I’m sure you know by now that getting into vet school is highly competitive. Our 4 week pre-vet internship will give you the experience and tools necessary to set you apart from other candidates and prepare you to get into the school you desire.

Follow our vets as they treat sick and injured wildlife. You will participate and learn from our wildlife rescue center and our reintroduction programs.  In 4 weeks our vets will get to know you so that they can write your recommendation letter for vet school. Meanwhile you get some first hand experience of what being a vet is really all about!

At the rescue center, students assist in necessary surgeries and emergency procedures. Students may learn proper restraint techniques for mammals, birds and reptiles, how to perform physical exams and hands-off evaluations, identify and treat parasites, administer fluids, perform necropsies, as well as learn suturing, wound care and how to identify stages of healing. Patient rounds are conducted often along with topic discussions and presentations.  In our summer sessions, one of the 4 weeks is spent with a guest vet instructor either onsite or in a nearby clinic. We find that having the chance to learn from various vets gives a more well rounded experience and helps prepare you for vet school interviews. There are labs and demonstrations, as well as feedback meetings throughout the program. 

Among other things, students gain a deeper knowledge of what conservation medicine is and how it differs from exotic and zoo medicine, what role a veterinarian plays in conservation, and when and how animals can return to the wild.  Animals that we often have in care are the Golden Mantled Howler Monkey, White Faced Capuchin Monkey, Collared Anteater, White-nosed Coati, Kinkajou, Agouti, Lowland Paca, Spotted Skunk, Northern Raccoon, Nine-banded Armadillo, White-tailed Deer, Variegated Squirrel, Mexican Hairy Porcupine, Woolly and Common Opossum, and a variety of  birds. When possible, we will also participate in spay and neuter campaigns to help control the local dog and cat population, which threatens wildlife daily. 

Please note: A wildlife rescue center does not see the high volume of cases common in small animal practice. Your experience is dictated by the number and type of cases that arrive. As a result some sessions may involve more time spent on the clinical aspects and some sessions may lean toward the theoretical. However all sessions will encompass a mixture of both. Although we cannot guarantee what animal species or clinical cases you will see we always have around 75 animals on site that need various forms of care and evaluation.

Getting Into Vet School
Some of the most important criteria for students applying to vet school includes experience in the field, communication skills and references from veterinarians. By participating in our pre-vet internship, you will get all 3 and more! The Wild Sun Internship gives students the skills necessary to stand apart from other applicants, to speak intelligently about the veterinarian’s role in conservation, and to show your commitment to your future career.

Scarlet Macaw Reintroduction

Wild Sun began reintroducting Scarlet Macaws to the southern Nicoya Peninsula in February 2019. As students you will learn what we do to care for these birds and the process it takes for a species reintroduction program to be carried out.  Among other tasks, when applicable, you will help micro chip and extract blood for DNA testing.   You may even be asked to monitor the health of recently released Macaws.

Fun

We'll also take the time out to take advantage of some of the natural wonders of Costa Rica!  Be they waterfalls, ocean voyages or beautiful sunsets, adventure awaits.  Each session is slightly different but most weeks you will go on one academic field trip and one fun field trip. This past summer, students enjoyed the ASVO Turtle Sanctuary, Lolo’s Goat Farm, Montezuma Waterfalls, Isla Cabuya Cemetery Island, horseback riding, zip lining, barbecue at Rio Lajas, AsoProLapa Scarlet Macaw breeding center and release site, Vista De Olas cliffside infinity pool with a swim up bar, Bioluminescence tour in Curú Park, hiking Cabo Blanco- Costa Rica's first national park, as well as other outings.