Clinical Shadowing/Volunteering/Applying while in the UK

[Raziela]

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Hello,

I am an American graduate currently working in London (in a research position). I am taking a two year break between undergrad (graduated May 2009) and Medical school (applying next June). I have very little volunteering/shadowing experience and plan to catch up in the next few months. Do you know if American medical schools will look down on shadowing completed in the UK? I know the systems/treatments are different, and figured I'd ask all my fellow SDNers if they knew.

In addition--do you think medical schools will mind if I apply while out of the country? I don't think this makes me an international student, but it does mean I will be flying in from the UK to interview in the US (which may make things difficult, and certainly expensive).

Thanks!

 

[sgtbrushes]

On your AMCAS application, you include "location" with all extracurriculars. I'm not sure about any official policy on UK shadowing counting less, but I'll venture a guess that some ADCOMs will take that into consideration, at least. Volunteering is irrelvant where it is done.

Medical schools do not care if you apply while out of the country if you're a US Citizen, but MAN, those plane tickets are going to cost you out the wazoo, unless you can somehow get them all in the same month or so, and take off a month from work and do them... and then, there's the cost of hotels.

 

[Raziela]

Medical schools do not care if you apply while out of the country if you're a US Citizen, but MAN, those plane tickets are going to cost you out the wazoo, unless you can somehow get them all in the same month or so, and take off a month from work and do them... and then, there's the cost of hotels.

I know, I know--I am considering coming back early and finding another job. However in the UK--I have 30 days per year of vacation time 😀 (it also pays well). So that means I could take two 3 week breaks to come back to the U.S. and interview.