[Anonvet]

I'm a first year at the RVC and I really hate it

I thought that being part of the University of London there would be more opportunity to meet people who aren't vets and have a normal, mixed sex social life but that hasn't happened. I don't like my flat mates, I don't really like the social life.

I'm finding it really bad how worked up and competitive everybody gets about exams. The stress is massive and it seems to be worse than other unis. Even though I don't need to revise this hard I do it because I feel guilty when everybody around me is having a panic.

I don't like being with just women either. I'm a bit of a scruff and feel really bad watching all the other girls get dressed up and spend hours on their hair and it just feels like there is this massive pressure to be on a diet and make cakes and be the perfect girl. I would hate being with all boys at Imperial like, but to have a normal mix would be much better.

Thing is I like the course though and I missed one of my grades, so I know if I drop out I won't get in anywhere else I want to be a vet, but I don't want to spend 5yrs in such a bad environment and I feel really unhappy. Especially because the fees have gone up and I can't really afford to swap uni.

Did anybody else feel this way? Did you stay and did it get better? I'm really frightened about clinical when I will be with only people from the RVC all the time and I think it will be awful. Does anybody have any advice?

[MediterraneanX]

I think stay but join some societies and find people you like from outside your flat/year group and move in with them next year. I met my some of my best friends in my second and third year of Uni and didn't really get on with the girls in my first year flat (both nice girls just had no common ground) and although I got on well with the boys they didn't tend to wake up until 6pm so don't worry about not becoming best friends with your flatmates. Unfortunately competitiveness is something that tends to come with a veterinary degree and the like (Law students are equally bad - used to rip the insides out of books so you couldn't use them) but just try not to be affected by it because at the end of the day its probably just a tactic to stress everyone out so none of you do as well as you could. Definitely don't drop out - and don't feel pressurised to act the same as everyone else. One reason I enjoyed Uni so much was that I met so many different people and its unfortunate that you haven't experienced this so far but i'm sure you will once you're out of halls

[ch0c0h01ic]

(Original post by Anonvet)
I'm a first year at the RVC and I really hate it

I thought that being part of the University of London there would be more opportunity to meet people who aren't vets and have a normal, mixed sex social life but that hasn't happened. I don't like my flat mates, I don't really like the social life.

I'm finding it really bad how worked up and competitive everybody gets about exams. The stress is massive and it seems to be worse than other unis. Even though I don't need to revise this hard I do it because I feel guilty when everybody around me is having a panic.

I don't like being with just women either. I'm a bit of a scruff and feel really bad watching all the other girls get dressed up and spend hours on their hair and it just feels like there is this massive pressure to be on a diet and make cakes and be the perfect girl. I would hate being with all boys at Imperial like, but to have a normal mix would be much better.

Thing is I like the course though and I missed one of my grades, so I know if I drop out I won't get in anywhere else I want to be a vet, but I don't want to spend 5yrs in such a bad environment and I feel really unhappy. Especially because the fees have gone up and I can't really afford to swap uni.

Did anybody else feel this way? Did you stay and did it get better? I'm really frightened about clinical when I will be with only people from the RVC all the time and I think it will be awful. Does anybody have any advice?

You need to be honest with yourself, you applied for a very demanding university course which is heavily female dominated - you should expect everybody to stress out around exams and be around a lot of women. Transferring to another vet school is not going to magically change your situation.

You need to branch out and broaden your horizons. If you don't like the social scene join some local clubs or societies, it is not like you don't have much choice with London on your doorstep. Likewise if you don't like your flatmates start house hunting, you shouldn't have much more than one more term left together so get on to it.

Some people are lucky enough to just fall into a good group of friends but a lot don't, you need to be proactive changing things otherwise they won't.

[ch0c0h01ic]

(Original post by MediterraneanX)
Unfortunately competitiveness is something that tends to come with a veterinary degree and the like (Law students are equally bad - used to rip the insides out of books so you couldn't use them) but just try not to be affected by it because at the end of the day its probably just a tactic to stress everyone out so none of you do as well as you could. Definitely don't drop out - and don't feel pressurised to act the same as everyone else. One reason I enjoyed Uni so much was that I met so many different people and its unfortunate that you haven't experienced this so far but i'm sure you will once you're out of halls

There is no need for competition, your grades don't influence how well anybody else does - that was something that the preclinical dean highlighted on my first day. Personally I've never noticed it as a problem. Even in my first year people would come out of exams or vivas to fill in the following group on what to expect, what exam questions were being asked, etc. Similarly when it comes to revision people would email round useful websites or past paper questions they'd managed to get hold

