Oh, trust me, Mysterymare. I was super excited about USU/WSU as well. WIMU is a GREAT program. This was a difficult decision to make. NCSU has been my dream school for a number of years (long before I ever moved to Utah, and before WIMU was ever conceived). I made a trip from California to Raleigh specifically to visit the school in the mid-2000s. NCSU has a dedicated, tracking program in laboratory animal medicine [it is the only veterinary school in the US to offer such a curriculum], and is located in the heart of Research Triangle Park (the largest concentration of biomedical research corporations in the world). In terms of what the school can offer me with respect to opportunities in my area of interest, NCSU is really second to none. That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't aspects of the WSU package that I'll miss. I LOVED the concept of COLE (I was really looking forward to participating), the Diagnostic Challenges sounded amazing, and the general non-competitive nature of WSU's culture was very appealing. As I said, a difficult choice to make. Both are excellent schools, each with its own positives and negatives. Whoever takes my place will have a wonderful experience- I have no doubt. I'm rooting for you to gain an acceptance off the waitlist 🙂 As I said, WIMU will always hold a special place in my heart. I'll be checking back in frequently to see how things fly. Best of success!