RVC vs. Ohio State

[tdog101]

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HELP! I am so torn between Ohio State (I am OOS) and the 4 year program at RVC. I am interested in small animal and possibly exotics. I would be moving with two dogs, a german shepherd and a mini aussie, and leaving behind my significant other in the US. I am leaning RVC as I have always wanted to study abroad and travel Europe, but I worry it would be SO much more challenging and stressful to make the move from the USA to London and find a place to live with my two dogs. Ohio State also has an amazing program from what I have gathered, so basically is it better for me to choose the "safe" option of Ohio state thinking I would have just as great of an experience there or go for the adventure of RVC?

Please Vote at the top even if you don't want to comment an opinion/advice! Looking for more tOSU input as well!

 

[JaynaAli]

One thing to consider is that the testing format is markedly different in the US vs the UK. In the US we tend to have piecemeal exams every few weeks dedicated to one aspect of a specific subject, often in multiple choice format. In the UK you learn stuff all semester long and then take one final, cumulative exam that covers everything you learned in all courses and, if memory serves me right, it’s more of a free form exam and not multiple choice. Would your learning style be amenable for that type of learning or do you need constant benchmarks to stay motivated and on track? One isn’t necessarily better than the other but I know I personally would probably perform better with smaller more frequent exams forcing me to stay on top of my classes.

 

[tdog101]

One thing to consider is that the testing format is markedly different in the US vs the UK. In the US we tend to have piecemeal exams every few weeks dedicated to one aspect of a specific subject, often in multiple choice format. In the UK you learn stuff all semester long and then take one final, cumulative exam that covers everything you learned in all courses and, if memory serves me right, it’s more of a free form exam and not multiple choice. Would your learning style be amenable for that type of learning or do you need constant benchmarks to stay motivated and on track? One isn’t necessarily better than the other but I know I personally would probably perform better with smaller more frequent exams forcing me to stay on top of my classes.

I actually prefer the UK testing style! I looked into that a bit and talked to a few international students who made the transition there and I've decidedly listed it as an advantage on my pros/cons list at the school. Thanks for your input!

 

[LabLuv004]

The problem I foresee for you that you should consider is housing in London/potters bar area with two big dogs. It’s very expensive to live in the UK and finish dog friendly flats is super hard and expensive on top of normal housing. And that cost is after the $2000-3000 you’ll likely spend bring them here. It’s just a very expensive process. I would suggest a pet relocation service as they will make sure your dogs don’t get stuck in quarantine for 6 months on arrival.

I would also say if you have two dogs, going on trips to Europe may be much more difficult. It’s actually not super easy to find reliable pet sitters that aren’t crazy expensive here. So I guess if you’re not concerned cost wise RVC is a great school overall and I’ve loved my pre-pandemic time here. But if I had two dogs to take with me I probably would have stayed in the US.

Before you decide I’d recommend checking out the current rental market to get an idea. You won’t be able to get something yet but you can see prices and locations. I think Potters Bar is your best bet because even if it’s a commute for first year it’s way better pricing than London and you won’t need to move when you switch to Hawkshead campus.