WesternU CVM Vs UC Davis SVM

[that redhead]

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as everyone love healthy debeates .

That's about all that I understood from your post. But if you'd like to continue to instigate problems, carry on.

 

[tuwest2011]

That's about all that I understood from your post. But if you'd like to continue to instigate problems, carry on.

well if students can not have a healthy debate and discussion in a professional matter I dont know what the world has come to .

 

[gsi924]

well if students can not have a healthy debate and discussion in a professional matter I dont know what the world has come to .

What is the debate? if you wanting to debate then it seems like there should be a winner and a loser, but this is not the case, both schools are great for their own reason and everyone will like and dislike each school for their own reason. If you want a discussion then there needs to be a slight attitude change and exne on the aggression eh

 

[CorporateFatCat]

well if students can not have a healthy debate and discussion in a professional matter I dont know what the world has come to .

Honestly, it's hard to take this discussion seriously when your grammer and spelling is so atrocious. The main reason why I won't be applying to Western is that tuition is so high. Also, I hear they accept more non-trad students, which I do not consider myself. I will be applying to UC Davis and they are my top choice. That's all I'll say because things in this thread are kind of crazy....😱

 

[gsi924]

well if students can not have a healthy debate and discussion in a professional matter I dont know what the world has come to .

What is the debate, was this thread created to see which school is best like there is only one winner? Then that is a pitty cause both schools are great for their own reason and people will love it or leave for whatever reason, besides if it is a debate who would not want to go on edge for their school because if you attack the school you attack its students

So if you are done debating and want a productive meaningful discussion then check the attitude and ex ne on the aggression se?

 

[that redhead]

well if students can not have a healthy debate and discussion in a professional matter I dont know what the world has come to .

It isn't being done in a professional manner, which is why most of us have a problem with it in the first place.

 

[quantized]

professional

I'd like to think that most people on this board have a rather different definition of that word than what you have demonstrated thus far. You might want to work on that.

 

[tuwest2011]

What is the debate, was this thread created to see which school is best like there is only one winner? Then that is a pitty cause both schools are great for their own reason and people will love it or leave for whatever reason, besides if it is a debate who would not want to go on edge for their school because if you attack the school you attack its students

So if you are done debating and want a productive meaningful discussion then check the attitude and ex ne on the aggression se?

Sadly my grammar error is do to me multitasking and not doing spell check ! I will still be attending veterinary school grammatical errors or not. Where have i attacked the college and 2nd of all when have i not gave props AKA biggups to DAvis ?😀 If you dont like the thread then please quit responding. I am a assertive and tactful and I will not be made a criminal considering all the cheap blows on this thread.

 

[twelvetigers]

I think I just threw up a little.

 

[tuwest2011]

and it starts again smh

 

[tuwest2011]

I'd like to think that most people on this board have a rather different definition of that word than what you have demonstrated thus far. You might want to work on that.

and you my friend have been one of the main Sdners adding fuel to this thread with your sarcasm and cheap blows and since where far down in the thread you want to hide behind that !

 

[goldnretrivrgrl]

Guys, seriously. Relax. Both schools are amazing! EVERYONE can agree on that. The decision to apply to one, both, or none is a personal decision. And in X years we'll all be veterinarians either way! Isn't that the most important thing?
For me personally, I didn't apply to Davis (super low OOS acceptance rate and let's face it, I'm just not that special) or to Western (the idea of an all PBL curriculum worries me because I learn better in traditional lecture). However, I'll be thinking longingly of California weather when I'm in West Philadelphia next year. 🙂

 

[nyanko]

.

 

[TomTheK9Fixr]

After reading this thread, I wish to formally decline my offers from Western and UCD... 😛

 

[psilovethomas]

Nothing about this "debate" is "healthy". What is the purpose of this thread? To bash schools? To say why mine is better than yours? How old are we? Are we not preprofessional/professional students? GROW UP😱
callin' it.

 

[TrocarKarin]

Hey Karin, have you seen the VMRCVM histo site? It's really detailed and could be helpful for normal histology (though not so much for histopathology).

