CLASS OF 2013....how ya doin?

[meadow36]

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Ok here comes my two cents ....

Reading some of the above responses makes me really glad I'm at UF. 🙂

We had 4 days of orientation - 2 days at the school and 2 days at a mandatory overnight camping retreat (in cabins). It was very touchy-feely and I hated it; but I got through it and was fine.

We started classes Aug 17, and we've already completed one course (Histology). We've had one exam and two quizzes in anatomy, the histo final, and another final coming up next week. So far I have A's in everything, and I am NO scholar.

There is no P-chem or Biochem; we do have Molecular Bio, which is a little confusing but not really that bad. Besides, it's almost over - the final is in one week.

The professors here on the whole have been outstanding - there is no DVM here who would get "pissy" if you asked a question. All the "whys" are explained, maybe not in intricate detail, but enough so you get it. All of them have offered extra help, extra study sessions, and stayed after class to answer questions. They DO NOT want people to fail here, and everything possible is done to prevent that. EVERYONE goes to lecture, and if you don't, you will be sorely missed. Professors know your name - even me, and I don't really ask a lot of questions or anything.

The anatomy lab is open 24/7 - and there's always TA's kicking around there (ok maybe not in the middle of the night but certainly during school hours up to about 7PM). The TA's are OUTSTANDING. I can't express that enough. We have 2 surgical residents, the lab manager, and a handful of fourth years as TA's. They love being there, love teaching everyone, and never hesitate to go over something one-on-one with you.

The material is NOT hard. Yes, there is a lot of it, but it isn't hard stuff. Certainly nothing I haven't seen before in undergrad. I've had to develop some new study techniques, and yes, I come home from a long day and put in 1-3 hours of studying. But on the weekends, I'm mostly free (I might review some stuff or study if there's an exam). At least 1 or 2 days a week I don't study at night. I sleep, play with my dogs, etc. You have to keep yourself happy and well rested otherwise you will never retain any of this stuff.

We have a pretty young class and I am about 10-12 years older than most of them so I don't have a lot in common with a lot of people in the class; but with a little effort I've been able to make a few good buddies.

I wish I didn't have to spend the next four years in school, and some parts of it I loathe, but on the whole it really isn't that bad!! At least not here. If I can do this, anyone can.

Feel free to post or PM me with any questions.

 

[meadow36]

I just wanted to add - we have two additional classes this semester that have made the transition a little easier. One is "Career Opportunities", where all different types of DVM's come in to talk about how they got to where they are and what their job is like. The other is "Professional Development". I look at this class as sort of mandatory group therapy. 🙂 Basically it is taught by a DVM (from aquatic medicine, very cool) and also a Psychologist. We have all kinds of guest speakers, like someone from the human sleep lab to talk about sleep patterns (awesome lecture), financial stuff, nutrition (for us, not the animals), how to communicate with others, etc.

The cool thing is they are usually sandwiched inbetween lectures for other courses; so it's a nice break in the day and reminds you of why you are there. 🙂 Some people in my class don't like these additional courses but I find them to be comforting.

 

[meadow36]

Ok this is the last thing I am going to add (I promise!).....

We also have "bigs"; everyone has their own big. This is a person in the sophmore class that helps you out, answers questions, etc. Most importantly, they give you these HUGE boxes full of information/old tests/outlines/study materials. These boxes have been past down from "big" to "little" for years. I have old tests in my box from 1988.

The class of 2013 is always very helpful to each other as well; constantly emailing around study guides, helpful websites and other things that might help in each class.

 

[ORvetgirl]

I'm another Oregon Stater (yep Oregonhopeful, I'll be at the BBQ!), so the ball starts rolling this Wednesday. I'm getting super nervous, but I've been randomly coming across all these quotes about not fearing the future, and though I'm totally not an omen kinda person, they are making me feel better. lol.

I'll let you know what I think of vet school once we get started. Good luck to everyone else.

 

[oregonhopeful]

Inspirational quotes- I've nearly bought several motivational posters lately to put up in my corvallis apartment. I can see myself completely forgetting why I'm in vet school once I get there.
ORvetgirl - maybe we can divulge our secret identities at some point. 😎

 

[No Imagination]

Meadow reminded me of something...

Miss. State has officially made "Old Exams" off limits, and a violation of the honor code... Prof's have been very strict about them not getting out, which is fine, but as can be expected, there are several old exams already floating around.

Seeing as several people have been (Severely) disciplined, and one kicked out of the program (for honor code violations (all upper classman)) it's not something I would even dream of messing around with.

It's good in many ways, completely levels the playing field (in theory), but it also gives those few 'daring' individuals a huge upper hand. Verdict is still out IMO about the whole thing...

 

[Caninerepro]

Sounds like UF and MN are pretty much the same, right down to Professional Skills and touchy-feeley camp orientation at the YMCA cabins (mystery brownies anyone?). Also, 2nd years passed down the CD of old tests that the professors have approved. I think I have actually eaten my packed lunch twice in 9 days, otherwise the free lunches are awesome! I have made the commitment to myself to give my brain one night a week off -- no homework.

