how about this as an EC

[Cleavername]

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so some how i got an email about an opportunity to provide medical aid to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduras, for 7 days. here is some of the info i got, "Join us on a 7 day student-run Medical Brigade to Honduras! We will be sending a group of dedicated volunteers and healthcare providers to Honduras at the end of the Spring 2011 semester. There, we will set up temporary clinics to provide as much free medical aid as possible to the nearby villages of Honduras".

i think tho this is a good opportunity for me, one to beef up my application obviously, the other really important one is that it may give me a new look on life. being american and all i do have it easy, so this may serve as a really good life experience for me. down side of this trip for me would be like, one i dont speak the language, two i am kind of chubby so i am not sure if i can handle the weather there, third the chances of me picking up tropical diseases thro contacts.

should i do this?

 

[Frazier]

so some how i got an email about an opportunity to provide medical aid to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduras, for 7 days. here is some of the info i got, "Join us on a 7 day student-run Medical Brigade to Honduras! We will be sending a group of dedicated volunteers and healthcare providers to Honduras at the end of the Spring 2011 semester. There, we will set up temporary clinics to provide as much free medical aid as possible to the nearby villages of Honduras".

i think tho this is a good opportunity for me, one to beef up my application obviously, the other really important one is that it may give me a new look on life. being american and all i do have it easy, so this may serve as a really good life experience for me. down side of this trip for me would be like, one i dont speak the language, two i am kind of chubby so i am not sure if i can handle the weather there, third the chances of me picking up tropical diseases thro contacts.

should i do this?

Honduras must be quite popular, I heard some pre-meds bragging yesterday about how they had an upcoming meeting concerning their "medical mission" to Honduras.

Whatever, if you have the money, go enjoy the change of scenery and think of it as a vacation instead of some opportunity to boost your application.

It prob really won't beef up your app.

A lot of people do it, it isn't some prestigious honor to go [just write the check] and likely pretty much everyone has the same thing to say about it when asked [i.e. my eyes have truly been opened to the hardships that are faced by those in less fortunate countries... yada, yada.].

Perhaps it would be more groundbreaking if done ~15-20 years ago... The application game is all about staying ahead of the curve [of which med missions are now on the wrong side of].

 

[Astarael]

My opinion on stuff like this is that you have to do it for yourself. If you think that you'll be a better person afterward, great, go for it. In the event that you're doing it just as a resume builder, there are much more significant things that you could be doing right where you live. You'll probably have a hard time convincing a medical school that this experience was life-changing when it is only seven days long. You could volunteer somewhere in your hometown once a week for a year and not only would it be less expensive (read: free) it would probably be a more useful experience as well.

 

[Cleavername]

Honduras must be quite popular, I heard some pre-meds bragging yesterday about how they had an upcoming meeting concerning their "medical mission" to Honduras.

Whatever, if you have the money, go enjoy the change of scenery and think of it as a vacation instead of some opportunity to boost your application.

It prob really won't beef up your app.

A lot of people do it, it isn't some prestigious honor to go [just write the check] and likely pretty much everyone has the same thing to say about it when asked [i.e. my eyes have truly been opened to the hardships that are faced by those in less fortunate countries... yada, yada.].

Perhaps it would be more groundbreaking if done ~15-20 years ago... The application game is all about staying ahead of the curve [of which med missions are now on the wrong side of].

oh shoot i have to pay for it? i think it says its a volunteer mission thingy. like i dont get paid but nor do i pay anything.

 

[Frazier]

oh shoot i have to pay for it? i think it says its a volunteer mission thingy. like i dont get paid but nor do i pay anything.

Hey, maybe.

I certainly haven't seen one like that offered at my school. By "volunteer" they mean you don't get paid. You still have to come up with your own ticket, travel fees, etc.

Perhaps your school has a different M.O.

If it is free - do it just for the sake of taking a free trip to Honduras.

 

[duress]

if this is the same medical brigades that was at my school, I'm fairly certain you will have to pay. Much. Like in the 4 digits.

Honestly, I don't think it is as great an asset to your applicationas you've been led to believe, but that's partially because I'm really cynical and feel like the only thing a trip like this (only 7 days, etc) says is "look at how much I want to get into medical school." Then again, you might get one of the apparently many ADCOMs who don't mind and think international experience is ace. And you might find something new in yourself.

