Tufts vs. VA-MD

[greengaal]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey everyone, I haven't posted much at all here, but I'm hoping to change that starting now. Anyway, I have a question concerning the pros and cons of Tufts and VA-MD for vet school, and I'm hoping you guys could help me out with any information or advice you have. This is very long winded but I wanted to lay it all down right off the bat!

My situation: I am currently accepted to Tufts, but just received an interview offer from VA-MD, with interviews coming up very soon. I visited the campus, and really liked the area of the main vet school at VTech, as well as the surrounding town. I do not know much about the program, as I haven't had a chance to speak with any current or past students or find any relevant threads on Student Doctor so far (I probably missed something).

However, I really loved Massachusetts, and have a pretty extensive knowledge of what Tufts has to offer. I am interested in Large/Farm animal medicine with the possibility of becoming involved in public health research in one way or another in the future. Also, I believe both schools have similar costs for tuition and living if I'm not mistaken, so that's not a variable.

The problem arises with the fact that I am extremely limited in my funds and would be spending quite a bit of money traveling from my home in California to Virginia at such short notice, so money is a big issue. Basically, I want to know if I would be interested potentially attending VA-MD over Tufts (or vice versa) in the event I am admitted after the interview. I would love to have options, but not if I will eventually realize my decision lay with Tufts the entire time and I used vital resources in the process.

So in that light, do any of you have any opinions comparing the two schools? Personal experiences or knowledge of the pros and cons of each program in terms of Farm and Large animal medicine? Or simply whether or not I should just interview anyway due to the fact that I could change my mind in the future after visiting the school? Any discussion on the issue would be greatly appreciated! I am still waiting on other schools at the moment for decisions (UC Davis and Cornell) but in the event those fall through, well I like to plan ahead.

P.S.: I am not expecting to have the decision made for me in any way, just want to pick the brains of the brilliant people on this board.

 

[Ashgirl]

Hey everyone, I haven't posted much at all here, but I'm hoping to change that starting now. Anyway, I have a question concerning the pros and cons of Tufts and VA-MD for vet school, and I'm hoping you guys could help me out with any information or advice you have. This is very long winded but I wanted to lay it all down right off the bat!

My situation: I am currently accepted to Tufts, but just received an interview offer from VA-MD, with interviews coming up very soon. I visited the campus, and really liked the area of the main vet school at VTech, as well as the surrounding town. I do not know much about the program, as I haven't had a chance to speak with any current or past students or find any relevant threads on Student Doctor so far (I probably missed something).

However, I really loved Massachusetts, and have a pretty extensive knowledge of what Tufts has to offer. I am interested in Large/Farm animal medicine with the possibility of becoming involved in public health research in one way or another in the future. Also, I believe both schools have similar costs for tuition and living if I'm not mistaken, so that's not a variable.

The problem arises with the fact that I am extremely limited in my funds and would be spending quite a bit of money traveling from my home in California to Virginia at such short notice, so money is a big issue. Basically, I want to know if I would be interested potentially attending VA-MD over Tufts (or vice versa) in the event I am admitted after the interview. I would love to have options, but not if I will eventually realize my decision lay with Tufts the entire time and I used vital resources in the process.

So in that light, do any of you have any opinions comparing the two schools? Personal experiences or knowledge of the pros and cons of each program in terms of Farm and Large animal medicine? Or simply whether or not I should just interview anyway due to the fact that I could change my mind in the future after visiting the school? Any discussion on the issue would be greatly appreciated! I am still waiting on other schools at the moment for decisions (UC Davis and Cornell) but in the event those fall through, well I like to plan ahead.

P.S.: I am not expecting to have the decision made for me in any way, just want to pick the brains of the brilliant people on this board.

Pertaining to the bolded, I honestly think there is only one person who can say if you would be interested in attending VA-MD over Tufts, and that person is you. What I liked in a school you might liked something else and etc. I think it might become more clear after you interview, and of course ask lots of questions when you are there. Otherwise, keep in mind that basically every accredited school will give you a great education so try not to stress about it too much. 🙂

 

[Cephal0pod]

Hm, I see your conundrum. A last minute venture to the other side of the country is indeed a pricey affair.

Somewhere around here there is a thread full of pros and cons for different schools, let me see if I can dig it up.

Edit: Found it! Here it is:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/factors-when-picking-a-school.580221/

If you can swing it, my inclination would be to go interview and check out the school to see what you think. However, if you already have an acceptance at a school you would be happy to attend and would rather not drop the $$$, I don't think that would be unreasonable at all.

