back. Classes from 9-5 aren't that common so if you live close enough it is easy to sneak home to let a dog out, but for those days that you really do have class all day then hopefully you live near a friend. My dog has had to be locked up a couple times from 9-5 and he hasn't been happy, but he has survived.

Did you find a place once you go to edinburgh and then had your dog come over once you found a place? I am glad that there are places with a backyard available!
What kind of dog is it? I know a lot of people don't trust german shepherds, even though mine is very sweet and pretty calm. I am getting his CGC soon to ease the process, but I don't know if that is helpful in the UK.

 

[Packen]

Did you find a place once you go to edinburgh and then had your dog come over once you found a place? I am glad that there are places with a backyard available!
What kind of dog is it? I know a lot of people don't trust german shepherds, even though mine is very sweet and pretty calm. I am getting his CGC soon to ease the process, but I don't know if that is helpful in the UK.

I have been told that having a "pet resume" really helps. I think you can google it. I was planning on bringing my girl GSD over this fall, but I really wanted to go home a lot this first year and didn't want to constantly be leaving her, especially over the long breaks. Plus it was easier to find a place this year without having to worry about finding a dog friendly place. It is possible in the city though - I see lots of larger dogs too, even a few GSDs.

One suggestion might be to look for roomies that have different schedules - like vet students in other years or non-vet students so they might be able to take your dog out for a quick walk when you can't. Oh, and there are tons of parks in the city that are very dog friendly.

I do plan on bringing my girl over next fall. She has all of the Pet Scheme things done anyway, so that is a plus, it is just getting her over here. I plan on doing the same thing Finely Monkey did and just ask landlords if they will be flexible with the dog rule. Again, hoping a pet resume will help.

 

[FinleyMonkey]

I left my lab mix at home for the first year and found a place before he got over here. I was miserable without him but it would have been stressful having him here and trying to adjust to moving and study--but I know plenty of people that moved over the first year with their pets and they were fine, esp if you have help/a good roommate. Not sure what all goes on a pet resume bc I didn't have one, but I did have to provide a reference for my dog (they contacted an apt complex I used to live in). And I've seen plenty of GSD. One even lives in my neighborhood, and my dog isn't too keen on him--he is intimidated by anything larger than he is.

 

[Howister]

I have been told that having a "pet resume" really helps. I think you can google it. I was planning on bringing my girl GSD over this fall, but I really wanted to go home a lot this first year and didn't want to constantly be leaving her, especially over the long breaks. Plus it was easier to find a place this year without having to worry about finding a dog friendly place. It is possible in the city though - I see lots of larger dogs too, even a few GSDs.

One suggestion might be to look for roomies that have different schedules - like vet students in other years or non-vet students so they might be able to take your dog out for a quick walk when you can't. Oh, and there are tons of parks in the city that are very dog friendly.

I do plan on bringing my girl over next fall. She has all of the Pet Scheme things done anyway, so that is a plus, it is just getting her over here. I plan on doing the same thing Finely Monkey did and just ask landlords if they will be flexible with the dog rule. Again, hoping a pet resume will help.

Wow, I'd never heard of a pet resume! At least he's had a LOT of obedience training 😀 I'm glad that it is possible to bring your dog.....2000 dollars is a lot of money to fly a dog over, I can't believe it is soooo expensive....eeek