K-State vs UF

[DogtorH]

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Hello all,

Instead of PMing those of you who have been accepted to these schools in addition to others and asking which would you choose and why, I'd like to see some opinions/pros and cons side by side. I am left with picking either of these schools, but I like them both for different reasons. Background: Florida is my IS, I'm interested in Equine and Large Animal Medicine but I also love Pathology. I know the time off, (3 summers) in Kansas will allow me to explore the field of research opportunities via faculty but Florida's LA hospital seems to offer more hands on opportunities for students since its bound to have a small class size dedicated to LA. "Ranking" aside, what are your thoughts about the two schools?

 

[alliecat44]

If Florida is your in-state, then I see no reason to go to Kansas. Save your money!

 

[lyndaelyzoo]

I love UF!!!! I am a first-year veterinary student and want to study equine medicine, particularly sports medicine. I think that there are about ten out of 100 students that are interested in large animal medicine, so when we get to electives, the classes should be pretty small. They have also just started a clinical rotation involving working with a private ambulatory equine vet practice to allow students to see more cases. I really don't know anything about KSU, so can't really compare the two vet schools.

 

[DogtorH]

Thanks alliecat, but I'm looking at comfort more than expense. Sounds pretty silly, but I want to make sure the school that I earn the degree from is a place that I wholeheartedly wanted to go to. I know the education is the "same", but the experience and opportunities one school offers vs another are different. That's what I was trying to find out.

Lyndaelyzoo, I remember talking to my boss, (a UFCVM grad), and she was telling me that their program has made alot of progress since the 1980s. I'm not sure how it is truly viewed, but I'm just afraid that if I were to seek employment with a future LA practice, I'd hate to think that my UF degree would be scrutinized compared degree from the mid-west, IE Colorado since that's "Horse Country". Veterinary Medicine is Vet Med after all, right?. Were you briefed about research opportunities other than the Merial Scholars that UF offers? I can't seem to find any other options but that on their website.

Thanks for your responses however.

 

[FoodieVet]

Thanks alliecat, but I'm looking at comfort more than expense. Sounds pretty silly, but I want to make sure the school that I earn the degree from is a place that I wholeheartedly wanted to go to. I know the education is the "same", but the experience and opportunities one school offers vs another are different. That's what I was trying to find out.

Lyndaelyzoo, I remember talking to my boss, (a UFCVM grad), and she was telling me that their program has made alot of progress since the 1980s. I'm not sure how it is truly viewed, but I'm just afraid that if I were to seek employment with a future LA practice, I'd hate to think that my UF degree would be scrutinized compared degree from the mid-west, IE Colorado since that's "Horse Country". Veterinary Medicine is Vet Med after all, right?. Were you briefed about research opportunities other than the Merial Scholars that UF offers? I can't seem to find any other options but that on their website.

Thanks for your responses however.

I just accepted a position at Kstate for the C/O 2015. One of the reasons I'm excited about K-State is that NBAF is going be built while I'm there. It's going to be a huge deal in the US and there will be lots of opportunities for students to do internships, etc. Also, just watching the process of such a high profile bioresearch facility being built right behind the veterinary school is amazing. They are going to be able to attract so many prominent researchers and professors, which I believe will do a lot to improve an already great veterinary school. If you don't know much about NBAF, they have a website you can look up. I brought it up during my interview because a friend of mine in Houston is doing research on it and I've been interested in this project for a while now. We ended up talking about it for quite a while, and I found that the professors were all really excited about it (at least the ones I talked to).

 

[alliecat44]

Personally I find the NBAF TERRIFYING and am soooo glad I will be out of here when it opens but that's just me.

We have a wonderful LA faculty but it is NOT worth an extra $80-100K over the course of your education. If you want to pursue LA internship/residency, THAT is when you should come to K-State.

 

[Chinola]

I just accepted a position at Kstate for the C/O 2015. One of the reasons I'm excited about K-State is that NBAF is going be built while I'm there. It's going to be a huge deal in the US and there will be lots of opportunities for students to do internships, etc. Also, just watching the process of such a high profile bioresearch facility being built right behind the veterinary school is amazing. They are going to be able to attract so many prominent researchers and professors, which I believe will do a lot to improve an already great veterinary school. If you don't know much about NBAF, they have a website you can look up. I brought it up during my interview because a friend of mine in Houston is doing research on it and I've been interested in this project for a while now. We ended up talking about it for quite a while, and I found that the professors were all really excited about it (at least the ones I talked to).

