VMRCVM Class of 2014!

Veterinary Science Graduate Programs from U. of I.
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Tobysgirl81

VMRCVM c/o 2014!
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I hope this doesn't step on anyone's toes, but I figured I would start a thread so we can get to meet each other! Welcome to 2014... I think it's going to be a great class!!
 
Hi there! I think it'll be an amazing class, too!
 
It doesn't feel real yet but i'm so excited!! I think it will be a great 4 years!
 
I am SO excited. It definitely doesn't seem real to me yet either! Now I just can't wait to get started and meet everyone!
 
Everyone have an idea of what they want to do yet? Or still deciding?

I'm 95% sure I'm going to do small animal surgery. The 5% is just because I haven't spent a ton of time with neuro or some of the other specialties yet 😉

And PigsRock - I'll teach you your tech skills if you want to tutor me through vet school! 😉
 
I'm pretty positive I'm going to do equine (sometimes feel like I might want to throw in some food animal stuff but probably will end up in an all equine clinic).

Definitely large animal though - I could probably use some help with those tech skills, Tobysgirl, lol. 😀

The third year that did our tour said he ended up studying with two people from opposite directions (like, he was SA and studied with equine and FA people) and that sounded smart.
 
Tobysgirl81 said:
Everyone have an idea of what they want to do yet? Or still deciding?

I'm 95% sure I'm going to do small animal surgery. The 5% is just because I haven't spent a ton of time with neuro or some of the other specialties yet 😉

And PigsRock - I'll teach you your tech skills if you want to tutor me through vet school! 😉
Click to expand...

I want to track Food Animal. I want to be a USDA vet so I could do Public/Corporate, but Food Animal sounds more fun!!

And I have a feeling I'm going to be lost and confused the first day of school so I don't think anybody would want me as a tutor! 😕
 
I'm probably jumping the gun with this one but I have a question about maintaining residency while in school. I am currently a MD resident and want to maintain my IS status throughout vet school. My parents don't live in MD, but I moved here after I graduated undergrad. The lease for my apartment is up in the middle of July and I was planning on just getting a place in Blacksburg then since we start orientation in the middle of August. Would doing so forfeit my instate status? Am I expected to pay for an apartment in Maryland while i'm going to school in Blacksburg? (that would be crazy to expect right?) Any other MD residents here that can provide some insight with this?

Thanks!!
 
Well I'm happy to help anyone with their tech skills that needs it! And if you're lost or confused, I'm more than happy to show you around too 🙂 Just be willing to slowly explain concepts to my sometimes unimpressive brain when I need it 😉

Flipflopper - I'm pretty sure you maintain your IS or OOS status throughout school depending on what you were when you apply for financial aide. Like someone who was OOS when they applied and got in cannot suddenly switch to IS the following year. They maintain their OOS status throughout the course of their schooling. Regardless, if you move to BBurg and switch your permanent address to here you should still keep your IS status because you're in VA 🙂
 
hey PigsRock - i noticed you were talking about how you found out you got in - did you maybe borrow your neighbors laptop to check your email before class when you got your acceptance? if so, i work with the girl who had the laptop!
 
3dayvet said:
hey PigsRock - i noticed you were talking about how you found out you got in - did you maybe borrow your neighbors laptop to check your email before class when you got your acceptance? if so, i work with the girl who had the laptop!
Click to expand...

Well, it was my laptop (I brought it so I could check)... But I did have her hold it while I turned in our homework... Hmm.... Does that mean you're a Tech Student? I thought you were a wahoo?
 
No, never mind. Now I just sound crazy, lol. 😛

I did go to UVa but I live in Christiansburg now (I graduated in 07).

I work with a VA Tech student and we were talking about vet school. She said someone in one of her classes asked to borrow her laptop, checked her email on it and started freaking out/crying etc. saying she just got into vet school. I just thought it would be such a weird coincidence if that was you, since I had heard this story from someone random about finding out how you got in.

Anyway, back to regular thread on VMRCVM! Sorry for the sidetrack, haha.
 
Oh, okay then... I was a little creeped out at the thought of some random person watching me, but I don't think my "moment" was quite that weird!
 
Wow, a facebook group already? Most people haven't decided where they're going yet... But I don't have facebook anyway (shocking, right?😛)
 
flipflopper said:
I'm probably jumping the gun with this one but I have a question about maintaining residency while in school. I am currently a MD resident and want to maintain my IS status throughout vet school. My parents don't live in MD, but I moved here after I graduated undergrad. The lease for my apartment is up in the middle of July and I was planning on just getting a place in Blacksburg then since we start orientation in the middle of August. Would doing so forfeit my instate status? Am I expected to pay for an apartment in Maryland while i'm going to school in Blacksburg? (that would be crazy to expect right?) Any other MD residents here that can provide some insight with this?

