Vet School Schedule

[Linkin]

So I was just randomly thinking about things the other day and I realized I have no idea what vet school (or graduate school in general) is like. So for those of you who have been through vet school or are currently in vet school -- what is your school schedule like? Is vet school like high school where you go Mon-Fri from 7am-2pm and have a pretty set in stone curriculum with maybe 1 or 2 elective choices before you graduate? Or is it more like undergraduate where you completely pick your own schedule (i.e. all classes on Tues and Thurs) and except for the core classes you get to study pretty much whatever you like? Walk me through a day in your shoes! (Please and thank you!)

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[WildZoo]

It will vary a lot from one school to the next. We have a set core curriculum, with the option to take one or two (or three if you are insane like me) electives per semester. Our schedule is also not very regular, so we tend to have slightly different classes every day. I know some schools have things more structured, physiology m/w/f at 9am for example.

First year we had a lot of afternoon labs, and the class is usually split in half for those. So we would have 4 hours of lectures in the morning, and then you'd either have lab or have the afternoon off. Pretty rare to have afternoon lectures. Usually at least two afternoons off a week.

Second year we had more days of 8am to 5pm lectures, maybe once a week. Still a fair number of labs, sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon. Most days in general were 8am to 5pm.

This year we have at least two days a week that are 8am to 5pm lectures...since our lectures are an hour long, that's 8 lectures in a single day. Hooray. We still have labs, they're just kind of all over the place and now when one section is in one lab, the other is typically in another lab, so time off is a bit more rare. I personally can count on one hand the number of times I haven't been at school from 8am to 5pm or later so far this semester.

 

[MixedAnimals77]

So I was just randomly thinking about things the other day and I realized I have no idea what vet school (or graduate school in general) is like. So for those of you who have been through vet school or are currently in vet school -- what is your school schedule like? Is vet school like high school where you go Mon-Fri from 7am-2pm and have a pretty set in stone curriculum with maybe 1 or 2 elective choices before you graduate? Or is it more like undergraduate where you completely pick your own schedule (i.e. all classes on Tues and Thurs) and except for the core classes you get to study pretty much whatever you like? Walk me through a day in your shoes! (Please and thank you!)

You live at vet school. The end.

 

[MixedAnimals77]

In all seriousness though. Itll vary like WZ said and she did a great job explaining. This first semester for me is 8-5 basically every day except fridays is done at 2 if you dont stay for the review session. Dont forget extracurriculars though. I was at school 7-7 the other day. We actually have quite a few breaks in between classes because of how anatomy and histology lab is split up.
Next semester is way more crazy and much less free time.
Second year I've heard is alot of lectures straight 8-5 MWF with ThTh as giant lab blocks.
Third year from what I gather is less lecture time but for sure more doing doctorly things like spay block.

All of our courses are set in stone. There are electives you can take and those usually occur over lunch or before or after classes for the day.

My usual Monday is lecture 8-12. Lunch (which is usually a lunch lecture because it means I dont have to pack food).
Lecture from 1-2. Then I have a 1.5 hour break then am in lab until 5 pm.

After school I then usually come home and take the dog to the park, make and eat dinner, and shower which usually is anywhere from 1-2 hours which let's me decompress. Then I'm studying until 10pm and then I go to bed and that's my day.

 

[cdo96]

agree with Dubz. First year we had so many labs that we had class either 8 or 9 to noon, and then 1- 4 or 5 every day of the week.

Second year is a lot nicer in that we only have labs 1-3 days a week, so my schedule is:
Monday: 8-12
Tuesday: 8-11, 1-3
Wednesday: 8-12
Thursday: 8-12, 1-5 every couple weeks
Friday: 8-11, 1-5 every couple weeks.

Varies heavily from week to week! I’m not in some of the crazy equine elective though, so I don’t take as much time.

