Veterinary Semester Abroad: 14 Weeks Throughout Thailand

Studying abroad in Thailand on the veterinary science semester was one of the best decisions that I have made in my life and one that I would easily make over again if it was offered to me. From the moment I arrived in the country to the day the program ended, the staff on site were incredibly welcoming and supportive. Our first week was spent familiarizing ourselves with the home-base city, language, culture, and religion before we started on the veterinary medicine side of learning. We started with an intro level companion animal science course, which was beneficial to bring everyone up to the same level in terms of skills/knowledge before starting the more complex coursework with the other species. From there, we had quite the busy schedule over the remaining 10 weeks while working with elephants, sea turtles, zoo animals, reptiles, and scuba diving. Each course was held in a different part of the country so we would frequently have Saturday free with traveling on either Sunday afternoon or Monday morning. I enjoy staying busy so this schedule worked well for me, but I could see it being too much for someone that prefers more downtime. All in all, I feel like this program is an amazing option for pre-vet college students, but it really is what each individual student makes of it. The more you pay attention, demonstrate skills, and offer yourself as a volunteer, the more opportunities that will be offered to you and the more hands-on experience that you will receive!

This program changed my life! Loop Abroad created a structure and organized program where I learned and participated in more than any other opportunity I've ever experienced. All the staff were amazing! The coolest part by far was the sterilization clinic. I learned so much from observing and also getting to practice some skills hands-on too.

This semester abroad is truly an experience of a lifetime that everyone should highly consider. Students get experience with countless species, many of which aren't common in my home region of North America. I learned valuable skills personally and from a veterinary standpoint that will help me develop my career in the future!