Unfortunately NBAF won't be anywhere near functional while you're at K-State. I did a lot of research on it and spoke with my interviewers about it. Here's the website that has the timeline: http://www.dhs.gov/files/labs/editorial_0762.shtm#5
It won't be functional until 2016-2018.

They also said that even when it's functional it will have such a high biosafety level that they're not going to let the students anywhere near it. They said at most maybe 1 or 2 students could do research there during the summer through special programs. But the gist I got is "it'll be cool to see it being built but we won't get to touch it".

Sorry to burst your NBAF bubble. Mine was burst after doing some research and talking to my interviewers.

 

[lunajett]

I just accepted a position at Kstate for the C/O 2015. One of the reasons I'm excited about K-State is that NBAF is going be built while I'm there. It's going to be a huge deal in the US and there will be lots of opportunities for students to do internships, etc. Also, just watching the process of such a high profile bioresearch facility being built right behind the veterinary school is amazing.

I just went to a little presentation on NBAF last week, and IIRC the timeline the prof was talking about had NBAF not actually being operational until 2015/16. I think alot depends on when various funding is received and whatnot, but if they are estimating 2015/16, I would think it could actually be later than that, given gov't efficiency and all. Right now, they're just doing grading work on the site. He also stressed that it will be totally separate from the university, which made it sound like there would not be a whole lot of direct opportunity for students. So if youre CO 2015, I wouldn't count on being able to do much if anything there. That said, it is a pretty big deal here and should provide lots of long-term opportunities. He also talked about a lot of pharm companies developing plans to build just north of NBAF, so I expect 5-10 years from now, research will be booming here.

 

[philomycus]

We have a wonderful LA faculty but it is NOT worth an extra $80-100K over the course of your education.

👍

Many incomers don't think about that until you're about to get out and actually have to pay it back. It's huge, and it's a big deal. Take it seriously and consider it.

 

[McVillesMom]

If you want to pursue LA internship/residency, THAT is when you should come to K-State.

I'm glad to hear you say that...cause I'm headed there in June

 

[alliecat44]

I'm glad to hear you say that...cause I'm headed there in June

Yay!!! Congratulations!!! Are you doing a LA internship?? You will love love love the LA folks. They are all so incredibly amazing and so fun to work with. 🙂

 

[McVillesMom]

Yay!!! Congratulations!!! Are you doing a LA internship?? You will love love love the LA folks. They are all so incredibly amazing and so fun to work with. 🙂

Yes! Equine, actually. I've heard nothing but good things about K-State and the equine folks call it "OSU West" because so many of them have ties to Ohio State. So I'm hoping I feel right at home! Thanks!

 

[rugbychick16]

Yes! Equine, actually. I've heard nothing but good things about K-State and the equine folks call it "OSU West" because so many of them have ties to Ohio State. So I'm hoping I feel right at home! Thanks!

Yay congrats! PM me if you have questions with moving and settling in, etc.

I'll be doing most of my equine rotations right away, I have equine therio in the middle of June then both equine medicine and field service the month of July.

 

[CookieBear]

Your comfort will always somehow be tied to the load of debt you'll be tugging around with you for quite some time.

Go to your in-state school. If FL has the LA stuff you like, then all the more reason to stick with it. If you're already from FL, absolutely no offense intended, but, geez, you'll freeze your tush off in KS.

From one out-of-stater to the other, potential, out-of-stater: go to your in-state.

Beyond - sure, hit-up KS for your internship, residency, etc.

 

[Bill59]

Thanks alliecat, but I'm looking at comfort more than expense. Sounds pretty silly, but I want to make sure the school that I earn the degree from is a place that I wholeheartedly wanted to go to.
Thanks for your responses however.

Yeah, it is pretty silly (no offense). It won't make a dime's worth of difference -- much less thousands of dollars difference -- to future employers, clients or patients whether your DVM was from UF or K State.