 

[WildZoo]

What the schedules look like here (click the thumbnails, they're kind of large images)

 

[LyraGardenia]

At K-State, first year Monday through Thursday we were in lecture from 8 or 9 am until noon (10 minute breaks between each class), then an hour for lunch, and then in the afternoons there were electives Tues and Thurs from 1-2, and then anatomy lab from 1-4 or 2-5 depending on the day. We got done early with anatomy lab sometimes depending on how long the day's assignment was, or how long your group wanted to stick around to review things. Fridays were our exam day, we had usually one exam a week on Friday morning, and then the rest of the day free, other than a couple electives were on Friday afternoons. The schedule has changed a bit since I was a first year because they've added clinical skills, so now their Fridays aren't necessarily free after their exam.

Second year the hours were pretty similar, generally 8-4, but it wasn't just lectures in the morning and lab in the afternoon, we went back and forth between lecture and lab more. First semester we were done more like 2 or 3 some days if it was a short bacteriology lab, second semester we had lectures until 4 some days. Most of our tests were on Wednesday afternoons, but we more often had more than one exam a week. Again, the current second years have less free time in their afternoons than my class did, thanks to clinical skills.

Third year we have lectures from 8 or 9 to noon each day, and then afternoons are just electives, clinical skills, and junior surgery lab on either Monday or Wednesday afternoon. Our tests are on Fridays and Mondays from 8-9. I've heard second semester afternoons are even more free since a lot of the clinical skills labs are optional large animal things.

Here we have to take 12 hours of electives before fourth year, electives are one or two credit hours each. The options are kind of hit or miss, some semesters I've had to pick something I wasn't necessarily interested in, but most of the electives are pretty easy.

 

[Melchizedek]

So I was just randomly thinking about things the other day and I realized I have no idea what vet school (or graduate school in general) is like. So for those of you who have been through vet school or are currently in vet school -- what is your school schedule like? Is vet school like high school where you go Mon-Fri from 7am-2pm and have a pretty set in stone curriculum with maybe 1 or 2 elective choices before you graduate? Or is it more like undergraduate where you completely pick your own schedule (i.e. all classes on Tues and Thurs) and except for the core classes you get to study pretty much whatever you like? Walk me through a day in your shoes! (Please and thank you!)

What is graduate school like?
Well

Spoiler: Spoiler Alert

 

[RahyneDays]

At K-State, first year Monday through Thursday we were in lecture from 8 or 9 am until noon (10 minute breaks between each class), then an hour for lunch, and then in the afternoons there were electives Tues and Thurs from 1-2, and then anatomy lab from 1-4 or 2-5 depending on the day. We got done early with anatomy lab sometimes depending on how long the day's assignment was, or how long your group wanted to stick around to review things. Fridays were our exam day, we had usually one exam a week on Friday morning, and then the rest of the day free, other than a couple electives were on Friday afternoons. The schedule has changed a bit since I was a first year because they've added clinical skills, so now their Fridays aren't necessarily free after their exam.

Second year the hours were pretty similar, generally 8-4, but it wasn't just lectures in the morning and lab in the afternoon, we went back and forth between lecture and lab more. First semester we were done more like 2 or 3 some days if it was a short bacteriology lab, second semester we had lectures until 4 some days. Most of our tests were on Wednesday afternoons, but we more often had more than one exam a week. Again, the current second years have less free time in their afternoons than my class did, thanks to clinical skills.

Third year we have lectures from 8 or 9 to noon each day, and then afternoons are just electives, clinical skills, and junior surgery lab on either Monday or Wednesday afternoon. Our tests are on Fridays and Mondays from 8-9. I've heard second semester afternoons are even more free since a lot of the clinical skills labs are optional large animal things.

Here we have to take 12 hours of electives before fourth year, electives are one or two credit hours each. The options are kind of hit or miss, some semesters I've had to pick something I wasn't necessarily interested in, but most of the electives are pretty easy.

Sounds pretty straight forward! I applied this cycle to K-State so I was definitely curious about the schedule layout.

