Class of 2015... How ya doing?

Veterinary Science Graduate Programs from U. of I.
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LetItSnow said:
Sounds awesome, scb44f!!! Hope it helps you get better!

We're in a week of genetics, host defenses, and physiology exams, and the last one is tomorrow. Genetics was straightforward, but immuno more or less picked me up, tossed me against the wall a few times, stomped on me, performed invasive probing, and walked away laughing. Here's to hoping physio is a kinder, gentler test.

Next week ------- no exams. Zilch. It'll be such a breath of fresh air.
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Thanks LIS! Enjoy your test-free week!
 
Diagnosed with ADD yesterday. I'd suspected it for a long time but it hasn't caused me too much hindrance until this huge challenge that is vet school. The LSW at our school recommended I go get tested, and sure enough!

So I'm getting treatment and hopefully that will help me focus some more and get out of this academic rut I've been in this quarter.
 
EllieGirl89 said:
Diagnosed with ADD yesterday. I'd suspected it for a long time but it hasn't caused me too much hindrance until this huge challenge that is vet school. The LSW at our school recommended I go get tested, and sure enough!

So I'm getting treatment and hopefully that will help me focus some more and get out of this academic rut I've been in this quarter.
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Sorry if this seems too personal, but are you going to start meds? Reason I ask is because the time period adjusting doses and finding the right medication for me was a huge pain, and I hope that it goes better for you!
 
nyanko said:
Sorry if this seems too personal, but are you going to start meds? Reason I ask is because the time period adjusting doses and finding the right medication for me was a huge pain, and I hope that it goes better for you!
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Not too personal =) Yes, I started meds today. I already feel a little better. I obviously haven't had a task that requires too much focus yet, but the constant exhaustion and desire to sleep that I usually have is totally absent. My dad actually has pretty bad ADD too and it took him a long time to find the right meds for him, but he's finally got it under control. I went to his doctor yesterday, and he said since ADD can have a genetic component he was going to try me on the same meds as my dad because it was likely that it would work for me too. So far so good; I'll be interested to see how it helps me at school over the next couple of weeks. I have a follow-up appointment in 3 weeks when we'll evaluate how it's been working for me.
 
Hey guys - I'm not sure if I should have posted this in the veterinary forum, but it seems like more people would see this if I posted it here, and I'm desperate!!

I know that anatomy trouble is not a new thing, but I just don't know what to do anymore. Last semester in small animal anatomy I had a lot of trouble and barely got through it. We are now taking large animal anatomy, and I am experiencing the same problems I had last semester. I am TERRIFIED that I won't make it through this time. Here's the breakdown:

I feel like I have no idea how to study effectively for this subject. I make outlines of my notes and powerpoints, I look at diagrams, and I spend time in the lab (11 hours outside of class last week). The problem is not understanding the material or even retention. The problem is that I study what "appears" to be important (because it was discussed in lecture), but then tiny details pop up on the exams that weren't even discussed in lecture OR lab. I'm sure it was mentioned in the readings or something, but I have always prioritized my studying based on what seems to be the important stuff. I am also a slow reader for the most part, and I can usually get by in other subjects without doing the readings. My roommate does read for anatomy, however, and she still has the same feelings about the exams as I do.

Also, my profs don't seem to communicate very well with each other (we have several for this course). We had an exam yesterday (which prompted this desperate post!), and on wednesday I asked the prof that lectures to us about the name of a particular lymph node. She told me it wasn't important to know for the exam, so I focused on other things. Well, a different prof writes the exams, and sure enough that lymph node showed up on the exam as an identification question! This kind of thing has happened several times. Another question on the lab practical had a muscle tagged on the ventral aspect of the neck - or so many of us thought. We answered the name of the muscle that was supposed to be there - sternohyoideous. Turns out it was the esophagus pulled out in front of the trachea (obviously, not where it would be in the live horse. We also only have 1 min. 10 sec. at each station, so considering that it may be the esophagus pulled through there was not the first thing on our minds in that short amount of time.)

