Living Abroad - Program vs. Self-plan

[DenTony11235]

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I want to live abroad in Spain, March-May. I also may have to reapply to med school next cycle. Pretty much the only thing my application lacks is EC's.

I'm deciding between going on a volunteer-program (Interexchange) or self-organizing everything. Through Interexchange, I'd pay $700 for room and food for 3 months, and I'd have to tutor english 15hrs./week. If i self-organize, it'd be like $2000 total, for 2 months, but I cant legally do any work. I might just tutor english privately for cash, but IDK if i should say this on my med school application if I reapply, since it might not technically be legal.

Anyway, would it look a whole of a lot better if I did the trip through Interexchange, since it'd be almost like a mission trip (or work trip)? Or would it not really make a difference, since most importantly I'd traveled and lived elsewhere and would be technically, culturally, "more diverse"?

 

[kevinsword91]

If it were me and I felt strongly pulled to go somewhere I would do it through a program. At least that way its structured and you have a plan. Doing it independently seems risky as you have no guarantee of finding employment during that time. Don't want to fly into the country and find that there really isn't much demand for a private English tutor.

 

[DenTony11235]

If it were me and I felt strongly pulled to go somewhere I would do it through a program. At least that way its structured and you have a plan. Doing it independently seems risky as you have no guarantee of finding employment during that time. Don't want to fly into the country and find that there really isn't much demand for a private English tutor.

I agree.. but I'm going in prepared to not find any employment. Employment is not my intention, though I would like to have some since it may get a bit boring without any.

 

[RussianFrolic]

I want to live abroad in Spain, March-May. I also may have to reapply to med school next cycle. Pretty much the only thing my application lacks is EC's.

I'm deciding between going on a volunteer-program (Interexchange) or self-organizing everything. Through Interexchange, I'd pay $700 for room and food for 3 months, and I'd have to tutor english 15hrs./week. If i self-organize, it'd be like $2000 total, for 2 months, but I cant legally do any work. I might just tutor english privately for cash, but IDK if i should say this on my med school application if I reapply, since it might not technically be legal.

Anyway, would it look a whole of a lot better if I did the trip through Interexchange, since it'd be almost like a mission trip (or work trip)? Or would it not really make a difference, since most importantly I'd traveled and lived elsewhere and would be technically, culturally, "more diverse"?

Neither. If you want to be more culturally enriched do something to learn about other cultures. It doesn't even have to be abroad! I have friends who had good experiences teaching english abroad, but it really depends based on your interests. I say keep everything legit, even if it's more expensive.

 

[RussianFrolic]

I agree.. but I'm going in prepared to not find any employment. Employment is not my intention, though I would like to have some since it may get a bit boring without any.

So why are you going? Just to be more "diverse" on your app?

 

[AMEHigh]

I want to live abroad in Spain, March-May. I also may have to reapply to med school next cycle. Pretty much the only thing my application lacks is EC's.

I'm deciding between going on a volunteer-program (Interexchange) or self-organizing everything. Through Interexchange, I'd pay $700 for room and food for 3 months, and I'd have to tutor english 15hrs./week. If i self-organize, it'd be like $2000 total, for 2 months, but I cant legally do any work. I might just tutor english privately for cash, but IDK if i should say this on my med school application if I reapply, since it might not technically be legal.

Anyway, would it look a whole of a lot better if I did the trip through Interexchange, since it'd be almost like a mission trip (or work trip)? Or would it not really make a difference, since most importantly I'd traveled and lived elsewhere and would be technically, culturally, "more diverse"?

Travel because you want to travel, not to "strengthen" your application. It doesn't matter on your application and it sounds pretentious and idiotic when you say it would make you "more diverse."

 

[allantois]

I disagree that you should find a program to go abroad. Why would you want to put those sort of constraints on yourself? If you have a chance to travel, doing so before medical school is a fantastic idea.

 

[DenTony11235]

Travel because you want to travel, not to "strengthen" your application. It doesn't matter on your application and it sounds pretentious and idiotic when you say it would make you "more diverse."

Two birds with one stone. I am traveling because I want to, obviously. But if I can do it in a way that may reflect more positively than another,, why the hell wouldn't i? I fail to see your point. It's not like we all just do whatever we want and magically end up with a medical school acceptance...


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[DenTony11235]

I disagree that you should find a program to go abroad. Why would you want to put those sort of constraints on yourself? If you have a chance to travel, doing so before medical school is a fantastic idea.

Thank you. The friend I'm going with seems to think alike. Big difference is price as well. I'm looking at a 700 dollar program vs. a 2500 dollar trip. I guess this thread was useless since there is no right/wrong answer here.


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[DenTony11235]

So why are you going? Just to be more "diverse" on your app?

No way. I'm going because I really want to. I'm just wondering how a legit program would look compared to a self-organized trip, if I were to reapply. I don't wanna look like I just chilled in Spain and did nothing, if that is how adcoms may view it.


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[DenTony11235]

Neither. If you want to be more culturally enriched do something to learn about other cultures. It doesn't even have to be abroad! I have friends who had good experiences teaching english abroad, but it really depends based on your interests. I say keep everything legit, even if it's more expensive.

Alright. I guess I am going with the intention of learning Spanish one way or the other, so that's what counts.


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[baxt1412]

i assume this will be in a gap year/semester? or are you taking time off in between school years (ie you aren't finished with school yet)?

 

[DenTony11235]

i assume this will be in a gap year/semester? or are you taking time off in between school years (ie you aren't finished with school yet)?

For current gap year.


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[AMEHigh]

No way. I'm going because I really want to. I'm just wondering how a legit program would look compared to a self-organized trip, if I were to reapply. I don't wanna look like I just chilled in Spain and did nothing, if that is how adcoms may view it.


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My point above was that your thinking it will make a difference in taking this trip as you've described, based on my experience, it won't.

In addition, "mission trips" can be viewed negatively by those who are really in the know of global health, so it could in fact even look negatively depending on how it's presented.

Chilling in Spain doing nothing is absolutely fine. In fact, most medical students and physicians will recommend that you enjoy some free time before starting school because taking vacation becomes harder and harder as the years go by.

Now if you have an internship abroad lined up with the CDC or WHO or PIH or another giant in public health, than my answer would be different, but this doesn't sound like what you're talking about. If I were you, I'd take time to travel how you want and enjoy it!