Tennessee vs Illinois

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anthonymendoza132

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Hello! I have been accepted to both Tennessee and Illinois vet schools! I am very grateful for this but it is a very hard decision for me.
The only reason why I am leaning towards Illinois is because I have instate tuition so I will save a lot of money. Tennessee OOS tuition is very expensive.
I did like the large and small animal facilities better at Tennessee compared to Illinois when I visited both schools. Idk they just looked nicer to me.
I do like the town of Knoxville better than Urbana Champaign. I love to hike and observe nature and Knoxville has lots of outdoor activities for when I need a mental break from school lol.
I do not like the grading and ranking system of Illinois either, I’ve read current students complain about that on SDN
I would like to know how much the COL is in Urbana-Champaign compared to Knoxville if anyone can help me with that. Also any other information like the curriculum first and second year would be helpful.
 
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Illinois second year! I answered your specific points below

anthonymendoza132 said:
I did like the large and small animal facilities better at Tennessee compared to Illinois when I visited both schools. Idk they just looked nicer to me.
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I honestly wouldn't be able to give you a fair comparison because I have never been to Tennessee's school. But I can tell you that Illinois is slowly but surely updating their teaching hospital, it just takes some time. Tbh, class of 2023 is going to probably the first class in a while that won't have to deal with major construction.

We're currently in the process of building a linear accelerator for our oncology department that should finish up late spring/early summer. Then they will be starting on improving small animal surgery. We'll be going from 3 to 5 surgery suits with a revamped anesthesia prep and recovery set up and possibly imaging modalities in surgery itself. The ER/ICU is ~50% through its remodel. They're going to be building a student gym here soon. Our new building on Hazelwood (dubbed the South Clinic) is being revamped from an engineering building to house our wildlife medical clinic to the specifications of our clinicians (done), the shelter medicine program (on going), and eventually house other services, possibly more out patient sort of stuff.

Construction that's happened in the last few years: new classrooms, 2016; new library, 2017; new roof of the teaching hospital, 2016/7; wildlife medical clinic, 2018; MRI, 2016; iFlex classrooms (2), 2017; anatomy lab updates, 2016; new cardiology ward, 2017; new pharmacy, 2018

They have a lot they want to do, it's literally just a waiting game as they get through everything. The state government had a budget issue a few years ago that the school had to grapple with as well, so that didn't help much.

anthonymendoza132 said:
I love to hike and observe nature and Knoxville has lots of outdoor activities for when I need a mental break from school lol.
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While there's not a ton of this immediately in Chambana, there's areas around that can definitely help scratch that itch. There are a few university owned parks (Allerton) and state parks within 1-2 hours of the school. The first and second years historically have gone on a skiing trip together during third quarter up in Wisconsin (4ish hours). There's also a lot of smaller park areas that are great little trails in town as well.

anthonymendoza132 said:
I do not like the grading and ranking system of Illinois either, I’ve read current students complain about that on SDN
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Lolololol. This is my biggest con for sure. There's not much of a silver lining to this for me, actually. I know I've complained about it.

The only thing I'll say is that our actual class ranking doesn't seem to actually be that different from other schools in the grand scheme of how it works out. Our GPAs don't really mean anything, so they rank us by our percentage rather than GPA. So two people could have 3.0s, but one can be ranked way higher because they have an 88% versus someone with an 82%.

anthonymendoza132 said:
I would like to know how much the COL is in Urbana-Champaign
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I take out 1000/month in cost of living loans (no living soul other than plants depend on me) and try to work ~10 hours per week and have had 0 issues making ends meet. My current rent is 565 and would be comfortable up to 650 max. I spend probably 120-150 on groceries/eating out. Gas is probably 40/month max unless I happen to be traveling farther than in town. I probably spend 50 or so a month on "for funsies" stuff.

anthonymendoza132 said:
curriculum first and second year would be helpful.
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First year here is what's normal across species (dogs, horses, cows as the main core models), second year is pathobiology, and third year is medicine and surgery. Overall, I like how it's structured in that regard. First year anatomy is the hardest part to me by far. The worst quarter, however, is first quarter of second year (so far lol).
 
