Just...help.

[that redhead]

---

Members do not see this ad.

It's probably foolhardy of me to post this on a public forum but after my interview this week I really need some insight. I don't know if it was the fact that both of my parents came with me and drove me up the wall the entire time or the fact that I hate to fly and had to fly (on a prop plane. For realz.) or what, but...I didn't feel good about my visit. I don't know exactly what I was expecting out of it, and it wasn't at all that I hated the place but it didn't feel good. (Ironic how I post this after I said feeling isn't everything, eh?)

Anyway, I think it's silly to reject an offer of admission (if I get one, from my only offered interview..) based on feel alone but I can't help thinking I'd be looking at the school as a spring point to transfer or even reapply next year which seems like an awful mindset to have. The debt would be colossal for me ($50k+/year not including living expenses) which wouldn't be a problem if I loved the place but frankly, I didn't. Again, it wasn't a bad place but it didn't feel right to me.

If you were me (or have been in this situation before) I would appreciate your advice. Feel free to PM me if you want to keep it private. Thanks in advance, guys.

 

[Coquette22]

And don't worry about not liking it. I fell in love with the place, but everyone's different. I transferred from one undergrad that many people like but I hated. Have PMed you.

 

[LetItSnow]

If you were me (or have been in this situation before) I would appreciate your advice. Feel free to PM me if you want to keep it private. Thanks in advance, guys.

I only have one thought, and that's that I'd wait a little while to mull things over and consider it. You just had the interview this week? Give yourself a little time to let it soak in and reflect on it.

 

[that redhead]

I only have one thought, and that's that I'd wait a little while to mull things over and consider it. You just had the interview this week? Give yourself a little time to let it soak in and reflect on it.

That's what I'm planning to do. I want to let the stressors of the situation ebb away so that I can look at it in a neutral way. Figured it couldn't hurt to consult you all for advice in the meantime 🙂 Thanks for the advice.

 

[LetItSnow]

That's what I'm planning to do. I want to let the stressors of the situation ebb away so that I can look at it in a neutral way. Figured it couldn't hurt to consult you all for advice in the meantime 🙂 Thanks for the advice.

Sorry it's not more useful. 🙂 I tend to be a "go with my gut" type of guy at the end of the day, but that only works if I've taken a step back. 🙂

What did your parents think? Even at my age (41), I seek out my parents (particularly my dad) for advice routinely. I find that even if I don't like what they say, they often find ways to reframe things that helps my thinking.

 

[Packen]

I don't know if it would help you, but when I feel that I may not be looking at something objectively enough I like to make a weighted pros and cons list. I think it helps to have everything that is running around in my head down on paper in front of me. Then I give things on the list points based on how important they are at the time. For me, it has helped get me through some "freak out" moments.

Hope this helps. Hang in there!

 

[Braki]

I kind of had a similar experience when I first got into the school I'm at now. I didn't have to go to the school for my interview, so I hadn't been there, but I really loved their curriculum and they were my top pick (I'm in Canada, so it was out of 2 schools so not much of a choice, but still). When I got in, I accepted the offer without a second thought. Then I went with my family to go hunt for an apartment... and it was hell. I hated that trip. I hated it so much. I felt so lost, the city was so different than the city I'd come from, it was hard to get around, it was way too humid, etc. I hated everything about that trip and we even left for home a day early. The original plan was to stay for the weekend and leave on Monday, but we signed for an apartment early Sunday afternoon and left straight away since it was such a terrible experience. When I got back home, I really wondered what I had gotten myself into.

I'm here now, and really, it isn't so bad. Do I love the city? No. It's ok, but there's a pretty heavy farmer culture that I'm not used to. Am I going to move back once I graduate? Hell yes. Was the school as perfect as I had imagined it to be, with awesome professors for every course and everything makes sense and nothing ever seems unfair? Haha, no. But I really do enjoy it here now that I've had a chance to get used to the place, I still do love the curriculum. Most importantly, I know that I made the right choice and that I chose this school for the right reasons.

 

[Dsmoody23]

If possible, you might want to head back and explore the place without all of that interview stress hanging over your head.

Not sure if that's geographically possible for you...

