CLASS OF 2013....how ya doin?

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Caninerepro...

I don't mean to stir up the waters on here or anything, but I just wanted to say that although posting online on a forum may seem somewhat anonymous (ha!), you need to be careful what you're saying. I can speak for myself and other classmates who may or may not have read what you said on this thread, and it can be construed as both insulting and arrogant. I had not previously taken anatomy, yet I am doing quite well in the class... You may not be the only "super god" of anatomy. Many of your posts sound like you're belittling your classmates, which is the complete opposite of professional.

Anyway, I'm finding MN to be amazing, fun, and a reasonable amount of material to handle-not as tough as I expected.
 
I read every single page of this thread. I have a good 4 years before I ever go to Vet school but reading all of the horror stress stories and hard classes is making me shake in my boots. I'm now extremely nervous for Vet school. My first Semester of college is almost done and I can honestly say that my Inorganic Chem and Bio classes are easy. But that's just your basic stuff. There are classes listed here I haven't even HEARD of. How can I possibly get a head start on stuff like neuroanatomy when my college doesn't offer them?
And parasitology, my college only offers one class, which are just the Principles of parasitology.

I dont do very well under stress. I manage my time wisely. But in Grad school I can imagine it being the exact opposite.

if any of your current Vet students have any TIPS, please pass them along. 🙁 The Do's once you're in Vet school
 
SUNYAggie said:
I read every single page of this thread. I have a good 4 years before I ever go to Vet school but reading all of the horror stress stories and hard classes is making me shake in my boots. I'm now extremely nervous for Vet school. My first Semester of college is almost done and I can honestly say that my Inorganic Chem and Bio classes are easy. But that's just your basic stuff. There are classes listed here I haven't even HEARD of. How can I possibly get a head start on stuff like neuroanatomy when my college doesn't offer them?
And parasitology, my college only offers one class, which are just the Principles of parasitology.

I dont do very well under stress. I manage my time wisely. But in Grad school I can imagine it being the exact opposite.

if any of your current Vet students have any TIPS, please pass them along. 🙁 The Do's once you're in Vet school
Click to expand...

My tip: don't stress about vet school until you get here.
 
SUNYAggie said:
There are classes listed here I haven't even HEARD of. How can I possibly get a head start on stuff like neuroanatomy when my college doesn't offer them?
And parasitology, my college only offers one class, which are just the Principles of parasitology.
Click to expand...

That's the point - you get the basics during undergrad and then get the in depth stuff in vet school. Don't worry about "getting ahead" it's not that imperative!

My tip - learn to cope with stress in a healthy manner. Since starting vet school I've rarely felt "stressed" because I have a lot of good coping mechanisms in place despite a massive amount of work. Time management is key - I keep myself very, very busy and because of that I have to be organized with my time and work.
 
Honestly, most classes aren't truly hard. Knock on wood, I'm still on my first quarter. It's just a lot of information and it takes time to understand & memorize it all. If you have time, take courses at your undergrad (parasitology, immunology, pharmacology, anatomy, etc) and it should help a little but it's not going to make or break it for you. I took parsitology, immunology and anatomy in undergrad and none of them were at the level you will learn them in vet school.

Like Ben and me said, don't stress about vet school until you are there. You have plenty of time for that. Stress about getting there 😛
 
I agree with what's been said so far as well. It's really not THAT stressful....yet....but it's just a lot of material. But I got my degree in Biology and a lot of what I am taking now in vet school is the same or similar concepts....I mean how many times are they going to tell us about DNA and how its transcribed/translated and about water and osmosis, and about simple and facilitated diffusion and active transport....so see, a lot of it is stuff you already know...then in vet school you take it a step farther and apply to it how things work, like pharmacology.

You'll be fine. Don't stress about vet school until you're there, its not worth it. I was honestly scared outta my mind about vet school and not having a life and if I could handle the hard work.. But since I've gotten in here, all the hype about it was just that, hype. I sleep 7 hours a night (except before a test night, like tonight- I'll get 5 or so), I still watch Grey's Anatomy over the weekends, I find time to go to the gym, etc...and I still have competitive grades.

So just focus on getting through your undergrad and doing well so you can make it into vet school. If it's something you really want to do, then nothing should deter you from wanting to pursue it.
 
