Class of 2020... how you doin?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
So I have no clue what this "Rabbit" thing is that I've seen in a few threads. So what does the good student in me do? "Dear Google... what is rabbit?"

Naturally some results were of fluffy lagos and yada yada... but then I kept scrolling... and I found "rabbits" that I'm pretty sure nobody is watching GoT with :wideyed: (well, unless, eh nvm lol)

Members don't see this ad.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users
So I have no clue what this "Rabbit" thing is that I've seen in a few threads. So what does the good student in me do? "Dear Google... what is rabbit?"

Naturally some results were of fluffy lagos and yada yada... but then I kept scrolling... and I found "rabbits" that I'm pretty sure nobody is watching GoT with :wideyed: (well, unless, eh nvm lol)
Rabbit is a screen sharing site with a chat box. We watch movies (and sometimes just dumb videos) together pretty regularly if you pop into the Watering Hole.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Members don't see this ad :)
There's 106! I do have a few amazing friends at school and I'm so glad for them, but there are some cliques and it's hard to be integrated when they already have their own people. I'll try though ❤

That is exactly the boat I am in as well, and our class size is ~162. I went to a small undergrad and had a bunch of good friends there, and I just really miss going to school and having friends like that, ya know?

I have made some acquaintances this semester that I think have potential to develop into good friendships next year, though - we'll see.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
I got a D in every exam at that school in 3rd year for a particular class... and was given a C as my final grade. Hang in there, I'm sure you aren't the only one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Sandstorm, hang in there. Anatomy is my most challenging class, too. My husband actually asked whether to anticipate crying fits when he found out my final is next week, and then he was promptly treated to one when I spent an hour in traffic last night and lost study time.

One thing that works for me that I don't see listed is rewriting my notes. Not making flashcards. Actually going through each lecture and re-writing the notes into a study guide. It is horribly time-consuming, but it makes things stick. I started doing it for all classes and have seen improvement in all grades. Additionally, the turning point for me (i.e, when I stopped thinking I would fail and started thinking I might actually get a C) was when some classmates took pity on me and asked me to join their study group. I know you are in study groups, but maybe they aren't the *right* study group for what you need? Is there someone else you could try studying with to see if it makes things stick a little better?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Also, the information on the UMN website has been a life-saver. There are not videos for large animals, but there are excellent photographs that helped me with all the ligaments for passive stay on the last exam. I began watching the canine dissection videos as part of my final study process last semester, and my grade improved significantly on the practicals.

Courseware for Ungulate Anatomy
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 users
It's definitely not an easy class and I would be willing to bet a lucky nickel that you are not the only one struggling - some just hide it really well.

Another thing to try, depending on how 'artsy' you feel, is drawing stuff out on whiteboards. I bought some cheap boards from Home Depot and screwed them into my walls at home. It frequently looks like a crazy person lives here with the random crap I draw out to help me remember all the things. Prepare yourself for an overload of nerd - I keep a portable whiteboard in my backpack, too. I've also worked to build "teaching aides" to help if someone needs a different way to look at certain parts of the body (mostly for the dog, haven't had time or energy this semester for the horse yet). Between the library boards, my place, and the portable, I probably kill a brain cell or two each week from the marker fumes, but it's worth it.

Talk out loud to yourself. I've started doing that this semester when I have stuff that just is not sticking. I'll walk myself through it and explain the details as I go. You'd be surprised what your brain fills in for you when you're running through it silently and how that doesn't really (for me anyway) work that smoothly when you're talking out loud. If anything you're simply engaging another sense while you study and science says that works.

My last suggestion: find someone you can teach. They may know everything, or they may not. It doesn't matter. Learn the section you're focusing on, build yourself a little teaching "tool" for your "student," and then explain it like they know nothing. A friend of mine had a hard time with anatomy last semester and I truly enjoyed teaching him everything I could once we started studying together. Not only was it a new way for him to see the material, but it crammed that junk even further into my Swiss cheese brain. It really is about finding the right group to study with though and that group may shift a bit between subjects.

