University of Minnesota c/o 2018 Applicants!

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sblove17 said:
You can wear whatever! The facility is really clean and you walk outside for all of 30 seconds to go see the stable (which is also clean). No muck 🙂

OMG I LOVE THIS SCHOOL.
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Thanks so much!! I'm glad to hear you like the school. Hope your interview goes/went well! 😀
 
I tried searching for this in various ways but was unsuccessful. Feel free to point me in the right direction if the answer is already on here, though.

Is PBL used at all in the first two years? I know some schools use this approach for most coursework while some use it only in once weekly seminar type courses, but I can't seem to find any info about it at UMN.
 
Smudgen said:
I tried searching for this in various ways but was unsuccessful. Feel free to point me in the right direction if the answer is already on here, though.

Is PBL used at all in the first two years? I know some schools use this approach for most coursework while some use it only in once weekly seminar type courses, but I can't seem to find any info about it at UMN.
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Some!

There is a new course here that is mixed first- and second-year students (when first introduced it included third years, but now it's just 1st/2nd) that is purely a series of cases. You get the case assigned one week, work it up and pick your diagnostics and then discuss the case the next week. With the new collaborative learning classroom, I'm told that various classes are working at implementing more team-based PBL, but I think it's more of a work-in-progress.

I think the best way to characterize it is that we are not anywhere near a PBL curriculum, but we are incorporating it sporadically in the curriculum at various points.

Third year has had a fair bit of PBL for a while; I have a dermatology class this semester that is entirely PBL, two urinary classes that are PBL, and then a "Small Animal Problems" course that's completely PBL as well. So you get a fair bit of it right before being sent off into clinics. It's still majority traditional lecture-based, even in this semester, but there is some PBL.
 
LetItSnow said:
Some!

There is a new course here that is mixed first- and second-year students (when first introduced it included third years, but now it's just 1st/2nd) that is purely a series of cases. You get the case assigned one week, work it up and pick your diagnostics and then discuss the case the next week. With the new collaborative learning classroom, I'm told that various classes are working at implementing more team-based PBL, but I think it's more of a work-in-progress.

I think the best way to characterize it is that we are not anywhere near a PBL curriculum, but we are incorporating it sporadically in the curriculum at various points.

Third year has had a fair bit of PBL for a while; I have a dermatology class this semester that is entirely PBL, two urinary classes that are PBL, and then a "Small Animal Problems" course that's completely PBL as well. So you get a fair bit of it right before being sent off into clinics. It's still majority traditional lecture-based, even in this semester, but there is some PBL.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you. Only 5 days until I get to experience the legendary Minnesota cold... :cold:
 
Successfully got my interview date adjusted from February 7th to February 14th. That was surprisingly easy! Looks like I'll be venturing off to the Arctic north after all :cold:
 
How did interviews go this past weekend? How did you guys like the campus? 🙂
 
Declining my interview for 2/14. Hope somebody gets my spot! Good luck to everyone who has yet to interview!
 
TheComfyCat said:
How did interviews go this past weekend? How did you guys like the campus? 🙂
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I absolutely LOVED the campus, curriculum, and everyone who helped out! My advice in the interview is don't be afraid to pause and think about what you want to say instead of blurting out what first comes to mind. My interviewers were very nice and did not mind at all for me to take some time to get my thoughts together. Good luck to everyone in the next two weekends!
 
Smudgen said:
I tried searching for this in various ways but was unsuccessful. Feel free to point me in the right direction if the answer is already on here, though.