DocDVMD said:
Caninerepro...

I don't mean to stir up the waters on here or anything, but I just wanted to say that although posting online on a forum may seem somewhat anonymous (ha!), you need to be careful what you're saying. I can speak for myself and other classmates who may or may not have read what you said on this thread, and it can be construed as both insulting and arrogant. I had not previously taken anatomy, yet I am doing quite well in the class... You may not be the only "super god" of anatomy. Many of your posts sound like you're belittling your classmates, which is the complete opposite of professional.

Anyway, I'm finding MN to be amazing, fun, and a reasonable amount of material to handle-not as tough as I expected.
Click to expand...

Yeah I know it is not anonymous, and if you had read the rest of my posts you would have seen my apology for the crappy choice of words in my next post. 😳 Also my good natured acceptance of the ribbing it warranted. We know who we are, and always have. :ninja: I am sure we can chalk up our personality differences to East vs. West Coast.

So if it makes you feel better I actually have a B in the class, well until today's test is graded I hope. How was the test for you?
 
Any feedback from current students
 
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Sorry, haven't posted in a while. Vet school very time consuming.

Sunstorm, I LOVE the professionalism points system. Is that relatively new? It's so Harry Potter--"Late to lab?!? That'll be TEN POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR!!!" haha, I love it! I wish Davis had that!

I wanted to post a link to some of the music videos we made over here at UC Davis. (So yeah, perhaps vet school isn't THAT consuming...we still have fun, haha)

And I hereby *officially* challenge other vet schools to be as cool as us. I DARE you, no I DOUBLE DARE you to make something as EPIC as this and post it to youtube! 😛

XOXO Future Colleagues! Good luck on FINALS!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtsnnJEex0g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm4VMBExw-E
 
shelterURIgirl said:
Sorry, haven't posted in a while. Vet school very time consuming.

Sunstorm, I LOVE the professionalism points system. Is that relatively new? It's so Harry Potter--"Late to lab?!? That'll be TEN POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR!!!" haha, I love it! I wish Davis had that!

I wanted to post a link to some of the music videos we made over here at UC Davis. (So yeah, perhaps vet school isn't THAT consuming...we still have fun, haha)

And I hereby *officially* challenge other vet schools to be as cool as us. I DARE you, no I DOUBLE DARE you to make something as EPIC as this and post it to youtube! 😛

XOXO Future Colleagues! Good luck on FINALS!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtsnnJEex0g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm4VMBExw-E
Click to expand...


Those videos are hilarious!! Are those actual professors in the videos?
 
shelterURIgirl said:
Sorry, haven't posted in a while. Vet school very time consuming.

Sunstorm, I LOVE the professionalism points system. Is that relatively new? It's so Harry Potter--"Late to lab?!? That'll be TEN POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR!!!" haha, I love it! I wish Davis had that!

I wanted to post a link to some of the music videos we made over here at UC Davis. (So yeah, perhaps vet school isn't THAT consuming...we still have fun, haha)

And I hereby *officially* challenge other vet schools to be as cool as us. I DARE you, no I DOUBLE DARE you to make something as EPIC as this and post it to youtube! 😛

XOXO Future Colleagues! Good luck on FINALS!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtsnnJEex0g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm4VMBExw-E
Click to expand...


Uh Oh, I feel a SCAVMA competition brewing...
 
Wow!!! Love the videos!!! Love how the cows are looking at the students like WTF???? I would love to go to UCDAVIS!!!!! I am OOS, but can dream!!!!
 
SFgeckos said:
Any feedback from current students on their experiences at WesternU? How is the Problem-based learning system working out? How are the clinical experiences and "hands on" activities going? (I'm not talking about the mysterious Asian guy either!)
Click to expand...


You're putting your hands on a mysterious Asian guy?? Did I miss something?


LivestockDoc
 
Love love Western so far. I can't imagine any other school being "fun," - lectures? No thanks.as far as clinicals most of us have already placed catheters on live animals, etc. were constantly doing physicals etc on our rotations and are usually one on one or one on two with a Dr who will answer your questions and re check your exams. For example, I'm having trouble palpating, feeling organs etc, so I asked the Dr, he palpated first, felt kidneys and allowed me to put my hands on his so I could feel exactly what he was feeling. Ever since I am a kidney feeling machine 🙂 .