Hang in there and feel free to reach out anytime.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 users
Sandy, I am sending you good vibes in this challenging time. I can't imagine the anxiety you must feel. I won't make any suggestions to you as you've surely been inundated with them, but I really think you can get through this. Message me anytime.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
You can do it Sandstorm!

Chd2P-GVEAES77g.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: 7 users
Members don't see this ad :)
I am doing great in all my classes, but holy **** I have never been so exhausted and unhappy in my life. I'm paying $40,000 a year to be miserable. Vet school really blows sometimes.:boom:

Luckily, I'm ditching school Friday and going home this weekend for a family event and a very much needed escape.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 users
We have 36 days left. We've been going 235 days.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
ImageUploadedBySDN1491516470.917350.jpg


Not gonna make my connection aka not gonna get home tonight aka going to have only about 24 hours at home now. Sucks. I needed this trip.

(Should probably be in the rant thread, but since I mentioned my trip in here already...)
 
I have a question for current first years. How do you deal with going into a certain area of vet med that you know is competitive? Does it make you freak out that you might not be able to do it or do you just take it day by day? I mean yeah I got to the next level, but now it's going to get harder and even more so to do what I really want to do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
I have a question for current first years. How do you deal with going into a certain area of vet med that you know is competitive? Does it make you freak out that you might not be able to do it or do you just take it day by day? I mean yeah I got to the next level, but now it's going to get harder and even more so to do what I really want to do.
For me, I came to school specifically to get a DVM and be accepted to an anatomic pathology residency. Before I even started school, I talked to several board-certified pathologists at the university and asked what I should do to be competitive for a residency program. One of the professors I talked to is actually in charge of OSU's program, so she told me exactly what they look for in applicants. I have been trying to be as involved in path-related activities as I possibly can, and have been making solid connections for future LORs along the way. Also, while I have zero interest in some topics/classes, I still understand that I need to do well in the classes and learn the material in general to get through clinics and pass the NAVLE. The point of a DVM program is to make me a well-rounded veterinarian. The specialized training comes later.

If I remember correctly, you're interested in pathology too? If you have any questions, feel free to PM me!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
I have a question for current first years. How do you deal with going into a certain area of vet med that you know is competitive? Does it make you freak out that you might not be able to do it or do you just take it day by day? I mean yeah I got to the next level, but now it's going to get harder and even more so to do what I really want to do.

Not a current first year (thank god.....), but....

I seriously would just not worry about it allllll that much. (That said, I'm not a boarded specialist and did not pursue residency.)

But... I mean... it seems to me that the people in my class that were really passionate about a specific 'area' - it worked out. Their natural passion for it carried them through, both in the sense that they became 'experts' (as much as you can prior to internship/residency) by virtue of curiosity, they gained contacts by way of just getting involved in the right places .... and that got them where they needed to go.

There are certainly people who think they desperately want to go into some specialty who don't succeed at getting in, but in general ... if you are as passionate about the specialty as you think, it's likely to just work out on its own.

I certainly would not spend my vet school years stressing out over it. There's enough to stress out over in life.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 users
I have a question for current first years. How do you deal with going into a certain area of vet med that you know is competitive? Does it make you freak out that you might not be able to do it or do you just take it day by day? I mean yeah I got to the next level, but now it's going to get harder and even more so to do what I really want to do.

I feel like I have too many other things to focus on each day to really "freak out" about this. I might want to pursue a residency at the conclusion of my program, so I'm working at keeping my grades up and being involved in the clubs that interest me, but it's not something I really have time to fixate on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users
But... I mean... it seems to me that the people in my class that were really passionate about a specific 'area' - it worked out. Their natural passion for it carried them through, both in the sense that they became 'experts' (as much as you can prior to internship/residency) by virtue of curiosity, they gained contacts by way of just getting involved in the right places .... and that got them where they needed to go.

There are certainly people who think they desperately want to go into some specialty who don't succeed at getting in, but in general ... if you are as passionate about the specialty as you think, it's likely to just work out on its own.

