Illinois vs. Minnesota

[VelcroSky]

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Has anybody else here been accepted to both Illinois and Minnesota and faced with making a choice between the two? That's the boat I'm in. I was impressed by both schools so it's not an easy decision. I was wondering what the factors for you.

Here's what I'm thinking so far.

-Minnesota tracks and I don't think Illinois does. I'm still trying to figure out whether or not I like the tracking thing but I think I do.

-Minnesota has the greatest case load for small animals (and that's what I'm interested in).

-I like the whole tablet paperless thing at Illinois. It seems like a really great way to work.

-Minnesota has about 30 less people in the class size. This has it's pros and cons. Less people may mean more personal attention, but more people means more opportunity to learn from other people.

-Illinois is relatively close to three big cities but it's in a pretty rural area. Minnesota is in the Twin Cities.

Well, that's a start.

 

[CalpardNY]

-Minnesota tracks and I don't think Illinois does. I'm still trying to figure out whether or not I like the tracking thing but I think I do.

I didn't even apply to Minnesota so I can't really help you too much but I was accepted to Illinois. Regarding tracking - illinois does track but its limited. If you go to this link and scroll down. They talked at the info session about the various tracks. Its only fourth year and it really applies to the electives you take. Furthermore, they have both a general track and a "create your own" (which i think is under non-clinic on that link) if you don't fit one of their specific categories or want to continue general.

Anyway, I'm someone who doesn't really like the idea of tracking (loved my liberal arts education) but see the benefit of advancing your education in the path you know you want to pursue. I was impressed by this as a medium between the two options. I have no idea what other schools tracking looks like so i cant speak how it woudl compare to Mn... so FWIW thats my $.02 on Illinois tracking!

 

[BigGreenVet]

I haven't investigated it any further, but a few vets that I've talked to have said that Illinois is going through some rough times right now. Some of their specialists are leaving, so they have some holes in their departments.
I got in to both Illinois and Minnesota as well. I'm still waiting to hear from schools, but I've already crossed Illinois off my list. I didn't really like that part of the country and I found the students there to be less excited about the program than at the other schools I visited. Their facilities seemed a bit older than some, but that's not a huge problem. I also didn't really like the idea of the curriculum change happening in the middle of the time I would be there.

I am absolutely in love with Minnesota. The people there were fantastic. They have the largest small animal caseload and great large animal resources as well (new equine center!). They seemed to have all of the newest technologies, and the professors all seemed really excited to work with the students. At first I was unsure of whether I liked the St.Paul area, but by the end I was convinced. The St.Paul campus is pretty small, but you have all the benefits of a large campus/university. The city is right there, but the country is also just a few minutes down the road.

Just my thoughts...

 

[MnInIl]

Speaking as someone who's hoping to have to make that decision (accepted at IL, waitlisted at MN), one of the big things I'm thinking about is $$. Since IL is my in-state school and Urbana is cheaper to live in than the Cities, MN is (very approximately) $100,000 more for me total...not sure if that applies to you. It's also closer to home, and I intend on practicing in IL (again not sure if either school is in-state for you).

Problem is, I absolutely loved the atmosphere at MN, the students were SO enthusiastic about their school and that really affected my view of it v. IL. The other thing about IL is that they are planning on changing their curriculum, which could be good or bad depending on what the changes are (sounds like more tracking?) and how they are implemented. I never really like to be the guinea pig for something like that, but it could be great. Oh, and southern IL will have warmer weather than MN!

Okay, sorry, enough rambling...obviously this would be a tough decision for me if I actually am given the opportunity to make it!! 😛

 

[mavtwi]

Oh, and southern IL will have warmer weather than MN!

Haha - sorry to hijack the thread but this amused me. Speaking as one who grew up in true "southern" Illinois I got a kick out of this, it's such an easy way to spot a Chicagoan. Champaign-Urbana is central IL, the state really does go on for another 250 miles south of C-U I swear! 😛

And for the record I am a current student at UIUC and I love it! But I completely understand the hesitation in being the first class to go through curriculum changes.

 

[MnInIl]

Haha - sorry to hijack the thread but this amused me. Speaking as one who grew up in true "southern" Illinois I got a kick out of this, it's such an easy way to spot a Chicagoan. Champaign-Urbana is central IL, the state really does go on for another 250 miles south of C-U I swear! 😛

And for the record I am a current student at UIUC and I love it! But I completely understand the hesitation in being the first class to go through curriculum changes.

Whoops, sorry!! You're right, anything south of Joliet is "southern Illinois" to me.....when I went to Graceland several years ago I couldn't believe how long it took to get through Illinois!

 

[bclover]

And for the record I am a current student at UIUC and I love it! But I completely understand the hesitation in being the first class to go through curriculum changes.

matvwi, (and any other IL CVM students on the forums) what have you been hearing about the changes lately?

I shadowed at the LAC several days this summer and talked with 4th years about tracking, etc. The ones I spoke with thought that the additional clinical experience, including earlier tracking, could be really helpful: 4 weeks at a time vs. the 2 weeks at a time done right now as you barely get your arms around things and off you go.

Also, folks I believe one of the objectives of the new curriculum requires working at a clinic in one four week rotation to see more "normal" cases vs. the referral (and often critical/unusual) that is more common at the university.

Can anyone confirm any of the above or add more details on what they are hearing?

 

[CalpardNY]

matvwi, (and any other IL CVM students on the forums) what have you been hearing about the changes lately?

I shadowed at the LAC several days this summer and talked with 4th years about tracking, etc. The ones I spoke with thought that the additional clinical experience, including earlier tracking, could be really helpful: 4 weeks at a time vs. the 2 weeks at a time done right now as you barely get your arms around things and off you go.

Also, folks I believe one of the objectives of the new curriculum requires working at a clinic in one four week rotation to see more "normal" cases vs. the referral (and often critical/unusual) that is more common at the university.

Can anyone confirm any of the above or add more details on what they are hearing?

Theres a bit on this on the "info on illinois thread" but what you say sounds liek what everyones saying. Earlier time in the clinic and maybe more tracking with it. Also, it hasnt been said before but now that you mention it Mary did say something about a rotation in a private practice setting. She was discussing how students see all this great stuff but graduate not knowing anything about vaccines and general medicine stuff. So while this isn't necessarily a confirmation, I heard her discuss it. Hope that helps!