Thanks!!
Click to expand...

You should call and ask to be certain, but I'm fairly sure that whatever you "enter" as, you stay. So if you were accepted as an IS student, you will remain an IS student. And VA is IS too.

I was accepted as a MD resident, and I now have permanent VA residency (married, apartment, etc). No change to my aid, etc. So really, no worries. 🙂
 
Hey guys! I just joined the facebook group. That will be very handy, I imagine!

How is everyone doing with planning? I am anxious to find out what my financial aid will be, so I can start planning my budget for apartment hunting. I am married and my husband will help, but I still have to cover some costs with loans.

A little about me: I'm a bit older at 32, have been married for 10 years, no kids, and will stay that way 🙂 My first stint in college took me to the Savannah College of Art and Design, but after some soul-searching and other "life stuff," I found my heart really belonged to veterinary medicine! But I still have the quirkiness and visual approach of an artist 😛
I am interested in small animal mostly, have been working in clinics since 2001, and became an RVT in 2005. I would love to get some experience with a little of everything, including exotics and wildlife! I am familiar with horses since I rode them through high school (English), but I have no idea what to do around a cow or pig!!!

I am looking forward to getting to know everyone! This is gonna be sweet!
 
Welcome Veracosa! I have to say, I'm a little relieved to have someone a little closer to my vintage in the class as well! Not that I mind being around classmates a few years younger than me, I just worry about getting the whole "Mother hen" syndrome! I'm also excited to see you're an RVT. I'm an LVT - finished schooling in 2007 but was working as a tech on and off for a while before that.

I thought I had housing lined up for next year, but it has now fallen through. I've been trying to contact people about rooms they have for rent, but haven't gotten much back. I'm going to try and see a house this weekend - 3 bed/2 bath for $800 a month on 5 acres. I'm hoping that if its nice I can drum up some interest with other classmates and maybe rent it. Sounds like a great deal, especially if I can bring the pups with me!

And I was just telling a friend of mine the other day, "I can't believe they actually let me in, much less are going to let me sign up for classes!"
 
They finally released the tuition rates for this year.
http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2010&itemno=345

The bad news: they raised in-state tuition like $1200.
The good news: at least I don't have to pay $43000 like the OOS people!

I don't know how it works for non-VT people, but I can already see the loan amounts for next year on MyVT. I filled out that little scholarship form but they probably won't tell us if we get anything for a while yet. I think every new student got a little something last year, but don't quote me on that.

Anyway, glad to have you on board, Veracosa!
 
That's almost $700 less than I factored in! Still good news!

I don't have anything on MyVT except my deposit. Anyone know if we'll *really* be able to register for classes on Monday?
 
GreennWhite said:
Anyone know if we'll *really* be able to register for classes on Monday?
Click to expand...

When you go into hokie spa, after you click on "registration and schedule," be sure to clear up all the little things that they want you to complete before letting you enroll, under "registration requirements." If you do that then you will hopefully be all set to go if they make registration available on Monday. (stuff like updating emergency contacts, etc) Whether or not THEY make it happen for us, who knows 😛

Anyone thinking about the electives? I didn't see anywhere, but do we have to take one elective? Can we take none? Or two?
Probably gonna do embryology I guess. The other one didn't sound like it was up my alley...

I still haven't gotten any financial aid info yet. Maybe next week?
 
Hi Veracosa!
You don't have to choose an elective if you don't want to or if you want to take both I believe you can. What you can do is register for them on Monday and if you decide later during the summer you don't want to take it you can always drop it during Drop/Add 🙂

Looking forward to getting to know everyone soon! I'm sure August will be here before we know it!
 
I've heard that embryology is really helpful for anatomy, especially because they have the same teacher. I'm taking that one and maybe the other one too, but I'm not sure yet.
 
I'm debating on the electives as well. While I'd like to learn as much as possible, i'm not sure how i'm going to handle a 18 credit hour semester, let alone 19 or 20...

And I totally loathed Developmental Biology so I don't think I'll enjoy Embryology...
 
I'm pretty sure I'll be taking Domestication--it sounds like a nice break from all the ologies! I'm not sure about Embryology, though. Does anyone know if this is our only shot at these electives?
 
I think both electives look pretty interesting...I'm probably going to end up taking both of them! The first year is kind of easy for elective choices...it's down the line that I have a harder time deciding which ones I'd want to take and which ones I wouldn't!

This year is definitely flying by already...Can't believe it's the end of April! August will be here in no time 🙂 I'm really looking forward to getting started!
 
I'm also considering taking both electives, especially since Domestication is only pass/fail and I've heard it's not a terribly difficult class. As for the whole 18-20 credit load per semester thing, if I remember correctly, some of the classes only last for a portion of the semester as opposed to the entire semester. So, that might help alleviate some of the stress of an otherwise very full courseload!
 
