upenn - skipping a rotation?

[gracietiger]

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I recently found a document on the internet that was a summary written by someone who recently went on a tour at UPenn, so I am hoping you guys may be able to verify whether this information is true...

This document says that Upenn indicated that in the second half of the third year, there is a large animal rotation, then a small animal rotation. This document then states that, though most people opt to do both rotations, a student may opt out of one of the rotations (ie, if that person knows that they absolutely want to work with horses, they may do an internship over the small animal rotation).

Is this true? Is that saying that if I absolutely do not want to work with large animals (which I don't), then it would be possible for me to pursue something that I am more interested in (like shelter) rather than do the LA rotation? If this is the case, does anyone know if this is difficult to have approved, or is Penn very flexible?

 

[BlacKAT33]

I recently found a document on the internet that was a summary written by someone who recently went on a tour at UPenn, so I am hoping you guys may be able to verify whether this information is true...

This document says that Upenn indicated that in the second half of the third year, there is a large animal rotation, then a small animal rotation. This document then states that, though most people opt to do both rotations, a student may opt out of one of the rotations (ie, if that person knows that they absolutely want to work with horses, they may do an internship over the small animal rotation).

Is this true? Is that saying that if I absolutely do not want to work with large animals (which I don't), then it would be possible for me to pursue something that I am more interested in (like shelter) rather than do the LA rotation? If this is the case, does anyone know if this is difficult to have approved, or is Penn very flexible?

i havent heard of this but one thing i know for sure. we are required to do the large animal block that i have seen on the schedule. you can find it on their website. i have also heard that sometimes people get their LA blocks moved so they are next to each other and then they stay at New Bolton the whole 6-8 or however many weeks.

im not sure if there are multiple large animal blocks that maybe you have a choice to opt out of? A current student from penn can tell you more.

but i am about 99% sure, we are required to do at least the main LA block that is planned for us

edit: so here is the link to the core classes http://www.vet.upenn.edu/EducationandTraining/StudentLife/Curriculum/tabid/313/Default.aspx

i see what you are talking about, 3rd yr the LA block followed by SA. This was the block that i thought was mandatory. ive never heard of someone not doin it. I mean, can you imagine how many SA people would love to skip out on it??? i feel like if this were true too many people would opt out of it

can you show the link to where you read this? i am curious

 

[GellaBella]

Actually I think my tour guide did say something about this, I think you do have a required block if LA med but since Penn kinda tracks, later after that original block you can opt out of additional rotations if you decide to track small animal only. They basically said most people choose to track as mixed so most people do the large and small rotations but that if you know you're a small animal person you wouldn't have to. I haven't seen or readanything about this ever, but that is what my tour guide said

 

[gracietiger]

Here is the link to the document:
eden.rutgers.edu/~ruvsc/docs/UPenn_11_20_09_Trip.doc

It is a Word document, so I hope that works for you. It appears that the document is a summary of a tour, and you'll find the info that I am referring to on page 3, the second of the Q and A's with an Admissions Counselor. Here is the quote:

Third Year (2nd half) - The first half is the large animal block, and the second half is the small animal block. Although most students will participate in both, you may opt to skip one of the blocks (say if you only plan to be a large animal vet) and replace it with externships or possibly research.


Like I said, not the most reliable document, but I am certainly curious because that would be a huge plus for me.

On a similar note, I am not very knowledgeable about tracking schools - do these schools allow a student to completely opt out of a rotation, like LA or SA? Does anyone know of any schools that would allow this? And, just to add, I'm not unwilling to participate in LA rotations by any means, so I don't want it to appear that I'm seeking a way to "get out" of learning about large animals. I am just curious.

 

[Tco87]

I doubt you can opt out of the large animal block completely. I mean, when you take the NAVLE, you'll be expected to have a certain amount of knowledge of large animal medicine, even if you plan to never work with them. Penn wouldn't want students to fail because they didn't have many classes with them.
However, I'm not that familiar with the rest of Penn's curriculum, so maybe you gain enough large animal medicine knowledge first and second year to answer those questions on the NAVLE?

 

[BlacKAT33]

I'm really not sure about any of this lol But I know that vmrcvm tracks early on so maybe you can ask it in the vmrcvm thread so people from that school see and would be more likely to answer if you can opt out of things when you track

From what i have gathered, Penn's tracking is more of "tracking" it doesnt seem as strict, and you pick later on. But i know for vmrcvm you pick your track right away, i think beginning of 2nd year. I wonder how much their LA clinical experience is decreased later on

 

[tpad40]

Hi guys! Randomly checking in and bringing a little clarification 🙂

"Blocks" aren't really rotations per-say. The occur one after eachother in the winter/spring of your 3rd year. There is a SA block and a LA block. They are mainly just condensed coursework with a lot of clinical skills experience packed in while you work with cadavers and school-owned teaching animals. The document is true that a lot do both, and I am pretty sure everyone must do at least one unless given special permission. I am guessing LA block is required for LA majors and vice versa for SA but I am not sure. If you opt out of one of the blocks it is considered "early-entry" into rotations and you fill the time with more rotations in clinics. Since SA block is after LA block, some SA people will actually be in clinics for some time, then stop and do SA block, and then return to clinics which is kind of neat! (I also hear SA block is the one last "breather" before the end of fourth year)

You are required to do 6 weeks of rotations in LA and 6 weeks in SA (Core Rotations, SA Med, SA soft tissue sx, LA med, etc.) but these are different. Because of this, many SA ppl opt to do LA block because they can get a lot of hands on experience before being responsible for patients in their required LA rotations.

Blocks are one thing I have heard raved about by most 4th years here, so it is definitely something to look forward too!

 

[tpad40]

One other thing - as far as tracking...

I am pretty sure here you declare a "major" (or a track) and then for that major there are a set of required rotations beyond the core 12 weeks. Once you complete the required rotations for your major you are free to take rotations wherever you like as long as there is room and as long as you can get enough credits to fulfill your quota. For example, an equine major may be required to take a whole series of equine/LA rotations and then elect to do a shelter med rotations if their schedule permits it. Or, if you are super interested in sports medicine, you could elect to take that rotation more than once. As far as I know they try to be really accommodating!

Somewhere, sometime, I found a page with all the required rotations for each major. However, Penn does a really good job of hiding this information - I am a rising 2nd year and the only reason I have even a vague idea of what is going on is by harassing 4th years 😉 But once you enter vet school, you learn quickly to just go with the flow!

 

[BlacKAT33]

thanks for clarifying tpad! It makes even more sense to me now why people would pick to do both blocks and especially the block they don't plan on going into. I can't imagine doing LA rotations with patients with my small amount of LA knowledge.

 

[gracietiger]

Thanks tpad! Makes much more sense!
Penn sounds very flexible in working with a person's specific interests, which I like a great deal. I also like the idea of a "major," so thanks for pointing that out.