C/O 2015 University of Edinburgh

[zap86]

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Crap, hope its not too late! Thanks again for help, I definitely have already been to these sites, but just missed this info!

No problem! And I'm sure you're not too late. The application is really easy and quick to fill out!

 

[Packen]

Crap, hope its not too late! Thanks again for help, I definitely have already been to these sites, but just missed this info!

Oh man, I had no idea we could apply for stuff on our own either. I have just been sitting around waiting for the FA dept to get back to me. Thanks for the links zap!

 

[futurevet3000]

Well I have also heard/thought myself that we were to wait to hear from Fin. Aid. before we go ahead with anything...
They're probably waiting for my deposit before they get back to me...

 

[ckd816]

Well I have also heard/thought myself that we were to wait to hear from Fin. Aid. before we go ahead with anything...
They're probably waiting for my deposit before they get back to me...

I honestly think they're just slow. 🙂 I paid my deposit over 3 weeks ago and I still haven't heard a peep from financial aid... I did email them back on March 4th to see when we should hear about aid packages and they said "a month or so" which obviously did not happen. I'm trying to be patient and remind myself that no one has had problems getting enough money in the past, so if I just chill it will all work out in time!

 

[HopefulVet0502]

I honestly think they're just slow. 🙂 I paid my deposit over 3 weeks ago and I still haven't heard a peep from financial aid... I did email them back on March 4th to see when we should hear about aid packages and they said "a month or so" which obviously did not happen. I'm trying to be patient and remind myself that no one has had problems getting enough money in the past, so if I just chill it will all work out in time!

I sure hope they hurry it up! I'm one of the ones stuck in the situation where I have a very limited amount of time to apply for my VISA before the UK Border Agency officially changes their dependent rules and I risk my husband not getting a spouse VISA. I know I've still got time, but I need my awards package soon so I can show Proof of Funds on the VISA app or I may be at risk of a nervous breakdown! Thanks for all the updates that people have been posting...they're keeping me sane! 🙂

PS-Guess I should introduce myself since I've just been a long-time lurker. I'll be joining the 5-yr program in the fall, bringing along both my uber-supportive husband and English Pointer. I'm slightly non-traditional...26yr...and have been living in NC for the past 3 yrs while my husband finishes his professional degree. Looking forward to this next chapter and meeting everyone!

 

[futurevet3000]

Bumping the thread purely to announce that deposit is paid (now I am poor), FAF is scanned and emailed to Victoria, and got the ball rolling on my equine EMS which is approved and ready to go. THINGS ARE HAPPENING. Next step... try to remain patient as financial aid says they will email us at the end of April (I think they hate me) with our packages and such, and also housing arrangements to be emailed for the GEP in May (says Victoria). Then, VISAS!

Somebody pinch me.

 

[Whyevernot55]

Can someone PM me contact info for EMS? The website nav is horrendous and Victoria hasn't replied to my email yet, and I'm trying to figure out if I can get some EMS out of the way this summer. Or if the things I already do would count.

 

[futurevet3000]

her name is Kay and she probably hates me...
[email protected]

I got some equine stuff approved. She's pretty good about getting back to you quickly. Though I apologize to her profusely because I am sure she is busy and I ask a lot of questions.

 

[Kem9987221]

Does anyone know when the winter break begins for the 5 year programm? Im looking into buying round trip airfare to get there in september and then fly home in december. Also do people do ems during the week before christmas?

 

[SoBeVet]

Does anyone know when the winter break begins for the 5 year programm? Im looking into buying round trip airfare to get there in september and then fly home in december. Also do people do ems during the week before christmas?

Hi!

Winter Break 2011 starts December 19 and classes begin again on January 9th. Yes, ppl do EMS the week before Christmas. I did my dog/cat EMS back home around that time.

 

[Whyevernot55]

Hey any current students that might be reading this - I'm going to be in Edinburgh at the beginning of next week before my mother and I travel up north to visit friends. I've made arrangements to visit Easter Bush, but if any of you are around/not too busy, I've love to meet some current students and get any and all advice. Also, good places to eat dinner and drink beer. It's been a few years since I've been in the city. 😀

 

[futurevet3000]

Ahhh SO jealous. Scope out all the good spots for our class! I expect a full report when you get home 😉 but seriously have an awesome trip!

 

[FinleyMonkey]

Hey any current students that might be reading this - I'm going to be in Edinburgh at the beginning of next week before my mother and I travel up north to visit friends. I've made arrangements to visit Easter Bush, but if any of you are around/not too busy, I've love to meet some current students and get any and all advice. Also, good places to eat dinner and drink beer. It's been a few years since I've been in the city. 😀

We are smack dab in the middle of exams this week but finish this Thursday (yayyy!) but I got to go in the new building yesterday before my exams and it is absolutely stunning! And I actually felt like a vet student finally because we were all mixed in with upper years at the canteen, it was very exciting haha.

