Davis versus Wisconsin

[hoodle]

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Hi everyone! What do you think about the educational opportunities at Davis versus Wisconsin? I'm making a spreadsheet and need some opinions!

I have a few specific questions:
1) in-state tuition after first year - possible at WI?
2) facilities, both teaching and hospital?
3) strength in comparative pathology, wildlife/exotics, and public health?
4) integration of technology into teaching/clinics - laptops/tablets/digital radiographs etc?


I think we'll go to UCD since I have the VSTP scholarship there, but WI is such an amazing option for my partner that I want to really make sure we consider every option. Any input appreciated!

 

[wi girl]

Hey Hoodle!

(1) I'm about 90% positive IS tuition is not possible at UW, but i suppose you can always call and ask

(3) I know that UW has its own masters of public heath degree program, so I would think that they try to make it a strong program.

Are you going to the open house?

 

[hoodle]

yes, I am... need to get tickets... ahh, expensive.

 

[kate_g]

1) in-state tuition after first year - possible at WI?

Nope. No way. Uh-uh. I talked to a gal who went to WI from out of state. She was an older non-trad, so she moved her entire life to WI (bank accounts, car reg, etc.), bought property, hubby got a job... She pays WI property and income taxes... And doesn't count as in-state for tuition purposes since she moved to WI "purely for educational purposes." Pretty rough, but that's actually the University of Wisconsin's policy, not something special for the vet school. On the other hand, I believe it's possible to apply for in-state status after your first year at Davis, because the UC system is fairly lax about that for graduate students (over 24, file your own taxes... just make sure to move your bank account and car reg and have a couple receipts from in-state during winter and spring breaks).

3) strength in comparative pathology, wildlife/exotics, and public health?

Both have DVM/MPH dual-degree programs. Both have DVM/PhD dual-degree programs (as you know). Do go to WI's open house if you can (they pay airfare for some out-of-staters, it might be worth your while to call up and ask). I got the impression that WI is trying hard to build up its support for vet students who want to go into research, so you might get quite a bit of personalized attention and find that people really want to make sure you get everything you came for. I've heard from classmates in the Davis dual-degree program that things can be a bit disorganized - you've got the vet school administration and the administration of your graduate department, and a very small number of people who actually know what the dual-degree students are supposed to be doing. I suspect it's just a matter of finding out who is "in the know" and making sure they're the ones you ask for information.

I was told by one of the zoo/exotics faculty at WI that WI and Davis have the top two zoo/exotics caseloads. Both have a companion avian/exotics clinic that is a sub-part of their main teaching hospital. There's a wildlife sanctuary in Madison that does most of the actual wildlife cases for their area. It's not affiliated with the university but you can volunteer and do externships there. Davis wildlife stuff is a bit scattered because there's the raptor center, the marine wildlife folks, the Wildlife Care Network... all of which have separate facilities and staff and species specializations.

4) integration of technology into teaching/clinics - laptops/tablets/digital radiographs etc?

Davis VMTH just went all digital for radiology last year, though we still look at films and talk about technique in radiology courses, because they understand that your average clinic still does it the old-fashioned way. I don't remember what WI has.

 

[hoodle]

Sadly, WI doesn't have a dual degree DVM/PhD, which always surprises me as it's such a research powerhouse in other ways. I guess they're open to arranging individual programs, but not necessarily with any support at all... and Davis' might be disorganized, but at least it exists....

 

[epitastic]

Hoodle,

I can't speak for Davis, but I did just visit Madison. I don't know how much your scholarship is, but OOS tuition at UW is not bad compared to other schools...maybe even in state at Davis. UW really is an amazing research institution, (they kept telling me #1 or #2 in research for public university) and the fact that they have a great med school and school of pub. health on the premises makes for a lot of GREAT collaborations. They don't have a formal PhD program set up, but I would talk to someone (particularly Dr. Bjorling--who is in charge of the year long funded MS-granting research program) about the possibility and then see what could be setup.

WI does have digital radiographs...they just transitioned. They still use old fashioned in teaching and exams just because they don't have as big of a "stockpile" in digital images yet, because they haven't been using them too long.

People don't necessarily take notes on laptops (some do...but it's not everyone), but people have them all over and use them.

