I'm really interested in animal rehab(not sure if I'm leaning towards small, large, exotic) but also not 100% sure if I want to go down the specialization route...if not I'm looking into small animal or equine...honestly I have so many interests that I'll have to get started to really get a better grasp of where I for sure want to go!
Geographically I'm not particular at all...I did my undergrad at Missouri and grew up in MN so I know both places pretty well but I'm also open to moving elsewhere too!
Sorry this probably doesn't help my case AT ALL
Heh. Not so much. I can't speak to Missouri, but UMN has a very active canine rehabilitation service. It's overseen by one of the Sx clinicians, but largely run by a CVT with specialized training. Standard gear: Underwater treadmill, wobble boards, cavaletti, laser therapy, etc. Occasional feline patients, but mostly canine. I volunteered there for a couple years before vet school.
I asked about geography because all other factors being equal (money usually isn't, and that's the biggest factor as far as I'm concerned), I'd go study where you want to practice. I made so many local contacts in school that are still valuable ... really worthwhile to be able to do that.
MN's strengths:
o Very nice environment - suburban/rural feel in an urban setting. So it manages to be pretty quiet but with all the amenities of a large city within easy bus/drive distance. If you like to bike, the metro area is literally one of the top 3 cities to be in in the United States (at least, during the non-winter months). Trails *EVERYWHERE*. Minnesotans like their outdoor winter sports
o High caseload - the 35k/yr cases does make a difference. The VMC has a new general practice environment - previously GP was packed into a tiny office, tiny conference room, and shared exam rooms with all the other services. Now they have their own large treatment room, huge conference room, separate feline/canine exam rooms that are dedicate GP ... it is essentially it's own clinic within the hospital. It is really neat. I'm jealous I missed out on it.
o The equine center is pretty darn cool. It's not exactly "new" anymore (opened late 2007), but it is still awesome.
o Service opportunities that further your skills: Two clubs (VeTouch - urban wellness care - and SIRVS - reservation wellness/sterilization) can give you a chance to REALLY grow your skills over your first three years. SIRVS is essentially RAVS, but MN-specific. There are other schools with similar opportunities, but not too many where these are so well-developed. (There are all the other typical clubs, as well.)
o Pretty outstanding teachers, both didactic and clinical. They are very aggressively looking at their clinical skill training to try and ensure they are covering skills you'll actually use. I was impressed that the person in charge of it reached out to a few of us to ask "hey, what skills did you get out into practice and realize you didn't have?"
MN weaknesses:
o Crappy parking. I mean, it's there. But it's expensive. Most people walk/bike/carpool/bus.
o Cost.