Depends on what food you like but there's a really good Indian restaurant (Kismot) but it's BYOB. And there's plenty of places with pub food and beer but I haven't found one yet that has remarkable pub food lol. There's a mexican place by the royal mile that's really good but really expensive, although they make good mojitos. Any of the places on the royal mile are probably a good bet. PM me, and maybe we can work out getting together so you can pick some of our brains, otherwise, were all back from break so the lower years will be at Summerhall.

 

[Whyevernot55]

We are smack dab in the middle of exams this week but finish this Thursday (yayyy!) but I got to go in the new building yesterday before my exams and it is absolutely stunning! And I actually felt like a vet student finally because we were all mixed in with upper years at the canteen, it was very exciting haha.

Oh man, good luck with your exams! Sending you a PM now. 😀

@futurevet3000 - Thanks! I'll come back with hopefully lots of photos and good info!

 

[CurrySpice]

Someone at Edinburgh needs to post pics of the awesome new campus!

I visited the old campus in the city last year (didn't realize they were moving yet!) and it was okay, but I'm excited to see what's happening in Easter Bush! I saw their official photos on the website.

 

[zap86]

When I went to visit in January I got to see the outside of the new teaching facility and it looked great! I can't wait to see the inside. We are lucky to be the first students using it!

 

[Kem9987221]

So does anyone know if there will be things for parents during freshers week? My dad is coming with me when I hop over the pond and I know that I will be tied up with other stuff and I was wondering if the university has stuff that will keep him occupied. Thanks

 

[SoBeVet]

So does anyone know if there will be things for parents during freshers week? My dad is coming with me when I hop over the pond and I know that I will be tied up with other stuff and I was wondering if the university has stuff that will keep him occupied. Thanks

The vet school does its own Fresher's Week than the rest of the Uni. Sadly the vet school's version doesn't have anything for the parental unit. My mother and aunt took that time to sightsee while I was out and about with my class. However, parentals are more than welcome to join you and the rest of your class when you all congregate at the pubs. Southsider used to be the vet school's pub, now it is tentatively The Argyle.

 

[tamsdivision]

Is there a GEP fresher's week or is there just one fresher's week when the 5 year program starts in September?

 

[flyhi]

In the past, it's just been for 5yr program. GEPs had the week off to study for their first exams and hung out at some of our functions, but sadly, were left out a bit. It was brought to the admin's attention, so not sure if there will be some changes....hopefully there will!

 

[CVRD]

I'm probably a little early with this, but if anyone is interested in sharing a house next year, I'm up for it 😀. It'll be me & my two dogs (one senior, one puppy), won't mind if you have a pet too, as long as it's NOT a cat 🙂.

PM me if you're interested in looking for a house together. I'll be able to go and check it out sometime over the summer (August), but I think it'll be A LOT easier (and much more fun) to just move in together to a house rather than myself looking for ONE room in a shared house with random stangers.. 😀 Let me know if you're interested and we can talk more!

 

[futurevet3000]

Has anyone heard from financial aid? I really really want to start doing things, like apply for my visa and figure out how I am going to survive over there, but I cannot do a thing without hearing from financial aid... I have been a complete pest with them too.

But anywho I wanted to see how everyone's travel plans were going... and how excited is everyone getting!? I can't believe its less than three months away.

And so begins my panic attack for the day 😱 haha

 

[Knockout4]

It HAS been too quiet!! I have not heard from them yet, and I am getting pretty anxious. I have done everything on the checklist on their website so I think I can't do anything else yet.

I have started to look at flights.... I have a question that may be silly but here goes. I know they said don't come in through Dublin, but there is a flight leaving from close to my hometown that flies into Germany first then Edinburgh, would that be a problem? Do you HAVE to fly in through Heathrow, or would it work coming from somewhere other than what they specifically said? I know maybe no one here will know for sure, but it was worth asking 🙂

Also, I know when I was doing housing for undergrad in Florida, most apartments and things were unfurnished... is that so over there too? Do we need to worry about getting furniture on top of everything else if we are not staying on campus??

Hope these questions aren't silly just wanted to get some thoughts!

 

[flyhi]

I I know they said don't come in through Dublin, but there is a flight leaving from close to my hometown that flies into Germany first then Edinburgh, would that be a problem? Do you HAVE to fly in through Heathrow, or would it work coming from somewhere other than what they specifically said?
Also, I know when I was doing housing for undergrad in Florida, most apartments and things were unfurnished... is that so over there too? Do we need to worry about getting furniture on top of everything else if we are not staying on campus??

I can answer a few of these, but i'm sure some others will chime in. Dublin doesn't work the first time because apparently they don't stamp your passport/visa, so you can't provide that as proof that you have cleared customs in the UK. Germany should be fine. It's only Dublin they worry about, from what i've been told.

