Need help deciding what to do summer before senior year

[Medico o Muerte]

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I plan on applying this summer (I will have given myself 2 chances to take the MCAT). But I don't want to just "apply", and I don't want to merely take classes either. Here are some options I was thinking.


1. Study Armenian in Armenia: I enjoy learning languages and other cultures. I am applying for a competetive government scholarship for this (so I may not get it). I just don't see much effect or relation to medicine (it builds cultural competance?)

2. Volunteering at HIV/AIDS clinic in Nairobi, Kenya: This program will set me back round $1000-$2000 for 6-12 weeks (depending on duration). I am already involved in conducting HIV testing at home and doing an alternative breaks trip focused on HIV/AIDS prevention and would love to apply my experiences to a crowded underserved clinic abroad. I just don't want this to be perceived as "voluntourism".

3. Research Internship: Already did one in the past. I'm also not too research-emphasizing in my application and I don't want to have a bunch of disjointed research projects.

4. Studying Abroad in Spain or Argentina: This will come out of my own pocket unlike option 1, but I am a Spanish minor and interested in improving Spanish skills. Only con: Same as number one, I don't see much relation to medicine and I'll probably be too distracted at the Prado or the beach.

5. Taking classes: I'm predicted to complete my major on time.

6. Sitting at home and applying for medical school.


*I have a lot of clinical volunteering and shadowing hours that I perform during the school year
*I will definitely try my best to either apply to medical school while abroad, or spend half the summer abroad (later half) and the other half at home. Abroad, I will be in places that have decent internet connection

 

[kgamon8]

Current applicant here. I also wanted to apply for a language study program but was worried because it was 10 weeks long. I’m so glad I didn’t because the MCAT and med applications take a long ass time.

This was my summer:
Planned to take MCAT June 1st, realized I was not ready and pushed it to June 30th.
Studied full time May and first two weeks of June.
Volunteered on the weekends.
Mid June began my summer job at a camp for kids with disabilities. It was the best job in the world but was very time consuming. Took the day off before the MCAT and hoped for the best.
Day after test, flew abroad for two weeks to visit my grandma. I would highly recommend not trying to apply while traveling because it was terrible. But I promised myself I needed to see her, and being in a new country and by the beach kind of calmed me.
Came back mid July, continued working and working on my app. Got my score end of July and applied EDP to state school. (Also I went to visit my friend in SF and did my secondary there but that was hard because I had to sacrifice time with her)

My situation is different because I only applied to one school, but if I was doing multiple secondaries and trying to travel, I think it would be bad. Honestly I would pick option 6. Work/volunteer part time, have some time for yourself, and take a small trip if you can.

Applying to med school is a beast. So is the MCAT. I was able to have a rewarding and productive summer by mostly staying at home.

 

[Toutie]

Not all of your activities have to relate to medicine...in fact it is better if you have done things that don't. Med schools want people who have lives and interests outside of medicine.

 

[crazymedguy123]

1 and 2 sound great. You can do things not related to medicine, and since you say you have plenty of clinical experience I wouldn't worry about that. For 2, I think its a lot better that you will be there for 6-12 weeks, but not sure what some adcoms will think of it regardless. The fact that you have previous work/interest in HIV prevention is a plus.

For 3, research is decent but kind of overrated. I like 1 better than 4 since study abroad doesn't seem like as much of a true language immersion (and going to Armenia seems a lot more unique than Spain!)

Don't take classes unless you need a GPA boost and you have the time to ensure A's in upper science courses.

I would strongly advise against just doing nothing. You have 8 months between now and the next cycle starting. If you are diligent you can have PS, activities, and common secondaries ready to go to submit on the first day.