 

[greengaal]

Pertaining to the bolded, I honestly think there is only one person who can say if you would be interested in attending VA-MD over Tufts, and that person is you. What I liked in a school you might liked something else and etc. I think it might become more clear after you interview, and of course ask lots of questions when you are there. Otherwise, keep in mind that basically every accredited school will give you a great education so try not to stress about it too much. 🙂

Yea you're definitely right. I'm hoping that maybe I can just get some insight on different aspects from people with more than my zero experience. However you're right! I appreciate the advice.

Hm, I see your conundrum. A last minute venture to the other side of the country is indeed a pricey affair.

Somewhere around here there is a thread full of pros and cons for different schools, let me see if I can dig it up.

Edit: Found it! Here it is:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/factors-when-picking-a-school.580221/

If you can swing it, my inclination would be to go interview and check out the school to see what you think. However, if you already have an acceptance at a school you would be happy to attend and would rather not drop the $$$, I don't think that would be unreasonable at all.

Ok cool! Thanks for pulling that up, I'll poke around there. And it's good to have some reinforcement with the money sentiment haha. I'll just have to sit down and think about it some more I suppose.

 

[pugl0ver]

Hey! I don't know if this'll help you with your decision, but I'll throw in my two cents about what I've heard about VA-MD from Dr. Pelzer when she visited our pre-vet club. They're changing the way the school will be run in the Fall, which means c/o 2020 will be the guinea pigs. They're changing their program so that students begin clinical rotations after two years of classes, which sounds like you'll be able to get a lot more hands-on knowledge.

However, if money is a big issue, I'll pass on what some vets have told me in the past: a DVM is a DVM. If you're already leaning towards Tufts, you might not want to drop all the money for another interview. Either way, I'm positive that you'll be happy at whatever school you decide to go to! 🙂

 

[Cephal0pod]

Ok cool! Thanks for pulling that up, I'll poke around there. And it's good to have some reinforcement with the money sentiment haha. I'll just have to sit down and think about it some more I suppose.

Sure thing! Pro tip: on page 11 of that thread, the ever wonderful @batsenecal posted a massive Word doc compilation of pretty much all of the feedback people had shared regarding their schools. 👍

 

[shortnsweet]

They're changing the way the school will be run in the Fall, which means c/o 2020 will be the guinea pigs. They're changing their program so that students begin clinical rotations after two years of classes, which sounds like you'll be able to get a lot more hands-on knowledge.

Works really well for Missouri. I felt those students were super prepared at the end of two years of clinics.

 

[oldfarrier]

I believe both schools have similar costs for tuition and living if I'm not mistaken, so that's not a variable.

You may want to double check that. VA tuition is a little cheaper but the cost of living in Blacksburg vs Grantham is significantly favoring Blacksburg.
http://www.vinfoundation.org/apputil/project/defaultadv1.aspx?id=5327182&said=-1

 

[deleted387118]

Works really well for Missouri. I felt those students were super prepared at the end of two years of clinics.

My understanding is Mizzou does a full two years of clinical studies. VMCVM is not doing that. One year of clinicals with lecture and vacation time in the middle.

It's hard to say exactly what will change but I went to vet school at KState and am interning at VMCVM now and the foodies at VMCVM had way more hands on experience opportunities through the school than I had... Makes me jealous some days 🙂

 

[shortnsweet]

My understanding is Mizzou does a full two years of clinical studies. VMCVM is not doing that. One year of clinicals with lecture and vacation time in the middle.

It's hard to say exactly what will change but I went to vet school at KState and am interning at VMCVM now and the foodies at VMCVM had way more hands on experience opportunities through the school than I had... Makes me jealous some days 🙂

Ah I was just going off of what they said above about the change to VA-MD, I didn't actually look into it. Yes Missouri does October 3rd year-May 4th year of clinicals.

K-state Ag is a bit slow compared to some other places which limits the hands-on experience, but they are trying to fix that with new faculty hires etc.!

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

I don't know anything about Tufts, but I loved our foodie people at VMCVM. All the clinicians are fantastic. Good caseload and exposure...I actually tracked public/corporate but took food animal classes as electives plus an extra foodie rotation fourth year. Loved it. Nice balance of beef, dairy, plus small ruminant, some camelid. All of my classmates who went food animal are doing well.