Have you traveled? (Secondary Question)

[pianola]

---

Members don't see this ad.

At least 3 of my secondaries seem interested in where/how much I've traveled.

I'm just curious as to where others have traveled and how this sort of question factors into an admissions decision. To what sort of travel does the question generally refer? Study abroad?

Thoughts?

 

[SarsMO]

I think adcoms are just curious if you've had any cross-cultural experiences and that sort of thing. Study abroad definitely counts, but so do family vacations. Make it relevant, like you learned something about yourself or others.

 

[pianola]

I am too poor to travel 🙁

Same here. I have done a few trips within the US, but nothing extravagant or long, that's for sure. No study abroad, either.

Well, I guess I should just answer the question as truthfully and as simply as possible.

Any other thoughts?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I felt like a loser when I had to describe my most memorable traveling experience....I listed a band trip in high school...🙁

 

[Live4Life]

What secondaries ask for travel experience?

 

[pianola]

What secondaries ask for travel experience?

Among others, Hopkins and UMiami. I'm sure I have a third one but I'm not thinking of it right now.

 

[pianola]

I felt like a loser when I had to describe my most memorable traveling experience....I listed a band trip in high school...🙁

My friend applying to another Florida school had to write about a field trip to a Native American reservation in 6th grade.

 

[shemarty]

I listed my study abroad in Australia for 1 quarter and my 3 week trip to China with my parents this spring. Now I wonder if I should've used my 15th AMCAS spot for my China trip. It was my 5th time there, though the other times were back in middle/high school.

I reaaaally want to go to Europe. Maybe next summer, right before school starts 😀

 

[pianola]

I listed my study abroad in Australia for 1 quarter and my 3 week trip to China with my parents this spring. Now I wonder if I should've used my 15th AMCAS spot for my China trip. It was my 5th time there, though the other times were back in middle/high school.

I reaaaally want to go to Europe. Maybe next summer, right before school starts 😀

Nice, very nice.

 

[justdoit31]

I listed my study abroad in Australia for 1 quarter and my 3 week trip to China with my parents this spring. Now I wonder if I should've used my 15th AMCAS spot for my China trip. It was my 5th time there, though the other times were back in middle/high school.

I reaaaally want to go to Europe. Maybe next summer, right before school starts 😀

Europe was fun but I thought a lot of the more rural places were better- Europe is so touristy

 

[justdoit31]

I haven't had a secondary that asked that but I have been to Argentina, South Africa, Mozambique, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Mexico, and Belize... then various cool trips around the US...

most memorable for me is Africa trip- but my Europe experience was academically enlightening and led to a big research project with a national presentation... that would be a tough call for an essay question

 

[pianola]

I haven't had a secondary that asked that but I have been to Argentina, South Africa, Mozambique, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Mexico, and Belize... then various cool trips around the US...

most memorable for me is Africa trip- but my Europe experience was academically enlightening and led to a big research project with a national presentation... that would be a tough call for an essay question

Oh wow, wow. Nice. I think I need to borrow an experience if you don't mind.

 

[justdoit31]

Oh wow, wow. Nice. I think I need to borrow an experience if you don't mind.

sure no problem- what do you want- acting and visiting families in the slums of Buenos Aires, orphanage volunteering, snorkeling for college credit, or visiting concentration camps to do research?

Seriously though- I can say I have been very blessed- my trips to Argentina and Africa were covered by donors for missions trips and then then because GA has the HOPE scholarship to pay tuition and I stayed at home I got to do study abroad. Living at home can be testy but I am surviving.

And I need these experiences because my GPA is a lil low and a miracle would have to happen for me to compete with you on MCAT scores- heck I am going to jump to the ceiling if I get a 30!

 

[pianola]

acting and visiting families in the slums of Buenos Aires, orphanage volunteering, snorkeling for college credit, or visiting concentration camps to do research?

Those must have been truly mind-opening experiences! You could definitely use those topics for the "tell us something interesting about yourself not on your AMCAS app." Or the "tell us anything else you'd like us to know."

I know if I were an ADCOM, I'd certainly want to hear more. Heck, as a non-ADCOM, I would still want to ask you what the experiences were like.

Best of luck on your MCAT and everything; thank you for your kind words 🙂

 

[KnuxNole]

FSU also asks this question on their secondary.