I dunno, sometimes there are real barriers that are really hard to climb, especially in competitive specialties. I did all those right things during school (aside from being top 25% of the class, I suppose) and I'm still struggling. I still think I'll personally be fine (mostly due to luck, some due to people I knew before vet school, and some due to actual hard work), but it's not a certainty and is taking a lot of extra time and effort for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm still pretty happy to be where I am, but like, it's still pretty stressful to know I could put all of this work in and still never get a chance at a residency.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
I have a question for current first years. How do you deal with going into a certain area of vet med that you know is competitive? Does it make you freak out that you might not be able to do it or do you just take it day by day? I mean yeah I got to the next level, but now it's going to get harder and even more so to do what I really want to do.
It won't do you any good to stress about it. Too many other things to stress about. For me, I'm interested in exotics (zoo is the dream and I say it that way for a reason), so I'm involved in as much as I can be in that area. But I'm not going to stress about what my classmates with similar interests are doing or freak out about things that are that far down the road.

I think you also have to recognize that it might not happen for you, or it might not happen exactly the way you want, and that is ok too. For the really competitive specialties, in my opinion, you have to come to terms with the reality that you might not end up right where you want to be. If you don't you'll drive yourself crazy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
I'm someone who would like to specialize... I've put in a lot of time even as a first year into getting to know clinicians and residents in my areas of interest and am now working two jobs in those areas, one of which is research related and may, best case scenario, lead to a publication with me having some authorship.

But my grades... my grades this entire first year have been awful. I realize that GPA isn't necessarily a dealbreaker if you can make great connections, get great experience and exemplary recommendations, and whatnot, but there is no denying that in the competitive specialties, it definitely does matter. Granted, a poor academic performance first year does not doom you to being a below average student during the rest of your vet school career, either.

I've been told that if I can get my GPA up to a reasonable 3.0+, I could stand a good chance in getting into the fields I'm interested in if I can continue getting involved and networking to the extent that I have been.

That said, I am also aware that things may not play out. I have accepted that I am more than willing to work in small animal GP should that happen. You might want to make sure that you have a back-up plan just in case; provided that your grades and/or class rank are excellent, odds are decent that you'll make it if you're truly passionate and get involved, but vet school is hard and things do happen. Or you might realize that it isn't even something that you want to pursue down the line, and that's okay.

But I agree with everyone else: do what you can to get experience and make connections in your field of interest, maybe join the exec team for related clubs/organizations, maybe get involved in research... but don't spend your entire time in vet school stressing too much over it. At least not until you're closer to actually applying for internships or residencies. Vet school is difficult and anxiety inducing enough as-is.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
I wanted to do clin path and ended up in GP. Partially because of grades, and partially because I hated school a lot and didn't want any more of anything like it. As time goes on, I might feel more okay with the idea of doing a residency (which works for some specialties but not for others) but I think the grades thing would still keep me firmly out of the realm of possibility.

In the end, it's just not how things ended up for me. I'm not bitter about it, and if I had the option to 'do-over' my vet career and do better and have a chance go on into residency, I'd probably skip the whole vet school thing and do something else anyway.

So you can worry about it some (in terms of making good connections and trying to do well in classes) but don't let it ruin your life if things aren't going according to plan. Not worth it.
 
Can't sleep... grades on my mind. So here's more venting, I guess.

Going back to anatomy, I've been furiously calculating all sorts of different scenarios for how my grade could end up at this point. I'm currently sitting at 64%. I'm still incredibly frustrated about what happened with the last test (as well as slightly upset that apparently I wasn't awarded any partial credit for any of my really close answers... I was given a 0 on one pin for writing "deep vaginal ring" when the answer was "vaginal ring"---I mean, I don't expect the full 2 points for that, but not even 0.5 point?). Especially given how much time I put in, the fact that I've been in tutoring for a few weeks now, I spend every weekend in lab for several hours, and that my answers are for the most part SO close... I also made a substantial improvement on the written portion but because I still bombed the practical, it doesn't matter. Whatever.

