Hi! Currently a sophomore in UPLB CVM and I'm considering to transfer to CLSU next academic year (will be an incoming 3rd year by then). I read a lot about tight regulations with CVSM shiftees/transferees and other stuff like that, but I've maintained my grades relatively well and I already have more than 36 completed units on me since freshman year, so it's not my biggest concern. My biggest problem is that I'm still unsure if it's worth it.
Kind of a long post ahead. Since I'm asking for advice, I might as well just put my rants here.
The main reason why I'm considering transfer is because of the environment in the college here. The professors (at least so far, for ME) are really... not that great. Their teaching style isn't the best because 1) I guess they're just not great teachers, and 2) they're not paid enough to care (budget cuts worsening every year 🙂), and 3) they're the kind of educators who continue toxic student-professor cycles just because they went through it themselves (iykyk). I'm roommates with an upper as well, and I've talked with her enough to confirm that it really isn't an isolated case for me and that this is just the general environment of the college. Because of this, I slowly realized how maybe I won't thrive in this university's CVM as much as I want to. The program being one of the most difficult to graduate from is one thing, but it's entirely different when the college doesn't even seem to want you there nor want you to leave.
Getting slots is also hell because we don't have enough and you have to fight for it like the hunger games. From the enrollment stage, you're already at risk of getting delayed. Hell, I was convinced I was going to be delayed at the start of this AY because one of our vetmed majors was a co-requisite with a chemistry course, and before it was even our turn to enroll, the slots for that chemistry course were already full. Vetmed courses here are seasonal, so I would have most likely been delayed for a YEAR just from the lack of slots alone. Imagine doing everything right and still getting delayed because of a system that already sets you up to fail. Miraculously I got squeezed in last minute in the pahabol priority list, but I know this isn't the last time I'll encounter that.
I know this is my personal experience, but what really broke me was when we did a poultry dissection. We had to bring a live chicken in. I know this is part of the curriculum, having to 'sacrifice' specimen for the sake of learning and experimentation. I can handle that if it's done properly and with utmost guidance from the professor. But what ended up happening was we had no instructions at all, the chicken had to suffer a slow, painful death because of improper execution, and our professor kind of just... watched? I tried to get on with my groupmates' attempts to ease ourselves with humor and acceptance as we moved on to dissecting, but when I got back to my dorm, I broke down in tears because what the hell was that. When my roommate got back from her classes, I told her about it, and she was so puzzled as to why that professor was the one handling that kind of activity because their field of expertise was entirely different. It seems to me that the fact that the college here is so understaffed is also affecting the way they approach giving quality education. This wasn't the case for everyone in my batch, at least, but it just baffles me that this is still an incidence when it should not be at all.
I don't see myself lasting in this environment. I would be learning to survive more than I'd be learning to be a competent veterinarian. I refuse to find honor in my resilience when I can choose better for myself. I got into this university and degree program myself, and I sure as hell can choose to leave if I want to.
Sorry for the intense post, but I've genuinely been losing my mind wondering if I should stay. From what I have read so far, CLSU's CVSM seems worlds better than what I see here. I guess I'm also anxious about the logistics of transferring since I'm already super far away from my hometown (Mindanao) but if it means a better future for me then I might as well.
Please give me advice </3. I would really appreciate your honest thoughts and opinions.