Iowa v Illinois

[dan0353]

In short, I was accepted to both programs (OOS, my state doesnt have a vet school), I am interested in wildlife/exotic medicine, but not sure if either school is going to help me break into that field after graduating. When I was at ISU, the dean told me that he received a 10 million dollar donation to build up the wildlife program and I was impressed with their effort of recruiting quality students and building the new hospital. Ames seems like a great place to live for a few years as well.

However, when I was at Ill., it seemed like the staff and students were just running through the motions and didnt really care about the school or recruiting students. Its hard for a school to show that they really care about you going there when they perform all 300+ interviews on the same day (I might have just gotten the wrong impression). But, I heard that Ill's program is also very good as well.

A lot of the previous threads have been about the small or large animal programs for either school, but none compared the two schools or mentioned their wildlife programs.

Any feedback would be a huge help for me in making my decision.

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[bclover]

I don't know about Iowa, but Illinois has a Wildlife Medical Clinic that is really quite busy - especially in the spring and summer as you might imagine. (What exotics are you interested in?) I volunteered at the WMC in 2006 and we handled quite a few different species - mammalian, avian and reptilian.

As far as other exotics (llamas, etc.) - I only know from being a local owner/client myself - that there seem to be a few CVM clinicians with interest/experience in these species and are looking to increase their exposure/cases. In fact, a very large llama/alpaca owner/breeder/rescuer from near St. Louis is very comfortable with Illinois for all of her care needs. But all of this is from a virtual "outsider" other than being a client and my volunteering opportunities.

Don't know if that helps you at all, but I wanted to pipe up since I have had a little experience with them (IL) on this.

 

[Danaish72]

I've also volunteered in the WMC and everyone, staff and students, were very eager to teach and were understanding of an undergraduate's schedule. The wildlife rehabilitation center I worked with over my summers was also very happy to refer clients there. As for exotics, I know that a UofI grad has a hospital just up the street from campus and I believe he is the only board certified bird specialist in the state (or at least he was a few years ago). He and his wife are still active at the college to my knowledge. I'm very fond of them and that is where I take my exotics. Also, I know IL has a deal with the Chicago zoos and also with the Shedd Aquarium for those interested in marine medicine. I can't tell you too much about Iowa v Illinois but if I were you I'd very comfortable getting an education in wildlife and exotics from Illinois, just my opinion though. Good luck deciding!

 

[Starwrecker]

Iowa State has a wildlife care clinic that, like Illinois, is busy in the spring and summer. We are going through a lot of renovations/upgrades right now, and with $10m to go toward a wildlife program, we should end up with a pretty good one. I'll be honest, I don't know the schedule of completion for that, but the way things are going here it could be up and running before you know it.

I helped with some of the interviews/tours/recruiting this year and there has been a TON of hard work put into it. I'm sure you're aware that this was the first year that ISU interviewed, so they were working hard to get that process right as well as trying to present our school in the best way possible. Ames is a great place to live and its close enough to some of the bigger areas that there's always 'something' to do.

Good luck with your decision and perhaps I'll see you in the fall.

And if there's any other questions I can attempt to answer, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[CalpardNY]

Just to add to what was said about the WMC at Illinois...There was a girl on my tour who volunteered there (i don't know if its a club or how you get involved exactly) but she said that as first years its the best way to get hands on experience. That you work in teams with third year as head of the team and you get a lot of experience and responsibility. She was really enthusiastic about it! Mavtwi commented on it a lot further in the Info on Illinois thread.

 

[dan0353]

I know that rankings don't matter, but the last time USnews ranked the 28 CVM, Iowa was on limited accred. so it was unranked. In the past I know Iowa has had a top 5-10 program, but how does it match up to other schools in the nation today, I've been trying to look for something about it online, but have not found anything.

Also, does ISU have any affiliation with Des Moines' zoo or anything other zoo or wildlife shelter in the region?

What kind of animals does the Ill. or ISU wildlife shelters tend to treat as well.

I know that ISU has an exotic elective class, if anyone has taken it, it would be great to hear your feedback on it.

Any other comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks once again...

 

[Starwrecker]

Iowa State has full accreditation now because their renovation/upgrade plans were accepted. The accreditation committee comes back in 2010 to reassess, but as I said before, things are coming along very nicely here and keeping it shouldn't be a problem. As far as rankings, I honestly don't know where they are anymore (I'm still a little bitter about the whole losing accreditation/dropping out of the rankings ), but once all the upgrades and additions are finished we'll hopefully be back on top. The new large animal facility is supposedly going to make ISU THE cattle/swine medicine institution.

As far as the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, I'm sure there's some affiliation there somewhere. (I'll be honest, I'm not an exotics person so I don't know for sure) There's also a new-ish Primatology center in DSM that I'm sure the college interacts with somehow. I do know that the zoo has sent its deceased animals to the diagnostic lab here. (The state lab side, not the college side---even though they're connected--long, confusing relationship, don't ask. )

The wildlife care clinic sees mostly the native wildlife: bunnies, squirrels, raptors, fawns, etc. The can't take in skunks, raccoons or opossums according to what I've been told. They also have resident vulture that hops around the clinic and pecks at exposed toes on a regular basis.

I haven't taken the exotics class yet, but from what I've heard its interesting. It has kind of a strange, irregular schedule during the semester: an evening here, two evening this week, a Saturday there, etc. I know on the Saturday labs they get to practice darting animals. (I don't know quite all the details on that, sorry)

*Gasp for air* I'm sorry I couldn't provide more facts regarding the ranking, etc., but I hope I was able to answer at least a few of your questions. I am by no means an expert, but hopefully it helped a little.

 

[cuitlamiztli]

In addition to the Blank Park Zoo, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is about 2.5 hours from Ames--and I believe you can at least do clinical rotations there.

Like Starwrecker said, the WCC sees mostly native wildlife (songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, squirrels, rabbits, etc, as well as the occasional turtle or snake... we've got a groundhog now, even). And we've got Vulture, who really is quite the character! I'm not sure what or how much vet students can do there, though... I believe it's more radiology/surgery, unless you want to volunteer, since the supervisors and volunteers do just about everything else. It's wonderful experience for us, though

 

[deadvet]

A friend of mine emailed me his experience to share with the group. He is happy to email correspond or talk on the phone with anyone who wants to hear more. Here it is:

I am currently in the exotics elective course at ISU and think that it has been a worthwhile class. It has given me the chance to get an introduction to many of the new species that veterinarians find themselves treating. Since "pocket pets" and other non-traditional pets are becoming more common, it is a great way to get a starting platform off of which to build your knowledge. I think it has also calmed my fears of working with some of the new species since we apply many of the same principles. I would recommend it for anyone who is thinking seriously about exotic animal medicine, zoo medicine, or private practice where they might be able to start a niche in their clinic.

 

[bclover]

During my time volunteering at the Illinois WMC we treated a wide variety of birds (including hawks, owls, geese, ducks, herons, robins...), coyote pups, fox kits, fawns, possums, raccoons, turtles, snakes, and lots of bunnies - mistakenly "stolen" from their dens (don't get me started ) by well meaning folks mind you. So it was a very wide variety of species to work with wnd become more familiar with. The clinic is also home to a few "resident" raptors (that can't be released) for PR events and the like.