I'm about to embark on the life (or lack thereof) of a veterinary medicine student... I'm not sure what to expect! so live and learn with me...
or just discuss where you're all going to live
Published on June 2, 2004 By CoffeeCrazy In Blogging
Well, our Class of 2008 now has a place to chat. It's nice to be able to talk to people that will be going through the same things... do you buy the fancy tablet PC? Which textbooks will we really need? Who's moving across the country? And most importantly... what apartment buildings allow pets? This is the predominant question on the message board. Where should I live if I have x number of animals that weigh x number of pounds? A lot of places have weight limits on dogs. And some, to my surprise, don't allow exotic animals. What the heck is a little sugar glider going to do to you? Hmph. At least I don't have to worry about my pets being allowed... I just worry that my pets will destroy my carpet or furniture.

The school is really pushing the purchase of a tablet PC with preloaded software tailored for the vet student. It's a neat toy, but quite an expensive investment. And it would really revamp the way you study... sure, you have all your notes and some electronic textbooks with you at all hours in a nifty 3 pound package, but you can't shuffle through everything and look at more than one page at a time. Unless you print it out. I wonder how expensive printer ink will be? But when it comes down to it, I'm pretty much positive that I'll get the tablet PC. I'm very comfortable with computers and I love, love, love playing with new electronics. Plus, you can pay for it with student loans... hey, it'll be interest free for 4 years!

Speaking of money, I can just feel myself going in to debt. Parking is $370 for the year, the class notes system (lecture notes and copies of personal notes given to the rest of the class) is $77, microscope rental is $200, books are ungodly expensive, and vaccinations (more on this later)... yikes! I can't even think of what else I'll be writing checks for, but I know it's a lot of money. So much for my grandiose ideas of actually having money to spend.

Anyway, school is drawing closer, and I'm still excited. I have some worries, a lot involving my boyfriend, who will remain here and finish his last year of grad school (2.5 hours away). But I know I'll be very busy so I suppose it will be a positive thing that he won't be around to distract me. And I'm required to get a rabies vaccination, which (contrary to popular belief) is NOT twelve shots in the stomach. It's three shots, probably in my shoulder. Ouch. I hate shots!!! And worse, it will cost $420 through the school if it's not covered by my health insurance. 3 shots, each spaced a week apart. The hazards of my future profession...

This is why I'm working through the end of July/beginning of August... all this health stuff is expensive!

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