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[907914]

Just to be clear, the vast majority (almost all) of my shadowing and clinical experience and the entirety of my EC's & volunteer experiences are in the US.

However, I have shadowed/had clinical experience in Europe as well (not just a random trip but I lived there for a decent chunk of my childhood and return often, still have lots of family there, etc). It's at a plastics office, so hopefully none of this will scream "voluntourism" (also ik it's a difficult specialty to get into but I have a lot of PCP shadowing & volunteering in the US).

I do have strong roots there and found it to be a valuable experience, but based on what I've read here, I understand why adcoms may have their reservations about it. Worth keeping or just easier to omit?

Based on how you describe it, it is fairly obvious it is not voluntourism. This would be beneficial to your app by means of highlighting a novel aspect, particularly given that you say you already have the vast majority of your stuff in the US. This is a worthwhile and contributory not to mention.

 

[Catalystik]

Overseas shadowing even worth mentioning?

Just to be clear, the vast majority (almost all) of my shadowing and clinical experience and the entirety of my EC's & volunteer experiences are in the US.

However, I have shadowed/had clinical experience in Europe as well (not just a random trip but I lived there for a decent chunk of my childhood and return often, still have lots of family there, etc). It's at a plastics office, so hopefully none of this will scream "voluntourism" (also ik it's a difficult specialty to get into but I have a lot of PCP shadowing & volunteering in the US).

I do have strong roots there and found it to be a valuable experience, but based on what I've read here, I understand why adcoms may have their reservations about it. Worth keeping or just easier to omit?

Plastics shadowing in Europe is not going to make your application stronger.

 

[el_duderino]

Plastics shadowing in Europe is not going to make your application stronger.

It won't hurt. I think having some life and medical exposure to a different country can only help. It's a good thing just to have in general for life and should be tossed into your app. Don't make a big show of it or identify it as a meaningful experience or something, but include it.

 

[gyngyn]

If you learned something, that's great.
It will not add to your application.

 

[u_raptor]

Just to be clear, the vast majority (almost all) of my shadowing and clinical experience and the entirety of my EC's & volunteer experiences are in the US.

However, I have shadowed/had clinical experience in Europe as well (not just a random trip but I lived there for a decent chunk of my childhood and return often, still have lots of family there, etc). It's at a plastics office, so hopefully none of this will scream "voluntourism" (also ik it's a difficult specialty to get into but I have a lot of PCP shadowing & volunteering in the US).

I do have strong roots there and found it to be a valuable experience, but based on what I've read here, I understand why adcoms may have their reservations about it. Worth keeping or just easier to omit?

I had volunteer work and shadowing in Peru (and had roots to Hispanic culture through my family). I learned a lot from it and honestly felt that adding it to my app made it a bit stronger. If you learned from it, have roots in the area, and can show you didn't go for voluntourism, I think it is fine imo. At least, from my experiences, it has been looked upon favorably during my interviews (although I don't have any A's yet, so take that with a grain of salt). But I also mentioned I plan to continue abroad volunteering in medical school or after, if possible.

I know there has been studies with adcoms showing that it is sometimes looked unfavorably or negatively, but again I believe the intent and personal connection to the culture helps to mitigate that.

 

[Goro]

Just to be clear, the vast majority (almost all) of my shadowing and clinical experience and the entirety of my EC's & volunteer experiences are in the US.

However, I have shadowed/had clinical experience in Europe as well (not just a random trip but I lived there for a decent chunk of my childhood and return often, still have lots of family there, etc). It's at a plastics office, so hopefully none of this will scream "voluntourism" (also ik it's a difficult specialty to get into but I have a lot of PCP shadowing & volunteering in the US).

I do have strong roots there and found it to be a valuable experience, but based on what I've read here, I understand why adcoms may have their reservations about it. Worth keeping or just easier to omit?

Not worth it