This Veterinary Medicine Program Changed My Life and It Can Change Yours Too! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I had an absolutely wonderful time with my Broadreach experience. It was what I expected out of a veterinary medicine study abroad and so much more. It was a great balance between the academic work and applying what we learned with hands-on activities. This was an intense program both physically and mentally, but if you keep an open mind and love animals, medicine, and being in a beautiful country, this is the program for you.

On-site administration of your program

I was part of the inaugural program for Broadreach so a lot of the details of the trip were still being figured out when we were there. The schedule was always subject to change. The sense of mystery taught us to go more with the flow and not be tied down with the little things. We always ended up at the right place and things always turned out well in the end. I believe our group taught the instructors and Broadreach administration a lot about what was necessary for such a program.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We lived in a variety of living arrangements, mostly hostels and hotels with one instance of being in a "tent suite." They were comfortable places to be and did the job in keeping a roof over our heads and having easy access to bathroom facilities. Be prepared to "rough it" and embrace the experience. It's all part of the growing and learning process and you'll definitely leave with a greater appreciation for how things are back at your own home.

The food was wonderful the entire time. Our meals gave us true insight into Costa Rican culture. At the hostels the meals were home-cooked which was such a great treat after a long day of work. There was also one point of our program where we made our own goat cheese from the goats at the farm we were currently staying at. Such a satisfying experience and the cheese was delicious!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Although the language barrier was very real, the Costa Rican people were incredibly welcoming and accommodating people. Additionally, the country is very used to American visitors so they are familiar with interacting with foreigners. At each of our stays, we were able to make friends with locals we were working with and I am so grateful to maintain their friendships to this day.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The intense nature of the program meant that injuries were a possibility. I unfortunately had a foreign object fly into my right eye on the first full day of the program, but my instructors attended to me fully and I recovered relatively quickly with everyone's help and support. Nobody on my trip had to go to a hospital for any reason.

I never felt unsafe. This is a college program so there was a level of trust between us, the students, and our instructors so there were times when we could be free to do what we wish. However, nobody was ever alone for long periods of time and we mostly traveled in groups. Obviously take necessary precautions when traveling through any foreign country.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Broadreach recommends a certain amount of money for you to bring for spending purposes on the trip but I definitely went over their recommendation and I was grateful that my parents gave me extra. My spending money mainly went to laundry services, snacks, evening outings, and souvenirs.

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• Other
• Hotel
• Hostel

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• Local Students
• Americans

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• Americans

• Diverse, hands-on animal experience.
• Traveling all around the beautiful country of Costa Rica.
• Independence in our free time.

• Organization of our daily schedules.
• Communication between instructors and students.

The Academic or Linguist