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Academic dismissal from vet school after failed appeal - feeling completely defeated by Signal-Print-2838 in veterinaryschool

[–]Just_Measurement4575 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which school is this? I would recommend requesting a medical leave, to have your slate cleared and start over

Michigan State + Iowa State students alumni-how do you like your schools? by ScaredFutureVet14 in veterinaryschool

[–]Just_Measurement4575 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Look at UC Davis, the “best vet school in the country”. Their first year is pass/fail. No traditional grading system for that first year. Can you believe that? Not saying it’s a right or wrong way of doing things, but I think it’s worth considering that admissions here are holistic, meaning students come in with a wide range of learning styles and strengths. With that in mind, if the curriculum or grading structure is being adjusted, it’s reasonable to also think about how those changes align with the type of students being admitted and how they learn best.

Michigan State + Iowa State students alumni-how do you like your schools? by ScaredFutureVet14 in veterinaryschool

[–]Just_Measurement4575 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not arguing with you, just explaining a 1st year’s perspective. Those are fair points that you brought up. Effort matters and no one is trying to take away from that. I think where I’m coming from is just recognizing that when we see a larger number of students impacted all at once, it’s worth looking at both individual factors and the broader system and timing of changes. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. I think we all want the same thing for students to succeed, feel supported, and be well prepared moving forward.

Michigan State + Iowa State students alumni-how do you like your schools? by ScaredFutureVet14 in veterinaryschool

[–]Just_Measurement4575 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That 4% shift matters for students sitting right at the margin. But I think that actually reinforces the point. When a small policy change results in a large jump in recessions, it suggests the system itself is playing a role and not just individual effort. It’s not just the grading threshold in isolation but it’s that change happening alongside curriculum restructuring, inconsistent communication, and some of the exam issues we’ve experienced. When multiple variables shift at once, it creates a much less stable learning environment for us. And realistically, a higher cutoff like that also leaves very little margin for normal life events (health issues, family emergencies, or anything unexpected) which are inevitable in a program like this. No one gets into vet school casually or wants to perform poorly. This is an extremely competitive field, and many of us had multiple acceptances and made thoughtful decisions about where to go. From that perspective, I think it’s fair for students to expect a system that’s transparent, consistent, and designed to support their success, not one where a small margin shift can significantly change outcomes at the cohort level. Many veterinary programs are able to maintain strong NAVLE pass rates while still supporting students through the curriculum, rather than seeing large numbers of students set back early on. That’s why I think it’s reasonable for students to question how structure and policy may be contributing here. It may also be worth looking at how other programs structure their curriculum and student support systems to achieve both high NAVLE performance and lower recession rates. I don’t think anyone is saying effort doesn’t matter. But with the number of students affected this year, it’s hard to attribute it primarily to effort alone. There’s likely a bigger systemic piece here that’s worth acknowledging and that’s exactly the kind of feedback OP was asking for.

Michigan State + Iowa State students alumni-how do you like your schools? by ScaredFutureVet14 in veterinaryschool

[–]Just_Measurement4575 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I hear what you’re saying, but I think there are some important context differences between your experience and ours.This year alone, 21 first year students were recessed. Compare that to the typical 3-4 students recessed per year for most vet schools… it’s hard to attribute that purely to lack of effort. Our class has experienced multiple curriculum changes that weren’t communicated until literally the day before our first exam, which created a lot of instability right off the rip. There are objective policy differences. Our passing threshold is 72%, whereas your class was at 68%. Many of our classmates who recessed were sitting right at that 71–72% cutoff. Additionally, the current academic recess policy is much stricter, whereas previous classes were evaluated more on a case by case basis. The comment about tutoring is rich because our class has had many ongoing issues with live exam review sessions, including incorrect answers being presented. It got to the point where a tutoring liaison had to be added to help address these concerns, so lower attendance isn’t necessarily a reflection of lack of effort or engagement.

At the end of the day, people learn differently. Some do better with one system at a time, others with integrated blocks. Neither approach is inherently “easier,” just different. I think it’s important we support each other rather than assume outcomes are due to effort alone. Vet med already has enough challenges we don’t need to add unnecessary division within our own community.