Most places in the city are furnished. It seems like most cater to the student population and furnished makes sense. Certainly, there are unfurnished places and i would think you would find this more commonplace out towards the new vet school, but I could not say for sure. It does seem like furnished places are much easier to find than in College Town, USA.

 

[Knockout4]

Thanks! That helps ease my mind a little. I feel like I have so much to do, but I feel like I can't do much more until hearing from financial aid. But I will try to be patient 🙂

 

[futurevet3000]

I refuse to let this thread disappear again!

So, how is everyone's visa coming along? I am anxiously awaiting for my CAS number! Then I am going to hit the ground running. Though I suppose others may have been more on the ball than I, and sent their scanned passport earlier. I only did that last week. But, my loan stuff is all taken care of (so I think).

Next stress... that will be figuring out my dog's flight for when I move out of the dorms after the first five weeks.

Oh and I should probably buy my plane ticket.

Anywho this is a random post, but like I said I didn't want to see this thread die again!

One more thing... anyone who is in the dorms for the first five weeks, have you actually paid for that yet? I am trying to get in touch with the accommodation people to ask how that works, since I was planning on doing it all with loans, which of course I do not have yet.

 

[Knockout4]

I just went online to figure out how/when to start my visa application, and it says I need an address in the UK and an itinerary to do so? Is that something I need before I can even start? I hope that is not a silly question, I haven't gotten to read up on it as much as I would like due to my 90 hour a week work schedule 🙂 so figured I would see if others who have started have a quick answer...

I guess it might not matter yet, on Edinburgh's site it says you shouldn't apply for one more than 3 months from the start date of classes, which for me isn't until Sep 19. I just want to get started!

 

[futurevet3000]

already... Visa = 😕 😡
and that's all I have to say on that for the moment. I will pay someone to do it for me... any takers?!

Sorry knockout that I can be of no help to you other than letting you know that you are not alone in your confusion.

 

[Knockout4]

Sorry knockout that I can be of no help to you other than letting you know that you are not alone in your confusion.

Haha, it is always good to know you are not alone! If I find anything else out I will let you know. I think I will scour the Edinburgh thread from last year to see if there is anything helpful.

 

[FinleyMonkey]

Don't worry about the visa thing. Like you said, you really can't start until 3 months out. Then you apply online (here, I think, http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/) and then set up a biometrics appt (finger prints basically and you set up the appt at the end of submitting your visa app) then you mail all that off with a whole checklist of papers--basically CAS number, transcript from undergrad, passport and some other stuff I'm forgetting--and they send your visa back. It's not too much of a headache, just start it as soon as allowed incase there are any hiccups. Other than that, enjoy your summer... vet school is a doozy 🙂

 

[Knockout4]

It's not too much of a headache, just start it as soon as allowed incase there are any hiccups. Other than that, enjoy your summer... vet school is a doozy 🙂

Thanks! That helps a lot. I will try to relax a little while I can, hah.

 

[zap86]

I've got a question for any current students who have gone through the whole visa application process. Does anyone know whether to choose "Tier 4 (General) Student" or "Tier 4 (General)(Sponsored) Student" for the visa type? Is it the latter since the University of Edinburgh acts as our sponsor? Aah, so confused! I looked all over the school's website but still couldn't figure it out. Thanks!

 

[flyhi]

I've got a question for any current students who have gone through the whole visa application process. Does anyone know whether to choose "Tier 4 (General) Student" or "Tier 4 (General)(Sponsored) Student" for the visa type? Is it the latter since the University of Edinburgh acts as our sponsor? Aah, so confused! I looked all over the school's website but still couldn't figure it out. Thanks!

Tier 4 General...

i think sponsored is like if someone is sponsoring you by paying your tuition...

you can always email your admissions contact to confirm and there is also an immigration contact at the school. I don't remember his name..

 

[zap86]

Tier 4 General...

i think sponsored is like if someone is sponsoring you by paying your tuition...

you can always email your admissions contact to confirm and there is also an immigration contact at the school. I don't remember his name..

Thanks, that's what I thought. I did e-mail the immigration office but haven't received an answer. Maybe they'll get back to me next week.

 

[Kem9987221]

*bump* also, I have a question about applying for a visa. On the application it says something about funds and paying them before you apply, and on the school website it says that it may help for international students to partially pay their fees to make geting a visa eaiser, but on the letter i received from the finance people, it says we don't get our loans until September 19th (the first day of classes). So has anyone else seen this/ tried to make sense of it?

applying for this visa is stressing me out, mostly cause I have no idea what I am doing

 

[tamsdivision]

For those of you already there, are you allowed to take pictures of the specimens in the anatomy lab?

 

[lizinwonderland]

.