Is PBL used at all in the first two years? I know some schools use this approach for most coursework while some use it only in once weekly seminar type courses, but I can't seem to find any info about it at UMN.
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I will also give my input as a member of the class of new curriculum guinea pigs. We haven't really had true PBL in first year, but we have done group discussions/problem solving type activities to augment our lecture learning (not necessarily true PBL, but helpful at understanding the information nonetheless). We do a decent amount of active learning, which is sort of a broader term that includes PBL type activities as well as other activities involving groups and fancy TV screens you can hook your computers up to and white boards and microscope cameras, etc all within our new active learning classroom. It was a major part of our physiology and microanatomy courses last semester, and we did a little bit of it in other classes too. They've also incorporated it into at least two of our classes this semester. I know they're really pushing to incorporate more of it into the new curriculum as it rolls out over the next few years, and they're always trying to get our input on what we've liked and didn't like, etc, and at least within my active learning group, we've all said we want more!
 
dovelover said:
I will also give my input as a member of the class of new curriculum guinea pigs. We haven't really had true PBL in first year, but we have done group discussions/problem solving type activities to augment our lecture learning (not necessarily true PBL, but helpful at understanding the information nonetheless). We do a decent amount of active learning, which is sort of a broader term that includes PBL type activities as well as other activities involving groups and fancy TV screens you can hook your computers up to and white boards and microscope cameras, etc all within our new active learning classroom. It was a major part of our physiology and microanatomy courses last semester, and we did a little bit of it in other classes too. They've also incorporated it into at least two of our classes this semester. I know they're really pushing to incorporate more of it into the new curriculum as it rolls out over the next few years, and they're always trying to get our input on what we've liked and didn't like, etc, and at least within my active learning group, we've all said we want more!
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Thank you as well! I like what I'm hearing from you guys. It sounds like the faculty/admin are pretty responsive and supportive. If only they'd lower the tuition, right?
 
Smudgen said:
Thank you as well! I like what I'm hearing from you guys. It sounds like the faculty/admin are pretty responsive and supportive. If only they'd lower the tuition, right?
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Hahaha...if only...I changed my interview time/date almost last-minute, but since I've gotten two acceptances so far, I'm now seriously debating whether or not I'm gonna make it...OOS tuition is a huge deterrent...
 
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Did anyone do the math to figure out how many IS and OOS folks got interviews? I was too nervous & forgot to count up how many were interviewing last week on my interview day. Would love to know a solid guesstimate if anyone has it
 
Seriously I've tried to fathom how they can charge so much for OOS, while making it so difficult to obtain in-state residency. Can't really come up with any solutions. I'm so excited about this program and excited to interview, but the resentment is strong in this one...
 
Good luck with interviews this week/weekend! Seems like a lot of SDN people will be there (not me, though. I'll be there the 14th-15th).
 
I'm using tonight to prepare more for my interview. But my Biochem homework is due tomorrow, and my interview is early so I have to wake up early....what to do, what to do...
 
Gluffalo said:
I'll look for the person who loves doves on my tour tomorrow...
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ha I won't be there tomorrow, it's Saturday! I'm not crazy enough to be at school on a Saturday unless I have an anatomy exam coming up. Well, except for the ten minutes or so that I actually will be there in the afternoon bringing clothing sale stuff back from the MVMA conference, but that doesn't really count...
 
dovelover said:
ha I won't be there tomorrow, it's Saturday! I'm not crazy enough to be at school on a Saturday unless I have an anatomy exam coming up. Well, except for the ten minutes or so that I actually will be there in the afternoon bringing clothing sale stuff back from the MVMA conference, but that doesn't really count...
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Ahem. Some of us, you know, WORK in the hospital. I'm not there because I'm crazy.

Well. Ok. Maybe I am.
 
LetItSnow said:
Ahem. Some of us, you know, WORK in the hospital. I'm not there because I'm crazy.

Well. Ok. Maybe I am.
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haha can I just say how funny it is to see everyone's avatar switched to my little ponies 🤣

@98cats also super glad to be done with the interviews! now i can relax on the tours and other stuff
 
DoctorToby said:
haha can I just say how funny it is to see everyone's avatar switched to my little ponies 🤣

@98cats also super glad to be done with the interviews! now i can relax on the tours and other stuff
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I like this a million times. Soooo glad I can now relax. (In a way. Now we wait.)
 