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Hi. Tennessee 3rd year here. I am putting a BIG GIANT DISCLAIMER HERE that I absolutely think you should go to your in state. On average OOS students graduate from here with $250k in debt. I love my school, but it is not worth that when you have other options.

Sounds like based on what bats said, COL is about the same in Knoxville, maybe a little higher? I lived by myself for ~$700 a month. With roommates you could easily get under $500. I'm terrible at keeping track of budget things so couldn't really tell you much else...
 
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WildZoo said:
Hi. Tennessee 3rd year here. I am putting a BIG GIANT DISCLAIMER HERE that I absolutely think you should go to your in state. On average OOS students graduate from here with $250k in debt. I love my school, but it is not worth that when you have other options.

Sounds like based on what bats said, COL is about the same in Knoxville, maybe a little higher? I lived by myself for ~$700 a month. With roommates you could easily get under $500. I'm terrible at keeping track of budget things so couldn't really tell you much else...
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Useless. 😛
 
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WildZoo said:
Sounds like based on what bats said, COL is about the same in Knoxville, maybe a little higher? I lived by myself for ~$700 a month. With roommates you could easily get under $500. I'm terrible at keeping track of budget things so couldn't really tell you much else...
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You likely could live on less here too, depending on where you live and how many people you live with/if utilities are included or not. I know at least one place includes water/sewer/trash/internet for ~475 per person in a 3br apartment.
Just a quick look on Zillow nearish me (so not riiight next to the school and undergrads), there’s a handful of 2 br for <800 and even some 3 br for ~900-950 (and they don’t look like rundown houses that are going to fall apart, but they only have like 1 bathroom so that’s the tradeoff)
 
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battie said:
Bring it.
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I was gonna, but I literally can't bring myself to talk my school up to someone who has an in-state option unless they ask me specific questions :laugh:
 
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SkiOtter said:
ITS TWO AGAINST HALF OF ONE. I THINK WE CAN TAKE HER.
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Half of... LISTEN HERE JUST BECAUSE I'M SHORT DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT A WHOLE PERSON
 
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battie said:
Second shortest person in the family! One cousin is a quarter inch shorter!
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As far as I know I'm the shortest in mine and it's really not even close 😳
 
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WildZoo said:
5'

Tell that to my still-recovering liver. @SportPonies knows.
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I saw this tag and thought you were inviting me here to fight you over school choices.

I much prefer this option.


battie said:
We're the same height!!!
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Why do you look the same height as me in all the vetprom pictures? I was pondering this yesterday on snap. :thinking:
 
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SportPonies said:
I saw this tag and thought you were inviting me here to fight you over school choices.

I much prefer this option.
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I considered it but

WildZoo said:
I was gonna, but I literally can't bring myself to talk my school up to someone who has an in-state option unless they ask me specific questions :laugh:
Click to expand...
 
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SkiOtter said:
You likely could live on less here too, depending on where you live and how many people you live with/if utilities are included or not. I know at least one place includes water/sewer/trash/internet for ~475 per person in a 3br apartment.
Just a quick look on Zillow nearish me (so not riiight next to the school and undergrads), there’s a handful of 2 br for <800 and even some 3 br for ~900-950 (and they don’t look like rundown houses that are going to fall apart, but they only have like 1 bathroom so that’s the tradeoff)
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@anthonymendoza132 Allow me to piece this thread back together from the chaos that all my lovely friends have caused.

I think the place Ski is referencing in this quote is where I stay. It was also much cheaper a year ago (I'm paying $427/month right now, but that'll be going up when the new cycle starts). If you have any specific roommate-inclusive housing questions, I can do my best to answer those. Or any specific Illinois questions in general, tbh. Bats and Ski just usually beat me to that until someone tags me to join the party.
 
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SportPonies said:
I saw this tag and thought you were inviting me here to fight you over school choices.

I much prefer this option.



Why do you look the same height as me in all the vetprom pictures? I was pondering this yesterday on snap. :thinking:
Click to expand...

I was wearing my favorite pair of shoes.
 
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Cobyology said:
I was wondering how this thread had 28 replies... I now see how. And for the record, 6'5" here.
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I like the idea of people coming in here expecting a heated debate between Tennessee and Illinois students, and finding this nonsense instead :laugh:
 
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