[MediterraneanX]

(Original post by ch0c0h01ic)
There is no need for competition, your grades don't influence how well anybody else does - that was something that the preclinical dean highlighted on my first day. Personally I've never noticed it as a problem. Even in my first year people would come out of exams or vivas to fill in the following group on what to expect, what exam questions were being asked, etc. Similarly when it comes to revision people would email round useful websites or past paper questions they'd managed to get hold

I'm not saying there is a need for competitiveness - merely pointing out that unfortunately it does exist and there's no easy way around it. Perhaps you've been fortunate in avoiding it but where I went to university it was very prominent - predominantly on my course and the other more academic courses such as medicine etc. You had more chance of meeting Johnny Depp than persuading people to pass past papers around or not check all of the books out of the library on the day a coursework title was released. Back to the point in hand - the OP needs to learn to deal with it whilst not getting sucked into it.

[stef_vet?]

Ironically taking a mo out of first year RVC revision to post here!

I honestly hated my first year at my previous uni, although in the end I did become really good friends with a lot of people on my course, I clashed hugely with the people I lived with initially only really got on with people that I worked with and branching out in that way made me much happier. Girls used to quite literally dress up to the nines for lectures at RHUL, as in 6 inch heels, hair perfect, studio make-up, honestly compared to RVC it was like being on a constant catwalk! Some people take a lot more time and care a lot more about how they look on the outside and feel more confident when they take pride in their appearance so don't write these people off just because they've spent 2 hours getting ready for an hour lecture! And if you actually get involved with some ULU events/clubs/societies you will meet a very diverse group of people.

With the competitiveness thing, I was talking about this with friends yesterday and it has been suggested that it's an influence of having many American students on the RVC VetMed (because it's in London and is AVMA accredited). A lot of/most of these guys are publically ranked according to grades when they're at school/uni and the top people get more uni and postgrad opportunities than the lower ranking students. This can cause ridiculous rivalry, as in I've heard stories of people ripping pages out of library books so others can't read them in US Vet schools...

Probably a much more important factor in the stressing is the fact that people have worked exceptionally hard to get into vet school -> exams are considered very important by a lot of people here and at every other vet school. Maybe you are one of the lucky people who got many offers and had a relaxed entry to vet school but a lot were holding out for RVC and don't want to fall at the first hurdle. I'm 100% sure things will calm down once this first teething year is through and people have had a chance to get used to growing up and living on their own and having exams that count at regular intervals. Don't give up, there are some seriously amazing people here, you just need to make an effort to find people that you click with and accept that you will never get on with everyone.

Good luck!

[Kgs]

Hello,

I can completely understand where you're coming from with this. I hated my first year at rvc too, I didn't get along with my flat mates at all and found it hard being around vets ALL the time. I was very close to dropping out as I hated it so much.

Now Im out of halls living with similar minded people (yes I think there are more of us than you'd think) and I'm a lot happier. We don't go to many rvc events but we still go out a lot and we have many interests other than veterinary. It's definately a very unique university and seems to attract a certain kind of person and if you don't get along with everyone then that's fine! But you will definately find people like yourself!

As for moving to the other campus I think really it's just something you have to come to terms with. There's not a lot there and it's very vet based. I guess just work hard through the week then escape back to London every weekend!

Again with the competitiveness I think this is always going to be the case. I've never been top and even though I work hard I don't do fantastic, Ive come to terms with the fact that there's always going to be people who do better or do more work than me. Just don't work yourself into the ground doing too much- just because somebody is working a million hours a day
It doesn't mean that's normal!

Anyway hope this has helped feel free to drop me a message if you want to ask anything

[ofssinfoxes]

(Original post by Anonvet)
I'm a first year at the RVC and I really hate it

I thought that being part of the University of London there would be more opportunity to meet people who aren't vets and have a normal, mixed sex social life but that hasn't happened. I don't like my flat mates, I don't really like the social life.

I'm finding it really bad how worked up and competitive everybody gets about exams. The stress is massive and it seems to be worse than other unis. Even though I don't need to revise this hard I do it because I feel guilty when everybody around me is having a panic.

I don't like being with just women either. I'm a bit of a scruff and feel really bad watching all the other girls get dressed up and spend hours on their hair and it just feels like there is this massive pressure to be on a diet and make cakes and be the perfect girl. I would hate being with all boys at Imperial like, but to have a normal mix would be much better.

