delaying graduation to study abroad

[trojan girl]

Is this a smart idea? I am planning for medical school but am truly in no rush. I am majoring in bio and minoring in english. I can graduate on time but I want to take things slow and would probably really enjoy a year abroad. However, I am afraid that during that time I will fall in love with wherever I am staying and won't want to come back. But is studying abroad for a year too long? I am pretty sure I am going to go for a semester. I don't know if the delay and money is worth it. Then again, life will be pretty much over once I start graduate school. Any recommendations?

And in case any of you are wondering, I have considered psychiatry for quite a while. That may of be some importance if you want a rough idea of how long I'm going to be in school/residency for.

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[Janieve]

Is this a smart idea? I am planning for medical school but am truly in no rush. I am majoring in bio and minoring in english. I can graduate on time but I want to take things slow and would probably really enjoy a year abroad. However, I am afraid that during that time I will fall in love with wherever I am staying and won't want to come back. But is studying abroad for a year too long? I am pretty sure I am going to go for a semester. I don't know if the delay and money is worth it. Then again, life will be pretty much over once I start graduate school. Any recommendations?

And in case any of you are wondering, I have considered psychiatry for quite a while. That may of be some importance if you want a rough idea of how long I'm going to be in school/residency for.

I think you should do it. It'll be worth it, trust me. I studied abroad in Japan last year, and I can't think of anything else that has more positively affected my life. It's delayed my applications to medical school by a year, sure, and I definitely could've done other things over the last year that people might argue was more 'practical'.

When you study abroad, you learn so much about yourself and the world. You meet people you'd have never known if you just stayed home - people from everywhere, with names you can't pronounce and values that may be foreign to you. You laugh with the natives, even if you don't understand the joke. You get completely terrified when you realize you have no idea where you are - and then minutes later, you've got this rush when you realize it really doesn't matter, and maybe you could enjoy taking the long way.

I've never met someone who studied abroad and regretted it. In fact, everyone I know has stated that they would do it again in a heartbeat. I'm one of them.

If you want to study abroad, by all means, DO IT. You'll never regret it, and you'll build friendships and gain experiences that will last a lifetime. Trust me - you're gonna wanna do this.

 

[trojan girl]

I think you should do it. It'll be worth it, trust me. I studied abroad in Japan last year, and I can't think of anything else that has more positively affected my life. It's delayed my applications to medical school by a year, sure, and I definitely could've done other things over the last year that people might argue was more 'practical'.

When you study abroad, you learn so much about yourself and the world. You meet people you'd have never known if you just stayed home - people from everywhere, with names you can't pronounce and values that may be foreign to you. You laugh with the natives, even if you don't understand the joke. You get completely terrified when you realize you have no idea where you are - and then minutes later, you've got this rush when you realize it really doesn't matter, and maybe you could enjoy taking the long way.

I've never met someone who studied abroad and regretted it. In fact, everyone I know has stated that they would do it again in a heartbeat. I'm one of them.

If you want to study abroad, by all means, DO IT. You'll never regret it, and you'll build friendships and gain experiences that will last a lifetime. Trust me - you're gonna wanna do this.

That was really inspiring. So how long did you ended up staying? I feel this would slow things down a lot for me. Then again, I really don't want to pass up on such a rare opportunity. And wouldn't this make you seem like a more attractive candidate?

Are you still an undergrad and have you started interviewing for schools? If so, did they seem more interested that you were away for part of school?

🙂

 

[kami333]

Is this a smart idea? I am planning for medical school but am truly in no rush. I am majoring in bio and minoring in english. I can graduate on time but I want to take things slow and would probably really enjoy a year abroad. However, I am afraid that during that time I will fall in love with wherever I am staying and won't want to come back. But is studying abroad for a year too long? I am pretty sure I am going to go for a semester. I don't know if the delay and money is worth it. Then again, life will be pretty much over once I start graduate school. Any recommendations?

And in case any of you are wondering, I have considered psychiatry for quite a while. That may of be some importance if you want a rough idea of how long I'm going to be in school/residency for.

lol

Happened to me. Studied abroad for a semester, loved it and went back to work there after graduating. Only came back after my visa extensions ran out after 2years. Had some opportunities to go back but realized that I needed more education and experience in order to be able to stay there permanently.

I don't think a year is too long, if anything a semester is too short. Half the semester is over by the time you get there, get over your initial homesickness/culture shock and start exploring.

Have you decided where you want to go?

