help... making a decision

[polo vet]

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i posted this on the pre vet forum, but thought i might get more answeres from current vet students if i posted it again here:

hey yall,
I am lucky enough to have multiple options. I have kind of narrowed it down to three. UGA (SC contract so IS tuition), Texas A&M (scholarship so IS tuition), and UPenn (my true first choice if money was not an issue, OOS tuition). I graduating this june, my family is not helping with tuition (so all loans), and i'm definitely not geting married anytime soon. so i am on my own for paying for vet school...

Things I am most interested in comparing:
1) relative strength of small animal program
2) matching rates for small animal internships/residencies in internal medicine and/or theriogenology
3) social life and oportunities to meet other graduate students
4) electronic notes ?
5) how much time didactic learning vs clinical
6) vet business programs
7)special programs unique to each school
8) how many weeks for externships
9) relative small animal case loads and variety
10) hands on experience/clinical- how early in curriculum?

any other advice/insights would be apprecaited at well. Thanks everyone!`

 

[critterfixer]

I think if I were you, I'd call up the respective Deans and ask them your questions about the program and ask for the names of some students you could contact regarding things such as the social aspects.

But truthfully, all things are going to come out fairly equal, IMO. I would advocate taking one of the IS options, because I just don't feel that any one program is so vastly superior to another to make the dramatic increase in tuition worth it. I chose UT over Illinois and Iowa, not because it has a superior program (it may, I don't know), but because neither of the other schools stood out so dramatically that I was willing to pay OOS tuition. This is not to say that neither had particular strengths that UTK may not match, but I'd rather spend the excess dough on exciting externships during summer break. YMMV.

How exciting to have such wonderful choices! I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the three schools.

 

[VAgirl]

Some people have talked about postponing their start at UPenn because UPenn allows people to become IS residents during that year and then pay IS tuition. Maybe not hugely better than OOS for Penn, but may help. Something else to think about.

If you don't want to do that or it isn't an option, some schools allow you to establish residency after one year. So it might be 1st year OOS tuiton, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years IS tuition.

Something else to think about.

 

[julieDVM]

When it comes down to brass tax, all the programs are pretty good. I firmly believe every school provides undergrad DVMs with equivalent, high quality education... Considering money is an issue - i'd go where you accumulate the least amount of loans, and are going to enjoy the student life.

 

[LBDVM]

When it comes down to brass tax, all the programs are pretty good. I firmly believe every school provides undergrad DVMs with equivalent, high quality education... Considering money is an issue - i'd go where you accumulate the least amount of loans, and are going to enjoy the student life.

I agree with this. When I was a vet student and as a resident, the consensus I heard from most faculty members was that all vet schools are really pretty good with their DVM program. There are some differences when it comes to doing internships and residencies but that's a different ball game.

I think you're likely to get a good education at any of the schools and would consider cost and where you're willing to live for 4 years.

 

[brightness]

Would you be willing to post your stats/experiences that got you three offers? You can PM me if you like; I'm just really curious what it takes and if I can reach that level...

BTW, Congrats!!!!

 

[VAgirl]

Would you be willing to post your stats/experiences that got you three offers? You can PM me if you like; I'm just really curious what it takes and if I can reach that level...

BTW, Congrats!!!!

You should check out the Successful Applicants thread on the pre-vet side. It has all this info for lots of people.

 

[Bill59]

I would advocate taking one of the IS options, because I just don't feel that any one program is so vastly superior to another to make the dramatic increase in tuition worth it.

good advice

 

[Aves]

Congratulations polo vet! I am actually in sort of the same boat as you (UGA=DE contract, but I LOVED UTK and VMRCVM). In case you are feeling any of the overwhelming pressure I am currently experiencing in attempting to make the "right" decision, I wanted to send you lots of empathy, if not much advice 😀. Good luck deciding!

 

[projekt]

Definitely read the thread / article about vet students accumulating crushing debt. The field simply doesn't pay like human medicine, and your monthly payment when you graduate is going to be a major concern for 10 years or more.

 

[Aves]

Have you decided what to do yet? I paid my deposit (and bought a sweatshirt 🙂) yesterday, so I suppose I will definitely be there in the fall. Hope you will be too!

 

[polo vet]

yay i'm going to uga! it was the most economical decision... but turning down the others still made me cry. thanks for all the great advice! i love this forum!

 

[SillyFilly]

Congrats on making your decision polo vet! I definitely envy you - I have not made mine yet!!!

 

[Steelmagghia]

yay i'm going to uga! it was the most economical decision... but turning down the others still made me cry. thanks for all the great advice! i love this forum!

Aww, I'm sorry we won't be classmates, but I'm so happy for you that you made your decision! Well, back to cleaning the house for graduation.

 

[cyrille104]

.

 

[NittanyKitty]

For me, all the schools I got into were the same price since I am from the most worthless state ever.

Dude. Huge Pennsylvania WORD! 😀 I don't know if you're from PA originally, but paying OOS price for IS school is yucky.

And congrats on the decision, polo vet! You're going to be amazing!!!