WSU vs UF

[meowgnificent]

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I'm currently on the waitlist for Florida, but I'm posting now so I can make a quick decision in the event that I'm moved off of the waitlist. I understand I might not come off of the waitlist.

I’m a non-trad and was accepted to Washington which is my in-state school. I am extremely grateful to have this option, however my career has been in animal sheltering and the reason I went back to school was to become a shelter vet. Many of the doctors I currently work with have told me I need to go to Florida if I get in. The cost difference is about $60k (I’m only looking at tuition, as I will only potentially need loans for tuition).

I have been overwhelmed by this, so I'm looking for some honest feedback. I understand the “go to the cheapest school” feedback and I’ve declined my seat at more expensive schools, but my hesitancy is based on the DVMs who have been telling me it needs to be FL and on my QOL in Pullman, as someone who has not been having a great time living in WA the last few years.

I made a pro/con for WA that I was hoping some students might help me address. I don’t really have a list for FL, so I’d love any input on that as well (good or bad).

WSU Pros:
-P/F curriculum
-Recorded lectures. I have chronic back pain that is triggered by sitting for long periods of time, and this is a great accommodation if I’m in a flare up.
-I have heard nothing but good things from everyone who goes there, including from the DVMs I work with who are WSU grads.
-Proximity to spouse. They'll still be 6 hours away, though, and the rest of my support system is in the south.

WSU Cons:
-No tracking. I don't like that it's a mixed animal curriculum, even though I appreciate it's good for the NAVLE. I am sad to miss out on shelter medicine courses and opportunities.
-No clinicals until 4th year. I'm a very hands-on learner, and when I was visiting I had some current students tell me they don't touch an animal until year 4.
-Pullman. This is the big one, because I did not like Pullman when visiting. I understand I'll be busy, but during the application process we're constantly asked how we're going to make time for our own hobbies/interests. Then I read over and over again that there's nothing to do in Pullman, so I’m curious about how people are staying sane? I’m worried about depression from the isolation and weather. I've also done some light apartment hunting and most of the places I've seen don't accept pets (I have cats that will have to come with me) or have things like A/C. It just seems rough out there... 😭

I don’t have a list for UF right now other than:
-Incredible shelter medicine program
-Clinicals start sooner
-Way better location & weather, for mental health purposes
-Fixed tuition
-More opportunities for cool/unique experiences with wildlife or aquatic animals that I won’t get again after school (per my interviewer)
-Con: 6 hour flight from spouse, compared to 6 hour dive
-The other downside is I need to sign up for one more class required for FL, but without knowing my spot on the waitlist it could be a waste

I’d love some feedback beyond going to the cheaper school for the sake of debt. I’m trying not to look at UF with rose-colored glasses or be super anxious about WSU. I’ll be nearly 40 when I graduate, so I’m trying to set myself up for the best case scenario.

 

[vampyrica]

pinging @katiemcat for UF insights on shelter med

 

[katiemcat]

pinging @katiemcat for UF insights on shelter med

🫡🫡🫡 This will be extremely disorganized bc I just had a baby yesterday. Please let me know if you have any specific questions!

I did the built in shelter medicine certificate - awesome, learned so much! No extra tuition! Im sure you’ve been enlightened about this already but in case you hadn’t been:

Professional Certificate in Shelter Medicine » Shelter Medicine Program » College of Veterinary Medicine » University of Florida

Veterinary students earn the Certificate in Shelter Medicine after completing a rigorous series of electives, clerkships, and externships throughout all 4 years of veterinary school. The 15-credit certificate is an internationally recognized credential of outstanding achievement and day-one...

sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu

There is big drama with the county shelter in Gainesville. The school actually ended its relationship with the shelter over an incident last year cutting off one of our few shelter medicine clinical rotations. BUT - the school lobbied to built a NEW shelter at the school. So that will change. Our Miami dade shelter rotation also ended when they lost their vet. Our VCOP rotation (low cost spay neuter) ROCKS - I got crazy amounts of surgical experience in a HQHVSN setting. The clinicians are extremely kind and wonderful teachers.

Animals Denied Basic Care at Alachua County Animal Resources

Routine veterinary care for the cats was reportedly denied by the veterinarian on duty

www.gnvinfo.com

Alachua County Animal Shelter Planned on UF Land: What It Means for Students

Florida's Preeminent Student Political Journal

www.floridapoliticalreview.com

Operation catnip is the local TNR org that operates thanks to student volunteers. Great way to start your surgical and shelter med skills early. I volunteer there when I can!

Operation Catnip

ocgainesville.org

I have to add my soap box: I know you don’t want to talk about tuition but IMHO $60k price difference is a no brainer to me. You can get enough shelter med exposure at any school to become a shelter veterinarian. UF is a great program and I got a great education but it’s not worth having years of extra repayment over.

 

[ali9280]

WSU Pros:
-P/F curriculum
-Recorded lectures. I have chronic back pain that is triggered by sitting for long periods of time, and this is a great accommodation if I’m in a flare up.
-I have heard nothing but good things from everyone who goes there, including from the DVMs I work with who are WSU grads.
-Proximity to spouse. They'll still be 6 hours away, though, and the rest of my support system is in the south.