 

[chrisoc13]

is this a smart idea? I am planning for medical school but am truly in no rush. I am majoring in bio and minoring in english. I can graduate on time but i want to take things slow and would probably really enjoy a year abroad. However, i am afraid that during that time i will fall in love with wherever i am staying and won't want to come back. But is studying abroad for a year too long? I am pretty sure i am going to go for a semester. I don't know if the delay and money is worth it. Then again, life will be pretty much over once i start graduate school. Any recommendations?

And in case any of you are wondering, i have considered psychiatry for quite a while. That may of be some importance if you want a rough idea of how long i'm going to be in school/residency for.

1

 

[Silverfalcon]

When you look at your life span, a half-year or a year isn't that much. I say you should do it.

But, I hope you keep this in mind: some people go to Europe during summers. By doing this way, you get to graduate in time.

Of course, this "summer" usually happens after you graduate from undergrad and have been accepted to medical school. 🙂

 

[The Poet Sings]

well you can either study abroad and take a class for credit, or just graduate and travel on your own. i studied abroad and i had fun, but i think it would've been just as fun if i had traveled on my own with very well laid out plans. having a group of people to bond with was nice, but i very much enjoyed my time when the class was over and i was spending an extra week in the city, alone, as everyone else had left. so it depends on the kind of person you are.

 

[chrisoc13]

well you can either study abroad and take a class for credit, or just graduate and travel on your own. i studied abroad and i had fun, but i think it would've been just as fun if i had traveled on my own with very well laid out plans. having a group of people to bond with was nice, but i very much enjoyed my time when the class was over and i was spending an extra week in the city, alone, as everyone else had left. so it depends on the kind of person you are.

That's my plan. Well I did the study abroad as well, but after I graduate (barring I get in somewhere) I'm going to take the summer to travel.

 

[The Poet Sings]

That's my plan. Well I did the study abroad as well, but after I graduate (barring I get in somewhere) I'm going to take the summer to travel.

i'm dying to go on a nice cruise 👍. i just really love traveling all over the place. there is just so much to learn from being exposed other cultures. most recently, i went to india to meet my boyfriend's family this summer, and i learned that if you go to a city that doesn't get many tourists, and you don't look anything like the locals, be prepared to get stared at a LOT! hahaha. no but there are other things to be learned, too. and i love looking at architecture as well as natural beauty. so even if i don't interact with people, i just like to watch the scenery and be at peace. i'm getting really cheesy now, so i think i must go hahaha.

ps. why wouldn't you travel if you got in somewhere? the time would probably be there. i imagine the money?

 

[Janieve]

That was really inspiring. So how long did you ended up staying? I feel this would slow things down a lot for me. Then again, I really don't want to pass up on such a rare opportunity. And wouldn't this make you seem like a more attractive candidate?

Are you still an undergrad and have you started interviewing for schools? If so, did they seem more interested that you were away for part of school?

🙂

I ended up staying for eleven months; I would've stayed a year, but I wanted to surprise my mother by being home for her birthday.

And it does slow things down - enough so that I have to apply next year and graduate in 2012, in my case - but I find I don't mind so much. Weird, really - all my worries while I was over there were about credit transfer and how long until I graduated. Now it's practically a non-issue.

As I have yet to apply, I can't say with certainty that schools will look at it well or poorly. All I know is what advisers have told me: studying abroad is a point of interest in applications. It apparently tells people that you understand other cultures and have an interest in the world. My premed adviser tells me that it's a great talking point in an interview, but it's not a deal maker/deal breaker. It just gives you more of a chance to show that you're well-rounded.

And things work differently at my university than most. I get the credits for classes I take abroad, and they transfer as credit from my university. There's just an asterisk there: *taken in Japan. So if anyone looks at my transcript, they'll see things like:

CR418 Anatomy of Peace*
INTL399 Japanese Culture and Economy*
*Taken in Japan

I'll let you know how it works out come application season, but I hear that it can't hurt.

Hope that helps! Sorry I didn't have more specific information.

 

[trojan girl]

I think you should do it. It'll be worth it, trust me. I studied abroad in Japan last year, and I can't think of anything else that has more positively affected my life. It's delayed my applications to medical school by a year, sure, and I definitely could've done other things over the last year that people might argue was more 'practical'.

When you study abroad, you learn so much about yourself and the world. You meet people you'd have never known if you just stayed home - people from everywhere, with names you can't pronounce and values that may be foreign to you. You laugh with the natives, even if you don't understand the joke. You get completely terrified when you realize you have no idea where you are - and then minutes later, you've got this rush when you realize it really doesn't matter, and maybe you could enjoy taking the long way.