 

[stick91]

Inspirational quotes- I've nearly bought several motivational posters lately to put up in my corvallis apartment.

Heh, I love a good inspirational quote, but I love these even more. I have the wishes one!

I too will be at the BBQ on Monday, and hopefully by then my apartment will actually be ready to live in!

 

[Ben and Me]

Meadow reminded me of something...

Miss. State has officially made "Old Exams" off limits, and a violation of the honor code... Prof's have been very strict about them not getting out, which is fine, but as can be expected, there are several old exams already floating around.

Seeing as several people have been (Severely) disciplined, and one kicked out of the program (for honor code violations (all upper classman)) it's not something I would even dream of messing around with.

It's good in many ways, completely levels the playing field (in theory), but it also gives those few 'daring' individuals a huge upper hand. Verdict is still out IMO about the whole thing...

With an honor code, don't you feel that you have an obligation to at least anonymously report to those professors that old exams have been leaked? Honor codes only work if the community is unwilling to accept transgressions--and they work best when students (not administrators) are the ones putting the pressure on others to not cheat/lie/steal.

 

[No Imagination]

With an honor code, don't you feel that you have an obligation to at least anonymously report to those professors that old exams have been leaked? Honor codes only work if the community is unwilling to accept transgressions--and they work best when students (not administrators) are the ones putting the pressure on others to not cheat/lie/steal.

I don't want to derail this thread too much but:

A) True, it works best when it has student support - but it's the administrators who make up the rules - while 'we' students have abide by them (we all agreed) we can hardly be expected to embrace them when we had no say in their development (I have SO MANY problems with our Honor Code)

Like the fact I am REQUIRED to report transgressions, but after I report it, it is up to the administration to proceed with it... basically you are asked to put your ass on the line and the admin may or may not back you up - Anonymity is NOT guaranteed and they encourage direct involvement

B) The presence of previous exams was reported to admin. and to my knowledge nothing was done. Worse off - admin pretended the complaint wasn't even made and has not addressed it (by virtue of a supposed unchanged exam)

C) And this kills me the most! - We are NOT to report to administration/prof. but to the elected student government... then they decide. (Not sure if this is official, but its what was told to us by several people)

I had 4 years as a graduate student to 'buck the system', 'promote change', as a member of student government - at this point I am burnt out and cynical with academia as a whole... let me make it through the next 3+ years and never look back

 

[Ben and Me]

Like the fact I am REQUIRED to report transgressions, but after I report it, it is up to the administration to proceed with it... basically you are asked to put your ass on the line and the admin may or may not back you up - Anonymity is NOT guaranteed and they encourage direct involvement

Wow, ok, that is horrible...not anything like my high school or undergrad honor codes, which were awesome--trust was guaranteed in both communities until proven otherwise...so we had unproctored exams, people left their laptops and wallets out in the library, etc. And, in both cases, you were allowed to report anonymously.

It would make me furious that the exams were reported to the admin and that they didn't do anything--it would make me especially mad if I was the prof who had instituted the rule! I completely understand getting burned out with the whole process though, especially when you feel you haven't made any progress.

 

[DVMorBust]

Chiming in on the superficial nature of subjects - I've definitely seen some of that around here. However, the neat thing that's starting to emerge is, because our school is so big on integrating topics, you get all sides of it in different classes. So a question raised in developmental anatomy might be answered later that day or the next day in physiology, or whatever. Obviously not everything is answered, but so far I've found that putting more effort into connecting different classes is a much better payoff than studying for just one subject at a time.

That being said, I love classes thus far. The pace is much quicker than in UG, which works well for me, since my biggest issue historically throughout school has been getting bored and feeling like I have to force myself to pay attention. I've actually found that I don't really FEEL like I'm studying all the time, even though I'm studying very frequently - I've had enough time to ride a couple days a week (although it helps that another student from my class is at the same barn, so we can 'study' anatomy while riding...) but I have realized that I've learned a lot, even though I don't feel overstressed...it's mostly like, it's Monday morning, and then all of a sudden it's Friday evening.

The most helpful thing I've found is to get my hands on a live animal. Riding, hanging out in the hospital (bottle-fed a calf the other day!), even for only 5 or 10 minutes, really helps keep me focussed.

Obviously, it's only 3.5 weeks in, but thus far the transition at least has been pretty smooth.

 

[ORvetgirl]

Heh, I love a good inspirational quote, but I love these even more. I have the wishes one!

Stick91--I love despair.com. I'd never read the wishes one, but it just made me laugh outloud.

 

[Shanomong]

Haha the Possibilities one is hillarious too

 

[TSUJC]

Here is a little shout out from "Fort Fun"!

