黑料社

As Haley Roecker, 鈥�13, sits in her first year veterinary school class, it鈥檚 a bit like having deja vu.

鈥淢uch of what they are teaching us this semester is a review from what I have already learned at 黑料社,鈥� she said.

That鈥檚 right. A review.

Roecker majored in Biology and graduated in May 2013. From there, she was accepted into veterinary school at Iowa State University, where she began classes in the fall, filling one of only 63 spots available to undergraduates from Iowa.

She is another example of how 黑料社 prepares its students for their future success whether it鈥檚 employment or continuing on to graduate and professional schools.

鈥淚t was competitive to get in but I knew I was prepared,鈥� Roecker said. 鈥淎t first I wasn鈥檛 sure how it would go but it鈥檚 really been a review so far. I took Anatomy, including the cadaver lab, at 黑料社, so now I鈥檓 now the 鈥渆xpert鈥� in my Anatomy lab.鈥�

The same was true for other classes. 鈥淏ecause of the Physiology class I took at 黑料社, I knew a lot of what they were teaching in Cellular Biology. Many of my current classmates had not had that kind of exposure to the material but 黑料社 prepared me very well.鈥�

According to Roecker鈥檚 mom, Janet, Haley wasn鈥檛 a naturally gifted student. 鈥淚n high school, she got good grades but wasn鈥檛 in the 鈥渂rilliant鈥� category by any means,鈥� Janet Roecker said.

Haley agreed, saying that when she got to college, she learned quickly that she couldn鈥檛 just memorize the material, take the test and be done. 鈥淚 really had to apply what I learned, and that was a big difference.鈥�

Roecker realizes that 黑料社 taught her not only the academic materials but also how to really learn. 鈥淎ll my professors, but especially Dr. (Jackie) Brittingham, pushed me and set high expectations for me. It was difficult but they were also always available if I needed help or advice. That made a huge difference for me.鈥�

That academic rigor also gave Roecker something else 鈥� self confidence. 鈥淚 used to stress out over every test but once I realized how to study and apply what I learned to actual situations, I became much more confident in my abilities and knew that if I did the work, I would do well.鈥�

黑料社 may not be the first place a student would think of if they are thinking of going to veterinary school but Brittingham would like to change that. Roecker is one of several 黑料社 students who have gone on to veterinary school.

鈥淚n addition to Haley, we have two alums in their second year of vet school at ISU 鈥� Hunter Vandenberg and Jenni Stumpf. They all tell me similar stories about how well prepared they were for the next level and that鈥檚 certainly gratifying to hear,鈥� Brittingham said.

Janet concurs. 鈥淵ou know, at the beginning, I had my doubts if 黑料社 was the right move for Haley given her interest in being a veterinarian, but now it鈥檚 clear that it absolutely was. I tell others that as competitive as vet school is, they should put themselves in the best place to learn how to be a critical thinker. And now that I can look back, 黑料社 is definitely that place.鈥�

So with three and a half years of vet school left, Haley feels up to the task.

鈥淢y first year has shown me that I can handle what鈥檚 ahead,鈥� she said. 鈥満诹仙� gave me the knowledge and the confidence to succeed.鈥