Iowa vs. Glasgow

[sMiles44]

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Getting off a wailtlist is a blessing and a curse - now I have to decide! I deposited at Glasgow and have now been offered a place at Iowa, but I don't know much about the program (except for whats been posted on the Kansas v Iowa thread - very helpful btw).

Obviously Iowa would be a lot cheaper and 4 years instead of 5, but aside from that, does anyone have any advice about choosing?

In the past couple days I've had people (not necessarily informed) say "Where would you rather be for several years, the UK where you can jump on a plane and visit Italy for break, or Iowa?" (no offense to midwesterners!). And some people say "Are you crazy, there is a stigma about abroad schools so if you get in the US, go here" (no offense to people abroad/going abroad).

I know both are great programs, so I can't really go wrong, but I'd like to make an informed decision. Any info/ advice you can offer would be much appreciated!

PS I'm from NJ and I want to do equine.

 

[DDoc]

If it helps you at all to know another person's path:

I turned down an interview at UF (my instate institution) to go to Glasgow.

 

[ri23]

There is certainly no guarantee that you are going to enjoy flying to Italy for breaks. Though the idea seems really nice, you might find out that you would rather be spending that time with your family and friends in the states. Though no one can really make the choice for you, but I would think that it makes more sense to go to Iowa. It's less expensive, which is a huge factor and it certainly would be less of an adjustment. I guess it depends on how well you handle change and new situations. I'm probably biased as I avoid stepping outside my comfort level and I would be terribly anxious about getting acclimated to a new environment and I would worry about that hurting my studying.

 

[cubs11]

i agree with ri23. if i was accepted to a school in the states, i would jump at that opportunity. studying at any university would keep you busy beyond belief and if given a chance for a break, i would much rather be spending that time relaxing with friends and family, rather than flying to another country. but some people prefer to be abroad for the surroundings and opportunities they present. i have read in other threads that some of those going abroad, can't wait because it will be an opportunity of a lifetime for them...but others prefer to stay in the U.S. to be closer to family and friends. i forget what thread it's in, but one student (studying abroad) really brought up some excellent points to consider about going abroad. i think you should read that thread if you can find it, because ultimately this decision has to do with your personal situation. good luck! 🙂

 

[PdxYOSHI]

For me expense would be a major consideration. If you can save lots of money on tuition then you could still use that money to jet on over to Italy in the summers that you have off. In addition to tuition differences, there is likely going to be a major difference in the cost of living. Everything on an island anywhere in the world is going to be much more expensive than staying in the U.S., especially when you're comparing cheap places to live like Iowa and not California. The midwest is generally ridiculously cheap to live and buy houses or rent (I grew up in Missouri and now live in Oregon and even that is a pretty big difference). Additionally, you may find that througout the four years of schooling, you'd have better networking opportunities for future jobs, internships, etc. if you want to work in the U.S. that is. Just a few more considerations. And not that I'm saying that living abroad wouldn't be great but are you really going to have much free time to enjoy anyway?

 

[PdxYOSHI]

Plus if its going to take you an extra year longer for school at NZ anyway, then couldn't you just go to the U.S., finish in four years, and take a year off to travel then?

 

[birdvet2006]

And not that I'm saying that living abroad wouldn't be great but are you really going to have much free time to enjoy anyway?

Yep...3+ months off in the summer, 3 weeks for Christmas. 4 weeks for Spring. Times 5 years! You can actually do externships in some of the places you'd like to travel and get credit for it.

I went to (and believe me, I should have traveled even more, in hindsight): Stockholm, Paris, Arles (south France, for an avian med conference), Tenerife (Canary Islands), England, Scotland (including obscure places like Orkney, Islay, Jura, and Skye), and the Isle of Man. I went to Louisiana (LSU) and New Mexico (RAVS trip) on one of my summer breaks, doing externships. I spent plenty of time at home in southern California. *And* yes, I do have the debt to show for it, but I am sure happy anyways. 🙂

And who else can say they've been lambing for 3+ weeks in North Yorkshire (James Herriot country)? Or stayed on the 1000 acre school farm (in the historic Cochno estate, w/a potential ghost) to learn from the dairyman (who speaks w/a thick Glaswegian accent plus plenty of cursing, knows his gals by name)?

 

[deadvet]

As the financial aid officers say:

"Live as a vet student NOW so you don't have to live as one when you receive your DVM."

