I think one of the best parts about NOT having a teaching hospital (granted, I've not been a student in one) is that we get to see a lot of "routine" problems (e.g. general practice) mixed in with some specialty cases prior to 4th year and on DVTC. Students (not interns or residents) also get to do almost everything (3rd years even run their own bloodwork so you get familiar with running PCV/TP, CBC, SNAPs, fecals, etc; 4th year the techs do it for you). We also get to tailor our schedule to our interests (even though every does have to do some small/large animal; we don't completely track); I was able to do 4 months of equine electives (externships) at the start of 4th year, which I think really helped my internship applications. It's also really nice to be the only student/one of a very few number of students (besides my primary sites, I've been on my own except for my current on where I have 1 classmate) because the doctors get to teach you a lot more.
We don't go to other schools with teaching hospitals like the island schools. We have a ton of clinical sites to choose from, we submit our schedules in late fall of 3rd year, "magic" computer software stuff happens to optimize everyone's schedule (mine was almost exactly how I put it in--all the sites I wanted, just a couple blocks switched around which was no big deal), and we get our schedules in early spring 3rd year.
I've definitely seen a wide caseload. I've gotten to participate in/watch a lot of really neat surgeries and seen some crazy "zebra" cases. This current block, I scrubbed into a colic surgery the night before the block officially started (I was absolutely under no obligation to!)--I had seen probably 20+ since May (at externships, not my equine specialty block) and not gotten to scrub in on any until this block. I've also gotten to drive the endoscope several times, and did field anesthesia on a foal twice in two days.
The classes behind 2018 will have the benefit of upperclassmen suggesting housing options. The school is also building a nice database of reasonable options near places. I've been fortunate that 6 of my sites provided housing, so I've just had to find housing for 5. A few people (the married couple in our class and the CVM/DO couple that are on rotations together) have bought campers. I personally didn't bring my dog with me (since equine places typically are "no pets" for externs), but a ton of my classmates have traveled with theirs (one has 3 large-breed dogs and has done fine!).
We don't "move to the next school" like the island schools. We do rotations at clinical affiliate practices at hubs (eg Lexington, Knoxville, Atlanta). You can submit your schedule to be in one place as much as possible, but you ultimately still have to do the 3 primary rotations (DVTC, UKVDL, shelter).
This has been super helpful! I appreciate your feedback!
three months is a long time, but they said at my interview March is the latest time when they send out everything
three months is a long time, but they said at my interview March is the latest time when they send out everything