PBL is an incredible experience. You won't always like your group but its a life skill you have to learn.you won't always like everyone in your class, but atleast w PBL u know its over in 8 weeks, then you switch groups 🙂 . If you do like ur group its like meeting w ur friends 3 days a week.for example, in my group now, I walk into our room, coffee is brewing, people bring food to share, we have intelligent conversation and its great. And there's no other school your 1 of 7 in the class w a professor. Its a very different dynamic, like a family. Actually, I'm an east coaster, so I just got back from having thanksgiving dinner at one of my professors house! It was a lot of fun.

Now, its challenging in different ways. Because we don't get a set of notes, you are NEVER done doing work. It could go on forever. There are plenty of people who complain, but I don't think anyone would say they aren't taking how they feel into consideration. Its not a system for everyone. I could talk forever about it. Any questions just ask away!
 
IvyLynx said:
Uh Oh, I feel a SCAVMA competition brewing...
Click to expand...


Oh - I like this idea... If it doesn't happen at 2010 Madison, then start writing your lyrics cuz it's sure to happen at SAVMA Symposium 2011 - DAVIS!!!
 
shelterURIgirl said:
I LOVE the professionalism points system. Is that relatively new? It's so Harry Potter--"Late to lab?!? That'll be TEN POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR!!!" haha, I love it!
Click to expand...

HAHAHA... Professionalism points just got infinitely cooler! :laugh:
 
TurtleLover said:
I agree with what's been said so far as well. It's really not THAT stressful....yet....but it's just a lot of material. But I got my degree in Biology and a lot of what I am taking now in vet school is the same or similar concepts....I mean how many times are they going to tell us about DNA and how its transcribed/translated and about water and osmosis, and about simple and facilitated diffusion and active transport....so see, a lot of it is stuff you already know...then in vet school you take it a step farther and apply to it how things work, like pharmacology.

You'll be fine. Don't stress about vet school until you're there, its not worth it. I was honestly scared outta my mind about vet school and not having a life and if I could handle the hard work.. But since I've gotten in here, all the hype about it was just that, hype. I sleep 7 hours a night (except before a test night, like tonight- I'll get 5 or so), I still watch Grey's Anatomy over the weekends, I find time to go to the gym, etc...and I still have competitive grades.

So just focus on getting through your undergrad and doing well so you can make it into vet school. If it's something you really want to do, then nothing should deter you from wanting to pursue it.
Click to expand...

You dont even know how much that made me laugh. This semester alone, I have gone over diffusion, water transport, solute transport, plant and animal cell biology proteins and etc three times in a row. Plant Phys, Biochem and the class that Im tutoring in Bio 101. I swear by the time im done with any schooling im going to be the queen of transport and proteins. =D I do love my physiology though.
 
LivestockDoc said:
You're putting your hands on a mysterious Asian guy?? Did I miss something?
Click to expand...

LLIPPY said:
Love love Western so far. I can't imagine any other school being "fun," - lectures? No thanks.as far as clinicals most of us have already placed catheters on live animals, etc. were constantly doing physicals etc on our rotations and are usually one on one or one on two with a Dr who will answer your questions and re check your exams. For example, I'm having trouble palpating, feeling organs etc, so I asked the Dr, he palpated first, felt kidneys and allowed me to put my hands on his so I could feel exactly what he was feeling. Ever since I am a kidney feeling machine 🙂 .
Click to expand...
First Asian guys, and now the professor's kidneys? 😉 Ah, I got it now, your hands on the professor's hands. Whew.
 
LOL, what ever did happen to that mysterious Asian guy? Is he in your class?


LivestockDoc said:
You're putting your hands on a mysterious Asian guy?? Did I miss something?


LivestockDoc
Click to expand...
 
shelterURIgirl said:
Sorry, haven't posted in a while. Vet school very time consuming.

Sunstorm, I LOVE the professionalism points system. Is that relatively new? It's so Harry Potter--"Late to lab?!? That'll be TEN POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR!!!" haha, I love it! I wish Davis had that!