 

[futurevet3000]

Okay so hopefully I am not the only one (in the GEP program) that has not applied for a visa yet... I am gathering all necessary documents and getting more transcripts sent (thought I was done with that). I figured I would share what I have ready to go for the visa in case other people are working on a check list and want to cross reference.
so far I got...
1. passport (not going to expire anytime soon)
2. CAS number/letter sent via EUCLID portal printed out - must mention something about a sponsor's note and English language along with cost of tuition.
3. proof that you meet the conditions of the offer... which is listed on the above letter. For me, it will be a transcript from my undergrad university only. We do not need transcripts from other outside coursework.
4. Proof of financial aid? This is one that I am not sure about. I got something attached to an email from student funding saying to wait for a real copy of it in the mail to send with visa stuff... still waiting for that to arrive.

My goal is to get this done by the end of the week... the summer is slipping away soooo quickly its terrifying and exciting all at the same time!
EMS work for me starts in two weeks! Madness.

Hope everyone else is doing well, and not freaking out as much as I am...

 

[zap86]

Has anyone in the GEP program who applied for the 5 week only housing heard anything from accommodation services about your application? I applied but haven't heard anything from them like whether they received my application or anything about moving in.

 

[futurevet3000]

When I sent the form Lisa had emailed me back saying thanks for emailing the form. That was the only little bit of confirmation I got. I would email her and just check to ease your mind, I am sure they got it!
Fun fact... they are open 24 hrs a day, so if your travel plans get you in late or really early, you can still get into your room on the sixth no matter the time!

 

[Kem9987221]

Hey all, so im in the 5 year and my offer became unconditional and firm about 2 weeks ago. I got all my financial aid stuff done and I was given a university email. Victoria Doggett asked my permission to transfer all my info to UCAS and I replied saying yes and so far that is all I have gotten from them. So I was wondering if anyone else in the 5 year has gotten anything more (like a CAS) or know if there is something else that I should be doing. Thanks

 

[Packen]

Has anyone in the GEP program who applied for the 5 week only housing heard anything from accommodation services about your application? I applied but haven't heard anything from them like whether they received my application or anything about moving in.

I had some issues with my app, so I did hear back from Lisa. I still haven't gotten it completely squared away, but she said that I should have it done by the end of this week. So I am sure if there was a glitch and it didn't go through it wont be a big issue if you get in touch with her by Friday.

Good to know about 24hr check-in!

 

[tamsdivision]

What anatomy textbook is recommended for first year GEP?

 

[zap86]

Thanks for the advice, I checked with Lisa and she did receive my application. 🙂

 

[Whyevernot55]

Hey kids, I have to regretfully inform you that I will not be joining you in Edinburgh this August. All who are going, have FUN!

 

[ckd816]

Hey kids, I have to regretfully inform you that I will not be joining you in Edinburgh this August. All who are going, have FUN!

Aww, that's too bad! Are you applying another round?

Also on a side note, I want to invest in a new camera soon but I was wondering if it was one of those electronics I should wait to get until I'm over there... like will it get fried if I buy one here and constantly have to charge it over there?

 

[Whyevernot55]

Aww, that's too bad! Are you applying another round?

Also on a side note, I want to invest in a new camera soon but I was wondering if it was one of those electronics I should wait to get until I'm over there... like will it get fried if I buy one here and constantly have to charge it over there?

Yup - it's not really a long story, but suffice to say that after my visit and extensive soul-searching I decided it wasn't the right thing for me to do at the moment. So VMCAS, here I come again.

RE the camera, it shouldn't matter - you'll just be recharging the batteries, no? I know at least with mine, it comes with a rechargeable battery which I pop out and put in the charger, and you can just plug that into an adapter. I've never had problems with it on visits to the UK.

 

[Packen]

Yup - it's not really a long story, but suffice to say that after my visit and extensive soul-searching I decided it wasn't the right thing for me to do at the moment. So VMCAS, here I come again.

Sorry to hear this, but totally understandable. I wish you the best of luck with VMCAS and this cycle of applications!!!

 

[Whyevernot55]

Sorry to hear this, but totally understandable. I wish you the best of luck with VMCAS and this cycle of applications!!!

Thanks Packen - it was truly one of the hardest decisions I've had to make, but I'm relieved that I did. Here's to another round of applications! 🙄

 

[flyhi]

Aww, that's too bad! Are you applying another round?

Also on a side note, I want to invest in a new camera soon but I was wondering if it was one of those electronics I should wait to get until I'm over there... like will it get fried if I buy one here and constantly have to charge it over there?

Buy it here...it will be less expensive, and like Whyever said, you can use an adapter over there. Oh, and buy your adapters over there! They are like 20 bucks here and 5 pounds over there!

GOOD LUCK Whyever....you will do great this cycle!