I have that one bookmarked. I also like these two. It's just one of those subjects that I don't really like, and the book I have is so dull (and in black-and-white), which makes it worse.

 

[Savethewhales]

I am wondering if someone can elaborate on what the UCD first years will be doing during their first year clinics? When I watched the curriculum videos the professor said they would be spending 8 hours every four weeks with a senior. Does anyone know if it will be a shadowing sort of thing or will the first years be learning how to restrain and do blood draws and place catheters...stuff like that?

I am asking because someone suggested asking other students since I didnt get much answered on my interview day and I have been actively messaging people and trying to find out more info but still have unanswered questions about Davis and the new curriculum. Though I know that no one will wont know details for sure until its implemented...

I already acknowledged being reactive earlier and I apologized and agreed that I should have initially approached that differently. I dont think its necessary to continue on in that direction so I am asking a legitimate question that I have had trouble finding an answer to

 

[nyanko]

It's just one of those subjects that I don't really like, and the book I have is so dull (and in black-and-white), which makes it worse.

ooooh yuck! I actually haven't really seen a histo book that I've liked either. I used Kierszenbaum a little during my histo course first quarter, and have a copy of the Samuelson book too, but neither are really all that great. What helped me in the class was that all of our histology slides are on our course site and the professors did voice tours for them that zoomed in on important parts, pointed things out and explained things a little better so you could hear them while you see the slide.

Oh yeah, I have used this thing too, for quizzing myself when we've had histo stuff in our other classes too. They don't have THAT many slides up but it's yet another resource and it did help me in cardio, GI and respiratory a bit.

 

[tuwest2011]

Save the whales you really wont get your questions answered now ! lol But aye I'd just let it go because it will just start all over again and we will look like the bad guys! I am hoping that a mature enough student will step up and respond the above post considering we went some hours without lashing out @ each other.

 

[MadDog20]

I was very excited when I first saw this thread; PLEASE stop the childish, nonsensical, grammatically horrific part of it. This is not a debate about which school is better BOTH are great schools. They are however structured differently and may be better suited for producing different types of veterinarians based on curriculum, interests, and PERSONAL learning styles. I hope future posts will highlight pros/cons of different systems in a way that will be helpful to future students. And yes, while we will all be veterinarians the way we word an argument and represent ourselves reflects on our education, so please also take time to think before responding.

First some clarification points:
- Western in no way claims to have invented PBL or considers it being adopted without credit. It is a path that many vet schools are starting to look at and integrate into their curriculum, based on the success of PBL curriculums and students across multiple professions. Many med schools, business schools etc. have used this model long before Western and Western modeled their curriculum off such successful models. It is a different curriculum, not for everyone, and an area where questions arise- which is what this thread should be used to address, unbiased if possible.

- Western's class size is 106, but your first two years of PBL curriculum are composed of rotating PBL groups of approx. 8 students and 1 professor guiding the group. So while your class is large, it is structured very differently from a traditional class composed of a lecture hall of your peers.

My Thoughts:
I never looked at Davis, so I will not speak on it, but I did spend a lot of time comparing Western to other larger, state schools with a more traditional curriculum. I thought the PBL system was a PERSONAL plus for Western based on MY learning style. I always went to small schools with individualized attention, while my undergrad was not PBL, classes were small, professors knew who you were, and expected you to show up prepared and ready to discuss/answer questions. As a post-bacc completing my pre-reqs I found myself as one of 80+ in a lecture hall in disbelief that I was paying someone to read to me off a powerpoint (I learned to read at an early age, and feel I can do so more productively on my own time). So I was able to evaluate the "death by powerpoint" lecture style for my needs. For me, vet school was not about getting an A, I can easily regurgitate powerpoint material that I cram in my head. The question I had to ask myself was what curriculum would make me the best doctor. At the end of the day with my style of powerpoint cramming, I had to take an honest look at myself...its easy to think you are smart b/c you have good grades, but I had to ask myself how much I actually learned or retained. So again this is just a personal learning style, but I realized that I was much more likely to cram/short-term memorize with lecture type material and my retention rate was fairly poor long term. The material I have best retained, came from my case-study type undergrad classes where I was responsible for the material as we went and was forced to show up on point and contribute (vs. surfing the internet while being read to).