I should be studying for physiology but I needed a serious break. It has been awhile since I posted because obviously all I do is study and sleep!

Here is my take on vet school at CSU so far: It is wonderful, and I am forever grateful that I was accepted here.

With that said...Yes, I do have my random crying spells when I feel totally overwhelmed, stupid and incapable of learning anything!! However, those episodes are usually short lived. I think the key to vet school is taking it one day at a time and not getting ahead of yourself. It is also important to know that EVERYONE is feeling just as insecure as you are. I am also thoroughly enjoying the routine of vet school compared to the crazy unpredictability of graduate school.

However, I am very lucky because CSU has AMAZING professors. As many of you know, I worked at another veterinary college where I was often unimpressed with the lack of interest that the professors took in their students. I can honestly say that the professors at CSU are one of a kind. They are always available to answer questions, offer advice or try to dumb things down so I can understand a little better! They even have a Friday afternoon club that meets at a local bar / restaurant where students and faculty can unwind together.

Orientation involved spending 3 days in the mountains. During that time professors, administrators (associate dean included) and clinicians sang karaoke, told campfire stories and even made complete fools of themselves performed skits. CSU is a really laid back place with a faculty that truly cares about their students.

Vet school is HARD but I don't think that the material itself isn't all that difficult. The hardest part it the sheer volume of information. I am struggling with the time management aspect of it all. An great analogy that was used at orientation was that "vet school is like trying to drink out of a firehouse"!!!!

Like many of you I feel that the lack of live animal exposure is very irritating. I feel like the crept keeper, poking an prodding dead things all day. Luckily our anatomy professor is VERY down to earth and does her best to make class fun. (If you are easily offended by profanity and dirty jokes, CSU might not be the place for you).

We too have a strict honor code, but I really like it. It is based on trust and if you decide to cheat...you are only hurting yourself. We are not kids anymore and those that cheat will obviously struggle later on in their professional career, especially when it comes time for boards.

The CSU honor code allows us to take exams almost anywhere. In the lab, in our cubes or in the lecture hall all of which are unproctored. It really reduces the stress associated with testing. We also have many online exams that can be taken at home (closed book). The honor code board of reps. is comprised of students that investigate violations. Although violations due occur, most of the students don't want to lose the privileges that are associated with the honor code so I think the rules are generally respected.

Well I guess it is back to studying. I hope everyone is doing well and don't worry bunnity, things will work out.

 

[TSUJC]

Everyone I know either has money of their own or has their parents chipping in significant funds, and I feel like the only one who can't afford to keep shelling out money to get the business certificate, join SCAVMA, and pay for the million other things that just keep coming up. Socially it feels like middle school and being the odd one out and not knowing why.

I admit that I also feel like everyone else in my class has WAY more money than I do and it is upsetting to know that they can just run to their parents whenever things get hard. That is difficult to deal with, so I can appreciate your frustration. Also, for the 1st three weeks I felt like the odd man out, without knowing why. Luckily, things are turning around. I have been spending a lot more time trying to get to know different people and that has really helped.

Don't worry! You are NOT alone, many of us feel the same way.

 

[GeeQued]

Aside from P-chem I am really enjoying vet school. Some classes are better than others (the number of people on facebook triples during our ethics class). I'm loving living in a college town, my classmates are all amazing and I think quite a few of us have gotten really close even just over the first few weeks. Downside my horse feels neglected, I'm studying so much more now but its not because I'm "forcing" myself to its because I see the benefit of it, I truly love what I'm learning about which is the huge difference between undergrad and now. I'm actually enjoying the changing class schedule since it gives you breaks to catch up in some classes and what not.

Like I said before the most amazing thing to me is the closeness of our class, theres still people I don't know their names and me being shy I have to work on that but I feel like I've known some of my classmates far longer than the 3 weeks we've been here.

 

[sumstorm]

Having just finished another exam (histo) I am taking a moment to enjoy the sunshine on a brick patio facing the dairy cow herd.

I love vet school....even on the worst days (and I have had a few truely terrible days) I am amazed that I am here, and the only way I will leave vet school is if they were to kick me out (and pry my hands off the bones of my anatomy cadaver!) I agree with PythonChick that we have amazing instructors that do an excellent job of tieing things together; the flip side of that is when you get a lot of the 'deeper' detail, it can be difficult to understand what the priority is for the test. (IE if you learned all about neurotransmission leading up to exercise physiology, do you focus your study time on the exercise physio, muscles, or neurosignaling? )

I really like our schools 'focus area' and 'selective' system that have us completing broad requirements across species and disciplines but also give us opportunities to gain practical experience. I love the lunch lectures, dinner lectures, clubs, wet labs, dry labs, and certification opportunities, even if they do take up a lot of valuable time.

