is there anyone here that currently goes to colorado state university?

[vet4ever]

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i just want to know some basic information on the college. like what you have to have for a gpa, etc. also what the college is like. please jet me an email so i can find some info! thanks!😍

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I am also VERY interested in Colorado residency and PhD programs in pathology...so anyone who goes to school there...what's the area like? Lots of nature and hiking (what I like!) Is Ft Collins out in the sticks? What's the weather like, the school environment like etc....brag to me!!

 

[vet4ever]

I am also VERY interested in Colorado residency and PhD programs in pathology...so anyone who goes to school there...what's the area like? Lots of nature and hiking (what I like!) Is Ft Collins out in the sticks? What's the weather like, the school environment like etc....brag to me!!

tottally agree!

 

[rexosaurus]

not to sound rude, but maybe a google search would provide you with some more comprehensive information concerning the area of Fort Collins. Vet students residing in Colorado probably haven't responded because this information is more easily attained elsewhere, and completely unrelated to vet med.

 

[vet4ever]

not to sound rude, but maybe a google search would provide you with some more comprehensive information concerning the area of Fort Collins. Vet students residing in Colorado probably haven't responded because this information is more easily attained elsewhere, and completely unrelated to vet med.

thats a good idea!thanks!😍

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Rexosaurus

Actually....I have googled the heck out of it and all I can find are state and country websites - basically having to do with government things, sightseeing, organized recreation, history etc...which is all nice BUT

What I was interested in was *real people's* opinions on what it is like to live there on a day to day basis.

And yes, it is related to vetmed, because where you go to school is where you live. I also said I was curious about how people liked the program (or at least inferred it). You can't google that 😉

 

[VAgirl]

Rexosaurus

Actually....I have googled the heck out of it and all I can find are state and country websites - basically having to do with government things, sightseeing, organized recreation, history etc...which is all nice BUT

What I was interested in was *real people's* opinions on what it is like to live there on a day to day basis.

And yes, it is related to vetmed, because where you go to school is where you live. I also said I was curious about how people liked the program (or at least inferred it). You can't google that 😉

Well, if someone writes on here how they like it, then someone at a later date could Google it. 😀 So it's just adding to the information out there on the great World Wide Web...

 

[QTkitty]

Ok, so life has been extremely busy out here and with finals coming up and all of the other tests and quizes I haven't had time to reply (sorry!)... I'm also not going to respond to the question right now because I'm taking a short break from physio studying and was just curious about the goings on at SDN vetmed 🙂, but I will respond over the break (in a week or 2) on what I think of Ft. Collins and the program out here. Is that cool with you guys? Sorry again!

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Hurrah thanks! Things are awfully busy here alsowith exams also, don't worry...bah, back to studying Therio...I love learning about uterine prolapse and rectovaginal fistulas 🙄

 

[QTkitty]

oooooooook, so I promised I would write this out when finals were over so here it goes.... I love CSU and Fort Collins. I am from San Diego so the snow has really been something for me to get used to, but I'm enjoying it now that I'm figuring it out. Also, coming from a big city, Fort Collins sometimes seems small to me (e.g. when you're bored in Fort Collins you generally can't go to the neighboring city for excitement because they aren't fun). Denver is super fun but about an hour away so it kind of has to be a planned trip (at least for me, but I'm a planner). It is sooo beautiful here and there are so many outdoorsie things to do! There are also TONS of bars so if you're into that they are everywhere.



As for the PVM program, I like it but it wasn't what I was expecting. Like everyone else has said, vet school is HARD. It isn't that the material is way harder but there's waaaaaaay more work than in undergrad. We are given several different resources from our professors, to online/ computer programs to help us succeed in our classes and I feel like there's a real effort to give us the must up to date information. I feel like I am receiving an amazing education and love the program! One of the greatest things that I've encountered is the lack of egos among the professors and doctors in the hospital. In classes (and rotations, from what I've heard) students are encouraged to ask questions and clarify, whereas I've heard at several other schools that students are intimidated by the professors with their huge egos. I think the cumulative exams they are going to have us taking after every year is scary but it'll help overall when it comes time to take the NAVLE.

Now for my big negative.... I HATE THE RANKING SCALE!!!! I am so frustrated with every half point being important. I think it makes people more competitive and even though several of us have banded together there are still those people who will not help fellow students because their rank may be effected... Then there are the people who didn't get in on their first try and took the plan B masters program at CSU, which basically translates to the first year of vet school. So now these people are kicking ass in our classes because they've taken them before and I can't compete because they get perfect scores and it's my first time through so it's taken me a while to adjust to the increased load and I'm doing my best. I hate that I can get a middle or low A in a class and still rank in the middle of the class because everyone else did just as well (e.g anatomy)... So when I apply for internships are they going to know that I got an A or are they going to see that I'm ranked in the middle and think I'm a B/C student? I really don't mean to offend but I want to be compared to myself and I wish we got grades. I knew about this system going in and really thought it wouldn't be a problem, but it turns out that I am incredibly frustrated by it... I'm not trying to deter anyone because I can't imagine being anywhere else, but this is my big negative. Sorry that took me so long and I'm sorry for my big rant but I think these are the things I would have wanted to know when I was applying...



it will be awesome to see you out here!!!!!!

 

[soxbox]

I 100% agree with QTKitty (especially with the ranking thing)!

