Hypothetical Situation.

[MysteryCat]

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As I've mentioned before, I'll be applying at WSU and OSU next year. I also plan to apply at Davis, but I also know its a bit if a pipe dream for me. Now, two questions. Say I got into two or more of them, one being Davis. (Unlikely, but...) I have some family down there so that'd be helpful, but otherwise it just seems way to expensive. 250k rather that about 150k for the other two. Worth it? WWYD? Also how many schools did you apply to on your first cycle, for those of you who already have applied. Thanks!

 

[cowgirla]

. Worth it? !

No. Go cheap. You'll get the same quality of education, and a lot less debt. Remember all those extra dollar signs are accumulating interest as well. Stay at OSU or WSU and take a vacation to Davis area to see your family

 

[MysteryCat]

That's kind of my thought. I'm not sure if there's even much point in applying, really. :/

 

[AnnabelLee]

Are those #s for total COA ?because Davis allows OOS to become IS after the 1st year...

 

[MysteryCat]

Are those #s for total COA ?because Davis allows OOS to become IS after the 1st year...

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that they are. I didn't know you could apply for IS so quickly, I'll have to look into how that changes the numbers! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[deleted497320]

I applied to 7 schools the first time and 8 the second time. It's expensive as hell, but the app process was so annoying that I'd rather apply for a lot once or twice and increase my chances of 1 acceptance, than apply for a few and risk having to do the the apps multiple times.

 

[MysteryCat]

I applied to 7 schools the first time and 8 the second time. It's expensive as hell, but the app process was so annoying that I'd rather apply for a lot once or twice and increase my chances of 1 acceptance, than apply for a few and risk having to do the the apps multiple times.

That's a really good point. Seems like a bitchofa process, plus I don't want to have to wait several years before actually getting an acceptance. Hmm.

 

[wildcatj]

Check out this beautiful beautiful google doc put together by one of the SDNers justavet.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AuDAmocjP-XddEZFZ096NkxsMkdKVmJsUHZ3MmRqUFE&output=html
Gives cumulative cost of attendance, debt loads, yearly cost of tuition and living expenses, and it takes into account a 7 or 8% increase in tuition each year. I reference it all the time. It's pretty amazing.

 

[jmo1012]

No. Go cheap. You'll get the same quality of education, and a lot less debt. Remember all those extra dollar signs are accumulating interest as well. Stay at OSU or WSU and take a vacation to Davis area to see your family

agreed. and even if you can achieve IS tuition after a year, you're still going to be paying quite a bit more just in that first year alone (and yes maybe in the grand scheme of things it doesn't sound like a lot, but it will add up in loans over time).

 

[owlwtiredeyes]

Check out this beautiful beautiful google doc put together by one of the SDNers justavet.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AuDAmocjP-XddEZFZ096NkxsMkdKVmJsUHZ3MmRqUFE&output=html
Gives cumulative cost of attendance, debt loads, yearly cost of tuition and living expenses, and it takes into account a 7 or 8% increase in tuition each year. I reference it all the time. It's pretty amazing.

I think the calculations for non-resident tuition for Kansas might be a little off. My acceptance letter from Kansas said it would be about $44,000 a year for tuition, which is a lot lower than what is calculated on there.

 

[kakurubird]

I think the calculations for non-resident tuition for Kansas might be a little off. My acceptance letter from Kansas said it would be about $44,000 a year for tuition, which is a lot lower than what is calculated on there.

didn't look closely, but remember that that spreadsheet accounts for something like a 7% yearly increase in tuition. could be the difference?

 

[cowgirla]

I think the calculations for non-resident tuition for Kansas might be a little off. My acceptance letter from Kansas said it would be about $44,000 a year for tuition, which is a lot lower than what is calculated on there.

some of the calculations include living expenses in addition to tuition

 

[owlwtiredeyes]

didn't look closely, but remember that that spreadsheet accounts for something like a 7% yearly increase in tuition. could be the difference?

That could be it!

 

[dovelover]

As I've mentioned before, I'll be applying at WSU and OSU next year. I also plan to apply at Davis, but I also know its a bit if a pipe dream for me. Now, two questions. Say I got into two or more of them, one being Davis. (Unlikely, but...) I have some family down there so that'd be helpful, but otherwise it just seems way to expensive. 250k rather that about 150k for the other two. Worth it? WWYD? Also how many schools did you apply to on your first cycle, for those of you who already have applied. Thanks!