I really dislike budget cuts that have us losing 15 minutes or more of lab time daily to clean up the entire lab, and have us losing staff in labs that are already a bit short staffed. The TA's, so far, haven't been very helpful (mostly because they are using the opportunity as a refresher for themselves....which means they, at times, are struggling as much as we are.) I also dislike the general level of barely organized chaos that often dissiminates from the admin downward, including contradictory information (if you are vomiting every hour because you are on heavy immunosuppressants due to being swarmed by bees and having an anaphylactic reaction, you aren't excused unless your instructors individually excuse you before each class, but if you have a sore throat and cough, stay home because he wave cases of H1N1 going around.)

I like that we learn basic animal handling skills, and we are welcome on rounds, and there are treatment teams to join, and the labs are open 24 hours a day. I hated how orientation ran straight into classes (not even a half day off) and that we continued to have required orientation activites after the start of classes, and that we had a white coat ceremony after the start of classes that consumed entire weekends for some of us.

I admit, it is intense, and as a non-trad, I find myself scrambling to deal with changes in information that have occured in the last decade, and a decided lack of inclination towards molecular biology. Definitly have to hit the ground running, and any stumbles are problems. After my bee swarming anaphylactic incident, I ended up with a sinus infection and really struggling to get back in the saddle, but I am accepting that sometimes just performing is doing the best I can at a given moment...and since I am breathing and no one is trying to kill me, life is pretty good.

As for fellow students, I don't have really close friends yet, but I have lots of people I can study with and hang with, and I find most groups pretty amorphous and inviting. I do find it harder to return to school...I personally have more things that I am sacraficing now than I would have straight out of undergrad. Lack of time for the non-vet stuff is problematic at times, but I have a lot of fun with other students (6 mile hike on Saturday, BBQ, greek night, birthday dinners, palpation wetlab, etc.)

So, overall, it isn't as difficult as I expected, but the sheer lack of time (partly because I choose to involve myself in lots of extra activities) is staggering, and the need to change study methods and constantly push to stay current with classes is different. I don't fault anyone for disliking this....but I do think attitude is important, and I will take this any day over most career options.

 

[sumstorm]

I admit that I also feel like everyone else in my class has WAY more money than I do and it is upsetting to know that they can just run to their parents whenever things get hard. Don't worry! You are NOT alone, many of us feel the same way.

As one of the individuals who is pretty 'comfortable' financially, know that some of us do appreciate how much of a struggle it can be...and not everyone is 'running to mom/dad' for money. I just took a different path that let me build up a decent bank account (but puts me far behind in terms of pre-req knowledge) before attempting vet school. I have done the starving student (and I am not, by any means, unlimited in funds) and do appreciate how hard it is. On the other hand, I am so busy studying and attending free lunches and going to wetlabs that my entertainment/luxury costs are next to nothing!

 

[spyisis]

I love hearing how everyone is doing and how varied the experiences are.

I was a late acceptance. I had a month to prepare to move to the middle of the country and I was really worried I wouldn't be able to adjust to leaving my home, my husband, my dogs, and my friends. Plus I had already given up on getting in this year because I pretty much got rejected from everywhere, including KSU, so I had the jaded thing going for me when I finally did move.

My fears were unfounded, I love it here. It took about a week and a half for me to realize, "OMG, this is really happening!" and since then it has been smooth sailing...okay not totally smooth but its alot better than I thought it would be.

The biggest surprise, how amazing everyone is. They are nice, helpful, and diverse. They go out of their way to help you and I've made some really great friends.

I've done well on exams so far, but I know its getting progressively harder. This is actually nice because I've been able to refine my study habits and kick some bad habits from undergrad.

I've adjusted well to being on my own, I still miss everyone, but I've made arrangements to return to Georgia as often as is possible and I Skype....alot. The hardest thing is not having my dogs here and so I bought some hermit crabs yesterday and they are my new companions. I don't have a car, which is not possible in Atlanta but highly workable in Manhattan, its forced exercise and its a good break from studying.

I really never thought I'd like Kansas, but this is my life now and I'm loving it. Best of luck to everyone who is just starting and for those of you applying.

 

[HopefulAg]

So those of you having problems with biochem, have you had biochem as an undergrad? Would assume so cause don't most schools have it as a pre-req?

What are ya'll covering in the vet school biochem? Just kind of wondering what's different. Our undergrad biochem had a ridiculous amount of stuff covered. Kind of worrying to hear there's that much more stuff.

 

[JustCats]

You are shy, GeeQued??! I think of you as the social director of our class. 😉

I love, love, love Davis (!) and I am enjoying vet school. I have to study a lot, but I don't care. I have been impressed by all of the professors--they are patient, thorough, prepared, helpful, and damn smart. The facilities are shiny and new and the equipment is state-of-the-art. My colleagues are impressive without exception. I am very thankful to be here.

I'll let you know how I feel at the end of the quarter. I'm certain I'll still be thankful regardless of what else I feel.

Like I said before the most amazing thing to me is the closeness of our class, theres still people I don't know their names and me being shy I have to work on that but I feel like I've known some of my classmates far longer than the 3 weeks we've been here.

