VMCVM vs tOSU (Both OOS)

[apoptosis09]

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Posting for opinions and to get some insight hopefully from students/graduates from either school. I also want to practice primarily large animal medicine, especially equine.
I was originally waitlisted for both and got into VMCVM just after the acceptance deadline as an OOS student (not a WV contract seat), then got the notification from tOSU that I was accepted off the OOS waitlist this week. I was pretty much committed to VT; I love the area, I love the school and program, and they have a dedicated large animal track. However, tOSU makes a bit more financial sense. Not only is tOSU tuition about 20k cheaper OOS, but I have been told from other WV tOSU students that there is also the potential for a scholarship for WV residents to make up the difference to IS tuition. I am unsure at this point what the likelihood of recieving this scholarship is or what year I would/could apply (since it is already June), so I don't know that I should count on this financially. (If any WV students have insight on this, that would be very appreciated 😅).

I guess I would like to know from current students what you thought of the large animal courseload, the student culture, community, etc. If you graduated from either school, did you feel well supported as a student and/or well prepared as a DVM? What were your pros and cons?

Other things on my radar:
1. From what I understand both programs are now fully pass/fail for all coursework and clinics but this is newer to tOSU.
2. VMCVM has a higher NAVLE pass rate (>90%).
3. tOSU has a highly rated program, and seems well-rounded.
4. I have also found housing to be slightly cheaper near OSU than VT. Otherwise COL is comparable.

Thanks in advance!

 

[_rae_]

Easy: Virginia Maryland does not allow you to change your residency. tOSU does after first year. My own math says tOSU will be $232,368 in tuition and academic expenses, where VMCVM will be $300,393.

For transparency: https://finaid.vt.edu/content/dam/f...ttendance/2425/gr/VETMEDCOA 2425 11272024.pdf
I calculated all four years off this page, subtracting cost of living from out of state attendance.

Cost of Attendance. From here I took tuition and academic costs and added them up, a simpler task when everyone is a resident after year one.

 

[apoptosis09]

Easy: Virginia Maryland does not allow you to change your residency. tOSU does after first year.

Unfortunately this isn't strictly true; they do charge everyone the same tuition after year 1, but that is because they hit you with an almost 50k OOS surcharge your first year. The cost of just tuition and fees between both schools is actually only about a 20k difference between VMCVM and tOSU (calculated via spreadsheet off of their respective websites; I didn't count other parts of "COA" estimates because they're kind of hand-wavy for loan purposes). That difference may come out in the wash with having to potentially build more interest quicker given the higher amount right off the bat; I haven't done the detailed calculation for this yet with current interest rate offerings.
Although it does seem that tOSU has better scholarship offerings in general, which hopefully means it will still be cheaper, but I'm not 100% sure.