98cats said:
I like this a million times. Soooo glad I can now relax. (In a way. Now we wait.)
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LOL i love how we are lurking on SDN to kill time before the equine center thingy hahahaha


edit:

some one take this computer away from me... i have a problem haha
 
DoctorToby said:
LOL i love how we are lurking on SDN to kill time before the equine center thingy hahahaha


edit:

some one take this computer away from me... i have a problem haha
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Haha omg. I'm eating alone at an Applebee's because I was sick of sitting in my hotel room watching '90 Days Fiancée'.
 
DoctorToby said:
LOL i love how we are lurking on SDN to kill time before the equine center thingy hahahaha


edit:

some one take this computer away from me... i have a problem haha
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Hah yeah I'm just sitting in the interview building while I wait. Been walking around campus all day
 
98cats said:
Haha omg. I'm eating alone at an Applebee's because I was sick of sitting in my hotel room watching '90 Days Fiancée'.
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haha im just hanging out in my aunts work waiting for her to be done, so im in this conference room the SDN access and loads of free time! hahaha
" 90 days fiancee" 😵 sounds like a blockbuster to me .
 
DoctorToby said:
haha im just hanging out in my aunts work waiting for her to be done, so im in this conference room the SDN access and loads of free time! hahaha
" 90 days fiancee" 😵 sounds like a blockbuster to me .
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Must be. I watched 4 hours of it. -_-
 
Gluffalo said:
Hah yeah I'm just sitting in the interview building while I wait. Been walking around campus all day
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aww i wanted to do that! I haven't really seen the campus yet... although, it is freezing outdoors . I hope youve been exploring the insides of buildings!
 
DoctorToby said:
aww i wanted to do that! I haven't really seen the campus yet... although, it is freezing outdoors . I hope youve been exploring the insides of buildings!
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Yeah, most of us don't really ever go anywhere other than the vet school buildings, and maybe occasionally the St. Paul Student Center, so really no need to brave the cold to see anything else. Although if you have a car and some extra time, I highly suggest driving around the areas near campus to get a feel for areas you might want to live when you all come to school here next year 😉 A lot of us live in Roseville, so that's a good place to go to get a feel for things.

By the way, I think you all need to go get yourselves a drink tonight and calm down! You're making ME anxious reading your posts...
 
DoctorToby said:
aww i wanted to do that! I haven't really seen the campus yet... although, it is freezing outdoors . I hope youve been exploring the insides of buildings!
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I must be some sort of freak of nature, I actually like the cold and didn't really think it was that bad....

That or I just know how to dress warm. Long johns FTW

dovelover said:
Yeah, most of us don't really ever go anywhere other than the vet school buildings, and maybe occasionally the St. Paul Student Center, so really no need to brave the cold to see anything else. Although if you have a car and some extra time, I highly suggest driving around the areas near campus to get a feel for areas you might want to live when you all come to school here next year 😉 A lot of us live in Roseville, so that's a good place to go to get a feel for things.

By the way, I think you all need to go get yourselves a drink tonight and calm down! You're making ME anxious reading your posts...
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En route to the hotel bar haha. Although I'm REALLY comfortable in interviews, I've been cool as a cucumber pretty much all day.
 
Gluffalo said:
I must be some sort of freak of nature, I actually like the cold and didn't really think it was that bad....

That or I just know how to dress warm. Long johns FTW



En route to the hotel bar haha. Although I'm REALLY comfortable in interviews, I've been cool as a cucumber pretty much all day.
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Haha not to be weird or anything but i totally saw you at the equestrian center thingy cause i recognized you from your avatar pic, but i had my aunt with me so i felt like i couldnt linger and mingle ( even though she prob didnt care) with all the students, so i asked our tour guide a few questions then left :/
Ill say hi tommorow lol
 
Well all, it's been a fun ride on this thread, but I've decided to decline my interview offer for next weekend. 🙁 I hope someone else gets my spot.