 

[Caninerepro]

So those of you having problems with biochem, have you had biochem as an undergrad? Would assume so cause don't most schools have it as a pre-req?

What are ya'll covering in the vet school biochem? Just kind of wondering what's different. Our undergrad biochem had a ridiculous amount of stuff covered. Kind of worrying to hear there's that much more stuff.

Pretty much the same stuff as undergrad biochem, at or slightly below the level of my college courses (I took a full year of it). But, Physiological Chemistry is also incorporating molecular genetics, so know that as well. At least I don't have to remember the codons and molecular structure of each player in glycolysis this time. But, you are right, they do expect us to basically have had this before, so be ready, and know it.

 

[Ben and Me]

Our biochem class is pretty much a catch-all for everything that doesn't fit into other classes--we basically covered a huge chunk my undergrad biochem class (amino acid/protein structure, etc) in the first 2 lectures, haha. We've done a fair amount of genetics stuff as well, some biotechnology stuff, etc. I took biochem and genetics in undergrad and feel pretty prepared (at least I've heard of most of the stuff) but you can definitely tell when professors are covering their area of research--it gets much more in depth, and way beyond the scope of what was covered in my undergrad classes!

Overall, I took biochem pass-fail last semester, so I definitely wasn't an expert on it, and I don't feel too overwhelmed. I think it would be hard though if I hadn't at least had some familiarity with this stuff. So, if you're worried about it, or don't have much of a science background (and I don't--I was an English major!), I'd recommend taking it at least pass-fail or auditing it before starting vet school. I'm really glad I didn't end up dropping the course, like I thought about doing (it's not a requirement for Penn, and I didn't technically need it after not getting in to NC State).

On another note, it sounds like I would love CSU's honor code...sounds just like my undergrad and high school. I think that's how all vet schools should be run.

As for the financial stuff, every single one of my friends (myself included) is taking out loans in some amount...so I'd say people whose parents are supporting them fully are the very rare exception, not the norm. I'm personally terrified by the amount of debt that I'm accumulating as we speak...

Bunnity, again, let me know if I can do anything to help, or if you ever want to come over and have dinner 🙂 I make a mean frozen Trader Joe's meal...

 

[No Imagination]

At least I don't have to remember the codons and molecular structure of each player in glycolysis this time.

Huhh? What? Why in gods name would anyone make anyone learn the codons and molecular structure of the glycolysis enzymes?! Hell, why would anyone make anyone learn the codons of anything - (short of variations on translational ORFs)

Codons... that really makes little or no sense (as there are too many variations even without "wobble") so I am going to assume I am misunderstanding...

but molecular structure? As in the sugars (that's normal, but sugars don’t have codons) - but if you mean the enzymes... then your Biochem was way more detailed that mine and I took 3-4 adv. biochem classes (past II)

Ohh, how I miss grad school

 

[aspiringDVM]

Huhh? What? Why in gods name would anyone make anyone learn the codons and molecular structure of the glycolysis enzymes?! Hell, why would anyone make anyone learn the codons of anything - (short of variations on translational ORFs)

Codons... that really makes little or no sense (as there are too many variations even without "wobble") so I am going to assume I am misunderstanding...

but molecular structure? As in the sugars (that's normal, but sugars don't have codons) - but if you mean the enzymes... then your Biochem was way more detailed that mine and I took 3-4 adv. biochem classes (past II)

Ohh, how I miss grad school

Don't know about codons (maybe the structures of the bases???), but we had to learn the structures of the glycolysis and TCA enzymes, and mechanism for EVERYTHING. The class was nothing fancy, just regular old biochemistry.

 

[Caninerepro]

AUG, UUG, GAC ...

 

[No Imagination]

but we had to learn the structures of the glycolysis and TCA enzymes, and mechanism for EVERYTHING.

again, nobody learns or teaches structures of enzymes (unless your doing structural research on a specific enzyme)... maybe MAYBE MAYBE you learned the how many subunits an enzyme typically has (but even thats unlikely - as it's often non-determinate).

I mean, i researched Lactate Dehydrogenase for 3 years, and all I know about it (structurally) is its normally an A2B2 - I couldn't tell you anything about its seq. or structure.

 

[Caninerepro]

again, nobody learns or teaches structures of enzymes (unless your doing structural research on a specific enzyme)... maybe MAYBE MAYBE you learned the how many subunits an enzyme typically has (but even thats unlikely - as it's often non-determinate).

I mean, i researched Lactate Dehydrogenase for 3 years, and all I know about it (structurally) is its normally an A2B2 - I couldn't tell you anything about its seq. or structure.

OK true, I misspoke, but you know what I meant.

 

[aspiringDVM]

again, nobody learns or teaches structures of enzymes (unless your doing structural research on a specific enzyme)... maybe MAYBE MAYBE you learned the how many subunits an enzyme typically has (but even thats unlikely - as it's often non-determinate).