It is entirely possible that maybe anatomy is just hard for me - period. Maybe it will just take even MORE time studying for this class than any other. I am definitely not having this problem in any other class, and I have never had this problem in any class in the past. It is very upsetting, and it has a way of making me feel very incompetent, because I have never had so much trouble before.

Has anyone else experienced this? Does it sound like the problem is me, or the way the class is taught? Does ANYONE have any advice? 🙁🙁

If I made anything sound unclear, let me know. I have been a little scatterbrained since taking that exam yesterday 😳 Thanks
 
Hey RaiderTXgirl,

I posted a thread in the Veterinary subforum last year about the very same topic. My problems weren't exactly the same, but a lot of people had some pretty good advice and study methods that I hadn't thought of.

Good luck!
 
I only have the vaguest idea what is going on in neuro lab. The gross portion makes sense but the histological sections that we look at online look like nothing. Chunk of medulla with squiggles on it and all those squiggles have letters like NTS and PN and ML written on them. I'm trying not to worry about it too much until after anatomy but I better gain some understanding between now and the exam or I'm kind of screwed
 
goldnretrivrgrl said:
I only have the vaguest idea what is going on in neuro lab. The gross portion makes sense but the histological sections that we look at online look like nothing. Chunk of medulla with squiggles on it and all those squiggles have letters like NTS and PN and ML written on them. I'm trying not to worry about it too much until after anatomy but I better gain some understanding between now and the exam or I'm kind of screwed
Click to expand...
I bombed the first practical in neuro, but aced the second. You basically need to print out the sheet with the acronyms, and then look at those handdrawn diagrams and memorize every single one along with the slides.

Make sure you recognize landmarks for which part of the nervous system you are in. It is not that hard once you get the hang of it. If you know where you are (and you remember a little of the gross), you will have a much better idea of which structures could be on any particular slide.
 
Well, I can officially say that microanatomy was one of my favorite classes last block, while anatomy might have eaten part of my soul. Just 2 more months of anatomy and we'll finally be done... Anyway, we're just starting endocrinology, immunology, and epidemiology, all of which I'm told I will enjoy. So far so good!
 
We're officially done histology! 😀 We had our final today. Now we move on to embryology for the rest of the year. 🙁 Which I keep hearing is hellspawn.

Besides that, we're all counting the days, I think. Most of our major midterms are over. Just eight more weeks until the end of first year!
 
twelvetigers said:
Praise all that is holy!
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No kidding! I am so ready for it to be over. At least our last test is on reptiles/birds so that should be fun and different.
 
Got my lowest ever vet school exam grade today. (it was a passing grade but still!) Boohiss. Autonomic Nervous System Pharmacology and I are NOT going to be good friends!

One week till our neuro final, then a week of behavior......time is FLYING
 
scb44f said:
No kidding! I am so ready for it to be over. At least our last test is on reptiles/birds so that should be fun and different.
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Thank gooddddddddd. *whine*

Though knowing our anatomy prof (who I affectionately think of as "Bird Man"), our bird exam will be about ERRRYTHING in those feathery freaks.

But whatever. I'm down for something new. I just can't hear about anymore interosseus structures.
 
The last few weeks have been rough. Not necessarily school-wise, but I went a little bit crazy. Honestly, I should've known that I would need to get my anxiety under control prior to vet school, but I don't really like taking medication so I was apprehensive. Well anyway, after a week of feeling like my body and mind were being operated by two different people and being a hermit, I finally feel like I'm on the up-and-up. I got to see my family for a few days which usually keeps me sane, I've started on some medications to help with my anxiety, and I'm just feeling better.

I can't believe this semester is already more than half over. It seems like it just started but at the same time feels like I've been doing this FOREVER. Still, Friday is the start of spring break and I am excited.
 
Bearby said:
I can't believe this semester is already more than half over. It seems like it just started but at the same time feels like I've been doing this FOREVER. Still, Friday is the start of spring break and I am excited.
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YES. I'm trying to hang in there until Friday. We have a giant anatomy exam Friday afternoon, so spring break truly doesn't start until Friday is done, lol.
 