It turns out that in order for me to earn even a C- in the class at this point, I would have to get a near perfect score on the final and I just... if my testing history in this class is any indication, I just don't think that I can pull that off. :( I realize that it isn't an impossible endeavor, but it is so very improbable. Especially seeing as I seem to make the same terrible score regardless of how much time and energy I put in. It honestly makes me just not even want to care anymore. But I have to, because my grade overall is low enough that if I mess this final up, I could finish with an F---which means I'm out for good. We can technically continue here with Ds but it is somewhat GPA dependent, and mine is very borderline from the disaster that was last semester. So best case scenario if that happens is that I end up on academic probation. In first semester anatomy, we had the opportunity to take a remedial exam if our grade was iffy... it was more difficult than I anticipated but it seriously saved me. But that isn't an option apparently for this semester's anatomy class.

I just feel so discouraged all the time when it comes to anatomy because I feel like any effort I put in isn't going to matter at this point. I've put in a lot of work in terms of adjusting my study methods, routines, and even attitude towards this class and evidently none of that nor the tutoring nor the weeks in advance that I spend studying make a lick of difference. I'm half tempted to talk with the professor again but I know that he will probably tell me the same things that he did last time... basically that I'm obviously dropping the ball and doing something wrong. Well, yeah, clearly I am doing something wrong if I am trying this hard and still not getting anywhere---I just wish I knew what the heck that something WAS. Or maybe something is wrong with me. I don't know. I am not having this much difficulty in any other class this semester, though immuno is kinda borderline because I screwed up the first test.

It's stuff like this that seriously makes me question why/how I was even admitted in the first place. It also makes me question how I'm going to make it through the rest of this program if VM1 anatomy is already just about doing me in.

Also, our last pre-finals week test is on Tuesday. It's over GI phys (again) and a good chunk of repro, and while I am doing better in this class grades-wise, I am really terrified about this particular test. 110 of the 170 are strictly over GI phys, all short answer and essay, and this professor is notorious for being probably the most difficult of our first year. I'm thoroughly unprepared and even just trying to go through the material at this point is making me feel physically ill. Gotta work through it...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sandstorm, I worry that overanalyzing your grades (and how you're going to do and what's going to happen) isn't going to do anything but keep you stressed out and unable to focus. Don't think about what percent you need on your final. Shut all that away and focus on learning the material and doing the best you can. If you're losing sleep over the numbers and what if's, you need to give yourself permission to not stress over them. Easier said than done, I know, but it might help.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
Can't sleep... grades on my mind. So here's more venting, I guess.

Going back to anatomy, I've been furiously calculating all sorts of different scenarios for how my grade could end up at this point. I'm currently sitting at 64%. I'm still incredibly frustrated about what happened with the last test (as well as slightly upset that apparently I wasn't awarded any partial credit for any of my really close answers... I was given a 0 on one pin for writing "deep vaginal ring" when the answer was "vaginal ring"---I mean, I don't expect the full 2 points for that, but not even 0.5 point?). Especially given how much time I put in, the fact that I've been in tutoring for a few weeks now, I spend every weekend in lab for several hours, and that my answers are for the most part SO close... I also made a substantial improvement on the written portion but because I still bombed the practical, it doesn't matter. Whatever.

It turns out that in order for me to earn even a C- in the class at this point, I would have to get a near perfect score on the final and I just... if my testing history in this class is any indication, I just don't think that I can pull that off. :( I realize that it isn't an impossible endeavor, but it is so very improbable. Especially seeing as I seem to make the same terrible score regardless of how much time and energy I put in. It honestly makes me just not even want to care anymore. But I have to, because my grade overall is low enough that if I mess this final up, I could finish with an F---which means I'm out for good. We can technically continue here with Ds but it is somewhat GPA dependent, and mine is very borderline from the disaster that was last semester. So best case scenario if that happens is that I end up on academic probation. In first semester anatomy, we had the opportunity to take a remedial exam if our grade was iffy... it was more difficult than I anticipated but it seriously saved me. But that isn't an option apparently for this semester's anatomy class.