Madison is a great town, and I'm also having to make the decision for myself and spouse who needs to get a job. This was a lot of why WSU got the axe in the end. Although with Sacramento so close, theoretically there are good employment opps near Davis too. Feel free to ask more specific questions if you want.

I have an MPH in epi, so I'm fairly research oriented...to burned out to want to do a PhD, but I want to have research available because I know I'll want to apply my skills, and I want to have a career that combines a research element.

I did tour Davis a year or so ago, and they definitely have more impressive facilities. UW SVM was built in the early 80s and hasn't done a huge amount of building since. Hospital has vague plans for a new one, but that is a long way off. So Davis is probably nicer.

Anyway. hard decisions, I know!

 

[VAgirl]

the fact that they have a great med school and school of pub. health on the premises makes for a lot of GREAT collaborations.

Davis also has a school of public health (MPH program) and a MPVM (Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine) program. The MPVM program is only for folks who have completed their DVM or equivalent degree and attracts a lot of vets who've studied overseas.

I'm not sure how strong these two school are in public health relative to one another (I'm very interested in this field, too), but just wanted to throw out there what Davis has in that way.

Also, Sacramento, being the state capital, is the center of CA's public health work, so proximity to that at Davis is bound to be a plus.

 

[epitastic]

regarding the MPH thing, as I am a current grad student at a school of public health (UNC Chapel Hill) UC Davis isn't particularly known for their school of pub. health. It's decent, but not great. Madison is a little better, but still not one of the top schools of Pub Health...not that it means you can't get a decent MPH at either place. The MPVM degree is NOT exactly equivalent and will not open quite the same doors post grad as an MPH would. that might be another consideration. again, feel free to ask me more questions about this.

 

[greenie53]

However- Davis' epidemiology department is highly regarded and very well respected from what I've heard. I am not too sure about the other public health departments.

I really really want to go to Davis!!! Omg the wait is getting to me!

 

[VAgirl]

regarding the MPH thing, as I am a current grad student at a school of public health (UNC Chapel Hill) UC Davis isn't particularly known for their school of pub. health. It's decent, but not great. Madison is a little better, but still not one of the top schools of Pub Health...not that it means you can't get a decent MPH at either place. The MPVM degree is NOT exactly equivalent and will not open quite the same doors post grad as an MPH would. that might be another consideration. again, feel free to ask me more questions about this.

One of the first years at Davis that I spoke with actually pointed out that most (many? I'm not sure) of the MPH programs at universities that also have vet school are not actually accredited with the Council on Education for Public Health. She didn't think Davis's program was either. However, I'm looking at the CEPH's website http://www.ceph.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=3349 and it seems like Davis's program is accredited, but Wisconsin's isn't? I don't know much about this. Maybe someone who knows more can say more. I also don't know what the difference is between having an accredited program vs. an accredited school. Anyone know?

Also, I know the MPVM is not the same as an MPH. I actually think it might appeal to me more because a lot of the things that one has to learn in an MPH program (about how the human health care system works, etc.) isn't what I really want to focus on/learn about. So depending upon what one wants to do, the MPVM might be more appropriate. Open up fewer doors than an MPH? Maybe. But I'm really not at the place anymore where I want to have a degree purely for its door opening potential. I want do to only do an additional degree if I want to learn the bulk of the material. Just something I'm thinking about.

That being said, I know that one can take courses from the MPH and MPVM programs as electives at Davis without being enrolled in either program. Does anyone know if that option is available at Wisconsin (taking MPH courses as electives without being in that program)? Thanks!

 

[fargeese]

FYI, if you check the pdf link for the accreditation in Vagirl's post, Wisconsin is accredited.

Something you need to consider, if you have never lived in a place like WI, is that it is truly cold in the winter, and can be quite depressing if you have seasonal affective disorder. Don't get me wrong, I loved WI, went there for undergrad, and am seriously considering them for vet school, but I am aware of what it is like. UC Davis I would suspect would be much sunnier and pleasant weather wise. Madison of course is super cool, but you need to be aware of the fact that you will spend Oct. to March in long underwear and marveling that your nose hair will freeze within 5 seconds of stepping outside. Of course you need to make the best decision as regards to the school, but it is still someplace that you are going to have to live for at least 4 years.

 

[chris03333]

\ UW really is an amazing research institution, (they kept telling me #1 or #2 in research for public university)

Did they say by what? Funding, pubs....

