I’m still waiting on a few more schools, probably won’t know for sure where I’m going until mid-March! How about you?
That's awesome! Do you have a top choice in mind?
I was accepted to 2 and waitlisted at 3, but once I heard from Texas A&M it was pretty much a no brainer since they are my in-state. Debt is so real, and going out of state no matter how much I may have loved other programs isn’t worth the extra 80K-100K in debt. All things aside I am so excited to be an Aggie!
I was accepted to 2 and waitlisted at 3, but once I heard from Texas A&M it was pretty much a no brainer since they are my in-state. Debt is so real, and going out of state no matter how much I may have loved other programs isn’t worth the extra 80K-100K in debt. All things aside I am so excited to be an Aggie!
If i dont get into my IS school (tOSU), I think I am going to go to KSU!
Not quite sure yet... I’ve been accepted to Minnesota and Mississippi so far, and my top choice seems to change by the hour! I just really wish I would’ve been able to visit the schools- I haven’t even been to some of these states yet, so it’s hard to know where I think I would like to be, all other factors being equal.
im totally feeling the same way! right now my top two choices are penn and cornell- ive been able to drive around both campuses (haven't been able to get to the new bolton center tho for penn) but it was difficult to sense what the atmosphere was like by just driving around during winter break!!! and for you, minnesota and mississippi as states probably have completely different vibes. i grew up right outside of philly and i moved to georgia for undergrad- pennsylvania and georgia feel like they are in opposite worlds!!! the culture is just a lot different down here in GA, and i think you'd find the same thing in mississippi vs minnesota (not a good or bad difference in culture, just different!)
for me its money - while i do love tOSU outside of financial obligations, its also much cheaper than my other options as IS. I want to move to Nashville after my 4 years and be close to my fiancé's family and it is NOT cheap to live there. OSU is also closer to see his family if we get a free holiday season. I also like to travel and would want money to do that (I feel like im going to look back on this post in 4 years and laugh at my self). I don't think I want children? but that could always change and I would want to make sure I can provide for them as well based off the amount borrowed and my future salary. I think cost is a big factor but also getting the experience you want while acknowledging the financial obligation is also important! Are you getting any scholarships/grants/ FAFSA?
I had multiple offers on my last application cycle and narrowed it down to two before making my final decision, so hopefully I can offer some helpful advice on this!
how much would you weigh opportunities like a residency program you’re interested in? for me, i’m leaning towards cornell, but penn does have a new avian pathology residency that i’m super interested in. are you more likely to get into a residency program at the school you already attend? it looks like with scholarships cornell is going to be probably $10k-$20k cheaper than penn at the end of the 4 years.
You make some good points. I also want to travel (hence the applying to schools outside of the US), although I'm sure once I graduate I won't have time for that 😂 I'm right there with you in the "no kids" feeling, but also reserve the right to change my mind. I'm kind of leaving it as a problem for future me to solve because I don't see that changing any time between now and the time I graduate.
My top two choices are both in cities, which is where I want to end up in the long run, so I've accepted the idea that I will be paying more. I will try to be saving by not using my car (or having one at all) and relying on public transport which will save me all car related expenses (except at Penn driving to NBC for classes/rotations). Also will be trying to either find people to live with to make rent/utilities cheaper.
Money is definitely a major point for me, and I’m also including externship time, opportunities at the school or nearby to get experience and make connections in my goal field (zoo med), plus probably climate will be a bit of a factor- snow is very exciting for me right now as a Florida gal but I’m sure that’ll fade
I applied only to schools that I really really love so it’s gonna be tough for sure!!
As a Texas gal currently in Kansas, it definitely fades quickly
it’s pretty for a while until it snows and then stays below freezing for 1+ weeks, then it just gets gross and annoying.
T h a n k y o uI was accepted to 2 and waitlisted at 3, but once I heard from Texas A&M it was pretty much a no brainer since they are my in-state. Debt is so real, and going out of state no matter how much I may have loved other programs isn’t worth the extra 80K-100K in debt. All things aside I am so excited to be an Aggie!