I just feel so discouraged all the time when it comes to anatomy because I feel like any effort I put in isn't going to matter at this point. I've put in a lot of work in terms of adjusting my study methods, routines, and even attitude towards this class and evidently none of that nor the tutoring nor the weeks in advance that I spend studying make a lick of difference. I'm half tempted to talk with the professor again but I know that he will probably tell me the same things that he did last time... basically that I'm obviously dropping the ball and doing something wrong. Well, yeah, clearly I am doing something wrong if I am trying this hard and still not getting anywhere---I just wish I knew what the heck that something WAS. Or maybe something is wrong with me. I don't know. I am not having this much difficulty in any other class this semester, though immuno is kinda borderline because I screwed up the first test.

It's stuff like this that seriously makes me question why/how I was even admitted in the first place. It also makes me question how I'm going to make it through the rest of this program if VM1 anatomy is already just about doing me in.

Also, our last pre-finals week test is on Tuesday. It's over GI phys (again) and a good chunk of repro, and while I am doing better in this class grades-wise, I am really terrified about this particular test. 110 of the 170 are strictly over GI phys, all short answer and essay, and this professor is notorious for being probably the most difficult of our first year. I'm thoroughly unprepared and even just trying to go through the material at this point is making me feel physically ill. Gotta work through it...

I'm not sure if this will be at all useful, but have you spoken with the professor about partial credit? A lot of professors in undergrad would give you partial credit if you went back to them afterwards with the exam and showed how close you were. I obviously don't know if deep vaginal ring is the same thing as vaginal ring or anywhere close to it but maybe have a sit down talk with the professor about it. If they're not helpful or tell you it's your fault without suggestions on how to improve, I might speak to someone else about it. Does student affairs have a faculty representative? Explain all the studying, tutoring, and effort. I'm sure you can do this Sandstorm! Good luck!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Hang in there Sandstorm. First year courses are a special hell. Even if you end up on academic probation, that (hopefully?) means that you're done with anatomy. And from what you've said you are doing better in the other classes. So I'm hoping that once this is all behind you, you will do better in subsequent classes and get yourself off of probation, continue to do even better over time, and this will all be a bad memory. I struggled mightily to pass physiology, so I completely understand where you're at.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Can't sleep... grades on my mind. So here's more venting, I guess.

Going back to anatomy, I've been furiously calculating all sorts of different scenarios for how my grade could end up at this point. I'm currently sitting at 64%. I'm still incredibly frustrated about what happened with the last test (as well as slightly upset that apparently I wasn't awarded any partial credit for any of my really close answers... I was given a 0 on one pin for writing "deep vaginal ring" when the answer was "vaginal ring"---I mean, I don't expect the full 2 points for that, but not even 0.5 point?). Especially given how much time I put in, the fact that I've been in tutoring for a few weeks now, I spend every weekend in lab for several hours, and that my answers are for the most part SO close... I also made a substantial improvement on the written portion but because I still bombed the practical, it doesn't matter. Whatever.

It turns out that in order for me to earn even a C- in the class at this point, I would have to get a near perfect score on the final and I just... if my testing history in this class is any indication, I just don't think that I can pull that off. :( I realize that it isn't an impossible endeavor, but it is so very improbable. Especially seeing as I seem to make the same terrible score regardless of how much time and energy I put in. It honestly makes me just not even want to care anymore. But I have to, because my grade overall is low enough that if I mess this final up, I could finish with an F---which means I'm out for good. We can technically continue here with Ds but it is somewhat GPA dependent, and mine is very borderline from the disaster that was last semester. So best case scenario if that happens is that I end up on academic probation. In first semester anatomy, we had the opportunity to take a remedial exam if our grade was iffy... it was more difficult than I anticipated but it seriously saved me. But that isn't an option apparently for this semester's anatomy class.