I think there's not much point in worrying about it unless you actually do get into both! Everyone asks me what my top choice is, or which school will I choose if I get into both this cheap school and that expensive school that seemed a better fit for me, etc. I always tell them I can't afford to have a top choice because I may only get into one (if at all...) and don't want to be let down, and that there's no point getting myself worked up debating the pros and cons of schools if some of them won't end up being in the running. It just leads to you getting let down if you don't end up getting in.

As for how many schools to apply to, I'd say it depends on how many schools there are that you'd actually be happy attending and that are within your limits of practicality (distance, cost, etc.). I applied to the 7 schools I thought I could be happy at based on the knowledge I had available to me at the time (this was before I knew about the wonderful resource that is SDN...) You have to consider things like whether the schools have supplementals, as they can be very time consuming (6 of mine had them, but only 3 were a significant amount of work) and whether (and when) they do interviews as there's no sense applying to 15 schools that all do interviews on the same few weekends, as you'll be pulling your hair out trying to figure out which ones to go to. And of course, you have to consider how much it will all cost. On that note, I think if you're only applying to a few schools, you can probably afford to apply to a school that may be a bit of a long shot (such as Davis), if it's a place you really want to go to. If you end up applying to more than you originally anticipated (I originally planned on 2, then 4, then got really sick of filling out the application and really didn't want to have to do it again next year...) you may have to be a bit more selective.

I don't think I could have handled more than those 7 schools for my first cycle, but if I have to apply again next year, I think I can up the number because I have a lot of the work done already that will hopefully only need a little bit of tweaking.

 

[hygebeorht]

Hey OP, think about down the line. Will you wonder "what if?" You should apply just so that you don't regret not applying later, so long as one more application won't break the bank.

You also need to consider what you want to do with your career. If you want to be a VCA associate writing heartworm scripts for the rest of your life, go for the cheap school. If you want to reshape veterinary medicine, you want that super-competitive residency, or you want to work high up in a corporation/government/academic institution, you may want to go with the big-name school.

But that's not even a choice if you don't apply. Apply if it's not a financial hardship. You never know when a Hail Mary pass will succeed.

 

[cowgirla]

You also need to consider what you want to do with your career. If you want to be a VCA associate writing heartworm scripts for the rest of your life, go for the cheap school. If you want to reshape veterinary medicine, you want that super-competitive residency, or you want to work high up in a corporation/government/academic institution, you may want to go with the big-name school.

.

Um, no.
Choosing a more affordable option is a SMART option, no matter what your career goals are. Vet school rankings mean nothing - there are so few of them, and you will get equivalent educations no matter where you go. Plenty of people from "less ranked" or "less well known" schools go on to complete competitive residencies.

 

[krist]

Um, no.
Choosing a more affordable option is a SMART option, no matter what your career goals are. Vet school rankings mean nothing - there are so few of them, and you will get equivalent educations no matter where you go. Plenty of people from "less ranked" or "less well known" schools go on to complete competitive residencies.

👍👍

 

[MysteryCat]

Alright, well I think that my goal is to save enough over the next year to apply to 5 schools my first (hopefully only) cycle. WSU and OSU are my top two. Then, I think, CSU and Davis and A&M. I won't have any what ifs and I'll have a greater chance of acceptance. Yeah? Also I think that that covers the places that I could reasonably move to for four years with my family.

 

[hygebeorht]

MysteryCat, I think that's smart!

And to clarify my earlier remarks that some took issue with, I think that for the top 3-5 schools with that "wow" name factor, well, many of them have great alumni networks and financial resources that can be a huge asset when you are trying to go off the reservation for externships, travel experience, research, etc. These things are definitely available to students at other schools, but you may have to work harder for them. And of course you get the education that you work for at ANY institution, and those with DVMs from lower-ranked schools can be super-competitive for great opportunities. Obviously you can't just show up at a highly-ranked school and coast and expect to do well.

School choice also depends on your level of undergraduate debt. If you have a lot, cheapness will be super-important. If not, you may have more flexibility.

I wish you luck as you go into the process! It's not cheap, and it's not easy. Be smart and work hard!

 

[LetItSnow]

You also need to consider what you want to do with your career. If you want to be a VCA associate writing heartworm scripts for the rest of your life, go for the cheap school. If you want to reshape veterinary medicine, you want that super-competitive residency, or you want to work high up in a corporation/government/academic institution, you may want to go with the big-name school.

Huh. All I know is that I'd rather not have veterinary medicine "reshaped" by the kind of people that would take such a cheap shot at every associate working at a VCA hospital.....

 

[Kpowell14]

Huh. All I know is that I'd rather not have veterinary medicine "reshaped" by the kind of people that would take such a cheap shot at every associate working at a VCA hospital.....