I mean, i researched Lactate Dehydrogenase for 3 years, and all I know about it (structurally) is its normally an A2B2 - I couldn't tell you anything about its seq. or structure.

You're right, and I stand corrected. I was thinking of the enzyme COFACTORS (ie biotin, etc). Thank goodness, now that I think about it, learning whole enzyme structures would be absolutely ridiculous!

 

[Shanomong]

we basically covered a huge chunk my undergrad biochem class (amino acid/protein structure, etc) in the first 2 lectures, haha.

but you can definitely tell when professors are covering their area of research--it gets much more in depth, and way beyond the scope of what was covered in my undergrad classes!



On another note, it sounds like I would love CSU's honor code...sounds just like my undergrad and high school. I think that's how all vet schools should be run.

I felt the same way about the biochem stuff... the course I took last year was a grad course and we went beyond that material pretty much the first week. I would say lectures now pretty much contain about 20% common science knowledge, 80% stuff I must memorize... and yea, I think that research statement is especially true for today's first lecturer. He's so nice but omg the way he goes on about each step of each reaction...

And completely (well sorta) unrelated, but have you considered running for class prez? I think you'd be a fantastic candidate 🙂

 

[HopefulAg]

Don't know about codons (maybe the structures of the bases???), but we had to learn the structures of the glycolysis and TCA enzymes, and mechanism for EVERYTHING. The class was nothing fancy, just regular old biochemistry.

We did all that too. And the synthesis/degradation of all the amino acids. And the Calvin cycle (light and dark reactions)...was terrible lol.

We didn't have to know entire enzyme structures, but we did have to know the functional parts and be able to show through the mechanisms how those parts are affected.

 

[No Imagination]

We did all that too. And the synthesis/degradation of all the amino acids.

Yeah, we used to call it "20 up, 20 down" - it SUCKED

And the Calvin cycle (light and dark reactions)...was terrible lol.

Best part of vet school... No Plants! Damn alkaloids (though I am sure it will be covered in Toxacology 🙁

 

[eatpinkpenguins]

vet school is.... sleep deprivation. studying. dogs at happy hour.

 

[Lechatnoir]

Any input from students at Illinois? Just curious how the new curriculum is going

 

[LadyHitokiri]

I'll chime for Illinois! Warning...'tis long. 😀

Yes, so if you don't already know, Illinois (U of I, UIUC, same thing) has a new integrated curriculum, which is based off of increased clinical learning and a more "meshed" style of coursework versus teaching each thing completely separate. It's sorta hard to explain. But basically our first semester is comprised of 2 months of clinics, then 2 months of coursework. Each week we go to a different rotation, for a total of 8 our first year, out of a possible 24-ish. Then next fall the second half of our semester will be another 8 weeks of clinics, ones that we still need to complete of those 24. There's more to it than that, but you really only need to hear about our beginning of Vet School.If you want to know more, look on our website. XD

Now, there's still 3 more weeks of clinical rotations. All of us first years have online modules, clinical task lists, and other assignments to complete. Some rotations have quizzes, but there are NO tests. That's a huge plus right now. I am not overwhelmed because we are being "eased" into Vet School. So, right now we actually have free time. That being said, some people don't like the fact that they have a lot of free time. XD But I'm fine.

Some of my rotations have been more hands on than others, but all have been hands on, working with live animals (and dead ones if you're on the pathology rotation!) We also have a Clinical Skills Lab where we can do just that...learn clinical skills like suturing and intubating and tons of other things. Everyday we do Case Rounds, and discuss the scientific aspects of cases that occurred during the day or special topics.

Some rotations are laid back, others are more intensive. We follow around the specialists, residents, interns, and 4th year students, and some people have been nice while others haven't been the nicest. So far most of the people I've met have been willing to answer my questions and teach me. Some people I've had to 'force' myself on, but for the most part not. I'm still learning a LOT, and it's making me excited to learn the actual coursework. For example, on my Anesthesia rotation one of the cases I was on was a dog that had osteosarcoma and had surgery for a forelimb amputation. While watching the surgery, the 4th year was explaining the anatomy of what she could see to me. But it made me more able to see how the actual anatomy course would NEED to be applied to this situation, because the DVM needed to know which nerves to cut that lead to that limb, and which nerves to leave in that should stay in. That's sort of a simple example, but it proves that I'm learning not only basic science, but also clinical applications so that when I get to the coursework, I already know WHY I'm learning that stuff, so it will be fun (relatively speaking...I know I will be DEATHLY busy and stressed out). Plus, we'll have labs everyday which include anatomy but also time to apply what we've been learning.

