Looks like CIEE also has a summer public-health-focused experience in the Dominican Republic.

https://www.ciee.org/go-abroad/high-school-study-abroad/summer/programs/dominican-republic/santiago-de-los-caballeros/leadership-service-public-health

For such short trips looks like CIEE's programs focus either on language learning or a functional area.

OP here...thanks so much! very helpful.

Anonymous wrote:DC is looking for a summer abroad program that:
1) has an intensive Spanish component
2) has some biomedical component to it.

They/we do NOT--I repeat, DO NOT--think such an experience will be helpful for college applications. In fact, they will likely not mention it at all in applications, as we know these things reek of privilege. DC just wants a few weeks to travel and strengthen their spanish before taking AP next year and is interested in health care.

There are several programs out there so we are looking for folks with direct experience.

I think you can and sometimes really should mention these kinds of learning experiences/ trips in essays, but you have to think carefully how you write about them, if that makes sense. The trip itself also doesn't need to be the main thrust of an essay, but remember they are a demonstration of commitment to a subject, sometimes to overcoming an academic hurdle, to independence and to group work. My DD had a volunteering opportunity in an African country and our private college counselor actively encouraged her to talk about one element of it in one of her essays.

My kid with similar interests did the GLA public health program in Dominican Republic last summer and loved it. Well-run though expensive program. Kids volunteered at pop-up medical clinics in rural parts of the DR ans learned about public health challenges in poor communities.

I can speak to my experience. I didn't do a biomed program but I did a Spanish-language program with Centro MundoLengua. I would highly recommend. Great programs in both Cadiz and Seville. Includes homestay and they have a Pre-AP program with high school kids. I made so many lifelong friends and would recommend it to anyone

DC is looking for a summer abroad program that:
1) has an intensive Spanish component
2) has some biomedical component to it.

They/we do NOT--I repeat, DO NOT--think such an experience will be helpful for college applications. In fact, they will likely not mention it at all in applications, as we know these things reek of privilege. DC just wants a few weeks to travel and strengthen their spanish before taking AP next year and is interested in health care.

There are several programs out there so we are looking for folks with direct experience.