Things that surprised you during orientation ...

[ri23]

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So, over the past few days we have had orientation and gotten some information at OSU. They told us that this past year they received 999 applications, making the acceptance rate 14% (well I suppose the acceptance rate was a little higher as we probably took around 30 people off the alternate list), but still I was surprised with that number.

Also, how many of you took personality tests for orientation? We had a 3 hour session on it, which I thought was really interesting.

 

[pressmom]

This should probably get moved to the veterinary forum, but anyway, I think most vet schools do the personality test thing. I know we do here at UTK.

Also, thanks for making me feel special for getting in to OSU, even though I didn't go. It was a tough choice, and I hope you all enjoy it! It's a great school.

 

[spikey]

we did the personality test thing too.

the dean of Penn told us that we were chosen out of the largest applicant pool the school has seen yet. she said that our class has been dubbed "the class that Barbaro built." yay! 😀

 

[winterfire1203]

What surprise me about orientation was how long and painful it could be 🙂 We had personality talks, mental health talks, study habit talks, diversity talks, and one full day of leadership and cooperation training at a camp! It was definitely interesting....

 

[rosemma]

What does the personality test consist of?

 

[sofficat]

i thought the personality test was stupid. i have taken the same one 4 times since high school. you answer mult choice questions and they are basically the same 4 questions repeated 50 times.
for ex- when you go to a party are you usually... outgoing or reserved?
when you are around many people you usually.... talk to everyone or stay with a small group?
when you are planning for something you..... write it out step by step or wing it?
are you usually.... spontaneous or systematic?
(get the idea?)

after you answer a ton of those it 'tells you' what personality type you are.

personally, i hate those. maybe it's because i have done them so much and i don't think a test should tell me what personality i am. just my thoughts on it. *post disclaimer- some people love them and think they are very useful and i'm sure they can be*

 

[ri23]

I'm assuming you did the Myers-Briggs test sofficat? I took that one a great deal in high school also. For vet school we did the DiSC personality test (I know that is the one Penn does also). I thought it was better than M-B and I think they are very helpful in relating to people. For anyone at Penn - did Dr. Harcha give a lecture about your test this year or was that only last year?

 

[Catnip]

What does the personality test consist of?

I can't speak for the other schools, but the personality test we had to take at WSU was the Myers Briggs assessment.

 

[AuburnPreVet]

i thought the personality test was stupid.

Amen, sister. Biggest waste of time. A true BS-festival.

 

[Emio]

I'm assuming you did the Myers-Briggs test sofficat? I took that one a great deal in high school also. For vet school we did the DiSC personality test (I know that is the one Penn does also). I thought it was better than M-B and I think they are very helpful in relating to people. For anyone at Penn - did Dr. Harcha give a lecture about your test this year or was that only last year?

no, it was a Hill's rep. go figure 🙄

 

[sofficat]

I'm assuming you did the Myers-Briggs test sofficat?

yes

 

[david594]

Amen, sister. Biggest waste of time. A true BS-festival.

Myers Briggs is far from BS. It can be a very powerful tool. If you learn it and understand it, it will help you better gain a better read on the people you are interacting with. From there you can then make better choices on how you deal with them, guide your interactions in such a way that the other person will be most comfortable or most satisfied with the outcome.

Its uses are best seen in people who do sales or consulting work. It helps you to tell people what they want to hear and more so how they want to hear it.

 

[AuburnPreVet]

At this stage in the game, if MBs tells you anything about yourself that you didn't already know about yourself... whew...

I don't disagree -- I'm sure it has some useful applications... vet school orientation simply isn't one of them, in my opinion. As much as time is an issue in vet school - I personally can't justify the couple of hours we spent taking/interpreting our MBs.

 

[ri23]

no, it was a Hill's rep. go figure 🙄

Dr. Harcha actually just stopped working for Hill's and now she is at OSU, so it still may have been her.

 

[sofficat]

At this stage in the game, if MBs tells you anything about yourself that you didn't already know about yourself... whew...

I don't disagree -- I'm sure it has some useful applications... vet school orientation simply isn't one of them, in my opinion. As much as time is an issue in vet school - I personally can't justify the couple of hours we spent taking/interpreting our MBs.

amen, sister 😉

 

[ri23]

At this stage in the game, if MBs tells you anything about yourself that you didn't already know about yourself... whew...

I don't disagree -- I'm sure it has some useful applications... vet school orientation simply isn't one of them, in my opinion. As much as time is an issue in vet school - I personally can't justify the couple of hours we spent taking/interpreting our MBs.