You guys are killing me. We still have TWELVE MORE WEEKS. *sob*
 
heylodeb said:
You guys are killing me. We still have TWELVE MORE WEEKS. *sob*
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Wait...12 more weeks until what? Surely not your spring break? When did you guys start?
 
All I have to say is ... here's my to-do list. It doesn't include, you know, the actual classes we all go to during the bulk of the day.

Mon:

  • 4:00pm: SURGERY TALK
  • Email VBMA members, due date for VPI is my mailbox by noon on Friday!
  • Study host defense (final exam)
  • PLAY WITH KIDS
  • Pay bills
Tue:

  • 8:00am: Host defenses final
  • 12:30pm: Testify for House committee at capitol
  • 5:30pm: MERIAL meeting
  • Do Genetics take-home final
  • Do my part of group endocrine project
  • Do professional development assignment
  • Do pharmacology drug entries
  • Do SIRVS surgery test
  • Call Banfield - summer job? Whassup?
  • Set up appt with doctor for rabies titer
  • PLAY WITH KIDS
Wed:

  • 1:00pm: Lunch/tour hospital/school with visitor
  • 4:00pm-7:00pm: VBMA event
  • Study virology midterm
  • PLAY WITH KIDS
Thu:

  • 1:00pm: group endocrine meeting
  • Pack for SIRVS
  • Study virology midterm
  • PLAY WITH KIDS
Fri:

  • 10:00am: Virology exam
  • 12:00pm: Mail VPI packet
  • 12:00pm: Pack cars for SIRVS
  • 4:00pm: depart SIRVS
 
LetItSnow said:
All I have to say is ... here's my to-do list. It doesn't include, you know, the actual classes we all go to during the bulk of the day.

Mon:

  • 4:00pm: SURGERY TALK
  • Email VBMA members, due date for VPI is my mailbox by noon on Friday!
  • Study host defense (final exam)
  • PLAY WITH KIDS
  • Pay bills
Tue:

  • 8:00am: Host defenses final
  • 12:30pm: Testify for House committee at capitol
  • 5:30pm: MERIAL meeting
  • Do Genetics take-home final
  • Do my part of group endocrine project
  • Do professional development assignment
  • Do pharmacology drug entries
  • Do SIRVS surgery test
  • Call Banfield - summer job? Whassup?
  • Set up appt with doctor for rabies titer
  • PLAY WITH KIDS
Wed:

  • 1:00pm: Lunch/tour hospital/school with visitor
  • 4:00pm-7:00pm: VBMA event
  • Study virology midterm
  • PLAY WITH KIDS
Thu:

  • 1:00pm: group endocrine meeting
  • Pack for SIRVS
  • Study virology midterm
  • PLAY WITH KIDS
Fri:

  • 10:00am: Virology exam
  • 12:00pm: Mail VPI packet
  • 12:00pm: Pack cars for SIRVS
  • 4:00pm: depart SIRVS
Click to expand...

poor kids - no play time on friday?
 
dyachei said:
poor kids - no play time on friday?
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Nah, I'm going out of town on a ... well, it's a RAVS-like organization we have here at UMN that serves a reservation in northern MN.

But hey, don't knock the play with kids entry. I have to schedule it or I turn into a sucky dad and let it slide. Or maybe I'm a sucky dad because I let it slide. I dunno.
 
LetItSnow said:
Nah, I'm going out of town on a ... well, it's a RAVS-like organization we have here at UMN that serves a reservation in northern MN.

But hey, don't knock the play with kids entry. I have to schedule it or I turn into a sucky dad and let it slide. Or maybe I'm a sucky dad because I let it slide. I dunno.
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I wasn't! I really didn't know what SIRVs was - and was curious because every other day had time sched. with the kids - I think it's great, actually.
 
dyachei said:
I wasn't! I really didn't know what SIRVs was - and was curious because every other day had time sched. with the kids - I think it's great, actually.
Click to expand...

Oh, my bad. Overly sensitive/tired, I guess. SIRVS = Students Initiative for Reservation Veterinary Service. It was started a few years back by students here at UMN. We make quarterly (I think; I'm pretty new, obviously) trips up to a reservation in northern MN to provide clinical care. One of the trips is a spay/neuter trip (the one this weekend, actually).