 

[PrincessButterCup]

What is graduate school like?
Well

Spoiler: Spoiler Alert

Shhhhh don't tell them

 

[Blueangel7]

This is Kansas States 1st year schedule. We could choose up to 3 electives this semester. One on Tuesday from 1-2pm, one on Thursday from 1-2pm and a Friday evening elective.

 

[sheltermed]

This is Kansas States 1st year schedule. We could choose up to 3 electives this semester. One on Tuesday from 1-2pm, one on Thursday from 1-2pm and a Friday evening elective.
View attachment 240351

Totally OT but is KSU one of the schools that has you dress business casual for class? I feel like there are a few schools that have a dress code and don't remember which they are.

 

[Blueangel7]

Totally OT but is KSU one of the schools that has you dress business casual for class? I feel like there are a few schools that have a dress code and don't remember which they are.

Most schools want you to dress professionally as they have guest speakers come in all the time. Another reason is if you are walking around the clinic and clients see you, they want us to represent the school. KSU does want their student to dress professionally but as long as you are not in ripped jeans or sweat then you are fine.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

What is graduate school like?
Well

Spoiler: Spoiler Alert

 

[Caiter92]

Most schools want you to dress professionally as they have guest speakers come in all the time. Another reason is if you are walking around the clinic and clients see you, they want us to represent the school. KSU does want their student to dress professionally but as long as you are not in ripped jeans or sweat then you are fine.

This is really up to the school, and I don’t think it’s most that have a dress code of some sort. For lectures WSU couldn’t care less what you wear. Even for guest speakers at lunch lectures. If you’re in the hospital for shadowing in 1st-3rd year, you’re required to wear scrubs+/- a white coat depending on the service, so what you’re wearing that day is a moot point anyway.

 

[Barkley13]

This is really up to the school, and I don’t think it’s most that have a dress code of some sort. For lectures WSU couldn’t care less what you wear. Even for guest speakers at lunch lectures. If you’re in the hospital for shadowing in 1st-3rd year, you’re required to wear scrubs+/- a white coat depending on the service, so what you’re wearing that day is a moot point anyway.

At Iowa State we aren’t allowed to wear leggings or sweatpants or anything like that and on Thursdays we have to dress business professional

 

[sheltermed]

At Iowa State we aren’t allowed to wear leggings or sweatpants or anything like that and on Thursdays we have to dress business professional

*withdraws ISU application*

Kidding!!

 

[RahyneDays]

*withdraws ISU application*

Kidding!!

 

[WildZoo]

It varies pretty widely based on the school.

Here we technically have a (casual) business casual dress code, but if you're just sitting in lectures all day they aren't really going to care what you wear. It's really if you're going to be wandering through the hospital that they get more strict about it. They also are more strict with the first years because their classroom is in a more public area.

 

[WildZoo]

I think maybe Auburn and Mississippi have pretty strict dress codes?

 

[Old-Country-Vet-Tech]

UF has classes from around 8-10am until 2-4pm. I'm not in the vet school but my buddy is and sometimes have met after.

Their courses are very short around 6-8 weeks and intensive as hell. All vet schoolsare intensive but UF is very intensive. It's a great school though.

That being said making time for yourself is a thing you need to do. Even in Grad school here I make myself do 15 min workouts throughout the day ( 2x or 3) and run with my 11yr old Border collie. Prep your meals on the weekends and keep to a schedule that is visible to keep you honest and on track.

If anyone gets into UF...get to school early they just removed more parking for vet students/Ansci

 

[KCgophervet]

Most schools want you to dress professionally as they have guest speakers come in all the time. Another reason is if you are walking around the clinic and clients see you, they want us to represent the school. KSU does want their student to dress professionally but as long as you are not in ripped jeans or sweat then you are fine.

nah...

Dress code was mostly (only?) for clinics at UMN. Went to class in ripped jeans and sweats pretty much every day during year 1-3. I can't imagine anyone caring what students stuck sitting in a chair in a lecture hall for 4-8 hours a day were wearing...