I've never met someone who studied abroad and regretted it. In fact, everyone I know has stated that they would do it again in a heartbeat. I'm one of them.

If you want to study abroad, by all means, DO IT. You'll never regret it, and you'll build friendships and gain experiences that will last a lifetime. Trust me - you're gonna wanna do this.

lol

Happened to me. Studied abroad for a semester, loved it and went back to work there after graduating. Only came back after my visa extensions ran out after 2years. Had some opportunities to go back but realized that I needed more education and experience in order to be able to stay there permanently.

I don't think a year is too long, if anything a semester is too short. Half the semester is over by the time you get there, get over your initial homesickness/culture shock and start exploring.

Have you decided where you want to go?

Oh where were you studying and what were you doing there for work? I don't think I will be homesick. I have moved a total of 9 times in my life. I think I can handle being away from family/friends lol.

Well I am planning for Scotland fall of 2011. But since I am supposed to graduate spring of 2012, I'll be back for that semester to walk with my class. Then, it will be (if all goes according to plan) Spain for my "additional" semester. I'm so excited. This is going to work out somehow. What's the average age for entering med students? I'll be 24. Don't know how I feel about that.

 

[Janieve]

Oh where were you studying and what were you doing there for work? I don't think I will be homesick. I have moved a total of 9 times in my life. I think I can handle being away from family/friends lol.

Well I am planning for Scotland fall of 2011. But since I am supposed to graduate spring of 2012, I'll be back for that semester to walk with my class. Then, it will be (if all goes according to plan) Spain for my "additional" semester. I'm so excited. This is going to work out somehow. What's the average age for entering med students? I'll be 24. Don't know how I feel about that.

I think the average age for a first year med student actually IS 24. Sounds like you're going to be fine!

 

[trojan girl]

When you look at your life span, a half-year or a year isn't that much. I say you should do it.

But, I hope you keep this in mind: some people go to Europe during summers. By doing this way, you get to graduate in time.

Of course, this "summer" usually happens after you graduate from undergrad and have been accepted to medical school. 🙂

I've considered doing the summer program, but I don't know if that's long enough haha. I truly want the full experience. But either way I won't be applying this year (I'm a junior) since I want more time to focus on my classes and find a lab.

So what's considered early when you're applying for schools, do you know? I know I want to apply early, but if it means it's going to cost my personal statement quality/being rushed then probably not. Decisions, decisions.

 

[trojan girl]

well you can either study abroad and take a class for credit, or just graduate and travel on your own. i studied abroad and i had fun, but i think it would've been just as fun if i had traveled on my own with very well laid out plans. having a group of people to bond with was nice, but i very much enjoyed my time when the class was over and i was spending an extra week in the city, alone, as everyone else had left. so it depends on the kind of person you are.

I like the idea of going to school somewhere as if I actually lived there... so maybe the semester-long option would work better for me. But I'm not too sure. I'll have to see how my first abroad experience (in Scotland) goes.

 

[trojan girl]

I ended up staying for eleven months; I would've stayed a year, but I wanted to surprise my mother by being home for her birthday.

And it does slow things down - enough so that I have to apply next year and graduate in 2012, in my case - but I find I don't mind so much. Weird, really - all my worries while I was over there were about credit transfer and how long until I graduated. Now it's practically a non-issue.

As I have yet to apply, I can't say with certainty that schools will look at it well or poorly. All I know is what advisers have told me: studying abroad is a point of interest in applications. It apparently tells people that you understand other cultures and have an interest in the world. My premed adviser tells me that it's a great talking point in an interview, but it's not a deal maker/deal breaker. It just gives you more of a chance to show that you're well-rounded.

And things work differently at my university than most. I get the credits for classes I take abroad, and they transfer as credit from my university. There's just an asterisk there: *taken in Japan. So if anyone looks at my transcript, they'll see things like:

CR418 Anatomy of Peace*
INTL399 Japanese Culture and Economy*
*Taken in Japan

I'll let you know how it works out come application season, but I hear that it can't hurt.

Hope that helps! Sorry I didn't have more specific information.

Thanks for the abundance of info! Yes, please let me know how the application cycle treats you. Good luck. If I enter at 24, I think I would be a much, much competitive applicant. This is too confusing. I think I will just talk to my advisor haha.