How does studying abroad during college affect preparation for medical school?

[doctorDoctor.]

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If I want to study in say, China or France for a semester during my undergraduate career, how would this decision affect my preparation for medical school?

To my knowledge (I'm not yet in college) Pre-meds are supposed to do lots of research, internships, shadowing, and volunteering in hospitals, etc., but wouldn't an entire semester in another country have a pretty detrimental effect on these activities? Would that pre-med in question be "behind" in a sense after studying abroad?

Also, how many pre-meds study abroad at all? How many for a semester? How many for a year? (Either statistics or a general statement).

Thanks in advance.

 

[doctorDoctor.]

So it's very commonplace? What kind of effect does it have on medical school preparations? Or is it the basically the same whether or not you go

 

[NonTradJp]

Med students vary quite a lot. Some do some don't in college. It's personal choice. If it's meaningful it might help, if not then oh well. I would suggest focusing on doing what is meaningful to you and not worry about it too much. Good grades are the most important factor you set out for yourself from now till application time.

 

[Enginerd2016]

You aren't in college yet, so you can't know, but many students study abroad. If you are serious about studying abroad for an extended period of time, make sure that you plan out when you are going to do it. Hopefully the major you choose will allow you some flexibility in courses that you can take (when you take them, they aren't pre-requisites for other courses, engineering is especially bad about this). Also, it is important to consider what classes/credits you can acquire while abroad. I have seen organic chemistry courses/biology courses taught in English by professors from my university that my friends have taken while in another country. Don't forget that you need to have meaningful ECs too, so plan that out as well. I have seen a couple of guys that I know who study abroad for over a year and a half because they planned it well enough and both of them are Harvard Med, Lolz. College is as flexible as you make it.

Essentially, plan out what classes you can take when/if abroad. Don't get behind on extra-curriculars. Get A's in your classes and you should be fine.

 

[tea guzzling traveler]

It's a mixed bag basically. Upside, it can expose you to a different healthcare system, and generally make you more openminded. Downside, it does entail interrupting your EC's. I think if you really want to do it, go for it. Totally possible to get into med school with it.

 

[Catalystik]

Pre-meds are supposed to do lots of research, internships, shadowing, and volunteering in hospitals, etc., but Wouldn't an entire semester in another country have a pretty detrimental effect on these activities? Would that pre-med in question be "behind" in a sense after studying abroad?

Yes, quite possibly. Not only that, but you also run the risk of having your GPA destroyed if you don't understand the grading system abroad and belatedly discover that your grades transferred as Ds and Fs, instead as Credit vs No Credit. On the bright side, you may have a golden opportunity for a Secondary application essay on "Tell about a situation in which you failed and what you learned from it."

 

[TheOneAndOnlyJamesFranco]

I studied abroad one summer studying healthcare systems and will be spending my gap year abroad in China on fellowship doing service work.

I've been told by med students that abroad experience is important because spending long periods of time living independently shows maturity.

Is this actually true though?

 

[Catalystik]

I studied abroad one summer studying healthcare systems and will be spending my gap year abroad in China on fellowship doing service work.

I've been told by med students that abroad experience is important because spending long periods of time living independently shows maturity.

Is this actually true though?

Some schools & adcomms value substantive international experiences. Some won't care. What constitutes "living independently" and what an applicant takes home from the experience varies so widely by situation that making a generalization is impossible.

 

[KillaKitteh]

I studied abroad over the summer through a program at my university that allowed final grades to be overseen by my own professor. This helped me stay on top of my pre-med studies, ECs, etc. during the normal school year. I would have loved to stay longer, but I was completing a dual degree--it was a wonderful experience and I wish I had signed up for another one. Don't forget that you have options to do study abroad and/or research programs, required courses, etc. over the summers to help keep you on track. It's all a matter of carefully planning ahead.