Study abroad for 2 weeks worth it?

[student233]

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I'm a language major at a university, and have the opportunity to do a study abroad for 2 weeks in order to fulfill a 3 credit hr requirement. I would be taking classes there, visiting museums, and going on field trips. I was wondering if this would be a good idea and something to talk about on my application, or if it is too short to be worth it? Most people I know who did study abroad have gone for 2 months or a semester. I was wondering what you guys thought.

 

[deleted1009115]

If you do this, it would be for personal fulfillment/fun. Probably not helpful for med school applications.

 

[hang50]

it could certainly be a talking point in a future interview but not everything needs to have a *for the application* slant to it, you know what i mean?

it sounds like a wonderful opportunity. if it’s something you want to do (and can afford) then i say go for it.

 

[LizzyM]

As a language major, you certainly should have experience in a country where that language is spoken. If this is the best way you can fit this in is to go for two weeks then go. I do think that a longer period would be better. A three credit course is the equivalent of 45 hours plus "homework" so be prepared to work your tush off but in a good way.

Med schools won't care one way or the other except to the extent that you are fluent in that language and may be able to work with non-English speaking patients who speak that language.

 

[student233]

As a language major, you certainly should have experience in a country where that language is spoken. If this is the best way you can fit this in is to go for two weeks then go. I do think that a longer period would be better. A three credit course is the equivalent of 45 hours plus "homework" so be prepared to work your tush off but in a good way.

Med schools won't care one way or the other except to the extent that you are fluent in that language and may be able to work with non-English speaking patients who speak that language.

Do you think 1 month would be sufficient?

 

[ciestar]

Do it regardless. Dont worry about what looks go to med schools. It is an opportunity that will be hard to come by later on.

 

[LizzyM]

IMHO, the longer you can be in an immersive experience the better you will learn a language. You need to find a balance between other things on your calendar/to-do list and the cost of living here and abroad.

This is will not have an effect on your application. Don't do it to impress an adcom or increase the likelihood you'll be admitted because it is not likely to have that effect. Do it because you want to learn the language and to learn the customs and culture of the people who live in a country where that language is spoken.

 

[student233]

IMHO, the longer you can be in an immersive experience the better you will learn a language. You need to find a balance between other things on your calendar/to-do list and the cost of living here and abroad.

This is will not have an effect on your application. Don't do it to impress an adcom or increase the likelihood you'll be admitted because it is not likely to have that effect. Do it because you want to learn the language and to learn the customs and culture of the people who live in a country where that language is spoken.

Thank you for our response. I wasn't thinking of doing it to impress an adcom, but I thought it maybe would be helpful in having better interviews because I would have more to talk about. The rest of my application is very average (shadowing, hospital work, etc.) so I thought this would be something different that would stand out. What do you think would be a better way for me to have a stronger extracurricular?

 

[InsertBasicUsername]

I did a 2 week program in Sicily that sounds super similar to this and it really had no effect on my app that I can tell, but it was the most fun 2 weeks I've ever had. 10/10 worth it. Also I know 2 week programs are super uncommon so I'm curious if this is the same thing I did?

 

[student233]

I did a 2 week program in Sicily that sounds super similar to this and it really had no effect on my app that I can tell, but it was the most fun 2 weeks I've ever had. 10/10 worth it. Also I know 2 week programs are super uncommon so I'm curious if this is the same thing I did?

This one's in a diff location

 

[LizzyM]

Travel is something interviewers may ask about because it tends to differ from one applicant to the next and therefore is interesting. Having some involvement in a sport, hobby, artistic endeavor or even a little side gig to make money on eBay or Etsy can be something interesting that an interviewer might talk about because it is out of the ordinary


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[EdgeTrimmer]

Surveys of medical schools find multilingual is a factor of low importance. I would say it has no effective impact on admissions.
Using the language skills in a community service or clinical setting is the only way it would have much impact


View attachment 285544

will the language skills make more difference to schools where they have large non-english speaking patients?