Sorry SOO long winded but that was an example of how I thought the PBL curriculum suited me personally, I know plenty of students who love, the organization of lecture + powerpoints, and do exceptionally well with the material presented that way.

I think the most important thing is to look at a curriculum and your goals. So for research and lab animal medicine state schools, like Davis, will have the name, funding, and prominent researchers (facilities in general - Western does not have a lab animal facility or dedicated teaching hospital). That being said, any opportunity is about the student and what you make of it, Western for example lets you arrange your 4th year rotations anywhere, on your own, as approved. So if you wanted to do lab animal medicine, you could organize some of your 4th year rotations in various lab animal facilities, and what better way to get your foot in the door for future opportunities. Which brings up another part I like about Western, having the freedom go anywhere for 4th year rotations, seems to me to be a great way to A.) begin to specialize and B.) possibly get your foot in the door for job/internship/residency opportunities in your specific area or even facility of interest.
-Again think about the implications for YOU personally…research oriented school, specialized cases, technological advantages at rotations, some LOVE this, I have also met doctors who go into private practices find they don’t have the technology that they were trained on in vet school available to them, and have to learn to do things the way they are done at their private clinic from scratch, the “old-fashioned” way.

Sorry that was so longwinded. I just want to get the tread evaluating curriculums, and use it as a helpful tool for those of us making decisions.

 

[tuwest2011]

I was very excited when I first saw this thread; PLEASE stop the childish, nonsensical, grammatically horrific part of it. This is not a debate about which school is better BOTH are great schools. They are however structured differently and may be better suited for producing different types of veterinarians based on curriculum, interests, and PERSONAL learning styles. I hope future posts will highlight pros/cons of different systems in a way that will be helpful to future students. And yes, while we will all be veterinarians the way we word an argument and represent ourselves reflects on our education, so please also take time to think before responding.

First some clarification points:
- Western in no way claims to have invented PBL or considers it being adopted without credit. It is a path that many vet schools are starting to look at and integrate into their curriculum, based on the success of PBL curriculums and students across multiple professions. Many med schools, business schools etc. have used this model long before Western and Western modeled their curriculum off such successful models. It is a different curriculum, not for everyone, and an area where questions arise- which is what this thread should be used to address, unbiased if possible.

- Western's class size is 106, but your first two years of PBL curriculum are composed of rotating PBL groups of approx. 8 students and 1 professor guiding the group. So while your class is large, it is structured very differently from a traditional class composed of a lecture hall of your peers.

My Thoughts:
I never looked at Davis, so I will not speak on it, but I did spend a lot of time comparing Western to other larger, state schools with a more traditional curriculum. I thought the PBL system was a PERSONAL plus for Western based on MY learning style. I always went to small schools with individualized attention, while my undergrad was not PBL, classes were small, professors knew who you were, and expected you to show up prepared and ready to discuss/answer questions. As a post-bacc completing my pre-reqs I found myself as one of 80+ in a lecture hall in disbelief that I was paying someone to read to me off a powerpoint (I learned to read at an early age, and feel I can do so more productively on my own time). So I was able to evaluate the "death by powerpoint" lecture style for my needs. For me, vet school was not about getting an A, I can easily regurgitate powerpoint material that I cram in my head. The question I had to ask myself was what curriculum would make me the best doctor. At the end of the day with my style of powerpoint cramming, I had to take an honest look at myself...its easy to think you are smart b/c you have good grades, but I had to ask myself how much I actually learned or retained. So again this is just a personal learning style, but I realized that I was much more likely to cram/short-term memorize with lecture type material and my retention rate was fairly poor long term. The material I have best retained, came from my case-study type undergrad classes where I was responsible for the material as we went and was forced to show up on point and contribute (vs. surfing the internet while being read to).

Sorry SOO long winded but that was an example of how I thought the PBL curriculum suited me personally, I know plenty of students who love, the organization of lecture + powerpoints, and do exceptionally well with the material presented that way.