Thing is I like the course though and I missed one of my grades, so I know if I drop out I won't get in anywhere else I want to be a vet, but I don't want to spend 5yrs in such a bad environment and I feel really unhappy. Especially because the fees have gone up and I can't really afford to swap uni.

Did anybody else feel this way? Did you stay and did it get better? I'm really frightened about clinical when I will be with only people from the RVC all the time and I think it will be awful. Does anybody have any advice?

I was 90% sure of accepting the RVC offer until I read this............ eeek

[kookabura]

Just to try and allay some fears that this post may have raised for future RVC-ers.

There is definitely chance to get involved with things at the University of London - if you want to. But you will have to make the effort to go to their freshers fayre/find them online or whatever and join a team or club there. Go along to events at their union (which we are automatically members of) and so on, they won't just come and find you...you need to make some effort. Equally I am a member of an RVC club and we have had joint socials with Kings, UCL, SOAS and Imperial this year. So it all depends how much you try and socialise.

Yes, RVC is mainly women. There is no way round this. But this will be vet school anywhere. The main difference is you will notice it more here because we don't have the rest of the uni to mix with as well, but like I've said above, there is plenty of chance to meet people at other uni's (and the rest of london!!) if you put a bit of effort in. In terms of the whole being with females thing. It depends who you are with. You can find groups of people who get dressed up for lectures and put make up on all the time and so on. Equally, you can find people who don't! It is pot luck who you share a flat with, but that is the same at any uni, and you can always make other friends in college.

Personally I have found stress around exam times variable depending on who you are around. But mainly I would say that my personal opinion is some of the people who are getting stressed have given so much to get here, that they are not going to let anything stand in their way now. People who have done degree, gap years (or several gap years), americans who have brought their entire family across here with them, people who have given up careers to come back to vet school - and so on. People who really can't risk failing! Also, people straight from school who don't work all year and then have a massive stress come exam time. It's just a case of picking who you are with - I started to avoid one of my friends around exam time last year, who was making me stressed because of how she was being. You just need to manage things the best way for you. I can't imagine it is any worse than any other vet school though (and knowing people at Nottm, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Liverpool - I have heard similar from all of them).

With regards to Hawkshead. Yes, it is a campus of only vets and vet nurses - but most vet schools will have the same for clinical years (for nottingham and edinburgh it is every year). Hawkshead is a lot better for public transport back to London easily for a night out/social events etc than some of the other vet schools 2nd campuses. And once you get into 4th/5th year you are on rotations (at whatever uni) so you won't have much time to worry about anything other than vet stuff anyway - that's going to be the same wherever you are.

To be honest, you are likely to get some students at every uni who decide they hate it. Yes, many people love their uni - but a few people in every year are likely to dislike it. Personally I did my first degree at Nottingham uni, and I hated that. I hated the course, didn't have a particularly great group of flat mates, didn't like the campus, felt stranded at SB, didn't get on with my tutor....and so on. But other people on the same course as me loved it.

There are lots of great points about the RVC, but it is easy to lose sight of that when you are unhappy with some aspects of a place. I know I did that at Nottm, ended up hating everything about it, rather than realising just the bits I didn't like and trying to change them.

If anyone has any questions about any aspect of RVC life, ask away I'm (as I'm sure the other RVC students on here are) happy to answer...and I'll give you an honest opinion!! Promise!!

[catoswyn]

This is all so contrary to my view of vets in practice. The practices round here are male dominated, except for one which is all female. I can't imagine the female vets I have had contact with in anything but wellies to be honest. Where do all these six inch high heel girly girls end up??? I am in a rural area so maybe they are all in cities.

[stef_vet?]

(Original post by catoswyn)
This is all so contrary to my view of vets in practice. The practices round here are male dominated, except for one which is all female. I can't imagine the female vets I have had contact with in anything but wellies to be honest. Where do all these six inch high heel girly girls end up??? I am in a rural area so maybe they are all in cities.

compromise?

http://www.hunterwelliesboots.com/hu...boot-p-27.html

[catoswyn]

(Original post by stef_vet?)
compromise?

http://www.hunterwelliesboots.com/hu...boot-p-27.html

LOL. Very snazzy!