The upperclasspeeps running it do an amazing organizational job, and we get great support from some of the university vets.
 
Minnerbelle said:
[/LIST]
wash this about?
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This is probably a tl;dr - you've been warned.

The health schools at UMN require students to carry their insurance and have very strict waiver limits (employer-sponsored group policies, MinnesotaCare, and one other category). This applies to all the schools under the AHS umbrella - vet, med, dental, pharm, etc. Their side of it is that this is the plan that students had input crafting, that students set the requirements, and that part of the increased cost is because of increased mental health benefits (because of the increased mental health risks in our fields).

But, the cost to cover me and my family (my wife is home with our kids for now) was - IS - absurd. The policy is fine, but the cost is not. Especially with tuition up by 10% from last year (and the health care policy also going up a similar amount).

I was investigating other options (including the AVMA-GHLIT product), but the university shut me down on everything because it didn't meet their categories. Frankly, while I can understand them requiring that students carry insurance, I find it unreasonable that they require the level of coverage they do when tuition is already through the roof - you gotta give somewhere. The problem is everyone passes the buck: the vet school points out that it's an AHS requirement, AHS points to the health services folks, the health services folks say they just enforce the policy and administrate the health plan, etc.

Using AVMA-GHLIT as an example ... to use the university's plan would cost me an additional $14,000 over the next four years for comparable coverage. AVMA-GHLIT is certainly weak in a couple areas, but it also was stronger in others. All in all I called it a wash - except for the $14k. I had a variety of plans I looked at that ranged from $5k cheaper to $17k cheaper over the next four years.

So I took it to my state representative back in .. August-ish, maybe. She had said she would look into it, but I didn't hear anything until last week. I got email asking me to appear before a House committee where she was introducing a bill to require the university to expand their waiver categories.

It was an interesting experience. I'm afraid I'm not terribly good at that sort of thing, so I have no idea what sort of impression I made on the committee. But my representative did an outstanding job presenting the issue and lobbying on my behalf; I am grateful and impressed. The university showed up to push back - three higher-ups in fancy suits. They proceeded to stretch the numbers and mislead the committee. For instance, they would say things like "Our policy has no deductible, and the policy Mr. <mispronounce my last name repeatedly> presented has a $750 yearly deductible."

Technically, that's true. But since the university's insurance is $3500/yr more expensive, that $750 doesn't matter. I'm still $2750 ahead after I pay all $750. Frankly, it was really frustrating that the university wouldn't even deal honestly, but I guess that's politics. And why I'm not a politician.

All in all a very interesting experience.
 
pharmacology midterm tomorrow :scared::scared:

i have never felt like i know so little after studying. granted, this is midterm 4 for the week and 5 in 7 days, so yeah i'm a bit mentally shot and have been busy studying other things, but i am 99% sure i'm going to fail this exam tomorrow and am banking on the fact the hopefully enough of my classmates will as well that we get curved up to passing. i just want to curl up in a ball hidden away in a nook on the island and cry myself to sleep!! :scared::scared:
 
jmo1012 said:
pharmacology midterm tomorrow :scared::scared:
i just want to curl up in a ball hidden away in a nook on the island and cry myself to sleep!! :scared::scared:
Click to expand...

Wow that is exactly how Pharm makes me feel. Good luck tomorrow! I bet you know more than you think you do!
 
LetItSnow said:
This is probably a tl;dr - you've been warned.

The health schools at UMN require students to carry their insurance and have very strict waiver limits (employer-sponsored group policies, MinnesotaCare, and one other category). This applies to all the schools under the AHS umbrella - vet, med, dental, pharm, etc. Their side of it is that this is the plan that students had input crafting, that students set the requirements, and that part of the increased cost is because of increased mental health benefits (because of the increased mental health risks in our fields).

But, the cost to cover me and my family (my wife is home with our kids for now) was - IS - absurd. The policy is fine, but the cost is not. Especially with tuition up by 10% from last year (and the health care policy also going up a similar amount).