I just feel so discouraged all the time when it comes to anatomy because I feel like any effort I put in isn't going to matter at this point. I've put in a lot of work in terms of adjusting my study methods, routines, and even attitude towards this class and evidently none of that nor the tutoring nor the weeks in advance that I spend studying make a lick of difference. I'm half tempted to talk with the professor again but I know that he will probably tell me the same things that he did last time... basically that I'm obviously dropping the ball and doing something wrong. Well, yeah, clearly I am doing something wrong if I am trying this hard and still not getting anywhere---I just wish I knew what the heck that something WAS. Or maybe something is wrong with me. I don't know. I am not having this much difficulty in any other class this semester, though immuno is kinda borderline because I screwed up the first test.

It's stuff like this that seriously makes me question why/how I was even admitted in the first place. It also makes me question how I'm going to make it through the rest of this program if VM1 anatomy is already just about doing me in.

Also, our last pre-finals week test is on Tuesday. It's over GI phys (again) and a good chunk of repro, and while I am doing better in this class grades-wise, I am really terrified about this particular test. 110 of the 170 are strictly over GI phys, all short answer and essay, and this professor is notorious for being probably the most difficult of our first year. I'm thoroughly unprepared and even just trying to go through the material at this point is making me feel physically ill. Gotta work through it...

Wow. It sounds like we are literally in almost the same boat. I have a 62% in my anatomy but a 52% in the histo component and I need to get over 60% in both in order to get a C-. My 40% final is next week. Right now I'm just trying to put in as much effort as I can to just do well (Especially for histo as that needs to come up significantly) and it can totally be scary knowing that if I screw up on this final it wold be very easy to end up with a D, I haven't even thought about an F. Like I said, my focus right now is just trying to study as best I can and refusing to give up! Other than physiology (Another C) I'm getting mostly high B's or low A's and just rocked my clinical skills component. Everything I've heard is that if you make it through first year anatomy, you can do anything! Remember that you got in for a reason, even if it doesn't feel like it right now.

But yeah, we are pretty much in the same boat. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to PM me! I have faith in both of us. <3
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users
Finals started today...had two finals...on a Saturday... during Easter weekend.. only 5 more to go?
 
Finals started today...had two finals...on a Saturday... during Easter weekend.. only 5 more to go?

Who the hell does tests on the Saturday before Easter?!?! Our midterms got moved (against our will) to next week because of Easter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
I have 183 typed pages of notes for tomorrow's exam. The expectation of knowledge for Ophtho is beyond unreasonable. And add to that seizures and derm.....fml. Just fml. :confused::arghh::barf:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Two weeks of class, then a week and a half of finals, and then I am free. Oh lord I can't wait.
We have 17 more days. So close to three and a half months of freedom.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
One week with no tests, following week is classes and Tuesday/Friday finals and then M/W/F finals the first week of May. Can't believe we're so close to the end. 2 of the previously mentioned tests are for physiology, with a cumulative final which sounds fantastic
 
ughhhh we still have 5 weeks left. But it's mostly because they are phasing out classes and starting finals. We have one last full week of classes this week, then 2 finals and some classes next week, and then basically just our finals all spread out over the following 3 weeks. But it just feels like so much time still :blackeye:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
ughhhh we still have 5 weeks left. But it's mostly because they are phasing out classes and starting finals. We have one last full week of classes this week, then 2 finals and some classes next week, and then basically just our finals all spread out over the following 3 weeks. But it just feels like so much time still :blackeye:
At least your finals are spaced out! We have 7 finals in 7 days :(
 
We have 5 weeks left too :arghh: I don't think I've ever been so ready for summer in all my life...
 
Four weeks left. Midterm next Thursday, quiz the next Thursday, nothing the week after that, then finals that last week. Worth 55% of our grade.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Hard to believe how fast our first year has gone by. Seems like just yesterday we were all posting about our first day of class. We have a week left. This week shouldn't be too bad and then three really tough weeks. I cannot wait for three months of glorious freedom.
 
Top