Program Reviews

The trip was a great experience to encounter elephants and help out with animal clinics! Had a great time with my group and the staff was excellent. Only downside would be: don't expect for it to just be you and your 12 member group that you were assigned in. If you're doing college pre-vet; you'll be crammed with high schoolers as well. Which I wish was made clear to us. My whole group was bothered at this but all in all, the experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I had a great time meeting people and embracing the culture but it did not feel like a pre-vet trip. So, I advise people to maybe look into something more serious if they want to learn about medicine and treating animals. I cannot say I learned on this trip; but I can say I had a good time.

The trip with Loop to Thailand was my first time abroad, and it was amazing. All my nerves about traveling alone and being in a foreign country went out the window and I didn't have to worry about it. The girls in my group were nice and the vet staff were AMAZING! I didn't know anyone, and I made friends while I was there. The culture shock isn't as bad as you think either. The Thai people everywhere we went were welcoming and inclusive.

The actual veterinary experience is something that I will never get elsewhere. The week spent at Elephant Nature Park gave me opportunities to be up close and personal with Asian elephants in their natural habitat. Coming from the US, I would not get that chance stateside. I really believe it will help me when I apply to Vet School in 2020.

This program was a great way to learn more about wildlife conservation, and potential veterinary careers within this field of medicine. Feracare was a fantastic wildlife centre that taught us so much about cheetah behavior, care, and conservation. The staff of both Feracare and Loop Abroad were extremely helpful and supportive, and would be more than willing to offer assistance or answer any questions that we had. Furthermore, the vets who taught us came from various backgrounds (from small animal ER to zoo medicine), which was beneficial to talk with them about their experiences and tips to help us succeed in our future endeavors. This was my first time out of the country and I feel that this program was perfect on making sure I felt safe as well as get experience in veterinary medicine.

I have already been admitted into veterinary school, but I wanted to spend some time abroad to see what different fields of veterinary medicine were like. Spending time with Loop Abroad in South Africa allowed me to learn about conservation medicine, cheetah-specific medicine, OneHealth, and other general veterinary topics! It truly opened my eyes about the importance that conservation holds, and I am now seriously considering a future in conservation medicine. The individuals on the trip are supportive throughout all activities, and spending time at Kruger National Park was amazing. Plus, we got to spend almost every day working directly with the cheetahs, whether that was through feeding them or training them. This trip truly is a unique experience that you won't get anywhere else!

The Thailand College Veterinary Service program was the best experience of my life. This program was everything that I wanted and more. This trip was my first time leaving the country, so I was very nervous. Loop Abroad made me feel very safe and comfortable the entire time, and they were very good at making sure we felt independent while also having people to guide us if we needed. The program was very hands-on with the animals, more so than I even expected. At the vet clinic we got to physically help out with spays and neuters of animals. At the Elephant Nature Park there were hundreds of dogs and cats running all over the place that you were able to interact with. Further, I saw the elephants every day and one day we were even paired with a specific elephant and followed it around all day. The elephants were beautiful and it was amazing to be able to be so close to them. Also, on this trip I ate some of the best food I have ever had because I love Thai food. I also met so many wonderful and amazing girls, I am so happy to be able to call hem my good friends. Overall, this trip was amazing in every aspect. They did a great job at balancing the veterinary service and the exploration of Thailand itself and I wish I could do the program again.

I don’t even know where to begin. I went on this trip by myself and was a nervous wreak the day before I left but I made so many life long friends that I will never forget and miss so much. If you were to ask me what my favorite part of the 2 weeks I was in Thailand was, I would tell you the animals, people, market place, views, culture, food, and adventure. It’s impossible to choose just one. I have also gained so much knowledge about veterinary science and I’m only 17. The hands on experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I’m so glad I took. The leaders for my group were so amazing and supportive with everything. I never felt alone. Keep an open mind and you will have so much fun. If you are debating on whether or not to go, go! You will not regret it I promise!

This trip was amazing in so many ways! We got to stay at the Lory Park Animal and Owl Sanctuary in Midrand, South Africa. The house we stayed in had bunk beds and was very clean and nicely kept. Every morning we got to be on a different section, including big cats, small cats, cubs, primates, reptiles, and birds of prey, helping the keepers with exhibit maintenance, enrichment and training. This was such an incredible experience to learn how to care for all of these amazing creatures, as well as learning how to increase their welfare in captivity. We also had two vet days where we got to see their zoo vet perform a variety of procedures and routine vaccinations. Lastly, we got to go on an incredible safari for the weekend where we got to see a huge variety of animals in their natural habitat, including elephants, leopard, lions, and giraffes!

My semester abroad in Thailand was everything I had hoped for an more. The semester gave my the veterinary and animal experience I was looking for and introduced me to so many amazing people. The food and house was all very good and I felt safe the entire time I was there. I really enjoyed how we travelled around to different parts of Thailand for different courses and how Loop also took us to do cultural things. We got to spend a few weeks on Koh Tao scuba diving and learning about marine animals, we spent time up in the northern mountains doing a spay and neuter clinic, we went to south-west Thailand to stay at an elephant sancutary for a couple weeks to do an elephant course and much more. Everyone was so nice and willing to help and all our professors were very knowledgable about their subjects. Overall this program gave me a lot of new and different experiences that I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else and exposed me to parts of veterinary medicine I didn't have prior experience with. I would definitely suggest doing a loop program to any pre-vet students.

The Thailand College Veterinary Service program was everything I'd hoped it would be- and more. It was my first experience studying abroad- and my first time leaving the continent in general. Although my parents and I had our concerns initially, they soon evaporated. The Loop staff was wonderful at answering our questions and giving us the information we needed to know. They were very thorough, and made me feel cared for before and during the trip.
As for the trip itself, I don't know what other pre-veterinary study abroad programs give you so much hands-on experience! I feel very grateful that as a first-year college undergraduate, I was able to perform a spay and neuter (alongside vets), help an anesthesia team with other spays and neuters, learn how to insert a catheter, feed elephants (and study their diets and waste), and more. We were also given a lot of exposure to Thai culture- visiting night markets and temples, meditating with a monk, visiting children at a local school, and taking part in local ceremonies- which showed me just how beautiful this country is. Overall, I've made memories on this trip that I hope will last a lifetime, and I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in becoming a vet and learning about a beautiful country.

This experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The first week at Elephant nature park was unbelievable. You got great vet experience with not only the elephants but with the rescue dog and cats. I felt very safe while working with the elephants. The employees at the park and the loop abroad guides were very helpful and friendly. The second week at the dog clinic was even more in depth vet experience with dogs and cats. When not working with the vets, loop abroad brought you out to see the sights and taste some local food. I felt safe the whole time at the night bazaar, the temples, and all the restaurants. The food was the same while at elephant nature park for the week, which I didn't mind. While in the city the food was different every night, I never had a bad food. The hostel at elephant nature park was a great new experience, and the hotel in the city was clean and had A/C. The would recommend to any one who is thinking about going to vet school, likes biology, loves elephants, and even if you just like adventures and new travels.