Gap Year Opportunities

[missionarydoctorhopeful]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello all,
Your opinions and suggestions would be invaluable!

I plan on taking a gap year after graduating a 4-year college. I plan to apply in the 2015-2016 cycle to MD and am considering the options of my gap year. I have had around ~450 hours of clinical research in my undergrad years and also ~1000 hours of shadowing, including shadowing a doctor in Cambodia and North Korea.
I'm thinking about applying to scribe programs/research positions vs. going overseas and working as a paid intern for the same doctor in Cambodia to the impoverished communities there. (It's really bad.)
What would be the more viable option? The only obstacle to going overseas are med school interviews. If I am offered an interview, would I have to fly all the way back to the United States for an in-person interview or could this be conducted over the phone/Skype?

 

[frochocinco]

You didn't mention any clinical experience in the US (I don't think shadowing in an East Asian country qualifies as the healthcare system there is vastly different). There are many clinical research assistant/coordinating positions to get you good patient interaction, as well as scribe jobs...If you're set on having a humanitarian-type role, AmeriCorps programs are great. You get a stipend for one. More importantly, it's community service (which you don't mention having any of either) and it's actually serving the American community, not some third world country. I say this not to demean the significance of serving overseas, but IMO, it's not nearly as relevant and desired by medical schools here. Working with an AmeriCorps programs or other non-profits, you will likely have a variety of experiences interacting with a diverse socioeconomic population that will teach you things about working with others that will be invaluable as a doctor.

As beneficial as Cambodia may be, you're interactions and ability to help may be limited by language and cultural barriers. Further, you may not really be learning a great deal that can relate to being a doctor in the United States (aside from showing that you care about others).

Just my two cents. Plus yes, you'll go broke flying back and forth for interviews.

 

[wuhsabee]

You shadowed someone in North Korea?!

 

[MaxPlancker]

Was it fun dodging bullets and doing the matrix on the departure trip? 😉

Going in and coming out = best EC ever!! You are auto-accepted to all med schools OP. 😍

 

[missionarydoctorhopeful]

Thanks for all your replies!
@frochocinco - I apologize, I have done many hours here in the US shadowing. I forgot to mention that. I wanted to go overseas because I did want exposure to global healthcare, etc. It's nothing like the US of course.

North Korea was tough. I saw some really horrific things there. Some crazy stories too. The general hospital in Pyongyang was horrible - no lights in the bathroom, no running water, no toilets, no soap. Just a hole in the ground and a bathtub of stagnant moldy water to use to clean yourself after going #2. That among many other things.

 

[Lysinee]

You are trying too hard, troll.

 

[moop]

"When you try to be a troll, you've already failed." — moop

 

[Feelgood Inc]

"When you try to be a troll, you've already failed." — moop

"quoting a statement makes its effect even stronger" - Feelgood Inc