Any students out there?

Re: Any students out there?

Katie Mansfield — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 08:16:39 GMT

I'm lucky (I guess) in that I did the original VN training course (with the green book) back in the early 90's, but I only passed part 1, so a lot of the basic stuff's still at the back of my grey matter (I've been on "maternity leave" for 15 years!!!)

[quote user="Paula Zurawel"]I started on the degree programme but then switched to CAW day release[/quote]

Were you in practice before you started the degree course or did you have to find a student VN position when you switched courses? I know you can switch from Fds to BSc and vice versa but didnt realise you could switch to day release from full time. How long will it take you to get your degree on day release?

K x

Re: Any students out there?

PJ Zurawel — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:50:17 GMT

I started on the degree programme but then switched to CAW day release and find it sooooo much better. With the degree we were being taught stuff and assessed after 5 months in practice I know it doesnt sound bad but when trying to focus on practical stuff its hard to keep track of really hard A+P stuff taught months before, maybe its just me though.

I find that CAW are far more practical and I prefer it that way but I guess its just personal preference.

Re: Any students out there?

Vonniegee — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:46:44 GMT

I'm currently studying BSc Vet Nursing at the RVC and I love it. I'm so glad I chose the RVC as the resources are excellent. There is a lot of building work on site at the moment and the new accommodation is looking great. It is kinda in the countryside but definitely close enough to London for some good nights out and there is a deal with the local taxi company so you can travel for only £5 plus there are shuttle buses around the town you can use for free. The staff are all so helpful and have been great at helping me complete assignments even while I've been off site during work placements. As a few people said, you only get to mix with other nurses and vets on site but I've enjoyed this. The vets have been really friendly and I've been able to email them and they've also been giving me advice on assignments etc. You also become a member of the Uni of London so you have access to all the libraries and resources there too. Hertfordshire Uni is also really close so you can go there for social events, they have a great little club and bar there (very cheap too!) so I dont think you really miss out on anything at all.

I cant recommend this place enough :)

Re: Any students out there?

Katie Mansfield — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:37:15 GMT

Don't know how you get the boxes round quotes - mine hasn't worked!!

K x

Re: Any students out there?

Katie Mansfield — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:35:54 GMT

Their library is 10000 x better then Middlesex, Middlesex had a tiny column on animal related books - when i questioned them about it, they said that their isnt many published (well the RVC says different!) So Middlesex said that we would be using quite a few human textbooks, and linking to the animal side.

Interstingly when we went on the tour at Middx they wouldn't let us see the library, saying there'd be too many student working (it was Saturday!) and that we'd need a student card to scan ourselves in and out.

Unorganised at times (turned up for an exam and they hadn't printed the exam papers!)

Also, one of the girls at my work experience said they lost her dissertation and she very nearly missed out on getting her job.

Thank you everyone for your input. I'll let you know how I get on

K x

Re: Any students out there?

Kim Buckley — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:14:55 GMT

[quote user="Katietaz"]

The lecturer that did the interview at RVC said this is the 1st yr they have BSc students in the final yr. So maybe as you were at Middx 3 yrs ago you were with their Fds students?

[/quote]

They probably don't count us because we were split between the two universitys. We weren't taught with the foundation students but I did know a few nurses on the course. It was 3 years ago and I was at a different middlesex campus but I'll write a few pros and cons that I found at both.

RVC

Pros

Really good facilities eg. library, clinical studies room, QMH

A lot of practical teaching eg. dissections, looking at specimens, lab work

Nice campus - lots of green!

Get taught by highly qualified vets and nurses

Only teaches veterinary related subjects so a lot more specialised

Cons

Only mix with vets and other nurses

I lived on campus for one year and hated it. I didn't have a car so felt a bit stranded. If you were to live in Potters Bar you are still only able to get overground train so not great for late nights out in London.

MDX

Pros

I went to the Enfield campus which has since shut but it was on the night bus route!

Able to mix with a lot more students with different interests.

Cons

Unorganised at times (turned up for an exam and they hadn't printed the exam papers!)

Personal tutors aren't necessarily VN's. I had a human nurse at one point.

North London isn't the nicest. Few people on my course got mugged and someone got shot down my road!

Didn't find the social scene that good as a lot of mature students.

Library was rubbish for veterinary books although the human nursing books did come in handy for some assignments.

There are probably many more but these are the things that spring to mind. If it was me I would choose the RVC but that is because I loved the practical lessons and it helped me so much with my learning. Depends on what you want to get from it. For me the social side was important :)

Which ever you decide I am sure you will love it! Uni was the best and I made some amazing friends and really miss it. Any questions then send me a message. Good luck!

Re: Any students out there?

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:44:11 GMT

Hi, before my work offered me a placement, I was going to go down the uni route, went to both the RVC and Middlesex for open days and interviews. Personally I would have gone for the RVC. Their library is 10000 x better then Middlesex, Middlesex had a tiny column on animal related books - when i questioned them about it, they said that their isnt many published (well the RVC says different!) So Middlesex said that we would be using quite a few human textbooks, and linking to the animal side.

RVC is also a much better location, although slightly further away from the town centre, they have free shuttle buses to do that bit for u! If you are anything like me, and enjoy the greenery..... plus they are quite near a railway, so can hop on a train to london for quite alot of the social events that happen at the other RVC site (for Vet students).

I dont know anything about the studying their, but I was impressed that they remembered my name, (and face from the year before!! ) something that really stood out a mile at the RVC, oh and they are having brand spanking new accommodation being built for Vet Nurse students. If you were at Middlesex doing Vet nursing, you dont really get a choice as to where to go, they have only a few rooms (correct me if im wrong) that are put on a rotational basis for those on the same course. And it has to be half board - no cooking for yourself - just canteen food all the time.

Good look with your choices, I hope this helps a little!

I found if you write a table for each uni, then write the pro's and con's of each one down, then it is easier to decide :)

Re: Any students out there?

Katie Mansfield — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:55:39 GMT

The lecturer that did the interview at RVC said this is the 1st yr they have BSc students in the final yr. So maybe as you were at Middx 3 yrs ago you were with their Fds students?

I really liked the guy who did my interview at Middx (Leslie) but I agree that being a purpose built vet college the facilities at RVC are better, esp the library and the clinical studies room.

Oh decisions, decisions.....

Wake me up in Oct and tell me what I'm doing!!!!!!

K x

Re: Any students out there?

Kim Buckley — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 10:29:22 GMT

When I did the degree, the course was run between the two. However the lectures and facilities at the RVC were a lot better than those ran by Middlesex. That was three years ago and I don't know how things are now.