Vet students - typical day?

[frumpter]

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Hello everyone! I was just wondering if any current students could give me an idea of what a typical day looks like? What time do you usually start class and what time do you get home? I have two small children and I'm trying to figure out school situations for them. I know the outside-of-school workload will be enormous, I'm just curious how much time you spend actually IN school every day. Thank you so much! 🙂

 

[Jochebed]

I'm a second year at VMRCVM and honestly, its different every single day. Today I have class from 3-5. Tomorrow its 8-12, 3-5. Wednesday its 8-5 (with 12-1 lunch break). So it changes a lot. But no longer than 8-5 and there usually aren't more than 2 8-5 days in a week. Usually we have lecture in the morning (8-12), which is pretty set. The flexibility comes in the afternoons. If there's double labs (1-3 and then 3-5) we're there straight through. But our labs are split so if there's only one lab, 1/2 of the class goes from 1-3 and the other from 3-5 and it usually alternates (i.e. your 1/2 isn't always 1-3 or 3-5). You actually can check out the class schedules of the 1st through 3rd years via the VMRCVM website to get a feel as well. http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/acad/dvm/index.asp Scroll down under DVM student resources.

This is a concern of mine as well as I am currently expecting a baby (due in July). I took extra electives this semester so that I have only 2 credits above the required courseload next year so hopefully I will have less time actually here at school as well. 🙂

Hope that helps.

 

[frumpter]

Thank you so much! It would be great to have classes that fit nicely into the kids' school schedules (in a perfect world). But that doesn't sound too bad. Thank you for replying and best of luck with your baby. There is nothing more special than your first...I remember it like it was yesterday even though he is almost 4.

 

[PAThbrd]

First year was a lot of 9-4 with some 9-3 or 9-5 on occasion, with lunch from 12-1. Every now and then we got a morning or afternoon off.

Second year was more 9-5, every now and then a morning or afternoon off. lunch 12-1 or 1-2

Third year in the fall was a lot of 9-5, occasionally a 9-6, lunch 12-1 or 1-2. right now its a lot of 8-5 (with an occasional 8-4 or 8-6) with lunch 12-1 or 1-2. Third year is a bit more flexible with elective scheduling. Our class, depending on personal preference started clinical rotations in January, in another 2 weeks, or in the middle of May. (We have optional large and small animal elective blocks).

 

[PAThbrd]

I should add that for 1st and 2nd year, and the first half of 3rd year, all of our lectures are digitally recorded and put up on the web. So if you can deal with that and learn that way (and are ok with an occasional missed lecture do to technical difficulties), some people only come in for labs and tests.

 

[pressmom]

First year we got quite a few afternoons off (especially first semester)--I'd say an average of 2. (So classes from only 8-12.) There'd also be times that we'd have class 8-12 and lab 1-3 or 3-5. It would alternate which group got which time.

First semester second year we got maybe one afternoon a week off. Classes were usually 8-3 or 4 with a lunch break 12-1. There would still be some afternoons with labs split up 1-3 and 3-5.

Second semester second year we rarely get afternoons off and often go to class until 5. Labs are more case based so sometimes we're all in the classroom together going through cases. This week seems light and we are going til 3 every day! Also we started electives this semester. This means some have electives Tuesday morning 8-10, Wednesday during lunch or Thursday 1-3. You can take up to two. Some are one hour and some are two hours. Some have a lot of labs, some only have a couple.

First semester third year is similar to second semester second year.

Second semester third year there are A LOT of electives, which meet in the morning (many are lab based such as soft tissue surgery, spay/neuter, large animal therio, etc., some are lecture based). Then classes are in the afternoon. You take fewer core courses and more electives this semester.

Tests are usually Monday and Friday 8-10 and quizzes are anytime (usually in lab). (Except second semester third year when tests are Monday and Thursday in the afternoon.)

Then we have Application Based Learning Exercise (ABLE) once or twice a semester and you are usually out by noon those weeks. We also have clinical exposure second and third year and I was just on farm animal and were there 8-6 or 8-8 depending on the day. (The fourth years were usually staying much later!!) (Last time I was on radiology and we were only there from 9-4 on that one.)

 

[THEOSU2012]

Hey,

So, I can only comment on The Ohio State University, but I first want to commend you for having kids and doing veterinary school. Not sure I could do that!

I also can only comment on first year, since that's all I've had so far!

However, our days are really variable. Most days we are in class from 8-2 or 3. But if you need to be in class longer, we've been up till 5pm. Then if you want to stay for meetings or what not?? I've been at the school from 7:30am till 10:30pm before. It's not unheard off, but it is more rare.

I have a friend with two kids, and I don't know how she does it. She often leaves early, before class is over, or before review sessions because she has to go home and get her kids from Daycare. But she does a great job!

I wish you the best of luck!

 

[frumpter]

Thank you again for all the helpful responses. I really appreciate it. I'm still 2 years away from applying, but this helps me get a better idea what I'm in for. I'm definitely a non-trad applicant....30 y/o, married, 2 kids. But this has been a dream of mine for a while and I'm determined to make it work....someday, haha. Thank you again everyone. Have a great day!