UGA vs Oklahoma State

[gpc0731]

I got accepted to Oklahoma State (OOS) and am currently on the OOS waitlist for UGA (I don't know my spot yet). I just want to feel confident in my choice in case I do get pulled off the UGA waitlist.

Overall, the cost of attendance looks similar based on the fact that UGA's tuition is cheaper but COL is higher. If anything, UGA may be a little cheaper than OkState even when you factor in COL. Previously, I was leaning toward UGA partially based on their more in-depth curriculum (more clinical/professional skills instruction), but OkState is changing their curriculum to include clinical skills for each semester, so it seems like OkState is ahead in that regard now. I was also leaning to UGA based on their higher case load (30,000 vs 12,000 per year at OkState), but I'm not sure if that should be considered a deal breaker (My goal is to go into general practice after vet school). I just went down to OkState though for accepted students day and really liked the small-town feel of Stillwater and can definitely see myself going there. I haven't been able to visit UGA though.

For those who went to either OkState or UGA, what would you say are the pros and cons of your school? What made you guys choose your school? Did you feel well prepared for practice after graduating? Did you enjoy the town/community surrounding the vet school?

Thanks in advance!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[JaynaAli]

I really liked Stillwater. I’m from a very small rural area and it was a “big city” for me but not so large it was overwhelming. You can get anywhere in town within 10-15 minutes (except on game days). I think my classmates from urban areas found it to be a pretty quaint “small town”. I heard people complain that there wasn’t a ton to do, but both Oklahoma City and Tulsa are just over an hour away so it’s easy to head there tor a fancy dinner, concert, non-OSU sporting events or to go out. The vet school tends to be a pretty insular community…I don’t mean that badly and I think it’s the same everywhere, but your friends and social circle just tend to come from the vet school. I went to church, volunteered at the humane society, and other stuff out in the community because I also went to undergrad at OSU, but a lot of people just kinda stick to the vet school and it’s activities and that’s okay too.

And to answer your other questions I chose OSU because it was my instate, but my family actually moved from Texas to Oklahoma when I was in high school partially so I’d be in-state at OSU (we are originally from OK though so that wasn’t the only reason, just a major consideration). I do have non-vet family that went to OSU so I always wanted to go. I think OSU has historically done very well at producing practice-ready GP, mixed, and large animal vets. This is just my own opinion but I think OSU grads were better prepared day 1 than grads at the institution where I did my residency. OSU has gotten a new dean in the last few years (since I graduated) and they’ve made a lot of changes so I am less familiar with the current state of things. The lack of specialists currently at the hospital concerns me, but from what I’ve seen they’re trying to fix that or come up with alternatives to get students exposure to specialty cases…hopefully that comes to fruition.