 

[mleick]

I am too poor to travel 🙁

This is no excuse, try harder. I don't have any money either but there are programs to help pay for study/research abroad. I'm doing research at a hospital for the summer in London and everything was paid for by HHMI. Most large universities have similar programs- do some homework.

 

[p30doc]

I love to travel and have had the opportunity to do some. I lived in London for 6 months and have been to Australia, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and Ecuador. In a week I am going to Israel. 😀

 

[gates_2]

This is no excuse, try harder. I don't have any money either but there are programs to help pay for study/research abroad. I'm doing research at a hospital for the summer in London and everything was paid for by HHMI. Most large universities have similar programs- do some homework.

x2

I'm in Japan for free this summer working on a volunteer service project, sometimes the money isn't easy to find, but it can be found. Though it is a different matter entirely if some other obligation requires you to stay domestic like work, etc... Make sure you include that if say you couldn't afford it.

 

[TamarMD]

Well it really depends on the person. I've been outside of the US twice. Once for my sisters wedding in Haiti and my 8th grade graduation present was a trip to France.

I'm too poor to travel, in fact I'm too poor to go to school lol. So the government pays for it. Any money that is left over goes to me. That's how I plan to pay for my study abroad experience next Fall and how I plan to pay for med school applications. It's also not expensive (this summer I don't know about next summer) to go London. Depending on where you live. It cost less than $400 to go to London Heathrow from NY. Then it's 80 bucks to take the train to France and another 80 to take the train to Italy. You can also check whichbudget.com they have small budget airlines (kind of like jetblue) that have tickets from London to Spain for like 39 euros. Also there are scholarships but I think you have to be doing study abroad for them. Everyone should have a chance to travel outside of the US. Don't let money be your main obstacle. Unless of course your family needs the money then maybe you can do it the summer before med school...or for a week after the first year if you have money left over from loans.

 

[jelly476]

x2

I'm in Japan for free this summer working on a volunteer service project, sometimes the money isn't easy to find, but it can be found. Though it is a different matter entirely if some other obligation requires you to stay domestic like work, etc... Make sure you include that if say you couldn't afford it.

where in japan are you and what are you doing? i live in japan too as a JET. I am an english teacher on kyushu. what about you?

 

[pianola]

This is no excuse, try harder. I don't have any money either but there are programs to help pay for study/research abroad. I'm doing research at a hospital for the summer in London and everything was paid for by HHMI. Most large universities have similar programs- do some homework.

Not all majors permit you the opportunity to travel (particularly if you're trying to complete a double major). Yes, there are some opportunities out there if you really look, but if you're on the 3-years-of-college-followed-by-application plan or you're just not academically competitive for the travel programs at your school, I can definitely see why travel might not happen. Not having enough money doesn't exactly help the situation.

In any event, congratulations on your opportunities.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

My friend applying to another Florida school had to write about a field trip to a Native American reservation in 6th grade.

lmfao...so im not the most pathetic one.

 

[TamarMD]

Not all majors permit you the opportunity to travel (particularly if you're trying to complete a double major). Yes, there are some opportunities out there if you really look, but if you're on the 3-years-of-college-followed-by-application plan or you're just not academically competitive for the travel programs at your school, I can definitely see why travel might not happen. Not having enough money doesn't exactly help the situation.

In any event, congratulations on your opportunities.

"or you're just not academically competitive for the travel programs at your school"

I'm sorry but that just doesn't make sense. The highest gpa I've seen schools ask for a travel program is a 3.0. A 2.5 is the lowest gpa you can have. If you're not "academically competitive' for study abroad then you're most likely not "academically competitive" for med school. Unless there's some school in the states requiring like a greater than 3.5 gpa that I don't know about.

 

[pianola]

"or you're just not academically competitive for the travel programs at your school"

A lot of the scholarship-based travel programs at my school were contingent on being the most competitive applicant; often a GPA of >3.7 was virtually a requirement. There weren't many people accepted to the scholarship programs and the committees screened by, among other factors, GPA.

 

[p30doc]

It's also not expensive (this summer I don't know about next summer) to go London. Depending on where you live. It cost less than $400 to go to London Heathrow from NY. Then it's 80 bucks to take the train to France and another 80 to take the train to Italy.

