Hi guys !
I really would appreciate any help to finally make a decision. I was accepted to Kansas State and Louisiana, along with others but these are my tops. I am from Puerto Rico so I am classified as an OOs for both schools. In regards of the tuition, I found that LSU is a little cheaper, but in terms of cost of living KS is cheaper. So eventually I would be paying the same or similar.
I am interest in following a career with exotics. I have heard that both schools have a strong exotic program and even offer residency/internship. I really love both schools and I am having a hard time deciding.
I would love if someone could tell me the pros and cons from each school. What you love about it and why do you feel it stands out?
Also, if someone has any recommendation on how I could weight my options, I would truly appreciate it.
As far as general pros and cons of the school: Here we go (personal views)!
Pros:
1. Stellar instructors. Seriously. It was night and day from my undergrad in which I had one or two professors I actually got to know well and had relationships with. The teachers here go out of their way to be there for you, personal or otherwise. Often they schedule zooms to check up on us before exams and make sure we get all the info we need, in non-covid times I was told they popped into the library after hours to meet with students one-on-one or in groups to help out. They come in over the weekend in the anatomy lab if you need it. They try to make every resource available to you so you succeed (to the point that sometimes it can be overwhelming to consume all the supplemental stuff). I had a rough first semester due to trying to sell my house and coordinate that around settling in here and broke down in front of my anatomy professors at one point because I wasn't being the all-star I was used to and they met my concerns with compassion and empathy, and a week ago one of them actually followed up with me to make sure I personally was well due to that and remembered all the details. I couldn't imagine a better group to learn from.
2. The hands-on, right out of the gate. I'm not sure how your other schools you are weighing pros and cons are, but we have clinical skills courses starting week one with hands-on training on models and live animals, covering all the basics so no matter what your experience when you get to 3rd year you are as prepared as anyone else. There is no, well you missed out on XYZ before you got here so you figure it out. Haven't put a halter on a horse? You'll learn. Haven't learned more than one was to restrain a cat to reduce stress? You will. Haven't learned how to handle and name surgical tools and their use? You will. Unsure how to read all types of facial expressions and communications in large and small animals? They'll teach you. By the time you start meeting patients, you won't spend time stumbling over how to draw blood or suture or do's and dont's of taking a history or calculating feed percentages, you'll know it and you can focus on the big picture stuff.
3. The upgrades are NICE. The library is bright and cheerful, we have a dope floor for each year with study lounges (and massage chairs) and downdraft tables for gross anatomy labs so the smell is bearable.
4. Parking is super convenient, haven't had an issue yet finding a spot.
5. Housing is plentiful and reasonable. I rent a house about 2 minutes from the school and pay less than my previous mortgage for comparable size and a fenced-in backyard. I don't have roommates but that saves you even more.
6. Shopping is decent. I am not much of a shop-a-holic, I like things delivered to me. However, we have a mall, IMAX, Walmart + Target and pretty much any food place you can think of. You may think it's out in the middle of nowhere but Manhattan really likes the idea that we spend all our money here so they give you every reason imaginable to spend your funds here. I think the biggest complaint I've heard is we need a Trader Joe's.
Cons: Are there any? I don't think so, the most I have are due to COVID limitations, not the school itself.
1. Maybe construction can be annoying at times, but even so it hasn't slowed me down from getting to school by more than 5 minutes and that is an issue you find in many cities.
2. Limitations to access to the teaching hospital (due to COVID). Normally we'd have rounds on lunch if we want and full access to wander and get lost but right now not so much. However, I see that being less of an issue when vaccinations come around and we can get in there.
Honestly, I love my school, my teachers, and my classmates. That being said, if you get the opportunity that all pros/cons from multiple schools are equal in your eyes, go for the cheapest option. Debt is real, and a huge factor you will carry for your career. I was offered a scholarship for another school and ended up turning it down because even with it Kansas State was cheaper for me. So consider your finances. No matter where you go it can be covered by student loans but you want to limit how much you take if at all possible.
By the way, if you are interested in your finances I recommend joining your school's Veterinary Medicine Business Association. I did because I eventually want to be an owner practitioner but they offer loads of resources for learning how to manage debt and finances and is actually pretty fun (plus an additional certification if you take enough seminars).
