Hey ya'll I have a couple questions for any current students:
1) What is the dress code like?
2) Can anyone tell me how large the equine caseload is the school sees each year?
3) How do you feel about the area of Blacksburg?
4) Is there any required technology like a specific laptop or iPad?
5) How about books - are books typically required/beneficial in your courses each semester?
6) What are your favorite and least favorite things about the VMRCVM program?
Sorry I've just been compiling random questions in my head these past couple weeks! I'll really appreciate anyone who takes the time to respond 🙂!
Hey! I'm a current first year, so I'll throw in my 2 cents.
1) Dress code is basically...not workout clothes. They don't want us wearing gym shorts, sweat pants, tank tops...or for girls, yoga pants (leggings/tights are ok, I guess). If you want to wear a t-shirt and shorts, or a t-shirt and jeans that's ok. If you do commit some type of dress code violation, I would bet that you had to go out of your way to do it, haha.
2) Not sure about this one, because I'm SA. They do, however, have weekly equine rounds for the equine club here on campus. We also have the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center (not on campus), so I'm sure there are many opportunities there as well.
3) Blacksburg is great. Everything you need is close to Virginia Tech. So if you're on campus, you don't need a car. Buses go everywhere. The neighboring town, Christiansburg, has a lot of shopping centers and stuff.
4) Having a laptop OR an iPad will make your life wayyyyy easier. I am not totally sure it's actually a written requirement somewhere, but I can't imagine being without one. The only instance where we HAD to have a laptop was in semester 1 histology, where the midterm and final were accessible only on-line while we had to be physically present inside the class. I'm sure the teacher would have made some accommodation for you if you didn't have one, though.
5) Books are like 90% optional. For the most part, they are used as an additional resource. The professors will tell you on the first day if the text is "required."
6) Favorite thing...the teachers 150% truly care about you learning the material, and are also really passionate about what they do. They love this stuff. My least-favorite thing...I don't think Blacksburg is known for having the greatest small animal emergency caseload...but they are planning to expand their small animal emergency department sometime in the near future. This is the area I want to focus on so that's welcome news!