Study abroad

[prevetabroad]

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Hi! Sorry if this has been asked before and please direct me to the threads; I couldn't find any!

Have any of you studied abroad as an undergrad and if so what programs did you do? I really want to do a semester abroad but I'm having trouble finding programs that have science classes that I could use for my bio major. I'd like ones directed towards biology/animal science and so far I've been looking at Massey in NZ and the semester at the scbi through George Mason/the smithsonian and it's not abroad but it's a really cool experience and if it was abroad it's just what I'd want! I'm also an anthropology double major which might help when finding places since science classes are harder to transfer. Somewhere where I could also get animal or vet experience would be great but I don't think I'd find any where I can do that haha

Anyway have any of you studied abroad and if so where? Or done long summer abroad programs? I'm not looking for the short two weeks VIDA type trips but moreso a study abroad experience.

 

[BlackDog17]

I think your best bet is to look for programs that are specifically geared toward pre-vet students. Unless you still have a lot of general education (English, history, math, etc) requirements that you still need to fulfill, it's REALLY hard to study abroad without taking time away from working on your vet school pre-reqs.

I was never able to study abroad, unfortunately. It was going to be way too expensive for me. But I have a bunch of friends who did the Vets in the Wild program in Africa and they absolutely loved it! http://www.ecolife.co.za/vets.html

I also read about a program for pre-vets in Bolivia a few years ago. I don't remember the name, but I'm sure you can find it if you do some google searching. They provided veterinary care for poor rural neighborhoods, and the pre-vets were allowed to do a lot of procedures themsevles (performing spays and neuters, administering meds, directly assisting with major surgeries, etc) since the laws there are much more lax.

Both of these were summer programs, I believe.

However, depending on your undergrad you may not be able to get credit for these programs. I know my friends who did Vets in the Wild did not get any credits, so it was a lot of money and work for no real academic payout. But it's still an awesome experience and definitely something you can include in your vet school applications, even if it doesn't end up on your transcript!

Hope that helps!

 

[orca2011]

Does your undergrad not offer any programs? Honestly, any type of abroad (doesn't have to be animal related, or science related) is a great experience. If you're having trouble finding a science one because you want to stay on top of your courses, try looking at some of those shorter, summer trips. You might be able to get some class credit that way (ie. any core class or electives) while still getting the experience you're looking for.

I still get surprised when I hear people having difficulty going abroad/getting course credit since my undergrad had some amazing programs, and ones specifically for bio majors. It was actually a major criteria in picking an undergrad for me. My school had a year long program that I did in England and was able to take like 6 of my required science classes while I was over there, in addition to two electives I needed. I had planned on getting some animal/vet experience while I was over there, but things ended up falling through since I was frequently traveling on weekends since it was likely going to be my only opportunity to travel to different countries. And that's a point I think many people forget to consider. It'd be great if you can get vet experience while abroad, but traveling to new countries and experiencing other cultures is already a huge selling point on your application if you're looking at it from that point of view. I used my experiences in several essays and ad coms loved it.

 

[prevetabroad]

Yeah getting vet experience while abroad isn't the most important at all it's just a bonus! Studying abroad was actually super important to me too but my school pretty much lied to me while I was making my decision and the only abroad program my school supports for science majors you have to apply for in like October of freshman year and it is sophomore year and I thought I'd be able to do other programs since they said I could but I'm only realizing now how hard they make it! So I was hoping to see if any others had luck with any specific schools abroad so I could see if my school would accept them and what I might be able to take

 

[Trilt]

I went to Finland (University of Helsinki) for a semester as an undergrad. Totally unrelated to animals, vet school, whatever, but still a FANTASTIC experience. It also cost me almost nothing more than a standard semester (exchange program, got an extra scholarship for plane costs, etc) and it was just a ridiculously great experience. I really encourage every person I can to study abroad if they can fit it in - and it's not super impossible to fit in. Heck, I have a classmate in vet school who did a YEAR in France and still graduated in four years.

With that said, I most likely could have gotten veterinary/animal experience if I wanted to - the university I was at has a vet school, there were definitely clinics around, etc, but honestly a semester off was not the worst thing in the world for me. I also used the experience during at least one essay while applying, and more importantly, think I was personally bettered by my experiences.

 

[shortnsweet]

I went to Brisbane, Australia and studied at Uni of Queensland. Was one of the best experiences of my life. Took 2 courses that went towards my bio degree--Marine bio and aussie terrestrial bio. Got to go to the GBR and the aussie zoo etc.. Also took a culture course, and a stats course (which did go to pre vet reqs).

 

[503372]

.

 

[equineconstant]

I didn't take any classes abroad because many of my prereqs were cycles where (for instance) physics I was only offered in fall and physics II was only offered in spring, and I didn't want to do a whole year abroad. Instead, I did a summer "internship" program abroad. I spent the whole summer (~3 months) in Ireland at an equine clinic. I did it through a program that places interns abroad, but I wouldn't recommend that unless you want an experience that can be right in the city--I ended up losing quite a bit of the program since I had to move out of the city where it was based to be near the hospital. But it was a great experience, and the hospital has said that they really liked having someone all summer rather than the usual few weeks for externships. You can PM me if you want more details about the hospital or the program I went through.

 

[prevetabroad]

Thanks everyone! I will look at the schools mentioned and their classes and see if my school accepts them!

 

[orca2011]

I realized I never mentioned the school I was at. I spent my junior year at Newcastle University in England. Additional bonus is that it's a pretty cheap city to live in compared to some others as well.