I wanted to post a link to some of the music videos we made over here at UC Davis. (So yeah, perhaps vet school isn't THAT consuming...we still have fun, haha)

And I hereby *officially* challenge other vet schools to be as cool as us. I DARE you, no I DOUBLE DARE you to make something as EPIC as this and post it to youtube! 😛

XOXO Future Colleagues! Good luck on FINALS!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtsnnJEex0g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm4VMBExw-E
Click to expand...

Well, I posted this on the Glasgow thread as well...but I wanted to accept your challenge and post this here too 😉

For all of you who do not believe Glasgow is the coolest vet school ever..I give you this video..my 65+ yr old Anatomy professor, the legend, Dr. Boyd(yes the one who wrote the anatomy books) standing on his head and drinking a pint during dissection...Loveeee my school!!!😀

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtnDNbTcLLk
 
that's awesome.
 
shortnsweet said:
Well, I posted this on the Glasgow thread as well...but I wanted to accept your challenge and post this here too 😉

For all of you who do not believe Glasgow is the coolest vet school ever..I give you this video..my 65+ yr old Anatomy professor, the legend, Dr. Boyd(yes the one who wrote the anatomy books) standing on his head and drinking a pint during dissection...Loveeee my school!!!😀

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtnDNbTcLLk
Click to expand...

What... exactly... is this teaching?

I have no problems admitting that it is insanely awesome, I just don't see the anatomy implications. ;p
 
Hahaha not teaching anything..he did it to raise money for a children's charity 🙂
 
shortnsweet said:
Hahaha not teaching anything..he did it to raise money for a children's charity 🙂
Click to expand...

I think this proves that anatomy profs across the world are the best, hands down. If you watch the Wet Lab "Bone Box" rap video, you can see a lot of the silly halloween decorations from our anatomy Haunted House, as well as one of our main anatomy profs doing a couple of slow-mo dance moves. Don't know what it is about anatomy (and at davis, radiology) but it seems to attract the ultra-fabulous.

I'm still waiting for a student produced, directed, filmed, written, acted, and edited feature to beat ours out though 😉, although freecolicreport.com is a serious, serious contender...
....and obviously so is bog spavin, i freaking love bog spavin.
 
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It's great when you can relate to your profs and be reminded that they too, have been what you have been through and have a good sense of humor.

One of the guys in our class put this together b/c a prof of ours had this armadillo dance.... long story, but cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q2NUTBtUwY

That P-chem one was absolutely hilarious!
 
Last edited:
philomycus said:
It's great when you can relate to your profs and be reminded that they too, have been what you have been through and have a good sense of humor.

One of the guys in our class put this together b/c a prof of ours had this armadillo dance.... long story, but cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q2NUTBtUwY

That P-chem one was absolutely hilarious!
Click to expand...

HILARIOUS Philo - I love it.

As of yesterday, a girl in my class and I are writing an all-radiology/imaging themed rap. Hoping to possibly perform it at our spring talent show and/or make a video sometime spring quarter. Not sure if we're going to make our own beat for it, or re-write an already existing song, but I AM sure it's gunna be awesome!
 
Bumping this just to check in with everybody now that you all have a semester/quarter completed!
 
We had 3 finals last week, Cardio, Respiratory, and Repro. For the next month we're doing 4-5 classes, most finishing up by spring break. It's not too bad- a month of hard work to get a weekend off entirely, and then another monthof intensity followed with spring break. So far I like this semester more than the first.
 
philomycus said:
We had 3 finals last week, Cardio, Respiratory, and Repro. For the next month we're doing 4-5 classes, most finishing up by spring break. It's not too bad- a month of hard work to get a weekend off entirely, and then another monthof intensity followed with spring break. So far I like this semester more than the first.
Click to expand...


Ugh, I HATE this semester more than last semester! It's so crazy right now the way they have everything organized...or i should say lack of organized! No time to explain though....got a neurology exam in the morning! I really despise whoever invented that class, lol.
 
Just had the first Neuro exam of the quarter this morning! But there's Nutrition on Friday and the dreaded Cardio next Wed. Cardio is AWFUL... like awfully hard... like I'm freaking out that I'll fail it and have to repeat first year. 🙁 There's only one exam and even though I'm fighting to stay relatively caught up, it's overwhelming.