I forgot domestication was pass/fail. Dr. Sponenberg is a really neat guy. I'll probably end up taking that, too. I know people say to take all the electives in the beginning so you don't have to take as many credits later on. But there are also a lot more cool classes later so you'll want to take more credits... Complicated...

By the way, I'm loving all the "VMRCVM c/o 2014!"s lined up in this thread. Makes me smile! I'm looking forward to this fall, but right now I'm just looking forward to SUMMER! I don't want it to go too fast!
 
Roxysocks said:
As for the whole 18-20 credit load per semester thing, if I remember correctly, some of the classes only last for a portion of the semester as opposed to the entire semester. So, that might help alleviate some of the stress of an otherwise very full courseload!
Click to expand...

Yes, that is true. My undergrad-trained brain just sees 18-20 credits and gawks. :laugh:

I think I might sign up for the domestication elective and see how the first two weeks go, since that's how long we have to drop it.
 
By the way, I'm loving all the "VMRCVM c/o 2014!"s lined up in this thread. Makes me smile!
Click to expand...

Haha me too! I definitely feel like VMRCVM needs a larger presence on SDN...it's kinda getting taken over by a few schools in particular. Gotta REPRESENT!
 
I signed up for classes today! Just as a heads up...I couldn't find the domestication class listed with the vet med classes, so instead I entered the class number and it came up for me.

I'm having a *OMG, not only did they let me in they're letting me sign up for classes* moment. And another mini-squee 🙂
 
I just registered as well! AHHH!!! I can't believe it!!!
 
Does anyone know when we'll get a book list? I haven't had any luck finding one on the website...
 
Hey Roxysocks,
If you have gotten your PID you should be able to access INTRANET at this link: https://intranet.vetmed.vt.edu/Login.aspx

It just launched last night, so I don't know if they are still adding PIDs to the system or if everyone's will work now.

If you go to the left handed tab and click Course Syllabi you'll find a list of all of our courses coming up in 4 years! You can then click on the class and see the syllabus...i've looked at acouple and most of them seem to list required/suggested texts. I've also heard that alot of rising 2nd years like to sell their books, so you may want to wait to see if you can get them at a cheaper price 🙂
 
Apparently the tech dept hadn't had a chance to upload all the names/PIDs to the intranet login so not everyone could logon. They sent out an email about it yesterday as well...As of now everyone should have access.

On another note - I'm guessing they'll be updating the roster list as soon as class of 2010 graduates 🙂 I keep logging in hoping to see us on there!
 
12 more days bwahahaha! :laugh: till we 2010-ers are outta here!!!!

Welcome new class! For those of you that don't know me, I'm a 2010 soon-to-be-graduate pf VMRCVM continuing on as a resident at Texas A&M. I'd be happy to answer any qs or PMs about the school. I tracked P/C so any qs about that I'd be the most knowledgeable about in terms of school, but everything from the clinicians to the social environment to the town of Bburg - ask away! We have some stupendous profs and clinicians here. I'll be here until June so if anyone wants to hang out, hit me up!

Congrats and welcome to VMRCVM 😉
 
Hey HokiVet--Thank you for sending me that link 🙂
 
Got my financial aid info this morning in Hokie Spa, woot!

Now I can really start planning, looking for a place to live, etc 🙂

Gonna check out the intranet next. One of my good friends graduated a year ago from NC State so maybe she can hook me up 😛

I signed up for both electives. Pass/Fail 1 credit didn't sound too bad, haha. I still dunno about embryology...part of me is scared! Ah well. If I feel freaked out I can drop it during the window I suppose!
 
Tobysgirl81 said:
I signed up for classes today! Just as a heads up...I couldn't find the domestication class listed with the vet med classes, so instead I entered the class number and it came up for me.

I'm having a *OMG, not only did they let me in they're letting me sign up for classes* moment. And another mini-squee 🙂
Click to expand...


Hi. I am trying to register for classes. Where did you find the course number for the domestication class?

Thanks!
 
yuki214 said:
Hi. I am trying to register for classes. Where did you find the course number for the domestication class?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

It's BMVS 4014. There's a pdf about registering for classes that has all the course numbers on the class of 2014 website. It's pretty helpful.
 
I decided to swap Embryology for the Domestication class 😛 I figure 19 credits is plenty for my first semester, and I'll see how I do!

Now on to more mundane questions: I am planning my budget and wanted an opinion on local cable/internet services. I know some apartments offer free ethernet, but I am not going to rely on that.
I have Comcast in Baltimore, and it can be hit-or-miss with them. Didn't know how the other companies might stack up, especially cost wise. Have never had satellite cable either, wondering what that might be like.