I was investigating other options (including the AVMA-GHLIT product), but the university shut me down on everything because it didn't meet their categories. Frankly, while I can understand them requiring that students carry insurance, I find it unreasonable that they require the level of coverage they do when tuition is already through the roof - you gotta give somewhere. The problem is everyone passes the buck: the vet school points out that it's an AHS requirement, AHS points to the health services folks, the health services folks say they just enforce the policy and administrate the health plan, etc.

Using AVMA-GHLIT as an example ... to use the university's plan would cost me an additional $14,000 over the next four years for comparable coverage. AVMA-GHLIT is certainly weak in a couple areas, but it also was stronger in others. All in all I called it a wash - except for the $14k. I had a variety of plans I looked at that ranged from $5k cheaper to $17k cheaper over the next four years.

So I took it to my state representative back in .. August-ish, maybe. She had said she would look into it, but I didn't hear anything until last week. I got email asking me to appear before a House committee where she was introducing a bill to require the university to expand their waiver categories.

It was an interesting experience. I'm afraid I'm not terribly good at that sort of thing, so I have no idea what sort of impression I made on the committee. But my representative did an outstanding job presenting the issue and lobbying on my behalf; I am grateful and impressed. The university showed up to push back - three higher-ups in fancy suits. They proceeded to stretch the numbers and mislead the committee. For instance, they would say things like "Our policy has no deductible, and the policy Mr. <mispronounce my last name repeatedly> presented has a $750 yearly deductible."

Technically, that's true. But since the university's insurance is $3500/yr more expensive, that $750 doesn't matter. I'm still $2750 ahead after I pay all $750. Frankly, it was really frustrating that the university wouldn't even deal honestly, but I guess that's politics. And why I'm not a politician.

All in all a very interesting experience.
Click to expand...
Pretty neat that you got to present your side. Hope something comes of it!
 
LetItSnow said:
So I took it to my state representative back in .. August-ish, maybe. She had said she would look into it, but I didn't hear anything until last week. I got email asking me to appear before a House committee where she was introducing a bill to require the university to expand their waiver categories.

It was an interesting experience. I'm afraid I'm not terribly good at that sort of thing, so I have no idea what sort of impression I made on the committee. But my representative did an outstanding job presenting the issue and lobbying on my behalf; I am grateful and impressed.
Click to expand...

That's really awesome! Kudos to you for taking initiative, and kudos to your state rep for following through!
 
WTG LIS, hope it works out. Love to see it when the system works.

Right now procrastinating from studying for our AB3 (basically all body systems) final exams. I love not having exams during the semester, but then it gets to finals time and I suddenly wish for those extra tests that would have forced me to study more during the semester...
 
2 midterms and 11 exams left before 1st year is officially over... 😀
 
Done with anatomy forever!!! I can't believe there's only like 4 more weeks left of my first year of vet school. Here's hoping I can make it through.
 
OMG I'm so ready for this block to be over. I honestly feel at a slight disadvantage because there were no such things as immunology or repro at my undergrad so I didn't have a chance to take them before vet school and now I feel like it's biting me in the ass. I know I could learn the material just fine if I spent time on it, but part of me is really burnt out, and the part of me that isn't is too busy being angry at one of our professors to spend time on his class. I'm just not getting along with vet school right now.
 
scb44f said:
OMG I'm so ready for this block to be over. I honestly feel at a slight disadvantage because there were no such things as immunology or repro at my undergrad so I didn't have a chance to take them before vet school and now I feel like it's biting me in the ass. I know I could learn the material just fine if I spent time on it, but part of me is really burnt out, and the part of me that isn't is too busy being angry at one of our professors to spend time on his class. I'm just not getting along with vet school right now.
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I had the hardest time with first year because my only science background was the pre-req's (which for Penn are pretty minimal). I found that I was having a hard time when classmates were doing okay. Now that it is second year, my classmates with the science backgrounds are at that same "ahh how do I learn this" stage but I'm doing okay. So what I'm trying to say is everyone will go through that stage and it is not bad to get it over with earlier rather than later.
Good luck and I promise it will be over soon.
 
bunnity said:
I had the hardest time with first year because my only science background was the pre-req's (which for Penn are pretty minimal). I found that I was having a hard time when classmates were doing okay. Now that it is second year, my classmates with the science backgrounds are at that same "ahh how do I learn this" stage but I'm doing okay. So what I'm trying to say is everyone will go through that stage and it is not bad to get it over with earlier rather than later.
Good luck and I promise it will be over soon.
Click to expand...

