Well, it has been my biggest fear, that I would not be able to update my blog, and it came true. I’ll have to back fill as I have time...So I can’t remember everything in detail but not too many “interesting” things have really happened. I go to class, study, eat, study, go to sleep, wash, rinse, repeat. So far I haven’t even been able to sneak a workout in. Just finished my first round of exams and have grades for the first 2. I’m pleased with how I have done so far but there is always room for improvement. Over the last 16 days we have had 4 exams, Microanatomy first, then Physiology, Gross Anatomy, and Nutrition today. So I have been studying like mad to make sure I do well. Everything is interesting and applicable so its relatively easy to do the assignments but as I was forewarned there is just so much material being thrown at you all at once. I love it though! I have wanted to be a student again for so long and I am trying to soak up every minute of it.
Highlight of last week: I found the path to the beach from campus!!! It goes on a steep decline through the woods (which remind me of the woods at home) and there’s even a swing hanging from one of the trees. It opens up to a gorgeous view of the Caribbean Sea and a rocky beach. After closer inspection we found some cute little crabs that hang out on the rocks and there are some beautiful shells. This will definitely be added to one of my study spots!
Another highlight of last week was that I finally broke down and bought a kindle fire. My big sister gave me a huge collection of ebooks and it is helpful to use during prosections (although I have to try to keep it as clean as possible). So I have a new toy and I love it!
I had my first experience with the infamous St Kitts centipede this evening. As I was taking a nap I felt a pinch on my pinky toe. Immediately I knew it couldn’t be the rabbits, so that meant the lil bugar snuck into my bed. I jumped out of my bed (because these guys also can sting and are venemous) rounded up the rabbits, put on a pair of shoes, grabbed my can of BOP and slowly took off the covers. I went for it, I unloaded the can of BOP as he literally jumped off the bed I continued spraying...I couldn’t let him get away. It was either him or me and I was holding the can of BOP (highly potent pesticide/insecticide). Next I had to call all of my neighbors to come for the viewing of the body...too much fun for one sleepy student! Good night!
You would be doing your readers a great service if you told them about Ross Vet School's attrition rate. They might be interested in my website:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stopdevry.net/
I hate that you had that experience with RUSVM. I agree that it is unfortunate that the attrition rate is so extreme. The school is currently undergoing "efforts" to decrease the attrition rate and ensure success in the program. However, because of the nature of the percentage of applicants that gain acceptance, this is inevitable. I feel that they should be more selective in who the committee admits (which would invariably decrease this attrition rate); but they do at least extend the opportunity of attending vet school to a majority of applicants. I have lost friends here to both failing individual classes (and repeating a semester) and failing out (failing 2 classes within the same semester).
ReplyDeleteI read the information on your website, but am still having difficulty understanding the situation. Your story seems a little vague and there seem to be some parts missing (in terms of WHY you were dismissed). For example, you say that you were failing the rotation AND that you asked too many questions. I cannot understand, nor believe, that ANY professor would fail a student for being too inquisitive.
In terms of the calculations you have for student debt, they can only be applied to students, such as yourself, in which you completed the pre-clinical program (7 semesters). But a majority of the attrition rate, from my experience, is mostly attributable to lower semesters (ie semesters 1-3). In addition, you make the assumption that those former students would be unable to pay any portion of the loans back due to their inability to find a job (in which most of my friends that have returned to the States have been able to reintegrate into the workforce). But if you have a PhD from Yale in physics you should be able to find a skilled job somewhere.
Ultimately gaining clinical skills in any professional school is dependent upon the initiative of the individual. If you want to become a better clinician/physician/attorney you must hone your skills. What made you decide that you wanted to become a veterinarian if you had no experience in a clinical setting? Clearly you are an intelligent person in terms of learning information from a book (as evidence by your high GPA), although clinical skills and interpersonal relationships are still a huge part of being a veterinarian. I am not a traditional student and spent almost a decade in jobs not related to veterinary medicine. But even in the months leading up to my coming to Ross I volunteered to gain more clinical skills (in addition to my previous 6 years of working in clinics, mobile vets, and in research). I have friends that have graduated from dental and med schools in which they were only graded on a certain number of procedures but if they wanted to be better prepared in practice did hundreds of hours that were not required.
I wish you luck in your future endeavors and hope that your situation is resolved soon.