Small animal focused schools

[catnips]

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Hey everyone -

I will be applying to vet schools this year and I'm pretty set on doing small animal. I don't know how much education changes with each school, but I was wondering what are the some schools that are more small animal focused? I am interested in shelter med especially.

I know that I may have to do a required large animal/food animal rotation (that is, if I even get in of course!) and that most schools don't do tracking (I think only VMRCVM does) but I think some schools put less emphasis on food animal than others.

I am looking into applying to Cornell (IS), Tufts, VMRCVM, UPenn, Oklahoma State, Western, Wisconsin, and Midwestern. - but any suggestions welcome! I looked at "factors when picking a school" thread but most of these schools were not there.

I know rural areas will probably have more food animal too, so any input on what are some vet schools that are located in less rural areas? I am dragging my husband with me, and we both were pretty content to live in a city. With my stats, I don't have much of a choice so we will have to adapt but if given the option, we would prefer a more city like area. I know I should visit the schools and see for myself but I don't think I'll have the money to do so for each school.

Any input will be greatly appreciated! 🙂

Thank you!

 

[DVMDream]

The simple and straightforward answer: Every school focuses on small animals. Anywhere you attend will be adequate and will teach plenty about small animals.

 

[orca2011]

Seconding DVM. However, if you have any Penn specific questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[deleted498041]

All the above answers are correct. I can answer any WesternU-specific questions.

 

[catnips]

Thank you all! I just thought that some schools may be more small animal focused because I read somewhere (Another thread on SDN) that "Tufts is %70 small animal". Looks like it won't be an issue for me at any school though.
I am trying to apply widely, so this helps.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Don't worry. You'll get small animal forced down your throat wherever you go.

In addition, the tracking at VMRCVM does not necessarily mean you take less food animal stuff than a school that does not track. Everyone still has to complete the same core courses and same core rotations which make up the bulk of the curriculum. If you are a small animal tracker, you take extra small animal stuff as a form of elective called a "track class" - usually only 1-2 classes a semester max. You take fewer food animal rotations in fourth year than a food animal person, obviously, but I doubt you take that much less than a non-tracking school.

If you have any specific VMRCVM questions, feel free to ask. I graduated in '10. Love the school (and the gorgeous little town in the mountains!) so I might be biased though, heh. I actually moved back here after residency I liked it so much 🙂

 

[WildZoo]

Hey everyone -

I will be applying to vet schools this year and I'm pretty set on doing small animal. I don't know how much education changes with each school, but I was wondering what are the some schools that are more small animal focused? I am interested in shelter med especially.

I know that I may have to do a required large animal/food animal rotation (that is, if I even get in of course!) and that most schools don't do tracking (I think only VMRCVM does) but I think some schools put less emphasis on food animal than others.

I am looking into applying to Cornell (IS), Tufts, VMRCVM, UPenn, Oklahoma State, Western, Wisconsin, and Midwestern. - but any suggestions welcome! I looked at "factors when picking a school" thread but most of these schools were not there.

I know rural areas will probably have more food animal too, so any input on what are some vet schools that are located in less rural areas? I am dragging my husband with me, and we both were pretty content to live in a city. With my stats, I don't have much of a choice so we will have to adapt but if given the option, we would prefer a more city like area. I know I should visit the schools and see for myself but I don't think I'll have the money to do so for each school.

Any input will be greatly appreciated! 🙂

Thank you!

If you're particularly interested in shelter med, I know UF has a certificate program in that area

 

[variegata]

You'll have to learn food/large animal regardless of where you go - you need that knowledge to pass your boards.

At Wisconsin, everyone takes the same classes for the first 3 years, then 4th year, there is tracking for rotations. Small animal trackers are required three large animal rotations (LA medicine, surgery and ambulatory).

 

[Gwenevre]

Purdue does tracking, but just like everyone else has said, you'll get a small animal education wherever you go, since you need it and large animal to pass your boards.

 

[catlady816]

Being one of the few veterinary schools in a large city, Penn's vet hospital gets a very large small animal case load compared to some other schools (I think in my interview they actually said the most). But UF is the only shelter certificate program I know of. Overall I think anywhere you go you'd get great small animal experience/education.