Thanks, bunnity. It's nice to hear someone in vet school say that everyone goes through it! My SO was trying to calm me down earlier by saying the same thing, but I was having an attitude and probably wasn't listening to him as well as I should have... 😳
 
scb44f said:
Thanks, bunnity. It's nice to hear someone in vet school say that everyone goes through it! My SO was trying to calm me down earlier by saying the same thing, but I was having an attitude and probably wasn't listening to him as well as I should have... 😳
Click to expand...

Trust me I do the not listening to the SO thing too :/
 
bunnity said:
I had the hardest time with first year because my only science background was the pre-req's (which for Penn are pretty minimal). I found that I was having a hard time when classmates were doing okay. Now that it is second year, my classmates with the science backgrounds are at that same "ahh how do I learn this" stage but I'm doing okay. So what I'm trying to say is everyone will go through that stage and it is not bad to get it over with earlier rather than later.
Good luck and I promise it will be over soon.
Click to expand...
There's hope for me? We shall see!
 
Uhhhhhhhgggggghhhh.

I think phys or anatomy might do me in. I'm borderline.

And I've been sick for a week and I can't seem to shake it - it's only making things worse.

I'm freaking myself out. To the point where I don't feel like I'm absorbing any information.
 
twelvetigers said:
I'm freaking myself out. To the point where I don't feel like I'm absorbing any information.
Click to expand...

Whenever I get in a tizzy, I remind myself that the energy I spent stressing about the material could be much better applied to actually learning it. Turn stress into productivity and things will be a lot better.

I know, very simple outlook and easier said than done. But sometimes simply reminding myself I can spend the same amount of energy either stressing or being productive makes me empowered to chose the better option 🙂
 
I am sad I contribute to scb44f's sadness. 🙁

I hate school right now, too. I feel like I live in two worlds. 8 hours of the day I exist in this hell of vet school, and the rest of the day I go off into this magical alternative fantasy life that no one knows about...
 
breenie said:
I am sad I contribute to scb44f's sadness. 🙁

I hate school right now, too. I feel like I live in two worlds. 8 hours of the day I exist in this hell of vet school, and the rest of the day I go off into this magical alternative fantasy life that no one knows about...
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say you contribute, just my background compared to yours sucks, at least for the classes we are in right now. Honestly, it partially feels like my own fault for not trying harder in these classes, but at the same time, I never knew that the types of questions they ask on exams in immunology and endocrinology were actually legit. I guess I am realizing how little I know compared to what they want me to, and it's discouraging me.

Your alternate life sounds awesome. Mine has this facade of productivity, but underneath are little to-dos like wedding stuff and must-appease-mother-tasks so I end up not doing anything.
 
Lissarae06 said:
Then it's time to go to sleep.
Click to expand...

moosenanny said:
Whenever I get in a tizzy, I remind myself that the energy I spent stressing about the material could be much better applied to actually learning it. Turn stress into productivity and things will be a lot better.

I know, very simple outlook and easier said than done. But sometimes simply reminding myself I can spend the same amount of energy either stressing or being productive makes me empowered to chose the better option 🙂
Click to expand...

These are easier when I don't need like an 80+ on the exam(s) to pass the class.

Calcium metabolism is really confusing.
 
moosenanny said:
Whenever I get in a tizzy, I remind myself that the energy I spent stressing about the material could be much better applied to actually learning it. Turn stress into productivity and things will be a lot better.

I know, very simple outlook and easier said than done. But sometimes simply reminding myself I can spend the same amount of energy either stressing or being productive makes me empowered to chose the better option 🙂
Click to expand...

lol reading this kind of makes me want to stab you in the eye. 😉
 
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