Class size

Veterinary School Application Advising Ad
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
New Foundland

New Foundland

be seeing you
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
266
Reaction score
1
Members do not see this ad.
Is there any place to view a list of Class sizes of different schools?
And also any stats on the average vet med class size ? (guessing around 90-95 ? )

searched the forum to little avail.

Also worth discussing here could be whether class size really makes much of a difference in education. What is the experience of everyone with regards to this?
Obviously many of the larger class sizes would have higher case loads, more doctors in the faculty, relatively equivilent resources, etc.

But then there's issues like "sense of community" and "tightness of group" which would inevitably be bolstered by having a smaller class.
** Not saying there aren't exceptions (yeah yeah i'm sure your class of 110 students is still tightly knit 😛 )

Pros/Cons of larger or smaller class sizes, anyone?
 
i always wondered if a lower student/faculty ratio helped promote individualized learning and really making sure each student was succeeding (but that my just be my optimistic perfect world view)

also, i think theres a class size increase trend currently happening with several schools looking to significantly increase their class sizes over the next few years
 
I recently read "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell, and one of the most striking concepts for me in that book was about human effective group size. The theory is known as "Dunbar's Number" ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar's_number ) and pretty much says that humans have a maximum capacity for close social relations. That number is about 150 (actually somewhere between 100 and 230, but 150 is the one commonly used).

This number has been known for a while - military groups are organized near that size. So are some companies (Gore Tex), and some social living communities.

Anyway - when I read about it I instantly thought about vet school class sizes 🙂 This theory would say that a class should not get above 150 as then it would quickly loose cohesion.

Doesn't answer your original question, I know - but I thought it was a neat concept.

On the original note - Illinois usually has 120, but this year may be an exception (129 - they 'accidentally' over-accepted).
 
Wisconsin = 80
Missouri = 120
Purdue = 80 (I believe, they've increased from 60 over the past few years, 2013 was 70? Maybe? Unclear to me)

Purdue used smaller class size as a heavy selling point. 🙂 They really pushed the community angle when I interviewed.
 
Here is the info so far. This should all be in the VMSAR and on websites.

Illinois = 120
Missouri = 120
Ohio = 140
Oregon = 50
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
 
Illinois = 120
Missouri = 120
Ohio = 160
Oregon = 50
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80


Just correcting Ohio. We're at 160 now.
 
Illinois = 120
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Ohio = 160
Oregon = 50
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
 
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Ohio = 160
Oregon = 50
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
 
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Ohio = 160
Oregon = 50
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
Tennessee = 85
The number fluctuates some (the third year class has around 96 I think), but they usually try to keep it around 85.
 
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
Ohio = 160
Oregon = 50
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
Tennessee = 85
 
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Minnesota = 100
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
Ohio = 160
Oklahoma = 85
Oregon = 50
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
Tennessee = 85
 
Last edited:
Davis = 135
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Minnesota = 100
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
Ohio = 160
Oklahoma = 85
Oregon = 50
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
Tennessee = 85

As far as having a large class and less individualized learning, this is how Davis handles it: The class is divided in half (group 1, group 2) and then in half again (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B). Then within those groups there are even smaller groups. Then, depending on the lab, only half, a quarter, or an eighth of the class has it together at one time. Works pretty well, as I've never felt that there are too many students for me to effectively learn from the faculty. But it does make you closer to your "sections" than others, as you spend way more time with those people.
 
jj - I couldn't have explained our system any better 👍
 
Thanks everyone,

Davis = 135
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Minnesota = 100
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
Ohio = 160
Oklahoma = 85
Oregon = 50
Ontario = 110
PEI = 60
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
Tennessee = 85
Wisconsin = 80
 
Last edited:
Davis = 135
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Minnesota = 100
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Ohio = 160
Oklahoma = 85
Oregon = 50
Ontario = 110
PEI = 60
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
Tennessee = 85
Wisconsin = 80
 
]Davis = 135
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Kansas = 115ish (2014 = 119, 2015 = 112)
Minnesota = 100
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Ohio = 160
Oklahoma = 85
Oregon = 50
Ontario = 110
PEI = 60
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
Tennessee = 85
Wisconsin = 80
 
VMRCVM was 90 for 2010 matriculation 95 for 2011 matriculation will be 125 for 2012 matriculation and plans on expanding to 140 sometime after that
 
