Like you, I applied this cycle so I’m not sure if my opinion matters but here we are. I’m from Southern California and like you, currently live on the east coast. I didn’t apply to Western because I knew there was no way in heck I wanted to live in Pomona - high cost of living, not the safest area, crowded, etc. I think there are some pros to the distributive model for clinics but I also knew I’d choose a school with a teaching hospital over one without. But I feel like that’s personal preference - I work for a doctor that was in LMU’s first graduating class. She worked in a teaching hospital prior to vet school and knew it wasn’t the environment for her. She mostly loved the distributive model and is a perfectly competent doctor so I don’t think that’s a necessarily a deal breaker.
Anyway, I was also accepted to and will likely choose K-State if I’m not accepted to my top choice and I can tell you why I would choose it over other schools I’ve interviewed at.
The curriculum. I like PBL but personally feel I need a traditional lecture learning environment with a little PBL sprinkled in here and there. I think K-State does little PBL sessions on Fridays but I may be confusing it with another school (can’t remember). Regardless, it’s nice that Fridays are a light day. Also nice that lectures are recorded, though I think that’s pretty typical for most vet schools now.
The emphasis they place on mental health. It seems many schools are taking steps to ensure mental health of students but I like that K-State has therapists dedicated to the vet school, do their best to spread exams out (they try to schedule only 1 exam/week), and are building up the little gym space in the vet med building.
Mentorship. I like that, as a first year, you’re paired up with a 4th year student that you can shadow in the teaching hospital, which is conveniently connected to the vet med building. This may not be important to you but I’m considering a specialty so this is great to me. I also really like that they try to pair us with faculty members in our area of interest that I think we get to meet with monthly (iirc).
The little things ... like leaving free snacks for us in the student lounge and the food donation thing so you can still feed yourself if money is tight.
Dr. Carpenter if exotics are your jam!
Manhattan! I explored the town a little bit before the ice storm rolled in and people seemed pretty friendly and there are some really pretty areas (Flint Hills!). And cost of living is pretty darn cheap.
Random cool things ... the rabies lab! I think it would be super rad to join a research project or lab for a summer and all that they do in literally the world’s busiest rabies lab sounds super interesting. (One of my interviewers works the rabies lab so I may be biased)
So much large animal stuff if that’s your jam!
The Biosecurity Research Institute!
Discounted pet food program!
The mobile spay/neuter unit as part of the shelter med rotation! Such a great opportunity to get lots of surgeries under your belt before graduation and support the surrounding communities.
Also really liked that the student lounge and anatomy lab are accessible 24/7 but I believe quite a few schools are doing that now-a-days.
My 3 interviewers were amazing. I felt like they really wanted to get to know me as a person and we enjoyed some laughs. Just an overall great experience!
Ok, so I loved K-State. And asked a ton of questions when I was there
Good luck with your decision!!
