RVC vs The World

[pyxystyx]

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got my acceptance email today 🙂 5 yr program

How do yo know it's the 5-year program? My e-mail didn't say which one it was...

 

[sparkydoggie]

How do yo know it's the 5-year program? My e-mail didn't say which one it was...

well since they didnt say BVetMed Accel I assumed it was the 5 year. i know that I barely got in so I know Im a 5yearer haha.

But congrats to you pyxystyx on getting in! 👍

 

[2BaVet]

I realized I said "suggestions for you instead" of from you.. I guess I was too excited.. It would be great if those of you who have interviewed could share their experience with me... And congrats to those who got in! RVC is a wonderful school with a wonderful reputation! I'm so excited of being considered as a future student!

 

[hopefulvet21]

But seriously, once you've lived in Europe once it's like an obsession to get back as many times as you can!! I totally feel like I would be missing out on an experience of a lifetime if I don't go to London. So...we'll see. Five years is a LONG time.

I KNOW!! Haha, I feel the exact same way. It's so much better over there (well some things)! And five years seems like a long time now, but just look at how fast college went by! I think 5 yrs. will be gone before you know it.

2BaVet: If you have taken some upper-level bio classes, I would suggest looking over some of the important material from those courses. For example, I have taken immunology and during my interview I was asked where additional cells come from and how during an immune response (they come from your bone marrow stem cells). This isn't some obscure fact from the course- it's more like a basic principle you would certainly know if you took immunology. So don't freak out studying every little detail, but make sure you remember some stuff from any upper-level bio classes. Also, I would definitely recommend going over what you listed as your duties under your work experience and make sure you can say how each thing was done. For example, I listed that I had watched a lot of equine castrations, and I was asked how this is done (not in obscene detail but the basic process). If you listed something you only watched once or participated in peripherally, look it up online and read a little about it. And I am 98% sure you will be asked a few ethical questions. So be prepared! Good luck!

 

[kiki1983]

I got an email today from RVC.... Margaret informed me that I did not get accepted... BUT, I have been waitlisted. She did not give me a rank, or even mention how big the waitlist is... sooo, the waiting continues. I have my IS interview tomorrow, and I still have to hear from Western, and Michigan... and won't get my IS decision until AFTER the deadline for accepting my seat at UCD in Ireland (March 30th).... I need a psychic to tell me what to do!!!! 😱 😕

 

[pyxystyx]

Kiki- i have a feeling they get a higher-than-average number of international people rejecting their offer, (seeing as how they might get into an in-state school/other international they like better), so i'm sure your chances of coming off that waitlist are pretty high.

On another note... any CURRENT RVC students on this forum??? I need some advice on the school and living in London in general, and can't find those old threads (I know there were some...)

I'm trying to decide between RVC and Glasgow, and the Glasgow thread helps... but I desperately need a resident RVC perspective! 😕

 

[hopefulvet21]

pyxystx, me too! I may be able to offer you some advice on living in London though. Did you email the current RVC students they emailed us about after interviews? Margaret Kilyon sent us two North American student contacts who are current at the RVC. I emailed the 4th year girl, Gail Henry, and she was very helpful and enthusiastic about the school in general.

 

[WildZooVet]

So does anyone know if it is the five year program that we've been accepted into? Was anyone accepted into the four year program?

 

[Sognidoro]

OK...so I got rejected from Minnesota today (my IS and the only other school I applied to). Totally didn't see that one coming... Well I guess this is a sign that I need to go to London! Truthfully, if I had gotten into MN and RVC I probably would have been too chicken to go to London and just settled with MN anyways...so maybe this is the push I needed! I'm still not 100% sure I am going but just thought I would give an update! Does anyone know the deadline for accepting admission?

 

[hopefulvet21]

I don't think we'll know anything until they send us a welcome packet or whatever. I'm getting a little frustrated because I want to come to a decision and they're holding me up a bit. My dad and I made a giant excel spreadsheet including the costs of each of the schools I'm thinking about at different exchange rates, with different loan repayment options and flights home, and all the rest. So now I just need some more info from RVC about the program....more waiting👎

 

[pyxystyx]

Hey hopeful...
Mind if I ask to share that spreadsheet? I'd be reeeally interested...

😍

 

[hopefulvet21]

I PMed you!🙂

 

[Sognidoro]

Could you send it to me too Hopeful? 🙂 I would really appreciate it!

 

[LLIPPY]

Ok. Am I the ONLY one who has interviewed but still heard nothing?? I figured I hear more people complain by now! Ha. Anyone?

 

[Mistoffeles]

no, I haven't heard anything yet either - I'm just assuming that I was rejected. 😛

 

[hopefulvet21]

WHERE are our welcome packets!!!!!!!!??????????

