Once strangers, three students shared classrooms, dining halls, and dorm hallways before graduating in May of 2022 from the University of Findlay. Emma Holm, Taylor Wenzinger, and Hannah Vangen all graduated with bachelor’s in Animal Science / Pre-Veterinary Medicine Option. After four years in Findlay, the three would soon find out that they would become best friends at veterinary school 3,830 miles away.
Emma, Taylor, and Hannah admitted to seeing each other while studying at the University of Findlay, but said while on campus, they never hung out in the same groups. When it came time to select a veterinary school to further their educations, they had all heard about London’s Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in different ways. Emma said RVC hit her radar after a UF alumnus did an Instagram takeover of the school. Hannah said she had a friend that applied to RVC and got in. RVC became Taylor’s “dream school” after hearing about it through Pre-Vet Club meetings and Instagram.
“Hannah, Taylor, and I actually did not decide to apply together, but I heard through friends that they did,” said Emma. “We wished each other good luck for the interviews and talked when we received our acceptances into the program. We then immediately made a group chat to express our excitement for our move to London,” she added.
The time had come…Moving Day! The three girls set off to further their education at RVC in London, more than 3,800 miles from the small campus of UF. As fate would have it, Emma, Taylor, and Hannah would no longer need the group chat to stay in contact. “It wasn’t until we received our room numbers when we all realized we were going to be in the same flat,” said Emma.
Once classes started, the three friends quickly realized that they were more than prepared for veterinary school. All three of them echoed the same answers when asked about their experience at the University of Findlay, highlighting hands-on experience, an in-depth and complete approach to learning, and faculty support. “Getting the opportunity at UF to handle animals so early on, taking classes like vertebrate anatomy and physiology, and taking production courses, all gave me a strong foundation,” said Taylor.
Hannah said her time at UF put her and her friends ahead of their new classmates. “Not only did these courses set a strong foundation, but also taught me the study techniques I would need to handle the overwhelming amount of information provided. In terms of animal handling, I would say we are ahead of our classmates because we had the handling courses our freshman year.”
Taylor, Emma, and Hannah admitted that RVC has kept them busy with classes and labs, highlighting RVC’s spiral curriculum that allows them to see topics continuously brought up throughout their courses, allowing them to build on what they’ve already learned. When asked what “busy” consisted of, the three said they tackled the following subjects in just the first semester:
- Locomotion
- Immunology
- Virology
- Pharmacology
- Organs of digestion
- Endocrine and urinary systems
- Alimentary parasites
Classes and studying are a priority while in school, but the three friends said they have been able to make time for sight-seeing. Emma talked about visiting Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the Princess Diana memorial. Hannah visited Spitalfields and Camden markets, and is looking forward to an upcoming trip to Scotland and Northern Ireland for class. Taylor enjoyed her visit to Stonehenge and Windsor Castle, saying she also got the chance to see “Wicked” at the Apollo Victoria Theater. All three of them also took day trips to visit the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum.
When asked about the food and drinks surrounding them, they confessed to developing new favorite food and drinks, and frequently visiting several local businesses. “Whenever I get the chance, I go to a sweet café called Rustique: The Literary Café, that has the best coffee and the sweetest owner,” Hannah said. Emma said people can’t go wrong with fish and chips, but admitted to having a few favorite desserts. “I have an endless supply of Terry’s chocolate oranges or Jaffa Cakes on my shelf,” said Emma. Taylor said she’s been enjoying “a lot of pizza,” but said her new addiction is tea cakes.
When asked if they would like to share anything from across the pond, the three said, “We would like to give thanks to the entire Animal Science Department for all of the valuable information that they taught us, and the fun memories that we will always cherish.”
For more information on the University of Findlay’s Animal Science / Pre-Veterinary Medicine Option, visit the program’s webpage.
Original source can be found here.
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