I think the most important thing is to look at a curriculum and your goals. So for research and lab animal medicine state schools, like Davis, will have the name, funding, and prominent researchers (facilities in general - Western does not have a lab animal facility or dedicated teaching hospital). That being said, any opportunity is about the student and what you make of it, Western for example lets you arrange your 4th year rotations anywhere, on your own, as approved. So if you wanted to do lab animal medicine, you could organize some of your 4th year rotations in various lab animal facilities, and what better way to get your foot in the door for future opportunities. Which brings up another part I like about Western, having the freedom go anywhere for 4th year rotations, seems to me to be a great way to A.) begin to specialize and B.) possibly get your foot in the door for job/internship/residency opportunities in your specific area or even facility of interest.
-Again think about the implications for YOU personally…research oriented school, specialized cases, technological advantages at rotations, some LOVE this, I have also met doctors who go into private practices find they don't have the technology that they were trained on in vet school available to them, and have to learn to do things the way they are done at their private clinic from scratch, the "old-fashioned" way.

Sorry that was so longwinded. I just want to get the tread evaluating curriculums, and use it as a helpful tool for those of us making decisions.

Number of Applications Received753
Number of Interviews Granted294
Number of Enrolled Students105
Please everyone lets just forgive and forget and keep the thread moving with passion and honesty . Everyone who gave a cheap shot is aware of that and has moved on. Please do me a favor and quit with trying to correct people unless you have facts that are conducive to the overall thread .

 

[ApplicantNSoCal]

Our program rocks! First years now have PBL (problem based learning), CBL (case based learning), traditional lectures, hands on laboratories, Rotations in the Vet Med Teaching Hospital ( a tertiary care center), rotations in UC D's Community Practice (i.e. a primary care, general practice clinic where you can see everyday cases just like you would as a GP), the rotations are for us to learn (not just shadow the 4th years), experience at non-profit low cost clinics, experience at spay and neuter days and much much much more. You name, we have and get to do it.

 

[nyanko]

Our program rocks! First years now have PBL (problem based learning), CBL (case based learning), traditional lectures, hands on laboratories, Rotations in the Vet Med Teaching Hospital ( a tertiary care center), rotations in UC D's Community Practice (i.e. a primary care, general practice clinic where you can see everyday cases just like you would as a GP), the rotations are for us to learn (not just shadow the 4th years), experience at non-profit low cost clinics, experience at spay and neuter days and much much much more. You name, we have and get to do it.

you're welcome. 😉

 

[StormWater]

you're welcome. 😉

Seriously, NYANKO.... the work that you and the other "2014's and up" did in establishing the curriculum for this trad/PBL/CBL approach has really paid off during this 1st semester. Sure there have been some cancelled classes, cancelled/converted tests and other rough spots, but given the complete overhaul that everything was given, it has been a smashing success.

You and the others should be very proud of the efforts that you've put forth to make it better for everyone, but you,. So take a !

 

[HelloNello]

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[TigerWillow]

Wow....I just read this thread and I seriously want to vomit. I applied to both Western and UC Davis and certain people on this thread (not to be named) are making me re-think my choices.

I hope certain individuals, who shall go unnamed, realize they are representing not only themselves, but their schools badly. You can be proud of you school and you should be proud of your school (for heavens sake, you picked it so I would hope that you love it) but being snarky and putting down other schools is unclassy. Prospective students (like myself) read these threads and some individuals are coming off as rude and disrespectful. FYI, these kind of attitudes reflect badly on your school as a whole. Nobody wants to go to a school with rude and antagonistic a-holes.

Maybe you will be a knowledgeable DVM when you graduate, but I doubt if you will be a good DVM with an attitude like the one you have shown on this thread.

For everyone's sake, I hope this thread disappears deep into the depths of SDN never to be found again. Ugh I need to get the bad taste from this thread out of my mouth...

Peace out!

Ditto. Just ditto. But, unfortunately, when we post on it, it comes up to the top of the threads. I seriously thought this was an allopathic med thread. Hopefully snarkiness will cease to exist. But as the previous comments posted, I wouldn't base your views of what the school is like based on a few arshat people posting anonymously on an online thread. I applied to both schools and will be very luck to get in!

 

[Ilikedogs]

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