Somehow, I have never heard that before...

 

[hoodle]

Did they say by what? Funding, pubs....

Somehow, I have never heard that before...

I think this is true... I've heard that UW-Madison, UW-Seattle, UC-Berkeley, and UNC-Chapel Hill are all the absolute top tier of public research institutions in terms of NIH and NSF funding and #pubs.

 

[chris03333]

I think this is true... I've heard that UW-Madison, UW-Seattle, UC-Berkeley, and UNC-Chapel Hill are all the absolute top tier of public research institutions in terms of NIH and NSF funding and #pubs.

I am not saying it is untrue, just wondered how (NIH funding, etc)


**edit***
And here is one answer Page 16...

http://mup.asu.edu/research2007.pdf

UW Madison ranks at #7 (as of 2007) so in the top 10 but not #1

 

[VAgirl]

FYI, if you check the pdf link for the accreditation in Vagirl's post, Wisconsin is accredited.

Sorry, I must have missed it. I didn't look at it very thoroughly yet.

Oh, wait, I think I remember seeing that, but it was for a different UW location. Does that matter? Or maybe their MPH program is run out of a different location, not the Madison campus? I'm a little fuzzy on details. I'll try to get more info during my visit this coming Monday and report back.

 

[Rac Umich]

Hoodle-

I think both Davis and Wisconsin are great schools. A DVM from either school will get you where you want to be. Wisco has more research funding from NIH,etc but this includes money going to the medical school, etc. Plus, it's not the school you should worry about, it's the labs you might potentially join/work with while in vet school. You should worry more about the funding within the labs youre interested in, the publication quality, etc.

I've got a little knowledge about this area, since I'm finishing up my PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pathology at Univ of Michigan. Which, by the way is one of the top tier public or private universities schools funded by NIH/NSF.
I'm deciding between Wisco and a few other schools too (poss Davis, waiting to hear), so if you want to talk, let me know. Also, I'll be at the Wisco open house and would be happy to chat there too.

Good luck deciding!

 

[chris03333]

I've got a little knowledge about this area, since I'm finishing up my PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pathology at Univ of Michigan. Which, by the way is one of the top tier public or private universities schools funded by NIH/NSF.
I'm deciding between Wisco and a few other schools too (poss Davis, waiting to hear), so if you want to talk, let me know. Also, I'll be at the Wisco open house and would be happy to chat there too.

Good luck deciding!

hmmm I am doing my postdoc here at UMich, maybe we have run into eachother

(Does that mean that I actually may know what I am talking about also?)

 

[Rac Umich]

hmmm I am doing my postdoc here at UMich, maybe we have run into eachother

(Does that mean that I actually may know what I am talking about also?)

Nice nice. Maybe we have run into one another. I'm in BSRB, but not spending too much time done in the animal facilities these days - instead writing my papers and dissertation, so it's done before vet school.

Yes, I think you're correct too.

Either way, both Davis and Wisco are fabulous schools, and getting your DVM from either will put you in a great position to do what you want post-vet school. I think.

 

[hoodle]

sorry I didn't include umich in my off-the-top-off-the-head list! It certainly belongs there.

An update: At this point, I really am about 95% sure we're going to Davis. I'm going to talk to UW once more re: $$, but that's unlikely to pan out. So.... yay for almost being sure about where I'm going!

 

[Rac Umich]

sorry I didn't include umich in my off-the-top-off-the-head list! It certainly belongs there.

An update: At this point, I really am about 95% sure we're going to Davis. I'm going to talk to UW once more re: $$, but that's unlikely to pan out. So.... yay for almost being sure about where I'm going!

Lol. No worries. I just added it as a tidbit.
Congrats on almost deciding. I'm resorting to a dice.

 

[chris03333]

Nice nice. Maybe we have run into one another. I'm in BSRB, but not spending too much time done in the animal facilities these days - instead writing my papers and dissertation, so it's done before vet school.

Yes, I think you're correct too.

Either way, both Davis and Wisco are fabulous schools, and getting your DVM from either will put you in a great position to do what you want post-vet school. I think.

They are both great schools. I just said that I did not think that Madison could be called #1 public institution for research (I guess I needed to point out the schools which were not mentioned, ie UMich, UCLA...) Nothing to do with vet schools.

And I completely agree with everything else you said.

Good luck with your choice Hoodle!