I've been accepted to both Minnesota and Iowa State and am having a hard time making a decision--can anyone help?
Minnesota or Iowa State?
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What are you interested in, species-wise? Large animal, small animal, exotics?
I am interested in being a mixed animal vet with an emphasis on small animals. I also wish to get my MPH, which both Iowa and MN offer. I know that Minnesota may have a few more small animal rotations, but I recently learned that Iowa has a sharing agreement with MN that allows ISU students to go to MN for rotations.
....I think my decision may have to be based on the location...being an ISU student now, I have grown to love Ames. The Twin Cities, however, are much different than Ames and I'm not sure that I'd like the cities as much....
I just want to make sure I can be the best small animal vet that I can be no matter where I go and both schools are so similar!
....I think my decision may have to be based on the location...being an ISU student now, I have grown to love Ames. The Twin Cities, however, are much different than Ames and I'm not sure that I'd like the cities as much....
I just want to make sure I can be the best small animal vet that I can be no matter where I go and both schools are so similar!
I should also add that ISU and MN tuition is basically exactly the same--though I am a MN resident, I am also engaged to an Iowan and should be receiving Iowa residency within the next 1 1/2 years. Where ISU becomes cheaper is on the living issue. ISU students live in the trailer court next to vet med and I actually have made an offer on a really nice trailer for $12,500--which is A LOT cheaper than paying $450 a month plus utilities (best case scenario) in MN...And in the end, you can actually get the money that you've paid for the trailer back by selling it. 
I must say I'm leaning ISU since I know a lot of faculty and students here. Distance from home is not really a factor for me since I have been 250 miles away from home at ISU the past 3 years and am just fine with that.
However, I feel as if I am trying to "want to want" to go to MN and I don't know why--maybe its because I always pictured myself going there as a child and never thought I'd get out of the state--Now I am out of MN and LOVE IT! Iowans are so nice and I'm afraid of going to MN and missing the "Iowa nice" feel....It would be nice to get a degree from another school since my bachelors will be from Iowa State. However, I also want to be happy at school and I know I am comfortable in Ames....
It sounds like the education is VERY similar at MN and ISU. While MN has a class in 1st year that gets you into clinics, you are also more than welcome to go into the clinics at ISU at any time. On ISU's side, their anatomy course is two semesters--one for large animal and one for small animal. MN, on the other hand, teaches both large and small in one semester and I'm afraid that that might be less than ideal for me....
PLEASE offer any feedback you have! I have been struggling with this decision for the past week and beating myself up over it--I need to make a confident decision and stick with it!
I must say I'm leaning ISU since I know a lot of faculty and students here. Distance from home is not really a factor for me since I have been 250 miles away from home at ISU the past 3 years and am just fine with that.
However, I feel as if I am trying to "want to want" to go to MN and I don't know why--maybe its because I always pictured myself going there as a child and never thought I'd get out of the state--Now I am out of MN and LOVE IT! Iowans are so nice and I'm afraid of going to MN and missing the "Iowa nice" feel....It would be nice to get a degree from another school since my bachelors will be from Iowa State. However, I also want to be happy at school and I know I am comfortable in Ames....
It sounds like the education is VERY similar at MN and ISU. While MN has a class in 1st year that gets you into clinics, you are also more than welcome to go into the clinics at ISU at any time. On ISU's side, their anatomy course is two semesters--one for large animal and one for small animal. MN, on the other hand, teaches both large and small in one semester and I'm afraid that that might be less than ideal for me....
PLEASE offer any feedback you have! I have been struggling with this decision for the past week and beating myself up over it--I need to make a confident decision and stick with it!
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Heh... It sounds like you have your mind pretty much made up! If tuition isn't an issue, I'd say go with your gut and choose whichever school you felt fit you best. However, here are a few comments about Minnesota... I've never been to Iowa, so I can't really give comparisons...
First, there isn't a course during your first year that gets you into clinics, but there are Clinical Skills courses that allow you to have your hands on live animals right away. First year Clinical Skills is focused on basic handling and physical exam skills; second year are the "mini-rotations" in the teaching hospital, where you spend two-hour blocks hanging out in the various services; and third year you learn clinical procedures like placing a PEG tube, taking a bone marrow aspirate, and taking joint taps.
Minnesota has only one (elective) terminal surgery lab... I believe Iowa does several terminal surgeries, which I would have been uncomfortable with. Your comfort level with terminal surgery is, of course, a personal decision, and it might not be an issue for you.
Being in a urban area is nice for the caseload and variety of cases we see at the teaching hospital. During rotations, there are lots of local specialists who take students for externships, which is great for getting experience outside the hospital. I also love easy access to art, music, parks, and an airport. Wilderness is less than a day's drive away, and rural Minnesota is close enough that a lot of classmates have their horses boarded 10 or 15 minutes from campus.
I can't imagine Iowa nice is too different from Minnesota nice I think everyone here is quite friendly!
I'm sure no matter which school you choose, you will get a great education. Don't let being comfortable hold you back from going somewhere new, but don't ignore your gut if it says Iowa is the right place for you!
First, there isn't a course during your first year that gets you into clinics, but there are Clinical Skills courses that allow you to have your hands on live animals right away. First year Clinical Skills is focused on basic handling and physical exam skills; second year are the "mini-rotations" in the teaching hospital, where you spend two-hour blocks hanging out in the various services; and third year you learn clinical procedures like placing a PEG tube, taking a bone marrow aspirate, and taking joint taps.
Minnesota has only one (elective) terminal surgery lab... I believe Iowa does several terminal surgeries, which I would have been uncomfortable with. Your comfort level with terminal surgery is, of course, a personal decision, and it might not be an issue for you.
Being in a urban area is nice for the caseload and variety of cases we see at the teaching hospital. During rotations, there are lots of local specialists who take students for externships, which is great for getting experience outside the hospital. I also love easy access to art, music, parks, and an airport. Wilderness is less than a day's drive away, and rural Minnesota is close enough that a lot of classmates have their horses boarded 10 or 15 minutes from campus.
I can't imagine Iowa nice is too different from Minnesota nice
I think everyone here is quite friendly!I'm sure no matter which school you choose, you will get a great education. Don't let being comfortable hold you back from going somewhere new, but don't ignore your gut if it says Iowa is the right place for you!
Thanks for your input--definitely things to think about!
I am definitely for terminal surgery so that is a definite draw for me to ISU. Though, I have worked for vets who graduated from MN that seem to know pretty well what's going on as far as surgery goes as well...
My parents talked to the vet I worked for today and he said he thought I should go to ISU (even though he attended MN)...so I guess I am once again leaning ISU...
I just don't want to turn MN down either!
I am definitely for terminal surgery so that is a definite draw for me to ISU. Though, I have worked for vets who graduated from MN that seem to know pretty well what's going on as far as surgery goes as well...
My parents talked to the vet I worked for today and he said he thought I should go to ISU (even though he attended MN)...so I guess I am once again leaning ISU...
I just don't want to turn MN down either!
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Like I said, it sounds like you've already made your decision! Read over your posts- you haven't mentioned anything that is making you consider Minnesota other than the fact that you feel obligated to attend MN because you always pictured yourself going there. I think MN is a great school with great clinicians and professors, and a great teaching hospital, but I'm sure Iowans would say the same about ISU.
You can be a great small animal vet no matter which school you attend!
You can be a great small animal vet no matter which school you attend!