Because of Cardio, I definitely have to say this quarter is harder than last. Although I am LOVING that there is tons of anatomy 😀 We have respiratory, gastrointestinal, head and a little neuro anatomy. I finally found a subject that comes easily to me (and that I enjoy immensely).

Hm, I guess the anatomy's and cardio balance each other out. Not. 👎
 
Yeah, this quarter is definitely harder for me. It's just faster paced and more overwhelming, in my opinion. When you have a neurology exam, two anatomy lab quizzes, a nutrition exam, a nutrition homework problem, a cardio lab quiz, your summer research proposal/application due (for our STAR program), a cardio final (which, like incendium mentioned, is completely awful and dreaded), a comparative anatomy take home midterm, and a behavior and biology of mice midterm all in the span of TWO WEEKS... yeah... I kind of just want to survive at this point!!

But it's true, I do love all of our anatomy classes!! Definitely my favorite subject as well. And despite trying not to crumble under the stress and time constraints, I can honestly say that I still love vet school 😍
 
Yeah, this semester is not going so well, but it's more for personal reasons. School itself remains hard but fun.

-My class remains made of win. I love these folks. Seriously.
-SAVMA symposium coming up and we're hosting!
-More free time (fewer lab courses), which does mean more studying but we actually see the sunlight a few days a week.
-I...love school. I mean, it's hard and there's a lot of information and it's stressful...but it's kind of like summer camp plus sandpaper on your brain.

The Bad:
-Biochem. This course is the BANE of my existence. I have such a mental block it's not even funny.
 
DVMorBust said:
The Bad:
-Biochem. This course is the BANE of my existence. I have such a mental block it's not even funny.
Click to expand...

Just curious...Wisconsin has a biochem course? I don't see it when I look at the curriculum on their website??
 
racccjlm said:
Just curious...Wisconsin has a biochem course? I don't see it when I look at the curriculum on their website??
Click to expand...

It's cleverly disguised as 'Molecular and Metabolic Basis of Medicine'
 
Most of our classes there is a final exam- that's our only grade. Anatomy isnt like that. Interested in other schools and what they do.
 
Yeah I'd say this quarter is far beyond sucking at the moment. I'm pretty sure Cardio had me a second away from crying last week. I love neuro, nutrition bores me to death, I've gotten amazing at some of the facebook games during that one, I'm loving all the anatomy this quarter. I think I have just so much going on emotionally outside of vet school (hurt horse that has to sit in a stall for a year, friend passed away, sick dog etc etc etc) is making it hard to just keep it together with the stress of our cardio exam coming up next week and just being emotionally exhausted. But alas in a week (eeek) it will be over (cardio that is) and there will be lots of partying wednesday probably starting the minute I turn in my exam.
 
philomycus said:
Most of our classes there is a final exam- that's our only grade. Anatomy isnt like that. Interested in other schools and what they do.
Click to expand...


I am dying to know which school you attend. No searching available...can you please tell me it is not one to which I applied? 😀
 
Well, I am exhausted! But this semester is better than last. That might be just because, after a decade out, it took a while to get in the groove.

There are definitly things that frustrate me (Teaching Animal Unit, business selective) but in general I am enjoying myself more than ever. And I am making sure to take care of myself this semester (better eating, regular exercise, etc.) I am also enountering some amazing oppurtunities; wildlife rehab seminars, bear behavior research, flank spays, opth ultrasounds, emergency services. My days certainly stay packed, and my hobbies, lifestyle, and free time have taken a hit. There are moments, like when I read a question on an exam and have no idea what the instructor is askin, that I wonder why I returned to school, but most days it is pretty awesome. Who can beat dozens of sea turtle necropsies at the coast on a Saturday with dolphins playing in the bay.
 
I think it's safe to say my own personal expectations have been effectively lowered! First semester I was still in the "gotta get an A" mentality. I succeeded, at the cost of having sleep, sanity, and a reasonable social life! This semester I decided it's not worth it. I'm still working my ass off, but I'm not giving 110% on everything anymore. B's and C's are perfectly acceptable to me now. My new goal is to do the best I can with the time I am willing to put into it. 👍
 
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