[clair0511]

(Original post by kookabura)
To be honest, you are likely to get some students at every uni who decide they hate it. Yes, many people love their uni - but a few people in every year are likely to dislike it. Personally I did my first degree at Nottingham uni, and I hated that. I hated the course, didn't have a particularly great group of flat mates, didn't like the campus, felt stranded at SB, didn't get on with my tutor....and so on. But other people on the same course as me loved it.

Just wanted to agree with this! I went to SB and did Animal Science a few years before Kookaburra and I absolutely totally loved it and the course If anyone asks me if they should go to Nottingham I would say yes, definitely! And yet, then there are people like Kookaburra who hated the place! Everyone is different and everyone likes/dislikes different things.

Of course everyone is stressed out at exam time, that's the same anywhere. Like Kookaburra I also have friends that I avoid at exam time but that I get on fine with the rest of the year! And as for house mates, I also shared with a nightmare girl when I came back from Erasmus and was in a rush to look for a house - it was quite horrific but I survived!

Hope you manage to sort things out

[Emikoo]

Hi. I currently go to the RVC, studying Bioveterinary Science.

There seems to be a massive assumption that because everyone wants to be a vet, that everyone will get on. This definitly isn't the case. Some people don't even want to be a vet that much. Not nice to say, but its true.
You just need to find a group of friends that share you interests. So I agree with everyone else you should take advantage of ULU etc. Join the clubs at ULU if you wanna meet non-vets, theres such a HUGE choice you're bound to find something you're into.

Once you've got your own group of friends you will forget about everyone else. At the end of the day you're there to be a vet, not to make friends. I know it sucks, but you have to put things into perspective. By the time you reach clinical years everyone has to work hard and these girls that seem to bother you will have to wear the same things as everyone else. (Also every vet school in country will be pretty much all vet students and mostly female by clinical years) I think you need to be more confident in yourself and not worry about these other girls. You're going to find those kind of girls everywhere, no matter what university, and even after you've qualified they will be at your workplace. You just have to learn to not let it bother you so much.

Theres plenty of people you can talk to if you are upset, or feel low. Student Support at the RVC is fantastic! Definitly look it up.

And its not all bad! I didn't get along with everybody in first year, and by the time second year came along I had a great group of friends, and all that stuff wasn't an issue anymore. Not to mention you can make friends with other year groups. I made friends with a bunch of freshers! Once you forget about stuff like that you will really enjoy the RVC and everything is has to offer. Camden and Hawkshead are great and the lecturers are awesome.

I've been at the RVC for nearly 3 years, and have applied to do another course afterwards at the college. I have an offer from Bristol for the same course but if I get RVC I will be choosing it over Bristol. So do everyone else, do not be put off! It can be fantastic here. It kinda depends on your attitude to life

Hope it helps!!!

[batty_hatty]

As someone who has now been throught the 5 year vet course at the RVC I hope I can help you with this. I didn't really enjoy vet school, it was a constant struggle of balancing studying with working and never having money to pay the bills. I wasn't popular but I had a core of friends who were aquired throughout the years, there aren't that many I started out being friends with in 1st year - so all is not lost.
I would echo the other posters messages about the other vets schools, it is exactly the same everywhere with the mainly female bias, and you won't get away from this when you start working.
I'm now on the other side and have been working as a vet since august, and its awesome! But equally it is the most exhausting profession I have come across, and it's still mainly female. Where I work most vets are female and most vet nurses, so I'm afraid unless you go into academia or industry I suspect your job will mainly be with women. The other thing to consider is that to get into vet school you have to be highly competative and focused, so these traits are carried into the student cohort and then into the profession. Simply put we're all perfectionist workaholics with OCD lol!

I really hope you stick it out, I don't think a change of university would help much and given the tution fee change, I really wouldn't give yourself more debt. My debt's bad enough and vets wages aren't wonderful.
If you want to have a chat, feel free to mesasge me. x

[lessthanthree]

If you're ever out at HH and need a chat about it, message me on here. It sucks to feel like you can't keep up with your peers in terms of makeup and hair and clothes or whatever; but if they're not your people, they're not your people. You will eventually find someone a little more like-minded. That being said, I can understand how you feel like you're going to drown in a sea of vets at HH - there are a lot of students in every year group, and I always think it's strange that people in the same years don't even know each other. I would probably try to make the most of the university you're part of by joining some societies outside of vet land. Other courses tend to think vets are dead exotic, but can't understand why we have more lectures than they did.

If you really want to be a vet, you will get through this. Also I'm pretty sure RVC have Camden and HH based counselling services that you should definitely take advantage of if you're struggling for someone to talk to.