Starting at SGU in August and V. nervous!! HELP!!

[Rachael Smith]

Hi, thanks for reading this. I am a British student studying pre-vet at Nottingham and will be making my way over to SGU in August. I am very nervous about this as unfortunatly i have heard lots of horrid rumours about SGU. Some students here have returned from SGU because they found it difficult to settle in. Can someone please put my mind at rest about this and tell me something positive!! Also i would really like to get to know anyone who is out there already or going in August so that i don't feel like i am jumping in at the deep end. Can anyone answer these questions;
1) Is it true that the lecturers are unhelpful and you have important exams every two weeks?
2) What is the basic academic schedule and when is practical work introduced.
3) How easy is it to make friends, what is the community spirit like?
4) How safe is it?
5) What do you think of the course and do you think your qualification will stand up to UK and USA standards?
Sorry i know these questions are pretty basic but i can't seem to get a straight answer, my pre-vet advisor cant seem to say a bad word about SGU but the two girls who have returned cant seem to say anything good about it. Please can someone let me know what it is actually like out there?!
Thanks
Rachael xxx

[sisyphus]

Hi, thanks for reading this. I am a British student studying pre-vet at Nottingham and will be making my way over to SGU in August. I am very nervous about this as unfortunatly i have heard lots of horrid rumours about SGU. Some students here have returned from SGU because they found it difficult to settle in. Can someone please put my mind at rest about this and tell me something positive!! Also i would really like to get to know anyone who is out there already or going in August so that i don't feel like i am jumping in at the deep end.

I am really sorry about the information you have heard, I don't know who the source was, but I don't think it is very accurate in many regards.

Firstly, I am American and there will be some differences in our expectations from SGU. That being said...there aren't really all that many differences (sorry for self contradiction there).

I do know of at least 1 student...I am pretty sure was British, who left because this person simply didn't like it here. Perhaps because of the reasons you cited. However, there will always be a percentage of students no matter their nationality who simply can't/don't/or won't adjust to either Grenada living or the demands of veterinary school or both.

In response to this post I asked a Brit student in my class if it was difficult to adjust. This person flat out said "No." Surely this wouldn't be the response of all students, UK or otherwise, but I know quite a few in my class and in others who thrive here. In fact, many of the Brit students outperform students of other nationalities quite handily. Why this is I don't know. As testament to this, Brit and European students over represent themselves in Phi Zeta, the veterinary honor society.

1) Is it true that the lecturers are unhelpful and you have important exams every two weeks?

This has never been my experience with helpfulness. Sure, some are better than others in different aspects of their teaching abilities, but I have always gotten the help I needed. As far as exams, sometimes you have an exam every week or every few days and sometimes you have a couple of weeks in between. They are all important!

2) What is the basic academic schedule and when is practical work introduced.

I am not sure how to answer the 'academic schedule' question...generally you will have lab for half the day, and lecture for the other half. Can you clarify what you mean? Practical work is introduced as soon as you start. Usually classes such as Anatomy will work this in right away in your first term here. Hands on experience increases steadily as you progress with academic and clinical knowledge.

3) How easy is it to make friends, what is the community spirit like?

Generally, most students who make it this far are pretty confident and generally outgoing. Those who are more extroverted make many friends easily. Those who are introverted may take a little longer but you will make friends with those in your class and other classes as time goes on.

4) How safe is it?

On campus is very safe, but still watch for theft with things out in the open and unsupervised. Off campus is pretty safe, but always be aware of your surroundings. If you wouldn't go into a neighborhood for personal safety concerns in your area, then don't do it here either. Don't walk around at night unless you have friends (or a dog) with you. Generally, theft is one of the largest problems students encounter.

5) What do you think of the course and do you think your qualification will stand up to UK and USA standards?

Sometimes classes are great and sometimes they are quite challenging. Such is the way with vet school. I am very happy with the program here and wouldn't change anything (except maybe a few grades here and there).

Sorry i know these questions are pretty basic but i can't seem to get a straight answer, my pre-vet advisor cant seem to say a bad word about SGU but the two girls who have returned cant seem to say anything good about it. Please can someone let me know what it is actually like out there?!

Don't freak out! It is just school after all and you have already made the first hurdle of being accepted. Study hard...don't over commit yourself with extracurricular or social activities, and you will be fine. I do very well and I don't consider myself particularly intelligent. You must come in with an open mind. The 2 girls you mention don't represent every UK student at this school. Otherwise, why do most of my Brit/European/Canadian/South African/American/ and others I can't think of right now like it here.

I hope this helps, I can try to find a person to contact you if you wish. PM me if you think this will help!

[Doc4Pets]

This message is not too short...

Hi, thanks for reading this. I am a British student studying pre-vet at Nottingham and will be making my way over to SGU in August. I am very nervous about this as unfortunatly i have heard lots of horrid rumours about SGU. Some students here have returned from SGU because they found it difficult to settle in. Can someone please put my mind at rest about this and tell me something positive!! Also i would really like to get to know anyone who is out there already or going in August so that i don't feel like i am jumping in at the deep end. Can anyone answer these questions;
1) Is it true that the lecturers are unhelpful and you have important exams every two weeks?
Yes the lectures will be unhelpful if you already have a strong background in sciences (at least 1st semester). They will give you some packets to study and will basically read them during their presentations. I even asked a prof straight up if I should read the textbook.. he said NO, the exams will cover material ONLY from the packets. So basically, just simple memorization and you'll at least make a B. Yes, there are exams every 2/3 weeks. The professors know that the students here at SGU are usually not the top students and basically want them to always be on their toes.

2) What is the basic academic schedule and when is practical work introduced.
As sissy said, labs half day (like 9-11am) then lectures (1-4). Each lecture is 50 min long and you'll have a set schedule of course.

3) How easy is it to make friends, what is the community spirit like?
Even though vet students are socially THE weirdest group of students, it is easy to make friends especially if you live in the dorms. For example, there is some dude in the dvm program that drives around in a freakin' flintstones jeep that is colored purple and says "yabba dabba doo" on it. Now, if you don't think that is lame, I don't know what is. Anyways, the scene is really like any other grad school scene... people are NOSY, like drama, and show how unsecure they themselves are by BEING nosy and starting drama. Me, I go to school and come home and do my thing.
4) How safe is it?
It's pretty safe as there is not much violent crime. However, there is A LOT petty theft happening on and around campus. Be VERY conscious of your belongings and you'll be fine. And always be in a group when going out especially if you're a girl... the locals have VERY little self control.

5) What do you think of the course and do you think your qualification will stand up to UK and USA standards?
The course work seems ok and I think if you are intelligent, you should have no problem passing your dvm board exam (NAVLE for US students).

Sorry i know these questions are pretty basic but i can't seem to get a straight answer, my pre-vet advisor cant seem to say a bad word about SGU but the two girls who have returned cant seem to say anything good about it. Please can someone let me know what it is actually like out there?!
Thanks

Rachael xxx

[RayeTV]

Rachel,

I'll see you in August!! I'm not really aprehensive at all, just anxious to get going!! Feel free to correspond with me in e-mail (rayetay@iastate.edu)

[cero0201]

I will be stating veterinary school on Aug.2007 and I was recently viditng teh campus for a few days and I can tel you that I was very imppressed. I beilieve hat what some pople might have a hard tme getting used to is living in a differnt country and teh fact that the curriculum might be more intense than course taken during college. I hope everything goes smooth with your trip to SGU and I look forward in meeting you.