Loop Abroad - College Veterinary Service Program

My experience with Loop abroad was amazing and unforgettable. It was my first time out of the country and the team leaders really made me feel safe and cared for. For the first week, we volunteered at ARK working with stray cats and dogs. I am interested in small animals in the field so this week was so exciting for me. We learned everything including basic anatomy, physicals, catheter placement, blood draws, and preparing/monitoring vitals for surgeries. We also got to assist in a spray and a neuter surgery by clamping and cutting with the veterinarian. The surgeries were fast paced and taught us how to effectively think on our feet. The weekend after this week, we got to go zip lining and explore the temples in Thailand. The zip lining was incredible and I would definitely recommend it. The second week, we went to the elephant nature park to work with elephants at the sanctuary. We were able to help prepare food for and feed the elephants, bathe them, observe them during a nutrition study, and assist in cleaning their wounds with the veterinarian. I loved working with them and the entire trip in general. You learn so much! I was worried at first about the safety and legitimacy of the program but I quickly learned that I had nothing to worry about at all.

This was my first of 3 loop abroad programs and it was absolutely amazing! We got to work up close with the elephants and take care of a lot of rescued elephants that had injuries from there previous living environments. I learned a lot about how mistreated elephants are and that they are endangered, and it was a truly amazing experience to be apart of something actively working to stop and prevent such problems. I would 100% go again given the opportunity, it is truly amazing what this program is doing to help support wildlife!

It was so much fun to learn so much about vet medI one, and then be able to actually put what we learned to use with hands on experience. Also, the elephants are amazing. The chance to actually be close to them is incredible. They are so gentle, and it’s great to see all of their different personalities. A once in a lifetime chance. You also get to explore Chiang Mai city, temples, and go zip lining! That was one of my favorite parts. Overall I highly recommend this experience to anyone who is interested in veterinary medicine. You can learn so much and make memories that last a lifetime. If you’re on the fence, just go!

I'm a veterinarian and recently taught College Veterinary Service in Thailand for what was hopefully the first of many times. So this review, while probably still helpful for prospective student, will also be useful for prospective instructors.
Holy #%@, everyone, this course is AWESOME. I like to teach, but it's not my day job (not interested in huge classes). Honestly though, if you have any interest in teaching, Loop is perfect.
The small group sizes let you really get to know everyone in your class. The type of students who sign up for the course are smart, motivated, adventurous, and interested in the course material.
The type and amount of material covered by the course is reasonable, and the labs are fun. The facilities are excellent, the standard of medicine is better than some places in the USA, and the support staff is incredible (especially the Thai veterinary staff!) As with anything involving animals and the real world, you do have to be a bit flexible when teaching, but honestly, I had everything I really needed.
As an instructor, you have some freedom to choose whether or not to accompany students on the non-academic activities (tours, meals, ziplining adventure, etc). I went along for everything, because the activities were well-chosen and interesting, plus the Thai guides that work with Loop Abroad really do an awesome job of explaining culture and context along the way.
Basically, if you're a veterinarian thinking about teaching and you're interested in a program that sets you up for success, has great students and amazing staff, and allows you to be an informed traveler vs an idiot tourist, Loop Abroad is a perfect fit.
If your'e a student, I can honestly say that I've never worked with a program that gives students more value. Not only is the actual program experience just amazing, but also there is a lot of guidance in terms of how the experience can help you in the future (vet school application, other programs etc).
Really my only regrets about the whole experience are a) it's over now, and b) this program wasn't around when I was pre-vet.

My experience abroad in Thailand was absolutely unforgettable. The memories and friendships I made will last me a lifetime. I learned so much about the veterinary field and I strongly encourage any student to pursue studying abroad at least once. I had no problems with any of the housing, food, or guides while on this trip. Everyone was friendly, supportive, and helpful. Any questions you have about medicine will be answered and you will simultaneously be practicing skills necessary for the career.

I traveled with Loop Abroad on the College Veterinary Service to Thailand earlier this summer, and I had a fantastic experience! The guides are very fun and interactive, and also extremely knowledgeable, so I learned so much about Thai customs and culture. The vet staff, both American and Thai, was so incredibly helpful and so willing to really take the time to teach us everything, and I gained so many relevant skills in both the small animal and large animal departments. The housing in Chiang Mai was exceptional, and the housing at Elephant Nature Park really gave the feeling of living in Thailand, although it took some getting used to. The small animal clinic and Animal Rescue Kingdom are great for learning or refining practical skills, and Elephant Nature Park was spectacular and educated us on the importance of conservation and ethical treatment of animals. After coming home from Thailand, I am now extremely confident that becoming a veterinarian is the right career path for me. Overall an amazing, life changing experience that I would recommend to anyone even relatively interested in veterinary medicine!!

I can honestly say that my experience in Thailand with Loop Abroad was life-changing in ways that I never expected when I departed from JFK for Chiang Mai. Loop Abroad was incredibly thorough concerning our groups direction and safety leaving us better able to enjoy our time in Thailand without having to worry. The week that we spent in Chiang Mai at the ARK shelter was an incredibly immersive learning experience with a wide variety of tasks from vaccinating 6 week old puppies to dissecting chicken hearts. Exploring the night bazaars and local temples was a fantastic end to our day after which we gladly passed out in our amazing hostel. While our time in Chiang Mai was undeniably incredible, nothing quite compares to the experience of living at the elephant sanctuary. Every second of the day is filled with wonder and amazement whether you are doing rounds with the vets or just relaxing on the balcony enjoying the splendor of the sanctuary and the elephants who inhabit it. Hearing the stories of the elephants who were abused, some for decades, and spending time with them is an experience incomparable to any other. I would highly, highly recommend traveling to Thailand with the fantastic group, Loop Abroad.

Loop Abroad and Thailand was absolutely amazing! It was definitely the best life experience that I have had so far. I learned a lot while over there. I loved getting to know Thai culture especially because its so different from my own. The food was amazing, before this i had never even tried Thai food before! Spending time with the animals at the shelter was awesome.I really enjoyed elephant nature park! I love what loop abroad stands for; they do not ride elephants. And that's the best part because that's when you know you're volunteering for the best! The staff was very supportive. Overall I would recommend for anyone to go to Thailand with loop abroad!
P.s. I miss Thailand all the time!!