WSU Cons:
-No tracking. I don't like that it's a mixed animal curriculum, even though I appreciate it's good for the NAVLE. I am sad to miss out on shelter medicine courses and opportunities.
-No clinicals until 4th year. I'm a very hands-on learner, and when I was visiting I had some current students tell me they don't touch an animal until year 4.
-Pullman. This is the big one, because I did not like Pullman when visiting. I understand I'll be busy, but during the application process we're constantly asked how we're going to make time for our own hobbies/interests. Then I read over and over again that there's nothing to do in Pullman, so I’m curious about how people are staying sane? I’m worried about depression from the isolation and weather. I've also done some light apartment hunting and most of the places I've seen don't accept pets (I have cats that will have to come with me) or have things like A/C. It just seems rough out there... 😭

I am a current 3rd-year student at WSU and did my undergrad at WSU so I will have lived in Pullman for 8 years. If I am being SO honest, I think the location of the vet school doesn't really matter because you will be so busy with school. However, getting involved in clubs, intermurals, vet company rep positions are all great ways to stay sane and not feel so isolated. You will make friends with your classmates, and there are cute coffee shops, farmers markets, pubs, thrift stores, etc around. Did you happen to check out Moscow, ID? There is more to do there for sure! People love to complain no matter what, so it is important to have a mindset where it is more about what you make of what you have. I do gym classes through the school rec center with friends, which is a fun way to keep myself sane here.

I would love to know who told you that you don't touch an animal until 4th year 🤣 That is just completely false. In 3rd year, you have your junior surgery/spay block, where you spend 3 weeks hands-on with three different dogs, one of which you will spay yourself. In first year you have principles of surgery which is a hands-on course to prepare you for surgery. Once you have passed this, you are allowed to go to spay/neuter events hosted by the Shelter Medicine Club and can neuter cats. I did this after my first year and neutered seven cats during a community neutering event for pet and stray cats. The Shelter Med Club does a great job of being involved with local vet hospitals and communities. My roommates have been involved in the club too and have spayed multiple dogs. In your 4th year, you have a mandatory 2-week shelter med rotation in either Seattle or Boise. You can also choose to repeat this rotation if you want to.

Yes, WSU is non-tracking however, in your third year, you have more room to choose electives to fit your preferences. I am small animal-focused, so I have picked more small animal courses, which have helped me a ton. Highly recommend small animal applied anatomy when you get to your third year. You get to perform procedures on cadavers, and it preps you for clinics.

Last thing! For housing, have you looked into The Grove? they allow pets and I lived there my first year (they have A/C too). And have you joined the WSU CVM student Facebook page? There are some postings about people moving out and looking for someone to take over leases! I hope this helps a bit and feel free to PM me with questions if you have any! 🙂

 

[meowgnificent]

🫡🫡🫡 This will be extremely disorganized bc I just had a baby yesterday. Please let me know if you have any specific questions!

Congratulations on your baby!! OMG. Welcome to the world, tiny person! 💗

I did the built in shelter medicine certificate - awesome, learned so much! No extra tuition! Im sure you’ve been enlightened about this already but in case you hadn’t been:

Is this just for UF students? I know there's some sort of certificate in animal sheltering through UF but this one looks exclusive.

Thank you for the updates on the partnerships. It's very cool that the new shelter is going to be built at the school!

I have to add my soap box: I know you don’t want to talk about tuition but IMHO $60k price difference is a no brainer to me. You can get enough shelter med exposure at any school to become a shelter veterinarian. UF is a great program and I got a great education but it’s not worth having years of extra repayment over.

I appreciate this. It's hard for me to detach from UF because I remember going to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria with some of the UF faculty when they were working out how to get students there. So I've got a little weird history with it and some happy mems. 😭

 

[meowgnificent]

I am a current 3rd-year student at WSU and did my undergrad at WSU so I will have lived in Pullman for 8 years.

Hi! Thank you so much for responding- I really, really appreciate your answer!

Did you happen to check out Moscow, ID? There is more to do there for sure!

I did check out Moscow, actually, and it was really cute. I was wondering if many students live there? I would love to be able to walk or bike to campus, but if that's not really the norm then I thought about what a commute from Moscow would be like.

I know you mentioned taking gym classes. I think part of the reason my mental health is so bad since moving to Washington is that it's dark/gloomy/cold for ~8-9 months where I am, and no one (myself included) wants to leave the house. Which also makes it hard, because I'm very extroverted! My spouse and I have talked about what a toll the lack of sunshine has taken on me- like I don't think I'd make it through another PNW winter- so I'm curious if it's better in Pullman? And do you feel like you get enough access to nature?

would love to know who told you that you don't touch an animal until 4th year

LOL it was one of the student ambassadors during the interview/tour days. They were pretty defeated about it which made me go, damn maybe this isn't it 😂

Yes, WSU is non-tracking however, in your third year, you have more room to choose electives to fit your preferences. I am small animal-focused, so I have picked more small animal courses, which have helped me a ton. Highly recommend small animal applied anatomy when you get to your third year. You get to perform procedures on cadavers, and it preps you for clinics.

I appreciate this perspective. And the recommendation! I'm going to DM you a couple of other questions related to this once it's not night time and I can gather my thoughts better.

Last thing! For housing, have you looked into The Grove? they allow pets and I lived there my first year (they have A/C too). And have you joined the WSU CVM student Facebook page? There are some postings about people moving out and looking for someone to take over leases! I hope this helps a bit and feel free to PM me with questions if you have any! 🙂

I haven't- thank you!! I've also not joined the Facebook page. I don't have Facebook, but I feared this day would come when I have to dust off the cobwebs and get it again. 😂

This has been super helpful!!