Davis = 135
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Iowa State = 120 or so (approx. 145 once you include UNL)
Kansas = 115ish (2014 = 119, 2015 = 112)
Minnesota = 100
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Ohio = 160
Oklahoma = 85
Oregon = 50
Ontario = 110
PEI = 60
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
Tennessee = 85
VMRCVM = 95 and increasing (95 for 2011 matriculation, will be 125 for 2012 matriculation and plans on expanding to 140 sometime after that)
Wisconsin = 80
 
Davis = 135
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Iowa State = 120 or so (approx. 145 once you include UNL)
Kansas = 115ish (2014 = 119, 2015 = 112)
Michigan= 108 (c/o 2015=111 -over accept?)
Minnesota = 100
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Ohio = 160
Oklahoma = 85
Oregon = 50
Ontario = 110
PEI = 60
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
Tennessee = 85
VMRCVM = 95 and increasing (95 for 2011 matriculation, will be 125 for 2012 matriculation and plans on expanding to 140 sometime after that)
Wisconsin = 80
 
Colorado= 140+
Davis = 135
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Iowa State = 120 or so (approx. 145 once you include UNL)
Kansas = 115ish (2014 = 119, 2015 = 112)
Michigan= 108 (c/o 2015=111 -over accept?)
Minnesota = 100
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Ohio = 160
Oklahoma = 85
Oregon = 50
Ontario = 110
PEI = 60
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
Tennessee = 85
VMRCVM = 95 and increasing (95 for 2011 matriculation, will be 125 for 2012 matriculation and plans on expanding to 140 sometime after that)
Wisconsin = 80



CSU does the "smaller" labs thing very similar to the way Davis handles it. We're in cubes of 18 people. For some labs, it's the whole class (just general dissection without any instruction). For others, it's 1,2, 3, or 4 cubes at a time depending on what we're doing.
 
Minnerbelle said:
Colorado= 140+
Davis = 135
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Iowa State = 120 or so (approx. 145 once you include UNL)
Kansas = 115ish (2014 = 119, 2015 = 112)
Michigan= 108 (c/o 2015=111 -over accept?)
Minnesota = 100
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Ohio = 160
Oklahoma = 85
Oregon = 56
Ontario = 110
PEI = 60
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
Tennessee = 85
VMRCVM = 95 and increasing (95 for 2011 matriculation, will be 125 for 2012 matriculation and plans on expanding to 140 sometime after that)
Wisconsin = 80



The last two years Oregon has had 56...there is talk of expanding again, but frankly I don't know where they would fit more people. For example, we have an awesome anatomy lab, but the room is pretty much at capacity.
Click to expand...
 
Just giving the list a coherent order...

Ohio = 160
Colorado= 140+
Davis = 135
Penn = 125
Iowa State = 120 or so (approx. 145 once you include UNL)
Illinois = 120
Missouri = 120
Kansas = 115ish (2014 = 119, 2015 = 112)
Ontario = 110
Michigan= 108 (c/o 2015=111 -over accept?)
Florida = 100
Minnesota = 100
VMRCVM = 95 and increasing (95 for 2011 matriculation, will be 125 for 2012 matriculation and plans on expanding to 140 sometime after that)
Mississippi State = 85
Oklahoma = 85
Tennessee = 85
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
PEI = 60
Oregon = 56
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
 
Erm... I think the coherent order was called "alphebetic." 😉
 
Ohio = 160
Colorado= 140+
Davis = 135
Penn = 125
Iowa State = 120 or so (approx. 145 once you include UNL)
Illinois = 120
Missouri = 120
Kansas = 115ish (2014 = 119, 2015 = 112)
Ontario = 110
Michigan= 108 (c/o 2015=111 -over accept?)
Florida = 100
Minnesota = 100
Washington = 100 (increasing to 110 for the C/O 2015)
VMRCVM = 95 and increasing (95 for 2011 matriculation, will be 125 for 2012 matriculation and plans on expanding to 140 sometime after that)
Mississippi State = 85
Oklahoma = 85
Tennessee = 85
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
PEI = 60
Oregon = 56
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
 
My undergrad program was small (accepted ~160 students each year) compared to other science programs and it was very tight knit as a result. I'm going to OVC and I kind of hate the idea of having a class size that's even smaller than that because it gets a little like high school sometimes (same classes with same people all the time).
 