 

[Old-Country-Vet-Tech]

*withdraws ISU application*

Kidding!!

* falls over laughing*

 

[battie]

Illinois only has a dress code for our rotation quarters. I live in sweats and leggings. I also cannot deal with shirt collars, so all my t shirts have the collars chopped off. The profs and administration don't really care, even in regards to the lunch lectures because they know we're in the same lecture hall from 8/9 am till between 12/4 pm.

 

[jaboo]

Our schedule for the first semester is basically 8:30am-5:30pm with exceptions. Thursdays we have class starting at 7:45am (ugh) but we typically get out by 4pm or earlier. Fridays we get out around 3pm or earlier. We also have a really long lunch break (an hour and a half).

Supposedly first semester here is the most busy schedule-wise. I’ve been told that next semester and beyond is much more flexible.

 

[SnowJ]

nah...

Dress code was mostly (only?) for clinics at UMN. Went to class in ripped jeans and sweats pretty much every day during year 1-3. I can't imagine anyone caring what students stuck sitting in a chair in a lecture hall for 4-8 hours a day were wearing...

Me and my classmates wear sweatpants and non-zip hoodies and it is fantastic! We only have dress codes so far for labs (clinical skills and anatomy) and I assume for clinical rotations.

 

[Old-Country-Vet-Tech]

Our schedule for the first semester is basically 8:30am-5:30pm with exceptions. Thursdays we have class starting at 7:45am (ugh) but we typically get out by 4pm or earlier. Fridays we get out around 3pm or earlier. We also have a really long lunch break (an hour and a half).

Supposedly first semester here is the most busy schedule-wise. I’ve been told that next semester and beyond is much more flexible.

Long lunch is a good lunch!

 

[jaboo]

Long lunch is a good lunch!

You’d be surprised by how many people complain about it! There’s lots of meetings during lunch though (with free lunch provided) and several people go to the gym during lunch because it’s the building across the street from us (idk how people do that personally, I turn beet red and sweat profusely for an hour after working out). I typically either go to a lunch meeting or pop in earbuds and get in some introvert time.

We don’t have a dress code, thank goodness!

 

[pp9]

Illinois only has a dress code for our rotation quarters. I live in sweats and leggings. I also cannot deal with shirt collars, so all my t shirts have the collars chopped off. The profs and administration don't really care, even in regards to the lunch lectures because they know we're in the same lecture hall from 8/9 am till between 12/4 pm.

And thank god, I could barely sit through a lecture as it is. I can't imagine having to wear professional clothing (or at least business casual) all day. Although I did find some amazing khakis and black dress pants with a yoga waistband at Meijer that have changed my life...

 

[SkiOtter]

Illinois only has a dress code for our rotation quarters. I live in sweats and leggings. I also cannot deal with shirt collars, so all my t shirts have the collars chopped off. The profs and administration don't really care, even in regards to the lunch lectures because they know we're in the same lecture hall from 8/9 am till between 12/4 pm.

Yeahhhh I definitely wear yoga pants and a T-shirt to class. Except I’ve started wearing my scrubs the whole day on anatomy days because I am far too lazy to change before anatomy
Very glad there’s no dress code.

 

[cdo96]

Yeahhhh I definitely wear yoga pants and a T-shirt to class. Except I’ve started wearing my scrubs the whole day on anatomy days because I am far too lazy to change before anatomy
Very glad there’s no dress code.

We had anatomy 3 afternoons a week, and I would wear scrubs as clothes those 3 days a week because I liked comfort and I value not having to change.

OkState doesn’t have a dress code either- they encourage us to dress up on Tuesdays, but other than that it’s kinda whatever. Apparently the year before I got there, they got scolded the class for wearing leggings/ yoga pants, but I personally feel like if you expect us to sit in the classroom for 4+ hours at a time, we should wear something appropriate to do so.

Granted, if you’re at the hospital that’s another story- but still.

