VET FAQs

• Who is the Veterinary Medicine program for?

  This summer program is for high school students interested in exploring the various career options available in veterinary medicine and health care. To attend Veterinary Medicine: High School, you must be in grades 9-12 during the 2022-2023 school year.

• What is included in tuition?

  For the Texas Zoo program, tuition includes accommodations, all staff including on-site professional teaching veterinarians, on-site meals, site visits & transportation during program, lectures, simulations, curriculum & materials, and a Certificate of Completion. Tuition does NOT include transportation to and from the program.

  While attending the program, you will only need money for souvenirs, snacks, and other incidentals.

  For the Rescue Center Costa Rica program, tuition includes accommodations—including one night in a Houston area hotel before the chaperoned flight to Costa Rica, all staff including on-site professional teaching veterinarians, a round-trip group flight from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), on-site meals, site visits & transportation during the program, lectures, simulations, curriculum & materials, and a Certificate of Completion.

  Transportation from your local airport to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for the included group flight is not included in your tuition. While attending the program, you will only need money for souvenirs, snacks, and other incidentals.

  * For the Texas Zoo program, there is a $100 round-trip fee for shuttle service or a $50 fee for one-way shuttle service. For the Rescue Center Costa Rica program, transfers to and from Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose are included in tuition.

• How will I be supervised?

  Your safety during the program is our highest priority. You will reside in a safe, controlled environment and you will be supervised by professionally trained staff, including teaching veterinary faculty who serve as educational facilitators and chaperones, support staff, and an on-site director.

  For over 30 years, Envision has achieved a stellar record of successfully enriching the lives of students, providing them with superb educational experiences and professional supervision. Other safety measures include:

  • Greeting students at the designated airport upon their arrival, and providing shuttle service directly to the program site and back to the airport on departure day*
  • Maintaining a student-to-staff ratio of 10 to 1
  • Requiring all students to attend all activities
  • Checking rooms nightly and ensuring that students remain in their own rooms
  • Having night monitors to support students who may become ill or who have an emergency during the night
  • Equipping all staff members with two-way communication devices
• Where will I stay?

  At our Veterinary Medicine: Texas Zoo program, all students are housed on campus in University of Houston – Victoria campus housing.

  At our Veterinary Medicine: Costa Rica program, all students are housed on-site at the Rescue Center Costa Rica.

• How many students share a room?

  Each room will house 2-4 students, and you will have your own bed.

• Can family members come to the program?

  Parents and family members are not allowed to accompany you during the program. Gaining independence is an essential part of your growth during the program. However, it is perfectly fine for your family to travel with you to the program location and stay in the area while you are attending the program if they wish.

• I am a student requiring specific accommodations. Can I still attend?

  Envision by WorldStrides encourages the participation of all students who are academically, socially, and emotionally prepared for the program, including students with special accommodation requests. Parents, guardians, legal representatives, or educators are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions, as we may be able to provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services to assist students with needed accommodations. To be able to best assist with specific accommodation requests, it is strongly recommended that families discuss specific requests with the Office of Admissions prior to enrollment.

• Do I need to make my own flight arrangements?

  Yes. We recommend that you make necessary flight arrangements only AFTER you receive confirmation that you are officially enrolled.

• What are the pre-program assignments? Do I have to do them?

  The first step of your leadership journey includes assessing your strengths and opportunities for growth. As part of your program, you’ll have access to WorldStrides’ newest digital platform: MyActionPath.

  WorldStrides has partnered with PAIRIN, a leader in career and life planning and assessment, to help our students along their lifetime learning journeys. The result of this partnership is MyActionPath—a personalized, virtual GPS that guides you along your desired career pathway and helps you identify ways to enhance your skills and achieve your goals. MyActionPath can assist you in deciding which professional field might suit you best, makes recommendations based on your goals and dreams, and provides you with educational and supportive resources. Before you arrive to your program location, you’ll receive more information via email on how to begin this exciting career-planning journey.

  MyActionPath
• Can special dietary needs be met?

  We make every effort to meet the dietary needs of all our students, provided the request is submitted prior to the start of your program. When you complete the Student Information Form, you will have the opportunity to make special dietary requests. We encourage you to contact the Office of Admissions for any specific questions or concerns.