The rotations I've been on so far are: Ophthalmology (LOVED IT), Anesthesia, Poultry Medicine, Equine Medicine and Surgery, and Small Animal Primary Care. I still have Small Animal Emergency Medicine, Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery, and Farm Animal Husbandry and Techniques. Other rotations include: Wild Exotic Animal Management and Surgery, Exotic Pet Management, Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery, Dairy Medicine, Farm Animal Reproduction and Management, Diagnostics, Imaging, Dentistry, Rehabilitation, Shelter Medicine, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Oncology, Dermatology, and some others that I'm forgetting. Each person has a different set of rotations, so no one has the same exact schedule as you. Anywhere from 4-8 students are on each rotation.

Most of the admins I've talked to have said they have no idea how rigorous the rest of this semester will be, when we actually start taking courses. They did tell us, however, that we will NOT have more than one exam per week. So, I'm looking forward to that, no doubt. XD

I almost forgot...currently we have 'Colloquium' three times a week, where we do sit in the classroom but it's only an hour long and is more laid back with different topics like "Dealing with Client Grief", more in depth on different careers in Vet Med, Business/Financial stuff, etc.etc.

Um, if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. But to sum it all up, YES I am learning, YES I am having fun, YES there are still kinks to straighten up, but YES I do think this new curriculum is successful so far. Only time will tell, when we take our Milestone Examinations and see if we are actually retaining info and learning what we need to know (those exams occur at the end of first semester Sophomore and Junior year, I believe).

 

[Tiempo]

A quick chime-in from Edinburgh, especially for flyhi. 🙂

The GEPs have just finished our first round of exams, spread out over 3 days. As some of you may know, the GEP class has 5 weeks of instruction starting in August before 'normal' classes start for the rest of the vet school. Actually, the normal first year just started classes this past week.

So we had 3 days of exams - first day was a practical "Spot" portion in which we were in the dissection lab and had 5 minutes at a station, then a buzzer sounded and we moved to the next one. Second day was a written portion, short answers and essays. Third day was a verbal exam, one-on-one with an instructor. It's interesting talking to the class of GEPs from last year, because their first exam (after the 5 weeks course) didn't count towards their grade. Ours does. It seems like every year the school is changing things in the GEP program, so what our class does this year may have little relevance to the class next year!

So far, I've been enjoying the overall experience. Yes, sometimes I look at all the information and go "OMG how am I going to learn all of this?!?" and that is not a nice feeling. The profs here have encouraged us to get in touch if we have questions, all of them feel very approachable which is great. Frustration with the more administrative side of things has been the biggest fly in the ointment thus far - ex. not knowing our schedule for the semester when we arrived (we received our schedule for the rest of the semester last week - 5.5 weeks after starting class). We've had a number of practical classes so far (cattle, pig, horse, sheep handling, etc), which have been been enjoyable, especially as a break from lectures.

Enjoying the city, and my classmates all seem like normal people! 😀 Back to class again tomorrow, so I'm sure the overwhelmed OMG feeling will be returning this week!

 

[Lechatnoir]

Thanks so much Lady Hitokiri! That sounds amazing!! I was a bit worried about the change but it sounds like it's going great. Also worried about starting vet school, but I really like the idea of them easing us in like you said.

 

[flyhi]

Thank you, Tiempo!!! You are the best. Sorry, but now i have to PM you 😀

Great post as well, Lady Hitorki.

 

[EqSci]

vet school is.... sleep deprivation. studying. dogs at happy hour.

👍 Couldn't say it better.

I just wanted to chime in from Iowa State and say that I'm very happy here. If anyone has any questions feel free to PM me! I'm happy to help any way I can.

 

[philomycus]

I'm alive and kicking. I really want to hear from LVT2DVM though, anyone hear about her???

 

[david594]

So we are 4 days in at OSU and its kind of entertaining.

We are still trying to get the seating situation flushed out here. So every morning you have a bunch of unhappy campers who find that someone has stolen what they thought was their seat. Which then results in them displacing others and you get kind of an unhappy ripply affect. You still have to show up a good 45-60 minutes early it seems if you want to ensure you semi-desirable seat.

 

[BlistexWorks]

So...Meadow pretty much described everything very well, and I have a similar perspective. Pretty much the only difference is that I really enjoyed the off-campus orientation/group building stuff. I think it has helped our class unite, even though we may not want to admit it. I just had my molecular biology final exam today, and had a histology final exam about 10 days ago. So far so good! I really really really really love that I chose FL over all the other schools. The professors are great, but none compare to our awesome experiences we have in anatomy. The main professor is a gem, and all the TAs are INCREDIBLY and UTTERLY helpful and seem to LOVE being there, doing what they do. Two of them are DVMs and the rest are busy senior students who seem to leave their worries at the door for us.

Out of all the classes the world could ever throw at me, I think that molecular biology would be my absolute least favorite. I loved genetics, biochemistry, and organic chemistry (and many more), but molecular biology even beat physics and calculus for classes I wish never to go through as long as I am breathing. Ever. However, I think I did well today (we'll see). Histology was an awesome course, and they day before the exam the professor told us not to "wrap ourselves in a cacoon of fear" which I found very amusing.