 

[ziggyandjazzy]

Most schools want you to dress professionally as they have guest speakers come in all the time. Another reason is if you are walking around the clinic and clients see you, they want us to represent the school. KSU does want their student to dress professionally but as long as you are not in ripped jeans or sweat then you are fine.

Lmao I wore ripped jeans today

 

[WildZoo]

My goal first year was to eventually buy enough school merch that it could become my entire wardrobe (we're allowed to be more casual if it's school spirited I guess). I think I have finally met that goal.

 

[SkiOtter]

We had anatomy 3 afternoons a week, and I would wear scrubs as clothes those 3 days a week because I liked comfort and I value not having to change.

Yep same. Why change in a smol bathroom during lunch when 30+ other people are trying to do the same when you can just wear them all day and not have to change

 

[ziggyandjazzy]

Yep same. Why change in a smol bathroom during lunch when 30+ other people are trying to do the same when you can just wear them all day and not have to change

Y'all change for anatomy lab? We just wear lab coats.

 

[battie]

My goal first year was to eventually buy enough school merch that it could become my entire wardrobe (we're allowed to be more casual if it's school spirited I guess). I think I have finally met that goal.

Bought my first swag item of the year last week. Two more sales released today that are dangerously tempting.

Y'all change for anatomy lab? We just wear lab coats.

Towards the end of first year 1.0 and 2.0, I wore regular clothes. My laziness was intense.

 

[SkiOtter]

Y'all change for anatomy lab? We just wear lab coats.

I don’t think we’re required to, it’s just recommended. But we also work with dogs and large animals the whole year vs one semester of each.

 

[LyraGardenia]

Totally OT but is KSU one of the schools that has you dress business casual for class? I feel like there are a few schools that have a dress code and don't remember which they are.

Late reply, Blueangel pretty much described it, but we do have a "professional" dress code for lectures (in the hospital the dress code varies depending on the rotation). They don't really give us specific guidelines as to what that means, but basically they don't want us to showing up looking like we just rolled out of bed or came from the gym. Personally I try to avoid T-shirts (unless it's a K-State T-shirt), leggings, yoga pants, shorts, sweatpants, and tennis shoes. Most days I wear Sperrys, nice jeans, a blouse, and a cardigan/jacket/hoodie. Guys are supposed to wear a collared shirt. Some people bend the rules, and it's not like anyone's going to make you go home and change if you show up in leggings one day, it's just loosely enforced by our class officers.

 

[cdo96]

I try to avoid T-shirts (unless it's a K-State T-shirt), leggings, yoga pants, shorts, sweatpants, and tennis shoes.

that’s uhh... that’s my entire wardrobe...

 

[cdo96]

Bought my first swag item of the year last week. Two more sales released today that are dangerously tempting.

Ugh I feel that. I caved and bought an OSU vet med fleece jacket and I’m very excited.

I’m the worst T-shirt designer ever, so I’ve been failing our surgery club hard. 😢

 

[battie]

Ugh I feel that. I caved and bought an OSU vet med fleece jacket and I’m very excited

I can't do fleece because of my hair. 🙁 But I bought a quarter zip with just the vet med logo from the anesthesia club. Our SAVMA chapter is selling three or four items I'm very tempted by and just might cave on and splurge. CAVA is selling the car decal I want for my newish car that is sorely lacking in vet med.

 

[SkiOtter]

Bought my first swag item of the year last week. Two more sales released today that are dangerously tempting.

Saaaaaaaaame
There’s fuzzy sweatshirtssss😍

 

[pp9]

Yep same. Why change in a smol bathroom during lunch when 30+ other people are trying to do the same when you can just wear them all day and not have to change

This was my exact reasoning. Plus I liked wearing those scrubs home to wash them every day. I still have my anatomy scrubs and they're in good condition I know a few people who rarely took theirs home to wash and they had to toss them because the odor was permanent

 

[SkiOtter]

This was my exact reasoning. Plus I liked wearing those scrubs home to wash them every day. I still have my anatomy scrubs and they're in good condition I know a few people who rarely took theirs home to wash and they had to toss them because the odor was permanent

Yep same. Mine still smell fine (so far) because I wash them everyday. If I get to keep them, hooray. But I won’t be too upset if they DO need to be tossed because I specifically have been wearing my scrubs that I got free for one of my jobs and don’t fit well so I’d probably never wear them in the hospital/an actual clinic unless I needed a backup pair.