Minnesota was definitely high on my list, but the OOS tuition doesn't justify it in my mind. I've gotten a couple acceptances already and still have a few other schools to hear from. But Minnesota seems like an amazing place, and I would definitely consider it for a post-DVM career.

All the best with everyone interviewing OOS!
 
DoctorToby said:
Haha not to be weird or anything but i totally saw you at the equestrian center thingy cause i recognized you from your avatar pic, but i had my aunt with me so i felt like i couldnt linger and mingle ( even though she prob didnt care) with all the students, so i asked our tour guide a few questions then left :/
Ill say hi tommorow lol
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Please do!
 
How did you guys like the equestrian center? I'm going to miss the tour next week, since my flight won't get in on time.
 
98cats said:
I really liked it. 🙂
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Agreed. It's the first school that's really clicked with me in every regard. Also, sorry we didn't have as much time to chat as I'd like! Good luck with your other persuits!
 
Gluffalo said:
Agreed. It's the first school that's really clicked with me in every regard. Also, sorry we didn't have as much time to chat as I'd like! Good luck with your other persuits!
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I was kind of disappointed with the main tour of the school and hospital actually. In my tour of WSU, it was a lot more exciting and they showed us a lot more than they did here. Also my tour guide never looked me in the eye, only the other people in my group. Haha. Even so, I really liked it here in general.

Hey it's ok! At least we met and said hi. Good luck to you as well. Only waiting on three more now. 🙂
 
98cats said:
I was kind of disappointed with the main tour of the school and hospital actually. In my tour of WSU, it was a lot more exciting and they showed us a lot more than they did here. Also my tour guide never looked me in the eye, only the other people in my group. Haha. Even so, I really liked it here in general.

Hey it's ok! At least we met and said hi. Good luck to you as well. Only waiting on three more now. 🙂
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Yeah I think it's a much more subdued place on weekends. I wonder if it would come off as a more energetic place when in full swing. Bummer about your tour guide.
 
Gluffalo said:
Yeah I think it's a much more subdued place on weekends. I wonder if it would come off as a more energetic place when in full swing. Bummer about your tour guide.
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Eep. Hope I wasn't that tour guide. 🙂

Yes, it is a MUCH different environment during the week. On weekends, the only services staffed by default are ECC (ER and ICU). We can call in any specialty as needed on an emergency, of course, but otherwise it's quiet. It's also a bummer, but we can't really take people into places like ER/ICU/Surgery, whatever. Too much potential for problems.

The weekdays with all the specialty services, imaging, GP, etc., it's crazy around here!
 
LetItSnow said:
Eep. Hope I wasn't that tour guide. 🙂

Yes, it is a MUCH different environment during the week. On weekends, the only services staffed by default are ECC (ER and ICU). We can call in any specialty as needed on an emergency, of course, but otherwise it's quiet. It's also a bummer, but we can't really take people into places like ER/ICU/Surgery, whatever. Too much potential for problems.

The weekdays with all the specialty services, imaging, GP, etc., it's crazy around here!
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Oh don't worry! I can guarantee it wasn't you. Haha. You're a guy right?

Yeah I figured it was because it was a weekend. It just wasn't that interesting to me since everything basically looked the same with a different label on the door. From my perspective at least. It was just cool at Washington because we got to see inside almost every area we passed. It's ok though. I totally understand and know that it's a great facility.
 
98cats said:
Oh don't worry! I can guarantee it wasn't you. Haha. You're a guy right?

Yeah I figured it was because it was a weekend. It just wasn't that interesting to me since everything basically looked the same with a different label on the door. From my perspective at least. It was just cool at Washington because we got to see inside almost every area we passed. It's ok though. I totally understand and know that it's a great facility.
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I'm a guy, yes. 🙂

It is unfortunate we can't take people behind more of the locked doors, and I totally understand what you're saying. 🙂
 
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