I can't wait until our new small animal hospital opens!!! It looks HUGE, and here is a live webcam of it: http://vetmed-construction.health.ufl.edu/appletvid.html If that does not work try this: http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/ and then click on the construction webcam.

There are so many clubs to enjoy, including great evening lectures that mostly come with free food (Moe's, Chipotle, Cuban restaurants, Carrabba's, sushi places, Boston Market, etc.). It is very late and I only meant to post a very short thought so I'm out... (exams coming up very very soon: embryology, endocrinology, anatomy)

If anyone has any questions regarding UF please PM me! (it feels so weird saying this as I was the one PMing class of 2012 last year....acki

 

[elefante7]

So we are 4 days in at OSU and its kind of entertaining.

We are still trying to get the seating situation flushed out here. So every morning you have a bunch of unhappy campers who find that someone has stolen what they thought was their seat. Which then results in them displacing others and you get kind of an unhappy ripply affect. You still have to show up a good 45-60 minutes early it seems if you want to ensure you semi-desirable seat.

Haha. This completely happened at UW-Madison at the beginning of the year too. It has mainly calmed down now.

 

[LVT2DVM]

I'm alive and kicking. I really want to hear from LVT2DVM though, anyone hear about her???

Funny you asked! I havent been on here since orientation if that gives you any idea about how busy veterinary school really is. Things are going fairly well. My experiences at UGA are similar to SUmstorm's and Meadow36, (I wish I had more time to explain). Our class is SUPER! everyone brings something great to the table. THe professors are wonderful. Not all are the best instuctors as far as how they teach but they are all willing to go the extra mile to help you if your having trouble.

My main transition issue: keeping up with course review while studying for upcoming exams. Cant do it! And all uppperclassman say dont bother. You basically have to concentrate on whats coming up and put the rest on the back burner and then play catch-up. Which I hate. I like to review the material of the day at night to make sure I understand it and since exams started about 4 weeks ago. We've had 1-2 tests or quizzes per week and I just cant do that. Overall its been good. We dont get any hands on here until next semester...so I miss that ALOT!

You also have to be realistic about what grades you will be getting despite all the studying you will be doing. I just spent 3 full days Fri, Sat and Sun. studying for histo and I got a B on the exam 🙁 Boo. Now a B is great and all but for all the study time I put in that would have gotten me an A in undergrad and it just frankly puts me in a foul mood that I've sacrified all my free time and didnt master all of the material. Again just like others have mentioned before, its not that the material is difficult, its just the shear volume of minutia and facts fighting for memory space in my little 'ol brain.

Whenever I feel blue or feel inadaquate (most days:>LOL) I just think about what it took to get me here and all you guys fighting to get here and it puts things back into perspective.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY GOOD LUCK AND HANG IN THERE TO MY OLD FRIENDS, FUTURE COLLEAGUES and NEW APPLICANTS. I understand exactly where your coming from. I finally figured out why the VMCAS application is so stressful.....its preparation of things to come. But as stressful as vetschool is....its still a THRILL and HONOR to be here.

If anyone wants to know anything specific about VS or UGA just email me. Its easier to answer specific questions than to find time to get on here and hang out. You can also try and check my blog out, but seriously I havent been able to keep up with that as often as I would have liked. I hear next semester is a little easier.

 

[LVT2DVM]

PS: Just wanted to clarify that I did not mean to imply it was impossible for you to review and study for tests at the same time; Its just not for me and many of my classmates/ school mates...Im in good company.

However if you can....thats is GREAT! Your one up on me and I am so not worthy!

 

[GeeQued]

The thing I'm most excited about is getting the Class of 2014 accepted and into vet school and getting assigned my lil sib cause that'll mean I actually passed my first year of vet school.

It feels overwhelming in some ways but others not, At the moment were only having test once a week which is great but I'm still freaking exhausted

 

[Pomona2006]

You are shy, GeeQued??! I think of you as the social director of our class. 😉

Agreed! You ARE one of the social chairs of our class, after all? You definitely do not come off as shy!

 

[GeeQued]

Agreed! You ARE one of the social chairs of our class, after all? You definitely do not come off as shy!

Im shy at first, once I get to know people then I open up a lot 🙂

If you guys have any specific social event ideas feel free to message them to me we'd love the input!

 

[bmichs75DVM]

Ok so I will chime in from OSUCVM.
We just ended our 8th day of classes and so far it is great. The atmosphere is good and I love being there. I can actually get out of bed in the morning and somewhat look forward to the day. All the information so far hasn’t been too bad with a lot of it being a review for me. With that said, the shear amount of material that we have covered so far is daunting. They throw a lot of information at you at once and from the way it sounds, we are required to know all the little details. But, that’s vet school. But we will all get through it. School is everything you could ever dream of and more.
Good luck with your apps and maybe I will be seeing a few of you at interviews.