 

[KCgophervet]

UMN is smack in the middle of the Twin Cities - but also has a ton of parks and a barn/agri fields right on campus. Very odd mix of large city/rural feel. Also similar to UW-Mad in that we have most of the same classes 1st and 2nd year, then get a lot of elective options 3rd year and track for rotations 4th year.

 

[twelvetigers]

Oklahoma State is NOT in a big city. Not at all. But I bet you would survive. 😉

 

[catnips]

Oklahoma State is NOT in a big city. Not at all. But I bet you would survive. 😉

Oh yes, Oklahoma State has a nice OOS tuition though. I can definitely survive, especially if I'm gonna pay less. 🙂 And Oklahoma City is an hour away, right?

 

[catnips]

You'll have to learn food/large animal regardless of where you go - you need that knowledge to pass your boards.

At Wisconsin, everyone takes the same classes for the first 3 years, then 4th year, there is tracking for rotations. Small animal trackers are required three large animal rotations (LA medicine, surgery and ambulatory).

Yeah, definitely I am not against learning about large animals or anything, (I know it sounded like that) just was wondering if there are some schools where it's mostly large animal based with less small animal caseload or emphasis that I should avoid as some who wants to do small animal - but sounds like that is not the case anywhere anyway.

 

[BlackDog17]

Yeah, definitely I am not against learning about large animals or anything, (I know it sounded like that) just was wondering if there are some schools where it's mostly large animal based with less small animal caseload or emphasis that I should avoid as some who wants to do small animal - but sounds like that is not the case anywhere anyway.

Keep in mind that you may discover new interests in vet school too. The vast majority of upper year students that I know have changed their minds about what they want to specialize in since starting vet school. It's pretty common to have a story like "I came to vet school wanting to do X, then Y happened and now I'm pursuing a career in Z." So it's always good to keep an open mind and find a school that will give you plenty of opportunities in a variety of fields.

 

[catnips]

Don't worry. You'll get small animal forced down your throat wherever you go.

In addition, the tracking at VMRCVM does not necessarily mean you take less food animal stuff than a school that does not track. Everyone still has to complete the same core courses and same core rotations which make up the bulk of the curriculum. If you are a small animal tracker, you take extra small animal stuff as a form of elective called a "track class" - usually only 1-2 classes a semester max. You take fewer food animal rotations in fourth year than a food animal person, obviously, but I doubt you take that much less than a non-tracking school.

If you have any specific VMRCVM questions, feel free to ask. I graduated in '10. Love the school (and the gorgeous little town in the mountains!) so I might be biased though, heh. I actually moved back here after residency I liked it so much 🙂

Ahh Blacksburg! My sister actually lives around there but not in Blacksburg. I hated where she lived, and then I visited Blacksburg... It really is such a nice, gorgeous town. It seemed so different than all the surrounding towns. My GPA is a little low for VMRCVM (ok, a lot low) but I'm going to try. Maybe this year applicant pool will be a little less competitive, hey who knows

 

[catnips]

Keep in mind that you may discover new interests in vet school too. The vast majority of upper year students that I know have changed their minds about what they want to specialize in since starting vet school. It's pretty common to have a story like "I came to vet school wanting to do X, then Y happened and now I'm pursuing a career in Z." So it's always good to keep an open mind and find a school that will give you plenty of opportunities in a variety of fields.

That's true, you're right. Shadowing probably is not the same as actually being in it yourself - I should be more open minded. 🙂

 

[twelvetigers]

Oh yes, Oklahoma State has a nice OOS tuition though. I can definitely survive, especially if I'm gonna pay less. 🙂 And Oklahoma City is an hour away, right?

OKC or Tulsa, your choice. I think it's an okay place. You just get tired of the food or grocery shopping choices.

 

[Lissarae06]

OKC or Tulsa, your choice. I think it's an okay place. You just get tired of the food or grocery shopping choices.

The food is getting better IMO. Stillwater has this weird way of growing on you. You don't realize it though until it's time to leave. Even the OU grads in my class were talking about how they were going to miss it.

 

[StartingoverVet]

slightly OT...

but when I started at Penn, there were a TON of equine people (125 people in my class). Maybe not 1/2 but I would say at least 1/3 were equine.

The current graduating class only graduated 10 equine people... the rest all switched to Small animal. (there were also 10 food animal this year). That is pretty amazing.