Wisconsin v Tufts (both OOS)

[kaybear]

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I know this is a little late but I have been accepted to UWisconsin and pulled from the Tufts Cummings waitlist (both my OOS). I am hoping to specialize in Laboratory Animal Med, which I know Tufts has a dual degree MS for. However, the Wisconsin has extensive research options and connections which is important to me.

I am also in an extremely extremely lucky position where I will likely graduate with no debt from any school due to family assistance with my education and living costs. So my decision is largely reliant on quality of life and COL North Grafton v Madison, but most importantly, the program comparisons between these schools. Let me know your thoughts!

 

[thesunshinefuturedogtor]

I would recommend Wisconsin. They have an incredibly strong research program in many fields and lab animal opportunities from my research on the program. Wisconsin also has one of the few Primate Research Centers so you would be most likely able to connections into non-human primate research through Wisconsin.

Also, Madison is adorable!! 10/10 would recommend

 

[kaybear]

I would recommend Wisconsin. They have an incredibly strong research program in many fields and lab animal opportunities from my research on the program. Wisconsin also has one of the few Primate Research Centers so you would be most likely able to connections into non-human primate research through Wisconsin.

Also, Madison is adorable!! 10/10 would recommend

I have heard about this and this is a huge factor. The ONLY thing is that I am from NY and travel would be pretty difficult (flight/15hr drive). I know I would not be driving back and forth that often but, when I do, it will be expensive and time-consuming. Should this be a huge factor to consider?

Also I am hoping to build a career somewhere in the Northeast. Is it a plus if Tufts is in the northeast or does it not matter in the grand scheme?

 

[max_wildlife]

I have heard about this and this is a huge factor. The ONLY thing is that I am from NY and travel would be pretty difficult (flight/15hr drive). I know I would not be driving back and forth that often but, when I do, it will be expensive and time-consuming. Should this be a huge factor to consider?

Also I am hoping to build a career somewhere in the Northeast. Is it a plus if Tufts is in the northeast or does it not matter in the grand scheme?

I'm not lab animal focused, but I'm from New York state, and chose Tufts in part for the proximity to family. My parents are older, and there were a couple of emergencies that required my involvement throughout my four years in vet school. I'm okay with my choice, but I might've gone somewhere else if I felt things were more stable at home. So it depends on why you're seeking for that proximity to NY; ultimately, I'd focus more on the opportunities at each school rather than ease of travel, especially if it's not a situation where you need to get back to NY asap on a given day. If Wisconsin has a good research center and offers more connections, I'd definitely take that into account. I can't speak to the lab animal program here, but ultimately, I don't think the school itself matters as much as the experience that you get during school.

As for COL/QOL, it depends on what you're looking for. Grafton is 45 mins out of Boston on a good traffic day, but Boston prices are still a thing out here. I made an effort to get to Boston, Portland, Salem, etc most weekends of vet school, or to the beaches in southern Maine. Grafton itself is pretty quiet. You're never far from restaurants/stores etc, but there's no college town feel to it. My neighbors are lovely, but mostly retired or young families. I made most of my vet school memories outside of Grafton.

 

[battie]

The ONLY thing is that I am from NY and travel would be pretty difficult (flight/15hr drive). I know I would not be driving back and forth that often but, when I do, it will be expensive and time-consuming. Should this be a huge factor to consider?

Just here for the travel aspect. I'm from Aurora, CO, but went to U of Illinois for vet school. 16 hour drive vs 2.5 hr bus ride, then 2 hour flight with a layover between the bus and flight (ultimately ~8-10hrs if flying).

Was it a PITA? Yes. Would it have been a deal breaker if I'd had more than one school option? Not really. At the time, CO didn't have many vet schools close besides CSU, so most of my OOS options were a 10+ hr drive give or take (and Kansas was still 7hrs as the next closest school). The biggest factor was timing travel with weather.

I had a major family emergency during my second year where I had to go home at a literal moment's notice. I was gone for 2.5 weeks. In situations like that, you can get a rental car to drive to the nearest airport pretty easy to get an emergency flight. That's what we ended up doing in my situation.

If you're truly lucky enough you have the money to go to vet school debt free with the potential incoming loan changes, then I would put your career aspirations over the travel implications.

 

[kaybear]

I'm not lab animal focused, but I'm from New York state, and chose Tufts in part for the proximity to family. My parents are older, and there were a couple of emergencies that required my involvement throughout my four years in vet school. I'm okay with my choice, but I might've gone somewhere else if I felt things were more stable at home. So it depends on why you're seeking for that proximity to NY; ultimately, I'd focus more on the opportunities at each school rather than ease of travel, especially if it's not a situation where you need to get back to NY asap on a given day. If Wisconsin has a good research center and offers more connections, I'd definitely take that into account. I can't speak to the lab animal program here, but ultimately, I don't think the school itself matters as much as the experience that you get during school.

As for COL/QOL, it depends on what you're looking for. Grafton is 45 mins out of Boston on a good traffic day, but Boston prices are still a thing out here. I made an effort to get to Boston, Portland, Salem, etc most weekends of vet school, or to the beaches in southern Maine. Grafton itself is pretty quiet. You're never far from restaurants/stores etc, but there's no college town feel to it. My neighbors are lovely, but mostly retired or young families. I made most of my vet school memories outside of Grafton.

Thanks for your input! Was living in a quiet town that boring as a vet student? I assume in vet school you're constantly busy and don't have time to spend lots of time leisurely so I guess I'm asking does your living place matter? Because that is where I am having trouble between the two schools. I visited Grafton and the campus yesterday and it was VERY quiet, is it like that all the time or just because there are less students?

 

[max_wildlife]

Thanks for your input! Was living in a quiet town that boring as a vet student? I assume in vet school you're constantly busy and don't have time to spend lots of time leisurely so I guess I'm asking does your living place matter? Because that is where I am having trouble between the two schools. I visited Grafton and the campus yesterday and it was VERY quiet, is it like that all the time or just because there are less students?

it's a quieter campus to begin with, but it's probably quieter than normal with it being summer break. different clubs have different events during the school year so there are things going on, but not as often as a big school. like in contrast, i went to grad school on the syracuse university campus - just a really classic college vibe - and the two experiences were so completely different that i can't even compare them. doesn't mean the grafton experience was bad, just different. i played pick up soccer in first and second year here, and was a chair in the wildlife & exotics club. there's also ultimate frisbee, softball, and volleyball meet-ups. but that was pretty much the extent of my social activity directly on campus. being a high energy kind of person, i was often bored in grafton. i took my dog hiking a lot. it's also how i ended up in boston/salem/maine most weekends. i'm pretty type B personality, and didn't focus on grades, i just focused on passing and graduated in the bottom quarter of my class. i was fine with it, but i'm not sure if it would work for everyone.

when clinics rolled around and it was time to study for navle, i definitely spent less time out and about and exploring.