So basically, I agree with everyone else who says if you do it, do it for you, and try not to think of how much of an impact it will make on your app.

GL, I hope whatever you choose will be happy.

 

[wristbandMD]

oh shoot i have to pay for it? i think it says its a volunteer mission thingy. like i dont get paid but nor do i pay anything.

You generally have to pay a hefty fee (for one week, probably about $300-$1,500) plus flight tickets and travelers insurance (it may be included if the price is larger).

Ask for more information, specifically in regards to the cost. You can always try to raise the money.

If you have the money to do it, look into other volunteering abroad options instead of jumping onto the first opportunity you see. You'll be able to go wherever you want and possibly do something a bit more meaningful. Goabroad.com is great.

 

[wolverinepwns]

i went to Tanzania and I had to pay for mine. So I wonder how much this trip will cost.

 

[Gloves]

It seems like everyone does those. I think boosting your hours at the hospital or doing something local is 10x better and cheaper!

 

[O0O]

Be careful with these, also. Short-term medical brigades or mission trips that hand out free care for a week can do a lot of harm to local doctors and dentists. Imagine trying to make money when people keep on coming to your country doing what you do, but for free.

So just look into the organization, etc, make sure they also support and partner with local doctors and medical professionals. If not, these things do the country more harm than good in the end, I believe.

 

[ClaroQueSi]

down side of this trip for me would be like, one i dont speak the language, two i am kind of chubby so i am not sure if i can handle the weather there, third the chances of me picking up tropical diseases thro contacts.

should i do this?

As far as your concerns NOT related to payment and whether or not this would be good for your app...

1) If you are with an organization, you more than likely won't need to speak Spanish. It would be helpful, but translation will more than likely be provided.

2) Unless you're from the Northern US, the weather won't be too much of a system shocker. Depending on where in Honduras you are, it may be hot and humid, but if you can deal with say Virginia or Georgia in the summer, you'll be fine in Honduras.

3) The chances of you picking up any sort of illness are incredibly small as long as you're a smart traveler. I'm not sure what the rules are for travel to Honduras, but in countries where diseases like yellow fever, food/waterborne hepatitis A, or malaria are prevalent, you are required to be vaccinated/take meds. You just have to be smart. Don't drink the tap water or eat old foods and take care of yourself (duh).

If you do decide to do this trip, don't look at it as an app booster. Look at it as a personal experience. Traveling to other countries is a real life-changing experience, and it is my personal belief that it strengthens you as a person (and it takes a strong person to be a strong physician). I think this is the kind of deal where, if you were to go, you could write it on your app, and depending on your experience, you could discuss it in essays and interviews. This trip alone, however, is not going to get you into med school.

That said, I would pay attention to the aforementioned statement that sometimes these trips are detrimental to the local docs. Check it out before you make any decisions.

 

[Cleavername]

As far as your concerns NOT related to payment and whether or not this would be good for your app...

1) If you are with an organization, you more than likely won't need to speak Spanish. It would be helpful, but translation will more than likely be provided.

2) Unless you're from the Northern US, the weather won't be too much of a system shocker. Depending on where in Honduras you are, it may be hot and humid, but if you can deal with say Virginia or Georgia in the summer, you'll be fine in Honduras.

3) The chances of you picking up any sort of illness are incredibly small as long as you're a smart traveler. I'm not sure what the rules are for travel to Honduras, but in countries where diseases like yellow fever, food/waterborne hepatitis A, or malaria are prevalent, you are required to be vaccinated/take meds. You just have to be smart. Don't drink the tap water or eat old foods and take care of yourself (duh).

If you do decide to do this trip, don't look at it as an app booster. Look at it as a personal experience. Traveling to other countries is a real life-changing experience, and it is my personal belief that it strengthens you as a person (and it takes a strong person to be a strong physician). I think this is the kind of deal where, if you were to go, you could write it on your app, and depending on your experience, you could discuss it in essays and interviews. This trip alone, however, is not going to get you into med school.

That said, I would pay attention to the aforementioned statement that sometimes these trips are detrimental to the local docs. Check it out before you make any decisions.

it seems the public opinons are against it. i think i prob wont go.

 

[ucsfstudents]

You usually have to pay your way to participate in these missions.