 

[No Imagination]

Think of it as an investment (which is what it is) – its 4 years of your life, which you may (or may not) hate. I would have, and still would, gladly sacrifice 4 years of my life to accomplish my dream of being a vet. If you are really considering not going, then perhaps you shouldn’t, because you don’t sound 100% devoted/sure of being a vet. Like I said, I would have gladly spent 4 years living in a mud hut sacrificing just about anything if it meant admission to a vet school.

In terms of $$. I think it is silly to not accept an offer because of tuition. Some napkin math…

Let’s say it takes you 2 more years to get into your IS. That is 2 years of less income (most people trying to get into vet school don’t have great high paying jobs, if you do (to the point where you are actively saving, then ignore this).

Let’s also assume you will be making 70K out of vet school (that’s low IMO) – You made 140K gross in the time you would have been waiting for a possible IS admission. I am also assuming 1/2 price for your IS.

OS: 50K * 4 years = ~200K tuition due – 140K in increased total (lifetime) income = 60K difference
IS: 25K * 4 years = 100K tuition due

Of course, if you get into your IS school next year, then that makes my argument weaker. It also doesn’t take into account increased living expenses based on desire for an increased of cost of living as you get older… but this is back of napkin math.

 

[that redhead]

First of all, thank you everyone for the useful words. I think I was/am panicking because I know its really my only shot and I wanted to love it. I know that's not always feasible but I think with everything going on it made me worry.

Packen - I think that's a great idea. I'll take a few days to chill and make up a list. I like to write things down to help organize and calm myself, too.

Braki - thank you for your story! The more I think about it, the more I realize that while four years seems like so long to go it really isn't. I don't need to love the place to get a good education and truth be told I'll probably settle down into the way of things.

Dsmoody - great idea. It's possible for me to do and spring break is in a couple of weeks. It's probably worth it to go up there and see the place for myself without all of those extra things going on.

No Imagination - you're right. It's scary to think of such big numbers but in the end its an investment in my future - a future I know that I want. If offered a spot I would most likely take it just to give myself the opportunity to go. I know I'd hate myself forever if I turned it down and things didn't go as planned. After all, it IS a nice school with some very friendly people. I'll likely be spending most of my time at the school anyway, the part I liked most, so it probably isn't as big of a deal as it seems 🙄

 

[168135]

I'm sorry to hear that you didn't like the place 🙁 It makes it even rougher when it might be the only school that you're accepted to. I know I'm out of luck... either I go to that school if accepted or change my career path.

Just wondering if you have the option of deferring? If you do happen to defer and get accepted somewhere next year, is it possible to withdraw from that school? Maybe someone can offer you some insight on that...

Going on spring break sounds like a plan... its better if you go during the summer though 😛

 

[AHorseOffCourse]

I'm applying and hoping to get in (and waiting to hear from!) the vet school, which is at the same place I did my undergrad.

Here's the deal - I don't like the town. I couldn't WAIT to move once i finished my UG, and there's no way that I'm going to live there another 4 years in vet school. The lesser evil for me is the commute. If I HAD to live in that town to be a vet I would ABSOLUTELY do so, but I've managed to find something that I belive is the lesser of two evils. So yeah - I totally get you. But I'm chosing the school based on other things besides campus life and the town etc. I'm definitely looking at the vet school process as an investment. I will tell you that the investment I made in my UG has paid off BIG TIME. I expect my vet schooling to do the same - excpet this time I will have a job that I love and adore.

I guess my advice would be, if you decide that you do want to do go to the school, it's OK to recnoginze the things you don't like about it. Make a list, and decide how you are going to deal with them. REmember why you applied there in the first place.

Another thing to remember is that sometimes first impressions are wrong. I'm horrible with first impressions and have come to realize mine are almost ALWAYS wrong. I both hate and love change and sometimes that colors how I see a certain situation. I also know that I tend to be one that makes the best out of bad siutations. Thus, even while I might hate something, I tend to find little things I can take enjoyment out of, thus I've never ended up in a school/town/internship that I couldn't not gut through to get done what I needed to get done.

Not sure if this helped - more of a ramble than anything.