Does Study-Abroad in college look good for med school?

[Gallix23]

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Hey everyone,

So here's the deal: I got accepted into my dream school for the Spring 2010 semester. However, for Fall 2009, they want me to do an exclusive, 4 month study abroad program in one of the four countries they offer. My question is, besides from being a great experience in general, do med school like to see things like this?

I ask because it is an expensive trip (and unfortunately, school in general) so if I don't go on it, I may be able to either do classes in CC to make up for the lack of fall semester, commute to school fall semester, or just make it up some other time. I'd just like to know what you guys have to say about it.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Pr0digy]

This is just my opinion i would just save my money to pay for college honestly.

 

[tennisball80]

If you can save up the $$$, go for it man. But if it costs you a lot of cash, quit it.

 

[Algophiliac]

First off, congrats on the dream school! 😀

I'm sure medical schools would love to see a study abroad program in your bag of ECs, but if money is a huge factor, do what you need to do.

But why does the trip cost so much? 😕 Is it not at most the entire cost of a semester of school, which you would be attending anyway? Also did you look into potential scholarships or maybe ways to reduce the cost?

 

[BigRedBeta]

It won't really matter for medical schools in that they're never going to say "you're a better candidate because you studied abroad". But great experiences can provide interesting things to talk about in interviews and personal statements and if you can relate it to how you'll be a better physician then it's a positive (you don't have to do medically related things for the trip to make you a better physician down the line).

 

[Gallix23]

First off, congrats on the dream school! 😀

I'm sure medical schools would love to see a study abroad program in your bag of ECs, but if money is a huge factor, do what you need to do.

But why does the trip cost so much? 😕 Is it not at most the entire cost of a semester of school, which you would be attending anyway? Also did you look into potential scholarships or maybe ways to reduce the cost?

It cost slightly more than a normal semester, so I mean even though the school breaks the bank a little anyways, it's not going to make a huge difference. The school is pretty bad with financial aid, but I figure that since I planning on kicking butt academically I'm just going to keep applying for more and more scholarships as my time at the school goes on. I'm going to my guidance counselor tomorrow to see if there is any way to reduce the price.

However, as much as I want to save money, this school has so many opportunities for research and networking and things on top of a good pre-med program that I may just have to bite that bullet.

 

[RySerr21]

yea study abroad might look good, but med schools are notorious for rejeceting new england patriot fans (mainly cuz no one likes the patriots). So your future looks grim. Sorry dude.

 

[Algophiliac]

It cost slightly more than a normal semester, so I mean even though the school breaks the bank a little anyways, it's not going to make a huge difference. The school is pretty bad with financial aid, but I figure that since I planning on kicking butt academically I'm just going to keep applying for more and more scholarships as my time at the school goes on. I'm going to my guidance counselor tomorrow to see if there is any way to reduce the price.

However, as much as I want to save money, this school has so many opportunities for research and networking and things on top of a good pre-med program that I may just have to bite that bullet.

Right, I was going to say that you should probably weigh potential benefits with potential setbacks. Maybe get a job to help pay for it, hope for financial aid, apply to a zillion scholarships, or anything else you can think of! Missing out on study abroad may not hurt you, but if you can manage it, I think you should go. But again, it's your decision, and this is just what I would do. 😀

Let us know how the guidance counselor visit goes!

 

[Gallix23]

yea study abroad might look good, but med schools are notorious for rejeceting new england patriot fans (mainly cuz no one likes the patriots). So your future looks grim. Sorry dude.

Hahah you may be right about no one liking us, but if I get that one admissions person that's a fellow Pats fan I'm set 😉

Right, I was going to say that you should probably weigh potential benefits with potential setbacks. Maybe get a job to help pay for it, hope for financial aid, apply to a zillion scholarships, or anything else you can think of! Missing out on study abroad may not hurt you, but if you can manage it, I think you should go. But again, it's your decision, and this is just what I would do. 😀

Let us know how the guidance counselor visit goes!

Yeah, I'm doing a lot of weighing right now. I have another smaller school in mind that isn't as "good" but it'd be really cheap. However at the expensive school they have an affiliation with Tufts med school regarding early admission and a built-in co-op program which I could gear towards medicine and things. Ahh..dilemmas...dilemmas... I'll definitely let you guys know how to guidance counselor visit goes though 😀

 

[tdittyx2x3]

Do you want to go to one of these four countries? If you do, then save up the money and go. It really doesn't have anything to do with medical school.

Going abroad is truly a life experience. I spent six months in Europe and New Zealand and I think about those experiences nearly everyday. Being around the world with such little responsibility is absolutely amazing.

Its sort of weird to do that the first semester in school though.. Thats when everyone meets everyone and makes friends

 

[Gallix23]

Do you want to go to one of these four countries? If you do, then save up the money and go. It really doesn't have anything to do with medical school.

Going abroad is truly a life experience. I spent six months in Europe and New Zealand and I think about those experiences nearly everyday. Being around the world with such little responsibility is absolutely amazing.

Its sort of weird to do that the first semester in school though.. Thats when everyone meets everyone and makes friends

It'd probably be a lot more expensive to go for 4 months on my own in the kind of place that we'd stay though.

And that would be the only way that I would be able to start school there in the fall and not be down a semester, plus I'd be with like the 50+ other freshmen on the trip whom I'd be friend. Heck, I'd probably make more friends on the trip then I would living on campus the first semester.

That's the reason why I'm considering it, I'm not really sure what I should do at this point.

 

[Maygyver]

I have to go take an exam so I will make this short. I went to Australia between Junior and Senior year in HS and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. As far as study abroad in college goes, I think it can help make you stand out as independent. Also, if you do some sort of service work in that country, it will serve a double purpose. Good luck!

 

[rubybird]

Since it costs you a little bit more, but you're strapped for cash anyways, I might just go for it. You'll have to work out your financial issues one way or another--you might as well work it out AND travel.

A lot of schools offer grants for studying abroad--you should look into it. Since studying abroad is a pretty typical experience for a lot of students nowadays, I don't think it would make a huuuuuuge difference. But it does show that you are comfortable leaving you comfort zone, and that you have a little bit more going on than a high GPA earned by living in the library.

If you really want to travel, I know a bunch of people who went to developing countries to volunteer in hospitals/health programs (AIDS etc) and that made a big difference for their med school aps. Some are over the summer, some are a semester. Your school might offer credit for the work, and there may be more grants available to you.