Fort Collins is awesome... Even though I am coming from a small town and despise cities, Ft Collins is doable. There is every sort of restaurant/retail store you could imagine, all within a few miles. Driving is not nearly as bad as Boston... though it can get frustrating during rush hour on certain roads.... But you can walk to quite a few places and there are buses that run until around 7 or 8pm. There are a TON of beautiful parks in the city, with lots of room for dogs and lots and lots of running/walking trails.... oh speaking of dogs... I dont think I have ever been to a more pet friendly city anywhere... The mountains are just a few minutes to the West and there are tons of trails and stuff... Oh... and the weather is fantastic... Sunny days about 300 days a year. Definitely helps to keep you motivated and happy!!

We have only had one substantial snowstorm and I will say (though remember it has been my only experience in the snow here) that they do a rather crappy snow removal job... parking lots are like skating rinks and only main streets get plowed... so ALL of the sideroads never see a plow which is sort of scary. (Now I am coming from the Northeast where foot at a time snow falls are quite common... we have fantastic snow removal going on out there!!) At the same point... I only have a bit over a mile to get to school and if the roads are that bad, its easy to walk and/or take the bus (which students get a free bus pass for the year).

The vet school program is very cool and most of the professors are genuinely interested in us. We have a lot of demos and tons of wetlabs if you decide to join any of the clubs (highly recommended)! I definetly agree that I came into vet school thinking I was going to fail out because things were going to be so over my head. Not the case, thankfully! However, the sheer volume of stuff can be quite daunting. But I still manage to live a somewhat normal life and have time to go out to dinner or follow my favorite tv shows. (minus finals week... but that is to be expected, right?)

Now... onto that stupid ranking system. It was explained to me that it was done to make us less competitive. They took away doing GPAs and now are classes are just pass/fail. Well that is all fine and dandy until you want to pursue and internship/residency or have scholarships riding on a GPA. So to fix that problem, they decided to rank us. Well that just sucks. Because it really does come down to every single point where you rank in each class, and then they do a cumulative rank of all your classes. At least with a GPA 100 people can have a 3.5... now there is no sharing and we are put in numerical order. And I also find it frustrating that I busted my *ss in a class only to look at my "grade" at the end and it is an S. I prefer letter grades. But even with me really not liking that system, in the end, all that truly matters is that you have learned how to think and that you got your happy little S's in all of your classes. (and even if you do get ranked last in your class.. life is not over 🙂 Last year the last ranked person was matched for an intership while there were a couple up in the top that did not match at all!!)

oh, one more tiny little thing... being OOS here really sucks money wise. Some of my classmates complain about all the debt they are going to be in and I just stare at them... Their $14,000 IS tuition is around the INTEREST I will be paying on my $40,000+ OOS tution... Though my only other option was Tufts where IS wasn't too far away from OOS at CSU. But again, dont let that deter you. Just view your tuition as a mortgage on your life (and just marry someone with a house!) 🙂

 

[ShelterGirl]

Thank you both! I had heard about the no-grades policy but not about the ranking - very interesting.

 

[QTkitty]

oh, one more tiny little thing... being OOS here really sucks money wise. Some of my classmates complain about all the debt they are going to be in and I just stare at them... Their $14,000 IS tuition is around the INTEREST I will be paying on my $40,000+ OOS tution... Though my only other option was Tufts where IS wasn't too far away from OOS at CSU. But again, dont let that deter you. Just view your tuition as a mortgage on your life (and just marry someone with a house!) 🙂

HAHA! I'm OOS too and sometimes the $1/4 mill debt we will be in makes me want to cry...

 

[bostonpet]

Thank you so much for your responses! They were beyond helpful.

Colorado State is my first choice. But I've only started taking classes to get on the track to vet school, so I have a nice long road ahead of me. I'm thinking of moving out to Colorado in a couple years to establish residency and then apply to the school after a year or so. Do you know what the job market is like out there? I don't have very much vet experience, so I'm hoping to get some experience out here before moving across the country. But are vet tech positions incredibly hard to come by because of the school? Any insight would be much appreciated!

Colorado State sounds so great! I wish I could be there now!

 

[soxbox]

Thank you so much for your responses! They were beyond helpful.

Colorado State is my first choice. But I've only started taking classes to get on the track to vet school, so I have a nice long road ahead of me. I'm thinking of moving out to Colorado in a couple years to establish residency and then apply to the school after a year or so. Do you know what the job market is like out there? I don't have very much vet experience, so I'm hoping to get some experience out here before moving across the country. But are vet tech positions incredibly hard to come by because of the school? Any insight would be much appreciated!

Colorado State sounds so great! I wish I could be there now!

Ah, the job market... well as far as Ft Collins goes, dont forget it is a college town filled with tons of college kids willing to work for not that much money! There are tons of retail/restaurant jobs around... most that pay a little more than min. wage though. As far as vet-related jobs... thats even harder to find since the area is flooded with pre-vets trying to get experience (and dont forget the poor vet students!) You can try to get your foot in the door at CSU and get into research (they do lots of research here)..

Now that being said, no one says you have to move to Ft Collins right away... there are tons of really cool places to live in Colorado and tons of vet jobs to be found... farther away from Ft Collins, better the chances 🙂

I really think if CSU is your top choice then moving here is overall a pretty good idea (Even if it is "putting all your eggs into one basket")... First, the tuition is so much more affordable instate... second, your chances of getting in are so much better than OOS!! oh yeah... they offer a lot of scholarships that are for CO residents only as well....

Here's the numbers for the class of 2011 (not counting WICHE):
#of CO residents who applied: 246 # admitted: 75, so roughly 30% acceptance
# of out of state (non-WICHE) applied: 1168 # admitted: 19, so roughly 1.6% acceptance

for the rest of the numbers (GPA, GRE, etc): http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/cvmbs/profile.htm#2007

Well good luck and feel free to ask more questions... i have 5 weeks of break and nothing to do 🙂