It might not be that bad to get there, but meals, accomodation, etc will be expensive because the dollar is currently so weak. 1 pound = 2 dollars and 1 euro = 1.6 dollars 🙁

 

[TamarMD]

A lot of the scholarship-based travel programs at my school were contingent on being the most competitive applicant; often a GPA of >3.7 was virtually a requirement. There weren't many people accepted to the scholarship programs and the committees screened by, among other factors, GPA.

Ooooohh ok. I thought you were talking about being given the opportunity to study abroad. Well I don't know about your financial status but there are need-based study abroad scholarship. Granted I can understand the 3 year plan. I've spent the last 2 years (including sumers) in school and will be spending next summer in school.

 

[TamarMD]

It might not be that bad to get there, but meals, accomodation, etc will be expensive because the dollar is currently so weak. 1 pound = 2 dollars and 1 euro = 1.6 dollars 🙁

Lol I was in France when the dollar was getting weak. When I got there the US dollar was worth more than the Euro. I stayed 3 months when I left the Euro was more than the dollar. For the meals some places like Oxford rent out their dorms for the summer. I know in Italy it's like 2.50 euros for a full course meal at the University as long as you have your student id card. Don't get me wrong I know with the current economy and the fact that we're students makes it hard to study abroad but the opportunity to do so is there. It just depends on how much you want it.

 

[pianola]

Lol I was in France when the dollar was getting weak. When I got there the US dollar was worth more than the Euro. I stayed 3 months when I left the Euro was more than the dollar. For the meals some places like Oxford rent out their dorms for the summer. I know in Italy it's like 2.50 euros for a full course meal at the University as long as you have your student id card. Don't get me wrong I know with the current economy and the fact that we're students makes it hard to study abroad but the opportunity to do so is there. It just depends on how much you want it.

According to my sister studying abroad in Paris, it's entirely possible to buy an $11 cup of coffee (size = 1/2 Starbucks "tall"). Needless to say, she does not eat at restaurants.

 

[mleick]

Pianola, I didnt mean to come off as caustic, sorry if I did. I'm actually doing a triple major (Bioengineering, Biochemistry, MCB) in 4 years and I bust my balls during the semester (>20 units) so that I could get here--I'm only here for the summer


Dont get me started on the dollar weakness! I haven't eaten out here once, ridiculously expensive. Mostly I just eat tuna, which still isn't cheap!!

 

[LizzyM]

According to my sister studying abroad in Paris, it's entirely possible to buy an $11 cup of coffee (size = 1/2 Starbucks "tall"). Needless to say, she does not eat at restaurants.

That's a cultural thing... a cup of coffee like that gives you the right to sit for as long as you want in a highly desirable sidewalk cafe. It's not a cup of coffee, it's rent. 😀

Schools will recognize that many students don't have the means (or luck) to travel. That in itself is sometimes quite charming. Other students find the means to go on a low budget mission trip during a school break, visit places in developing countries where cost of living is lower than in the US (rather than parts of Europe & Asia that are very pricey), or spend a few years abroad with a service organization.

If you are applying now and you have nothing to write about, don't sweat it. Those of you who might be lurking and applying in the next couple of years, here's one more box to check. 🙁 Get busy.

 

[helsizzle]

You still have time even after your secondaries are in--I was asked about travel during my interviews (in addition to listing my study abroad experience on my primary).
If nothing else, it makes for a memorable conversation, especially if your interviewer has been to the same far-flung corner of the world as you have.

 

[m_rivera84]

If I have been on a lot of trips within the past year - either a family vacation or a trip to visit a friend overseas - how should I list these? Should I just say When, where, and what I did/learned? And how much should I elaborate

 

[pianola]

That's a cultural thing... a cup of coffee like that gives you the right to sit for as long as you want in a highly desirable sidewalk cafe. It's not a cup of coffee, it's rent. 😀

Indeed. My sister told me that, generally, in France, people are far less likely to go out to have a meal than in the US. Because it's expensive, and, as you said, a special occasion. Thanks for your response.

I guess I was mostly just surprised at the question about travel. I have a few experiences that I can write about, I suppose, but at the ripe old age of 23 and a very non-trad background, I feel like I've had more occasion to travel than the premed/science major at 21 who is just trying to fit in 4 lab classes to graduate on time.

The more secondaries I receive, the more I wonder if there are any limits to what ADCOMs can require of applicants.