Also, how is cell reception in the area? Can I rely on my cell as my primary phone, or do the mountains ever cause issues? (I have a verizon network phone)

And finally...any parts of town that you recommend people stay away from, or maybe areas that are "hidden gems?" I don't mind renting a house or split-house apartment, but don't want to wind up with tons of undergrad neighbors if I can help it. Also, I fear for Football season!
 
I am finishing up my graduate degree at the VMRCVM and have lived in Blacksburg for five years. I would suggest Comcast. I use them for cable/internet and no problems yet. I also have verizon and never lose service, except when your inside the vet school. You need to walk to a window or outside (but that is the case with all cell phones). If you haven't found a place to live yet, I would suggest Christiansburg. It's one town over from Blacksburg and undergrads don't really live out there. Plus its cheaper and only 10-15 minutes to Blacksburg depending on where you are.

Hope this helps. Any other questions let me know 🙂
 
I can't say too much about local cable/internet options, but for cell service, Verizon is great. AT&T is really spotty, so those of you with iphones had better find something else! As for housing, I'd say stay away from the undergrad section of Foxridge (they have a graduate section that is supposed to be quieter) and Terrace View. Those are the ones that come to mind as really loud. There are no places in Blacksburg that are sketchy or unsafe 🙂.
 
skkyy1329 said:
If you haven't found a place to live yet, I would suggest Christiansburg. It's one town over from Blacksburg and undergrads don't really live out there. Plus its cheaper and only 10-15 minutes to Blacksburg depending on where you are.

Hope this helps. Any other questions let me know 🙂
Click to expand...

I was wondering about this. I had heard that by 4th year you need to live within a certain driving time (15 mins) of the school. Is this still true? I had been restricting my search to Blacksburg, but if I can spread my search out to Christiansburg that will give us more options!
 
Some areas of Christiansburg are really close. The Oak Tree Townhome community is only a short hop on 460 to the vet school. Its all about the location. Certain areas in Cburg are closer and some are father away.
 
Veracosa said:
I was wondering about this. I had heard that by 4th year you need to live within a certain driving time (15 mins) of the school. Is this still true? I had been restricting my search to Blacksburg, but if I can spread my search out to Christiansburg that will give us more options!
Click to expand...

4th year you need to be within a 30 minute drive of the vet school I believe because you rotate being on call for emergencies.

I've got to talk to my landlady, but we might be looking for another roommate for the house I'm in. Turns out the evil one is leaving. Unfortunately, she told the landlady noone wanted to resign for next year. I'm HOPING she hasn't gotten anyone else yet, and if we can pick up a 3rd roommate we can carry the lease over. Its a 5 bedroom/2 bath duplex. With 3 people, rent is $350 each and we'd have two open rooms for storage/an office/whatever. But I've gotta talk to her first!

ETA - I have AT&T and the only place I DON'T get reception is the vet school 😛 And some roads - like Price's Fork, Pepper's Ferry and Glade road have some short "no cell" areas...But you'd expect it because the hills are pretty steep around you in those sections. Otherwise, no real problems.
 
Take both electives, domestication is easy (you just have to write a 1-2 paper for the final) and embryology is helpful for anatomy and physiology too. As a FA tracker I am not having any problem getting enough credits (our track electives are generally 2 credits instead of 1 since they take a lot of time) but some of the SA people are scrambling to get enough credits, and first year is the easiest year academically, though it won't feel that way at the time.

I bought a house in Christansburg and love it here. I am only 15 min away with traffic, and it is nice to come home to a nice quiet neighboorhood where my dogs can have a yard. Housing prices in Blacksburg are much higher. If you are renting I guess housing prices don't make any difference to you though! 🙂 I concur about staying away from parts of Foxridge and Terrace View though, too much partying and noise.

Congratulations on your acceptance, I'll see ya'll in the fall!
 
*does the happy squee dance* I have to celebrate...I TOTALLY just finished my O Chem lecture class with an *A*!! I don't even have to take the final next week! I'm so effing excited, its not even funny! Life just got infinitely better 🙂
 
Tobysgirl81 said:
*does the happy squee dance* I have to celebrate...I TOTALLY just finished my O Chem lecture class with an *A*!! I don't even have to take the final next week! I'm so effing excited, its not even funny! Life just got infinitely better 🙂
Click to expand...

Wow, great job!!! My final is on Friday at 7:45 AM! :scared: I actually liked this semester a lot more than first semester, so that's a good thing! Can't wait to be finished, though!
 
I hear ya! Good luck on your final, I'm sure you'll do great 🙂

I think the thing that I liked most about this semester versus last was I could actually look at equations now, and more or less predict what was going to happen. It was nice to finally have it all "come together" for me 🙂

Next year Biochem :scared: We'll survive, right?
 
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