VMRCVM increases class??

Veterinary Science Graduate Programs from U. of I.
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stephano

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I got this from our school newspaper article and I thought maybe I'll share it
with you guys..


Vet Med school hopeful about expansions

Tuesday, April, 5, 2011; 10:20 PM | 8 | ShareThis | Print

by Torie Deible, news staff writer



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The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine is adding three new buildings that are intended to accommodate larger incoming classes in the future.

“We’re really excited about the three buildings that we’re either currently constructing or looking to construct here at the college,” said Jennifer L. Hodgson, associate dean for professional programs at the VMRCVM.

Here is the full link ....
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/17273/vet-med-school-hopeful-about-expansions


So what ya think???
 
I attended their open house last weekend. They hope to have the expansion completed for the incoming 2012 class; however, they are only increasing the number of OOS spots. They are not increasing in-state/MD positions. (not sure if that's what you were questioning)

The additional updated facilities and equipment is a definite plus though!


HTH!
 
RN2DVM said:
I attended their open house last weekend. They hope to have the expansion completed for the incoming 2012 class; however, they are only increasing the number of OOS spots. They are not increasing in-state/MD positions. (not sure if that's what you were questioning)

The additional updated facilities and equipment is a definite plus though!


HTH!
Click to expand...

Oh.. well I'm IS so that's a bummer :\
At least having more OOS is good for the school i guess 😀 & and more diversity!
 
I was at the open house too. I think they said they were increasing OOS seats from 15 to 40.

What did you guys think of the open house? I thought the demostrations, students and doctors were great. Everyone was so friendly. The one aspect I found a little disappointing was the "Preparing a Competitive Application" lecture. I guess I was expecting it to be more "open" and informative if that makes sense. Felt like we were kind of just rushing through slides with general info. Overall though, it was a great experience!
 
I wonder if this has anything at all to do with, or will affect, the school's relationship with AUA (Antigua)? Any thoughts?
 
CanadianHope said:
I wonder if this has anything at all to do with, or will affect, the school's relationship with AUA (Antigua)? Any thoughts?
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Good question. I was thinking about this also. But I know the antigua relationship was only started to help fill in the spots of people who drop out (aka replace the tuition that would have been gone too). I think this is just a second way for them to increase the $$ that it seems all vet schools need right now.

However, I think it is odd that they would build 3 new buildings just to increase the OOS spots by 25 people?? If they are short on money, why the new buildings?? And if there are 3 new buildings, why not more OOS spots than just 25?
 
BlacKAT33 said:
However, I think it is odd that they would build 3 new buildings just to increase the OOS spots by 25 people?? If they are short on money, why the new buildings?? And if there are 3 new buildings, why not more OOS spots than just 25?
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Maybe they're doing it for the heck of burning money. As VTech is land grant, they get loads of money to use (they take away any left over/unused money). For example they renovated a dorm building to add sauna and movie theater/ all room for 15 mills... So maybe that's their another "little" side project. who know? just speculating here 😛 I might be completely wrong
 
WhtsThFrequency said:
hopefully this can pull up revenue for the school. They really need it...
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I think we will see class sizes increase at a lot of vet schools in the next few years, for the same reason, especially OOS seats. I have it on good authority that a prestigious SVM (can't say which on pain of death) is doubling their class size next year.
 
2CatMatt said:
I was at the open house too. I think they said they were increasing OOS seats from 15 to 40.

What did you guys think of the open house? I thought the demostrations, students and doctors were great. Everyone was so friendly. The one aspect I found a little disappointing was the "Preparing a Competitive Application" lecture. I guess I was expecting it to be more "open" and informative if that makes sense. Felt like we were kind of just rushing through slides with general info. Overall though, it was a great experience!
Click to expand...

I had a wonderful experience. I really enjoyed the fact that the tours were given by 1st and 2nd yr students so I had plenty of time to pick their brains and explore their experiences thus far. One of the students giving our tour was an OOS, prior French major. It was really cool to discuss his experience.

VT is really going back out to the community and asking for feedback on their graduates, where they can improve, etc and a major return has been "communication."

I, too, found everyone EXTREMELY friendly and more than willing to answer any/all questions. A completely different atmosphere from my experiences in nursing school (where we eat our own young.) As for the application presentation, I was pretty satisfied. (I attended the 2:00 session.) I asked the questions I had on my list and others were answered in the presentation. Maybe because we didn't have anything else scheduled in that room after 2pm allowed more interaction? I've had a few phone conversations with Mrs. Massie and she's always been very pleasant and extremely helpful. It was nice to put a face with the voice/name.