Can someone email admissions and ask...I've already emailed them way too much. They even had all the emails I asked them in my folder at the interview😱

 

[LLIPPY]

Ok so if you haven't heard anything yet definitely e-mail margaret! I can't believe I didn't do it sooner. Here is what she had to say:

Dear Lisa,
*
Thank you for your email.* I am very pleased to be able to inform you that you have been offered a place on the course.* An email to this effect was sent to you on the 27th February.* I am sorry that you didn’t receive it.* Formal notification will be sent to you in the mail.* As the interview notifications took so long to reach everyone we have been looking into alternative postal services to find a more speedy and efficient service.* The notifications should be going out in the mail later this week.
*
Kind regards

 

[Mistoffeles]

So, let me amend the above statement . . . I emailed Ms. Kilyon just now, and got this back:

"Thank you for your email. I am very pleased to be able to tell you that
you have been made an offer of a place on the BVetMed programme. An
email was sent to you on 27th February to let you know - I am sorry that
you didn't receive this.

Because the interview notifications took so long to reach everyone we
have been looking into alternative postal services and have identified
one which should be much more speedy and efficient. Your offer letter
will be sent to you this week using the alternative postal service.

Kind regards.

Margaret"

Woo-hoo!!🙂

 

[hopefulvet21]

hahaha, Margaret did seem a bit absent minded when I met her. She was really excited about the giant bowl of salad they had set up for lunch...

 

[Mistoffeles]

hahaha, Margaret did seem a bit absent minded when I met her. She was really excited about the giant bowl of salad they had set up for lunch...

It *was* a nice salad. Although the sandwiches were a little salty. But that's catered "conference" food for you.

 

[pyxystyx]

*bump*
Sooo...

Anyone decided FOR SURE on RVC for next year? If so do you know where you're living? (I'd have to be in private housing, is why i ask...)

Where ARE our welcome packets, Hopeful?!?!?

 

[hopefulvet21]

I think they've been mailed out. Here is a link to the "Fresher's Pack" on their website....I'm not sure if this is what they're sending us..

http://www.rvc.ac.uk/education/undergraduate/Information/documents/RVCWelcomePack2008finalcopy.pdf

 

[hopefulvet21]

pyxystx, I haven't decided for sure, but I keep leaning toward RVC. What about you? You are deciding between RVC and Glasgow right?

After looking more through RVC's website I found some more things I like a lot:

-Lots of international professors, and found a good number who went to US vet schools and now work at RVC (so shouldn't be difficult to establish some connections if you want to go work back home)
-They have a hydrotherapy pool for recovering patients at the Queen Mother Hospital (not sure how many other vet schools have one of these, but it looks so fun to work with animals in a pool!)
-The Queen Mother Hospital is the largest referral hospital in Europe (biggest caseload on the continent)
-Pretty much every specialty or new advancement you can think of at their Hawkshead campus, so it definitely measures up to or surpasses any school here.

I'd also recommend checking out their facebook group "New Faces at the RVC" where you can look at pics of the school and stuff. It seems like there is a great student community and busy social calendar.

 

[Mistoffeles]

I'm in the same boat . . . Glasgow vs. RVC. Not sure where I'm leaning towards. my SO wants RVC as she thinks London is easier to visit at. i think housing for me and my kitties might be easier in Glasgow. I'm totally up in the air at this point.

I think that they both have large ruminant case loads, which is part of my interest. I'm sure that Queen Mother has a slightly better ECC/ICU caseload, which is my other main interest.

So . . . how shall we decide?

 

[WildZooVet]

Sorry to repost this, but, does anyone know if they are in the 4 or 5 year program? Are we all in the 5 year program?

Does anyone have anythoughts on RVC vs Edinburgh??

 

[hopefulvet21]

I'm pretty sure it's the 5 year program. I'm sure they would have said 4 year accelerated program in the email if that's what it was.

That being said, Edinburgh is a great school. It is also much cheaper at the moment. However, if/when the economy gets better, I think the exchange rate will go out of our favor, and Edinburgh would become more expensive. RVC keeps your tuition fixed in US dollars and guarantees it will not escalate more than 5% per year. Edinburgh is also one less year for those who got into the GEP. So the one year difference probably makes a big difference for most people.

However, I think I am going to go to RVC, if I don't change my mind again in the next 24 hours. Edinburgh didn't feel right for me. I am comfortable with London because I have friends there and lived there before. I like the city better and I like RVC's facilities better. I still have my doubts, but I have some for every school and I won't know if I love it until I go. I like that RVC has a bigger class size and is surrounded by heaps of other universities, and that they have a great community. I know I will be paying a bit more, and in school an extra year, but personally I feel okay with that. I'm only 21 and won't exactly be an old timer when I graduate anyway.

I would talk to students at each school. Get as many perspectives as you can. If your decision is strictly financially concerned, I would have to say Edinburgh will probably be cheaper in the long run. Don't stress too much about it, I'm sure you could be happy at either one.