Is studying abroad perceived as negative?

[Ripkabird98]

So, I just finished my freshman year of undergrad, but for awhile I've been really considering taking advantage of my school's study abroad opportunities. Heck, assuming I like it, I could even see myself studying abroad multiple times (1 or 2 semesters plus winter/summer breaks). I'm not going to ask if they're seen as positive to med schools, because to be entirely honest, I don't care if it is, as that's not why I'm doing it. I want to do it for myself. Some of them would be just to experience and have fun in a different culture, and others (such as the break ones) would likely be more geared towards volunteer work.

However, I'm concerned that this may look bad to Adcoms when I apply to med school. I don't want to end up there and have them subtract a lot of merit from my application because I spent a semester (or more) taking classes outside of the US.

So basically, positive or not, is studying abroad (potentially more than once) through a program accredited by my university seen as negative to adcoms?

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[RNtoMD87]

I would think it is not a negative or a positive in itself. If you can discuss it and bring greater meaning to it, it would be a strong positive. If it sounds like you did it just to stand out, it will be a negative.

 

[Ripkabird98]

I would think it is not a negative or a positive in itself. If you can discuss it and bring greater meaning to it, it would be a strong positive. If it sounds like you did it just to stand out, it will be a negative.

Definitely not doing it to stand out, I'm honestly just doing it because, simply put, it's something I want to do. I want to leave the country, and experience new environments, new people, new food, new cultures, etc. I'm not even that concerned about stretching it as a positive, because it's not meant for my resume in any way. It's just meant for my own self. I want to be able to leave college and look back on a stream of memories in different places, with different people, doing different things, and experience things that'll shift how I view and interact with the world.

 

[plasticdiscoball]

Just do it, it's fine. Enjoy your college experience. Make sure if you're taking any prereq classes that the credits will transfer back to your home university.