But if you like eating ramen noodles for 3 meals/day...have fun in Europe and travel, travel travel!!!😀

 

[Vet2be2012]

I have thought about this issue too. The only benefit I can find with staying in the US is the financial issue. Other than that, Glasgow is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Yes, you will be in more debt. However, you will be in debt regardless. You will probably have more fun abroad as there are just so many opportunities. I spent the past year in France and it really gave me a much better outlook on things. And remember, your degree in Glasgow gives you the potential to work in many different countries. A degree in the US only gives you the opportunity to work in the US. You could probably work outside of the US, but it would be much more difficult. The one and only thing that has ever bothered me about Glasgow is the expense since the dollar is so bad next to the pound right now, but that's it. If you go to Iowa, it will probably be a similar experience to your undergrad. During my undergrad, I didn't have the opportunity to travel or go anywhere. 🙂

 

[deadvet]

I have thought about this issue too. The only benefit I can find with staying in the US is the financial issue. Other than that, Glasgow is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Yes, you will be in more debt. However, you will be in debt regardless. You will probably have more fun abroad as there are just so many opportunities. I spent the past year in France and it really gave me a much better outlook on things. And remember, your degree in Glasgow gives you the potential to work in many different countries. A degree in the US only gives you the opportunity to work in the US. You could probably work outside of the US, but it would be much more difficult. The one and only thing that has ever bothered me about Glasgow is the expense since the dollar is so bad next to the pound right now, but that's it. If you go to Iowa, it will probably be a similar experience to your undergrad. During my undergrad, I didn't have the opportunity to travel or go anywhere. 🙂

"You will be in debt regardless?" Well, that's one way to look at it. Maybe that's why so many Americans are in debt.🙁

Lots of US schools have study abroad programs that undergrads take advantage of. In addition, several veterinary schools provide study abroad opportunities or have connections to groups that provide veterinary experience, for example: Michigan State CVM partnered with several schools a couple of years ago to provide a European excursion for veterinary students, CVF (Christian Veterinary Fellowship) travels many different places (Haiti, Honduras and China, to name a few) to do veterinary work, RAVS (Rural Area Veterinary Services) provides veterinary students the opportunity to serve in that role in underserved areas in the US as well as Central and South American countries, many vet schools have MOAs (Memorandum of Agreement) with foreign veterinary schools which allow students the opportunity to travel to those countries and there are many study abroad courses (China to study acupuncture, Africa to participate in safari and learn how to immobilize and treat exotic animals, South America to work in the rain forest).

Plus Cubs11 and ri23 make good points about family. If something ever happened (such as an emergency) with one's family, I would prefer dealing with less stress of trying to schedule (and PAY for) an international flight as opposed to one stateside. Who needs that additional issue?

 

[sMiles44]

Thank you for all your feedback. I had a tough time deciding as there are reasons to go to both schools. I contacted several vet clinics to get other opinions as well. If it helps anyone else struggling with a similar issue, I was mostly considering Iowa because of the higher number of caseloads, something a vet recommended I check out. I went to visit Iowa hoping it would make the choice a little easier. Fortunately, it did. In the end, it wasn't the school, but the area that helped me decide.

Scotland it is! 😍

 

[deadvet]

Thank you for all your feedback. I had a tough time deciding as there are reasons to go to both schools. I contacted several vet clinics to get other opinions as well. If it helps anyone else struggling with a similar issue, I was mostly considering Iowa because of the higher number of caseloads, something a vet recommended I check out. I went to visit Iowa hoping it would make the choice a little easier. Fortunately, it did. In the end, it wasn't the school, but the area that helped me decide.

Scotland it is! 😍

Congrats on getting all the info you needed to make a choice!😀 Are you going to learn the bagpipes and learn to cook the traditional foods?

I guess if it was me going to vet school, the number of cases I would have exposure to would be much more important to me than the area (unless if the city/town where the school is has a high crime rate). I mean, the reason you go to vet school is for school, right?😉 Besides, its only 4 years of your life.

 

[DDoc]

Scotland it is! 😍

See you there in September 🙂

 

[stinyexoticvet]

Great that you made an informed decision. It will be tough though.....no matter where you go abroad, it is not all roses. One positive thing that we neglect to look at, is your first year, and maybe even second year you will be doing the basic sciences...that most of the US students have already taken. So this means time for adjusting and exploring your surroundings....and when people say..."you are there for school" or it is "just four or five years." That is true....but I must say I dont complain about having the choice to study on a beach...or learn an entirely different culture while I am studying...or see palm trees out my window even though I am trapped inside studying. Words I used when talking to my adviser.

-Christina
Murdoch 2009