What Do You Love About Your Program?

[cvetmed]

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Hoping this thread can take off with current veterinary students talking about why they love their programs! I think this could propagate a lot of positivity and also offer applying students some insight into what programs they think might fit them the best.

So.... Why do you love your program? What has it done right? Why are you proud to be a student at your college of veterinary medicine?

 

[dyachei]

I loved that my program was in state and I was able to pay off my loans within 10 years.

While it had other good assets (like a great exotics team and smaller class sizes than many), that was the main factor for me when I picked it.

 

[supershorty]

There are 2 main things that really stand out to me about my program (UMN); the faculty really being involved with students and supporting us in our career endeavors, and the program's responsiveness to issues raised by students.

Point 1: I was a student rep while I was in my first 2.5 years of vet school, so some of our faculty knew me from that, but then I was gone for the last 4 years doing a PhD. When I came back, so many faculty members were supportive of me, congratulating me on finishing and wanting to chat about what I'd done for the last 4 years, and it made a really welcoming atmosphere for someone coming back into a class I didn't know at all. I also very much want to be a surgeon and have sought out loads of hours hanging out with our small animal surgery department, which they've supported and rewarded through letting me keep coming back

Point 2: I've had multiple meetings with the CVM administration over the years about how the program can do better, and they not only have had those meetings willingly, but have taken the suggestions to heart and implemented changes based on them (sometimes - I'm not going to pretend that academic bureaucracy doesn't exist at UMN because it very much does). As a student representative on both the professional student and grad student level, I've always felt that our voiced concerns were heard.

There are many other good assets about UMN, but those are the main things that make it great in my experience, plus it's my in-state school so it was my least expensive option. That was a major factor when I chose to go here, and I encourage that to be the primary consideration for applicants each year.

 

[supershorty]

There's a pros/cons list around here somewhere for all the programs, but I'll have to find it later if someone doesn't beat me to it.

 

[katiemcat]

In state tuition, support from administration, awesome professors, they’re in the process of updating facilities, the option to do a certificate in an area (shelter med, aquatics, LA, etc) with no extra cost, amazing teaching hospital, amazing volunteering opportunities, ability to critique courses/professors, frequent wellness events.

 

[SkiOtter]

There's a pros/cons list around here somewhere for all the programs, but I'll have to find it later if someone doesn't beat me to it.

I gotchu https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K0kTo57gzix5uA-gUEaK4I6r2vL4WdMSl8GgPbnQOAM/edit

 

[JaynaAli]

That it’s over? (Joking…mostly. But that is absolutely my favorite thing about my residency lol)

But seriously though it was my instate so it was affordable…that’s the #1 best thing. I was able to pay it off within two years of finishing my residency. Price for IS has gone up significantly since I graduated almost ten years ago but still. I also liked our class size…it was only 88. Again, that has gone up since I graduated, but it was a good number while not being too many or too uncomfortable in the facilities. And while I didn’t go into GP, I think my school has historically done a good job preparing people for GP positions where they don’t feel overwhelmed or in need of heavy mentoring.

 

[Z03]

It would be helpful if people could include which school it is! 🙂

 

[dyachei]

It would be helpful if people could include which school it is! 🙂

went to UTK and graduated in '11

but I guess my point is that *most* vet schools are absolutely fine. And while there are small differences it's not going to majorly change your education or chances of being a successful vet.

I think there are some exceptions to this. I personally would prefer a school with a teaching hospital. I know there are now several schools without one, but I found it very beneficial to be able to "ground" myself in what I wanted to do by visiting anytime I needed to remember why I wanted to be a vet during the more classroom learning years

 

[alleycat03]

I love KSU. It is my in-state school, and I greatly appreciate that I will leave school with *slightly* more reasonable loans. Vet school is HARD, but I am thankful for the resources the school provides. They really stress how important mental health is, provide unlimited sessions with mental health counselors/therapists free of cost, and really stress making connections outside of class. We are welcome to wander the teaching hospital and can contact clinicians to shadow, watch surgeries, follow our 4th year buddy around, etc. I also love the shelter med opportunities and our shelter med certificate program. I have gotten very involved in extracurriculars as well, and I am glad I have made connections with students in all classes. Lastly, I have really enjoyed our professors and how much they care about students. Every professor I've reached out to has been willing to meet with me and go over exams and previous topics. You can tell that professors are passionate about their class and teaching, and they are there to support our learning and really help us understand the material. The school also offers peer tutoring and I have found that to be incredibly helpful.

I do have gripes about our curriculum, but they've changed it for the better starting with the class below mine. I really like the changes they made and I do wish I got to benefit from the curriculum change. I am a bit envious of the first years, but it's not like my curriculum is horrible. They've just made some pretty smart changes that I think will be really beneficial.

 

[twelvetigers]

That it’s over? (Joking…mostly. But that is absolutely my favorite thing about my residency lol)

I was absolutely marching my way to the bottom of the thread to be like, "THAT IT'S DONE" lol.

Soooooo helpful I know.

Also that it's paid off. I feel like $80k for 4 years is a steal anymore, which is sad.

 

[kaybear]

I gotchu https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K0kTo57gzix5uA-gUEaK4I6r2vL4WdMSl8GgPbnQOAM/edit

This link expired 🙁 Do you have an updated link/document?

 

[SkiOtter]

This link expired 🙁 Do you have an updated link/document?

@battie did you have the pro/con document saved somewhere?

 

[battie]

@battie did you have the pro/con document saved somewhere?

😬 I don't. But I can do some digging over the next few days to see if I can resurrect it. Someone can potentially post on the APVMA Facebook page to see if anyone saved a copy to. I just can't cause no longer on Facebook

 

[battie]

I'm also willing to set a new one up.

Edit: yeah, I'll likely end up making a new one. Give me a couple days, folks.

 

[kaybear]

@battie Thank you!

 

[battie]

@battie Thank you!

This weekend is my overnight weekend. So it will be my overnight project. If you don't hear from me by Monday evening, remind me!