 

[Emmy Senpai]

I think maybe Auburn and Mississippi have pretty strict dress codes?

Auburn student here! We have to wear professional clothing Monday-Friday, 8-5 pm. After 5, we can come back to school in shorts and t-shirts. Otherwise, no leggings, jeans, jean material, or tennis shoes allowed. Guys have to wear a collared shirt with a tie, nice slacks, and nice shoes. Girls have more options, but we still have to follow professional dress (basically nice slacks, appropriate length skirts and dresses, etc). We have people in the class appointed as dress code enforcers that send e-mails telling you to change or not to wear that item of clothing again, so the dress code is strictly enforced. Professors can also tell the appointed dress code person that people in the class aren't following dress code, and mass e-mails can be sent to the entire class in case everyone needs to be reminded to follow the rules. The only exception is if we have labs, we can wear scrubs for that half of the day that the lab is conducted. For example, if we have pathology lab from 1-3 pm, we have to wear professional clothing from 8-12 and then change over lunch time if we want to wear scrubs to lab.

 

[SkiOtter]

Nothx
I get that your schools want you to look nice and all in case someone comes in or whatever but like
I’d rather be comfy if I have to sit in this same seat for 6 hours a day

 

[WildZoo]

Yeah no thank you

 

[DrinkWater95]

Auburn student here! We have to wear professional clothing Monday-Friday, 8-5 pm. After 5, we can come back to school in shorts and t-shirts. Otherwise, no leggings, jeans, jean material, or tennis shoes allowed. Guys have to wear a collared shirt with a tie, nice slacks, and nice shoes. Girls have more options, but we still have to follow professional dress (basically nice slacks, appropriate length skirts and dresses, etc). We have people in the class appointed as dress code enforcers that send e-mails telling you to change or not to wear that item of clothing again, so the dress code is strictly enforced. Professors can also tell the appointed dress code person that people in the class aren't following dress code, and mass e-mails can be sent to the entire class in case everyone needs to be reminded to follow the rules. The only exception is if we have labs, we can wear scrubs for that half of the day that the lab is conducted. For example, if we have pathology lab from 1-3 pm, we have to wear professional clothing from 8-12 and then change over lunch time if we want to wear scrubs to lab.

This sounds horrible! Giving my application to Auburn a second thought

 

[JustPaws]

Michigan State has made big changes to their curriculum this year. We have one to two classes that are year-round, and meet randomly once or twice a week and then not at all for a little while. then for 2 to 3 weeks Cycles we have one big class that focuses on a body system. We're split into two different sections, so that anatomy lab isn't too full, and so far my section has always come in sometime between 8 and 9 in the morning and then it varies wildly how long for the day we have to stay around. Days either finish at 11:30 or noon, or two or three in the afternoon. We are all desperately following our calendars, because there is no continuity, lol. Not even lunch is sacred, as musculoskeletal has even had case studies from noon to 1, but you can eat during class, and the day for your section either starts at noon or ends at 1.
overall I don't mind it, especially right now, I'm only focusing on musculoskeletal classes and exams.

 

[SkiOtter]

This sounds horrible! Giving my application to Auburn a second thought

Tbh see the cycle through with them and if you get in somewhere else and there, great you have options and can then pick and have dress code as one of your factors, but if you were to only get in there, it’s four years of that dresscode versus declining and maybe never getting accepted somewhere that doesn’t have a dresscode. I may say I’m glad I’m not at a school with a dresscode, but you can bet my yoga-pants-loving self would’ve gone to a school with one in a heartbeat, had I been only accepted there.