tOSU vs CSU (both IS)

[foosballer]

Hello everybody! I can't believe that I am fortunate enough to be making this post. I have been living/working/everything in Colorado for the last two years, but I was born/raised in Ohio and got my undergraduate degree from Ohio State. I didn't realize this as I was going into the application process, but according to OSU's residency page, I qualify for in-state tuition simply because I graduated from an Ohio high school.
I enjoyed the time I spent in Columbus during my undergrad, but I was very ready to be out of there when I graduated. I moved to Colorado with the thought that I would eventually go to CSU for vet school. I love Colorado- easy access to hiking/backpacking/skiing, SO much sunnier- but my time here has made me appreciate things about my home state more that I used to take for granted- greenery, being close to family, and more lake festivities. I have only been up to Fort Collins a handful of times but it seems like a fun little city, upon my first couple of impressions it seems like I would enjoy living there more than I enjoyed living in Columbus.
I am still somewhat open as far as where I want my veterinary career to go, the majority of my experience is in small animal GP which I enjoy, but I'm also interested in mixed practice/equine medicine and conservation medicine. I've also thought about specializing, specifically in ophthalmology or neuro. So I'd love to be able to explore a bit! Here is my tentative pros/cons list:

OSU
Pros- closer to family (2.5 hr drive), Spectrum of Care Clinic/earlier hands-on experience, lower COL/COA, I have friends who attend the veterinary school/live in Columbus
Cons- Living in Columbus again

CSU
Pros- closer to the mountains/less seasonal depression, new VHEC building coming 2026?, new campus/city
Cons- Potential overlap with new VPA program?, clinical experience begins later

In general, I found it a little weird that CSU doesn't do interviews (I was told they don't have time to conduct them when I met with someone from their admissions). While I'm glad I didn't have to stress about another interview, it does seem like they don't value communication skills as much. Idk maybe that's a reach. I have also heard that CSU is great for specialty mentorship, but this is just hearsay so I didn't put it on the pros/cons list since I'm not sure how true it is. I planned to go to the admitted students' day for both schools. If you're currently a student at either, what are your thoughts? What do you love/hate about your school? Any input is super appreciated🙂

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[supershorty]

I have also heard that CSU is great for specialty mentorship, but this is just hearsay so I didn't put it on the pros/cons list since I'm not sure how true it is.

Any tertiary referral center is going to be fine on this front. CSU is certainly not special in that regard

You will get a great education at either program. Go to the one that's going to cost you less.

 

[pp9]

In general, I found it a little weird that CSU doesn't do interviews (I was told they don't have time to conduct them when I met with someone from their admissions). While I'm glad I didn't have to stress about another interview, it does seem like they don't value communication skills as much. Idk maybe that's a reach. I have also heard that CSU is great for specialty mentorship, but this is just hearsay so I didn't put it on the pros/cons list since I'm not sure how true it is. I planned to go to the admitted students' day for both schools. If you're currently a student at either, what are your thoughts? What do you love/hate about your school? Any input is super appreciated🙂

Yeah, any school with a teaching hospital is going to be able to offer you specialty mentorship to some degree.

As for interviews, several schools have done away with interviews or brought interviews back in the last several years. There are many reasons why a school does/does not do interviews. FWIW, I don't think most vet school interviews are all that in depth so I wouldn't assume CSU is missing out on something by not doing them.

You can do anything for four years, even live in Columbus again

 

[ks1034]

I'm a current first year at CSU. I really like it here so far (although hate that they're doing the vpa program). There is not going to be any overlap with the vpa program as dvm students. Most of their stuff will be online and their clinical experience will be at private clinics and shelters, not the VTH. I'm happy to answer any questions you have about CSU!