I am also around the 85 count in my class. I am happy about it though. I am a bit more fond of the personal class instead of the, 'just another med student' train of thought from the instructor..., not sure of any websites to recommend for stats on this subject though.
 
secretaryiga14 said:
Ohio = 160
Colorado= 140+
Davis = 135
Penn = 125
Iowa State = 120 or so (approx. 145 once you include UNL)
Illinois = 120
Missouri = 120
Kansas = 115ish (2014 = 119, 2015 = 112)
Ontario = 110
Michigan= 108 (c/o 2015=111 -over accept?)
Florida = 100
Minnesota = 100
Washington = 100 (increasing to 110 for the C/O 2015)
VMRCVM = 95 and increasing (95 for 2011 matriculation, will be 125 for 2012 matriculation and plans on expanding to 140 sometime after that)
Mississippi State = 85
Oklahoma = 85
Tennessee = 85
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
PEI = 60
Oregon = 56
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
Click to expand...

International Schools' Class Sizes:
UCD = ~80 undergraduates (Irish), 40ish (grad/NA students) = total 120-130 (Class of 2014 has 126)
RVC in London = 240 total (a good portion are also non-UK students like UCD)
Royal Dick in Edinburgh = 170 (~65 are grad entry)
Glasgow Vet = ~125 total
 
amberwmed said:
I am also around the 85 count in my class. I am happy about it though. I am a bit more fond of the personal class instead of the, 'just another med student' train of thought from the instructor..., not sure of any websites to recommend for stats on this subject though.
Click to expand...

I thought I would have issues being in a huge class, esp since my UG had a maximum of like 40 students/lecture... but I have to say, I kind of like being able to fall asleep in class and/or not attending at all without anyone noticing.
 
Just a correction to Ok-State. The first year, they accept 82. After that, class size fluctuates depending # of transfers accepted and people leaving.

Ohio = 160
Colorado= 140+
Davis = 135
Penn = 125
Iowa State = 120 or so (approx. 145 once you include UNL)
Illinois = 120
Missouri = 120
Kansas = 115ish (2014 = 119, 2015 = 112)
Ontario = 110
Michigan= 108 (c/o 2015=111 -over accept?)
Florida = 100
Minnesota = 100
Washington = 100 (increasing to 110 for the C/O 2015)
VMRCVM = 95 and increasing (95 for 2011 matriculation, will be 125 for 2012 matriculation and plans on expanding to 140 sometime after that)
Mississippi State = 85
Oklahoma = 82
Tennessee = 85
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
PEI = 60
Oregon = 56
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
 
Ohio = 160
Colorado= 140+
Davis = 135
Penn = 125
Iowa State = 120 or so (approx. 145 once you include UNL)
Illinois = 120
Missouri = 120
Auburn = 120 (beginning 2015, 100 before)
Kansas = 115ish (2014 = 119, 2015 = 112)
Ontario = 110
Michigan= 108 (c/o 2015=111 -over accept?)
Florida = 100
Minnesota = 100
Washington = 100 (increasing to 110 for the C/O 2015)
VMRCVM = 95 and increasing (95 for 2011 matriculation, will be 125 for 2012 matriculation and plans on expanding to 140 sometime after that)
Mississippi State = 85
Oklahoma = 85
Tennessee = 85
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Purdue = 80
Wisconsin = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
PEI = 60
Oregon = 56
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
 
Auburn = 120 (beginning 2015, 100 before)
Colorado= 140+
Davis = 135
Florida = 100
Illinois = 120
Iowa State = 120 or so (approx. 145 once you include UNL)
Kansas = 115ish (2014 = 119, 2015 = 112)
Michigan= 108 (c/o 2015=111 -over accept?)
Minnesota = 100
Mississippi State = 85
Missouri = 120
Nebraska (contract with Iowa) = 25
North Carolina State = 80 (although this is increasing to 100 for the c/o 2016)
Ohio = 160
Oklahoma = 85
Ontario = 110
Oregon = 56
PEI = 60
Penn = 125
Purdue = 80
Saskatchewan = 78
Tennessee = 85
Texas A&M = 131ish (we started with 135 or 138 or so)
VMRCVM = 95 and increasing (95 for 2011 matriculation, will be 125 for 2012 matriculation and plans on expanding to 140 sometime after that)
Washington = 100 (increasing to 110 for the C/O 2015)
Wisconsin = 80
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
Online, Self-Paced Animal Nutrition Class?
Replies
5
Views
755
Koffeekat
K
overcastkidjuno
Class of 2028... how you doin?
Replies
22
Views
4K
BioAg22
BioAg22
Doctor-S
Congratulations to the Class of 2023!
Replies
1
Views
774
Rainheart
Rainheart
IvyMoose
Class of 2027... how you doin'?
2 3
Replies
114
Views
14K
thenontraveler
thenontraveler
stovebird
The role of class rank in internship/residency
Replies
3
Views
1K
TheGirlWithTheFernTattoo
TheGirlWithTheFernTattoo
Top