👍 👍

 

[Camelidcrazy]

For whatever it's worth, my class is full of people who elected to come to WSU that were also accepted to CSU, Cornell and Davis. Some students feel that the hyper-competitive atmosphere and lacking sense of communities at some of the 'top' schools isn't worth the alleged prestige. And I'm in no way concerned about missing out on 'top residencies' or the myriad other special opportunities reserved for the supposed elite. Turns out- every last one of my faculty and most of the residents know me by fist name. It's fairly likely that my letters of rec will be outstanding due to our university's tight-knit community. Something I suspect is rather important in attaining these incredibly competitive opportunities. To each their own.

Go where you feel most comfortable whether that is Davis, Oregon or Washington. Vet school is hard enough when you do enjoy your classmates and community. I couldn't imagine going somewhere I loathed the atmosphere.

 

[485501]

And if you are accepted to multiple places, try not to make a decision until you've visited. You may fall in love with/dislike some aspect of a school or the town it's in, which you can't necessarily know until you visit.

 

[Kpowell14]

Hey OP, think about down the line. Will you wonder "what if?" You should apply just so that you don't regret not applying later, so long as one more application won't break the bank.

You also need to consider what you want to do with your career. If you want to be a VCA associate writing heartworm scripts for the rest of your life, go for the cheap school. If you want to reshape veterinary medicine, you want that super-competitive residency, or you want to work high up in a corporation/government/academic institution, you may want to go with the big-name school.

But that's not even a choice if you don't apply. Apply if it's not a financial hardship. You never know when a Hail Mary pass will succeed.

This is ridiculous. You Do Not have to attend a "top 5" school in order to get the competitive residency or top corporate job... I personally know someone who went to a Caribbean school that is now in a AWESOME corporate vet job. School is what you make of it. And let me just say that your VCA comment is Very judgmental. Ill just leave it at that.

 

[wildowl]

For whatever it's worth, my class is full of people who elected to come to WSU that were also accepted to CSU, Cornell and Davis. Some students feel that the hyper-competitive atmosphere and lacking sense of communities at some of the 'top' schools isn't worth the alleged prestige. And I'm in no way concerned about missing out on 'top residencies' or the myriad other special opportunities reserved for the supposed elite. Turns out- every last one of my faculty and most of the residents know me by fist name. It's fairly likely that my letters of rec will be outstanding due to our university's tight-knit community. Something I suspect is rather important in attaining these incredibly competitive opportunities. To each their own.

Go where you feel most comfortable whether that is Davis, Oregon or Washington. Vet school is hard enough when you do enjoy your classmates and community. I couldn't imagine going somewhere I loathed the atmosphere.

This happened to me in undergrad. I got a full ride to "highly ranked" undergrad but was miserable for a couple reasons. Combined with family issues I battled the 2 years of undergrad, my grades and mental health ultimately suffered. True, the "big name" helped me get a position in a research internship and as a research technician, which were both awesome opportunities, but now that I'm in grad school (and in a little bit of debt from the first year of my MS), I am at a school that I absolutely love and everyone is very supportive. My program is small but high stress with classes, half time teaching and research, but we are all supportive of each other. The faculty are super helpful and I really believe it makes a big difference in my happiness and how well I do in school. And I fully believe that one can succeed anywhere you go and be competitive for those coveted opportunities as long as you work hard.

 

[hygebeorht]

Working for Banfield or VCA isn't shameful. Any job in this climate is a great job, and some people (not me) really crave that relationship you get over time being the day-to-day primary vet for clients. The point I was failing to make is that if you're going to take on more debt to go to a "higher-powered" school, then you need to be certain you can pay it off, and those jobs aren't the highest-paid in the field.

I agree that people should make the best choice for them. And if the best choice for you is trying for a reach school, then you should at least try, OP. If it's not that important to you, then save the money.

Now will everyone lay off, please?

 

[bunnity]

I'm at an expensive "big name" school (it's my instate and had few pre-req's). I don't get anything different as far as externships or research or alumni friends. In fact, I'm starting an externship at a VCA specialty hospital tomorrow that I set up myself! 😛

 

[MysteryCat]

And if you are accepted to multiple places, try not to make a decision until you've visited. You may fall in love with/dislike some aspect of a school or the town it's in, which you can't necessarily know until you visit.

I'd have had to visit for interviews! 🙂 I'm not sure, but I doubt I'd be excepted at the "top" schools anyways. I am nontraditional and doubt that they'd look twice at me.

 

[MysteryCat]

Also, I should add, my main goal is to end up at a small animal after hours practice. I've logged lots of hours at one in town and I love love love it. (I get that that goal could change though)