many abroad rotations are aimed at medical students just starting out, whereby you spend at least half your time at a language school and the other half shadowing local physicians. many U.S. schools won't let these count for, let's say, a 4th year elective because you're not actually practicing clinical medicine.
I would like to differ on this. As a final year med student from an Asian country, most of the institutions only allow final year students into their elective programs, and if they aren't, they need to have a letter from their schools stating that they have completed the major rotations ie. internal medicine/surgery. I am not too sure about language schools, that may be an option which you would want to take on your own but that is not a requirement. English is a requirement, as most Asian countries other than Japan utilize English terms as part of their daily clinical routine.
Foreign elective students are more closely scrutinized than the local students and you'll be under the supervision of the head of department or a senior consultant. We practice alot of clinical medicine, and as a foreigner, if you're good, you will get to do ALOT. The last guy I met while on my electives in another teaching hospital was from NY, a final year got to do a few complete appendicectomies and a lap chole under supervision.
But if you ask me, if you want a full, active elective with more than you can handle, try South Africa.
My advice would be to check with your school, note what they want you to complete during your overseas electives including the time frame etc, and then decide. It would be good if your school could correspond with the elective coordinators.
If you worry about language, there are a few Asian countries where English is perhaps the first or second language.
also, what are these rotations usually like? are they very intense or very laid back?
It could be completely up to you or your supervisor to make it intense or laid back. 2 of my friends went to South Africa, one had a pretty laid back time, the other stuck to the Emergency and OT all the time and it was very intense, worked around the clock and learnt alot.
if possible i'd like to spend some free time seeing the area
😛 alot to see if you're here..Singapore and Malaysia offer the most diverse culture in comparison to say, Japan or Thailand. I'm not promoting my own country but you would have no problems with language in these 2 countries. Singapore offers some of the best medical studies in the world, but you probably get to do more hands on in Malaysia or the smaller countries