Overall, I would have liked to have seen the day extended by about an additional 2 hours as there were a few presentations I wasn't able to get to. Pathology, cytology and necropsy were what I enjoyed the most.
 
RN2DVM said:
Maybe because we didn't have anything else scheduled in that room after 2pm allowed more interaction? I've had a few phone conversations with Mrs. Massie and she's always been very pleasant and extremely helpful. It was nice to put a face with the voice/name.

Overall, I would have liked to have seen the day extended by about an additional 2 hours as there were a few presentations I wasn't able to get to. Pathology, cytology and necropsy were what I enjoyed the most.
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That's a good point. Pathology and necropsy were my favs too! I didn't get a chance to go to cytology and a couple others, so yes, 2 more hours would've been great.
 
WhtsThFrequency said:
Out of curiosity, who did the necropsy? Was is Sponenberg or Saunders? Hah.....I miss those dudes.
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Hmm, I don't remember his name, but he had a beard? I kind of loved his soft-spoken but totally enthusiastic demeanor, especially when pointing out a big lump of cancer in a cat brain. He was awesome. I did not expect to be so enthralled by necropsy, that's for sure. And I cannot stop picturing my two cats little brains 😀
 
WhtsThFrequency said:
Out of curiosity, who did the necropsy? Was is Sponenberg or Saunders? Hah.....I miss those dudes.
Click to expand...

I went in the afternoon, almost at the end and, had a woman, although I don't remember her name. Tech graduate, recently board certified, dark hair. It was just her and I, so I had quite a bit of time for Q&A, which was awesome.


I was going to do the tour first thing but considering how crowded it was (everyone wanted to do that first), I elected to do it later. In doing that, I had many stations to myself and was able to pick many brains one on one that way. Plus, the tour I finally did take was about 8 people tops. MUCH less crowded.
 
2CatMatt said:
Hmm, I don't remember his name, but he had a beard? I kind of loved his soft-spoken but totally enthusiastic demeanor, especially when pointing out a big lump of cancer in a cat brain. He was awesome.
Click to expand...

Haha, yes, http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/org/dbsp/faculty/sponenberg.asp probably Dr. Sponenberg, one of my favorite pathologists there. His sense of humor is....interesting to say the least. And he's good - Christmas before last, during my clinical year, I was on call with him and man, did we fly through those horses. The joke is he holds a record for the fastest horse necropsy ever - 11 min and 52 second, lol.

2CatMatt said:
I did not expect to be so enthralled by necropsy, that's for sure. And I cannot stop picturing my two cats little brains 😀
Click to expand...

Uh oh, you are coming over to the (my) dark side..muaaaaahahaha....
 
Ahh good to final hear where the increase is coming from officially. My suspicions were for OOS for an increase in money and to fit in more with other schools accepting higher numbers of OOS.

My feelings are that the construction period and first few years post aren't going to be great. once they really have their hospital established and the teaching facilities straightened out, i think the school will be fantastic. they already have very nice "smart" classroom facilities and if they truly hold up their promises to give students more hands on practice that'll be great. i know vet students that currently go there and complain about how they rarely touch an animal or do anything besides study (aka no practicing or doing) which i've always thought was interesting.
 
I have heard that the additions will allow more area for research (bring in lots of $) as well as get some of the staff better offices, among other things. It's not just to "burn money". You should see some of our professor's offices, they're more like padded cells - so tiny and just floating walls! Yikes!
 
jmo1012 said:
i know vet students that currently go there and complain about how they rarely touch an animal or do anything besides study (aka no practicing or doing) which i've always thought was interesting.
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Something that just started this semester for first-years was rotations in clinics a few times a semester. I did community practice a few weeks ago and will be in ICU in two weeks. I believe that this will allow more hands-on experience during the first 2 years. It's pretty cool and gives you more access to the clinicians in the hospital.

The additions are all about expanding OOS spots. One of the buildings is definitely for research into infectious diseases and there will be a translational medicine research facility that will work with the College of Agriculture. I'm kind of jealous that I won't have more time to see all the cool, new things before I graduate. Hopefully it will really will be finished by next year.
 
RadRadTerp said:
Something that just started this semester for first-years was rotations in clinics a few times a semester. I did community practice a few weeks ago and will be in ICU in two weeks. I believe that this will allow more hands-on experience during the first 2 years. It's pretty cool and gives you more access to the clinicians in the hospital.
Click to expand...

I'm very glad to hear that. One of the most vexing things during my four years there was how out of place we felt in fourth year, not knowing much about hospital procedures and layouts, etc. We did some "shadow" rotations during third year, but it really should have started as early as first year. However, it was still a wonderful education and I thoroughly enjoyed me time there. I miss my mountains 🙂
 
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