How would this EC look on applications?

[rlplucien]

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Hello,

Through my school, I have the opportunity to volunteer in a free health clinic in a poor community in Honduras for one week. Would this experience look good on my applications? Or would the fact that it is only one week long and not a long-term commitment make it not so significant?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

Look good? 🙄 It's gonna look like you were trying to hard to look good. Why go over there for one week, when you could make a long commitment to a free clinic in a poor area in your own backyard.

 

[rlplucien]

Well, I'm already volunteering in the ER at U Chicago's hospital long term (6 months minimum), which happens to be in a very poor area. I just thought this might be something different.

 

[NickNaylor]

The two experiences aren't the same.

For whatever reason, medical missions work abroad seems be attacked on this forum like crazy since the perception is that it's more of a vacation than anything else. I say that if you're able to go, go. It'd be a great experience. I don't think it's going to suddenly make all of the schools droll over you.

 

[gravitywave]

Why go over there for one week, when you could make a long commitment to a free clinic in a poor area in your own backyard.

i agree with this part 👍

go if you want, OP. it won't make you look bad by any means. it's not at all unique though - and a lot of those programs are derided justly i think.

wait until you see the things some people are trying to sell MS-I's for their summer... i figure that if it's priced like a vacation, it probably is one.

 

[Medwell]

What kind of a question is this? You should be basing your decision on whether or not to go on how much it interests you, not the magnitude of its potential to "impress" medical schools...