I disagree. In my opinion, on of the largest factors influencing a person's success is their ability to interact with other people. By understanding how people perceive interactions you will better be able to relate and alter your communication method to be best perceived by colleagues/clients. A large part of personality tests (more DiSC, but MB to an extent) is not to learn about your own personality, but to see the differences in your personality and those of other people. Everyone processes information differently and has different preferences for interacting with other people. Whether you like it or not, no matter how good of a vet you may become you aren't going to have a large client base unless you are well liked. The best way to develop a good rapport with clients is to communicate with them in a manner that they prefer (be brief/to the point with some clients, go in to great detail with others etc). I think many people in these types of health programs are so focused on getting into professional school that they don't develop proper social skills or they don't see the value in taking some time to develop a skill that will no doubt be invaluable later in life, and that really is a shame.

 

[Sweetcaroline14]

I disagree. In my opinion, on of the largest factors influencing a person's success is their ability to interact with other people. By understanding how people perceive interactions you will better be able to relate and alter your communication method to be best perceived by colleagues/clients. A large part of personality tests (more DiSC, but MB to an extent) is not to learn about your own personality, but to see the differences in your personality and those of other people. Everyone processes information differently and has different preferences for interacting with other people. Whether you like it or not, no matter how good of a vet you may become you aren't going to have a large client base unless you are well liked. The best way to develop a good rapport with clients is to communicate with them in a manner that they prefer (be brief/to the point with some clients, go in to great detail with others etc). I think many people in these types of health programs are so focused on getting into professional school that they don't develop proper social skills or they don't see the value in taking some time to develop a skill that will no doubt be invaluable later in life, and that really is a shame.

How right you are! 🙂

 

[RemyRipper315]

Dr. Harcha actually just stopped working for Hill's and now she is at OSU, so it still may have been her.

Nope, we had a blonde, german guy... so, definately wasnt her! I think he said he was from Columbus though and he has a long-haired weimaraner!

 

[GallopRealyFast]

So thats what you spend $40,000 a year on?? Personality quizzes....

j/k I guess its to lighten the mood of what you are about to get yourself into for the next four years.

 

[ri23]

Nope, we had a blonde, german guy... so, definately wasnt her! I think he said he was from Columbus though and he has a long-haired weimaraner!

Oh yeah, he actually took Dr. Harcha's place so he came to ours too.

 

[sofficat]

i don't really think personality quizzes are going to teach me that when i have a new client walk thru the door i am going to treat him like a "INJB" because i can tell that is what he is.
(extreme example but i'm trying to make a point)
personality quizzes don't teach you how to interact with others... interacting with others teaches you how to interact with others.
we are vets.... we are kinda smart and we know that we can't approach every client the same way. however, i know that not because of a personality test but because i have been working in the vet field for many years and i have learned that (and b/c it is common sense...). i did not take the disc test, only the mb, so i am talking mainly about that.
(i got your back auburnprevet!)

 

[Emio]

i don't really think personality quizzes are going to teach me that when i have a new client walk thru the door i am going to treat him like a "INJB" because i can tell that is what he is.
(extreme example but i'm trying to make a point)
personality quizzes don't teach you how to interact with others... interacting with others teaches you how to interact with others.
we are vets.... we are kinda smart and we know that we can't approach every client the same way. however, i know that not because of a personality test but because i have been working in the vet field for many years and i have learned that (and b/c it is common sense...). i did not take the disc test, only the mb, so i am talking mainly about that.
(i got your back auburnprevet!)

the DiSC profile was very inter-relationally focused. i kinda got a kick out of it. and it could be just me, but you couldn't convince me that vets aren't notorious for their *lack* of interpersonal skills.

ri23, i hope you didn't think i was rolling my eyes at you. it struck me as funny that some guy from a pet food company was telling me that my personality was quite similar to the current president's. oh please. 🙄

 

[ri23]

the DiSC profile was very inter-relationally focused. i kinda got a kick out of it. and it could be just me, but you couldn't convince me that vets aren't notorious for their *lack* of interpersonal skills.

ri23, i hope you didn't think i was rolling my eyes at you. it struck me as funny that some guy from a pet food company was telling me that my personality was quite similar to the current president's. oh please. 🙄

Haha, not a problem, I actually didn't think that. What personality type are you and the president?

 

[Emio]

haha... 'D', and i guess it didn't stand for democrat. i think it was 'dominant'?