Generally speaking, you're not more likely to get into a residency program at the school you already attend. At some places you may be infinitely less likely to make that happen because some programs don't take their own students. That being said, you might find more interesting opportunities to learn and shadow and make connections in the field if the school you attend has a residency program in the specialty field you're interested in, but that doesn't mean opportunities won't exist elsewhere.
ok thank you so much for the info!!! i might reach out to them since it is such a specific and niche residency program just to see what their application process looks like (not sure if they use virmp or just have students apply directly to their program) and if they like to take outside students or prefer their own students. but that definitely makes sense and i’m in agreement that i don’t think this one program that i am in no way guaranteed to get into regardless of where i go should be the main deciding factor. thanks!!!!
Definitely reasonable to ask but don’t forget to try googling and find the info yourself...I’m sure that info is online somewhere for current program applicants. With that said, pathology programs are almost exclusively outside of the VIRMP match. There are a couple new pathology internship programs that use the match but I would bet that it is outside the match and you apply directly. There have been surveys in the pathology community asking if people want to switch to the match and it has been a resounding “no” answer and people like being separate. Also pathology usually picks much earlier than the match...most offers go out in November vs the match in March. They probably won’t commit to saying whether they take their own students or prefer outside people...that info is something you learn from watching the program over time or from “insider knowledge” from current trainees. I’d predict you’ll get a vague answer about how it’s a competitive program and they take the best qualified applicants regardless of where they are from.
thank you so so much for the reply. that totally makes sense and i think you’re completely right that i’ll probably get a vague answer about who gets accepted or not 😂 it seems like a relatively new program because i don’t even see it listed as one of their current residencies, but there’s a few sentences at the bottom of their avian pathology lab web site page that say they are starting up this program and to contact them for more info. i will continue to research on my own though and reach out to the people i’m friends with at penn to see what info i can gather before i call up the contact for the avian pathology lab! thank you!
I’m not quite sure yet and I probably won’t actually commit to a school until the last minute. My top two that I’m picking between right now are UMN and Penn, but ultimately it will come down to the cost. With my veterans benefits the OOS cost of any public school is neutralized which opened up a lot of options to me because (sorry WSU) I’m not spending four years in Pullman. I’m just not lol. UMN has been my dream school for years so I’m 90% sure that’ll be where I end up, but if I can get more money from the VA, Penn sure is tempting...
I will be attending K-State! It is my in-state school, so it is the best and cheapest option for me. I am in the early admit program and I attend KSU for undergrad, so I didn’t apply anywhere else. I’m excited to spend the next 4 years in Manhattan, and then we’ll see where I end up after that!
Still waiting to hear back from the RVC but I think I already have my mind made up about going to St. George's University! So excited to attend and still kinda can't believe that my lifelong dream of GOING TO FRICKIN VET SCHOOL is coming true (let alone in such a beautiful place)!!!!
This right here is a whole-ass mood!! Michigan State has been my dream for literally ever and I honestly can’t believe I’ve been admitted!! I keep re-reading the email but it has yet to fully sink in 😅 I’ll be seeing you in the fall! ☺️
Hahaha yes! We’ll be classmates
I’m so excited
omg congrats!!! where do you think you’ll attend????
I only applied to WSU and was accepted to the Utah program (I'm a Utah resident). I wasn't interested in applying anywhere else because of in-state tuition and both my family and my husband's family live here in Utah too, so we didn't want to move too far away from them, especially because we have a baby on the way!
It's fun hearing about everyone's fun plans though and I'm so thrilled for everyone here!! <3 Congrats to you all!!
My husband had to explain the storyline to me a couple weeks ago lol
I want to do wildlife too! I’m also so happy & grateful I got into my IS, allows for more financial flexibility after graduation!
tOSU acceptance and looking to build a career in pathology, wildlife, and research/education.
I’ll be committing to Purdue! I’m IS, and with the cheapest in-state tuition in the country, you really can’t beat that. I really love exotics and want to pursue a residency in avian/exotic. Although the income is on the lower side, going to a cheaper school will make that more of a realistic possibility for me
