Study abroad or medical trip?

[amar314]

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Hi everyone, I'm currently trying to decide between studying abroad in France or doing a medical trip (somewhere in Europe). I love traveling, learning new languages and medicine of course and I'd love to incorporate all three.

Any advice from people who have done it? I was originally set on studying abroad but now I've been looking at doing medical trips with agencies like gapmedics or doctors w/o borders ??

The only con to a medical trip would be that I'd probably like to stay a shorter time, 2 weeks as opposed to 4-6 weeks if I'd be studying abroad. Mostly feel this way b/c I'd have to stay with a host family.

Thank you all!

p.s It's honestly looking cheaper to do a medical trip, what's the opinion on that?

 

[Angel252]

What made you decide on doing the medical trip instead?

 

[amar314]

What made you decide on doing the medical trip instead?

Oh, I'm not decided yet. I've been set on studying or going abroad for a few yrs now (I'm a rising sophomore and want to do it this upcoming summer) because I love traveling to new places and I know I won't get an opportunity like this ever again. I've only recently been looking at medical trips because it seems like an all in one, but I don't want to sacrifice a traveling experience for a medical one if you understand. I'd like to also enjoy the country and scenery and new environment but also partake in the medical aspect.

 

[kyamh]

If you are on "vacation" or "traveling" during a medical trip, you aren't helping your application. At the end of a medical mission trip (or whatever you call it), you should feel tired, emotionally drained, and incredibly aware of how useless your pre-med a** currently is.

 

[Angel252]

I personally have attended two medical mission trips in South America. Unfortunately, I was not able to study abroad because of coursework. Now knowing your reasons, I would recommend you to attend a medical mission trip if you are doing it for the right reasons. I gained an immense amount of knowledge and new experiences that I would not have otherwise by traveling abroad. Now, I have been doing mission trips all of my life, but medical missions are something different. It is a humbling experience and really puts you out there for serving the less privileged.

The reason I ask about your motives is because of the fact that many do the trips to add something else to their application. Adcoms identify this easily. Although I can't say nothing about studying abroad, I am sure it also contains its experiences and will most likely be more comfortable than a medical mission. For the right reasons, I would recommend you to go on a medical mission trip.

That is my opinion. Best of luck deciding OP 😉

 

[amar314]

I personally have attended two medical mission trips in South America. Unfortunately, I was not able to study abroad because of coursework. Now knowing your reasons, I would recommend you to attend a medical mission trip if you are doing it for the right reasons. I gained an immense amount of knowledge and new experiences that I would not have otherwise by traveling abroad. Now, I have been doing mission trips all of my life, but medical missions are something different. It is a humbling experience and really puts you out there for serving the less privileged.

The reason I ask about your motives is because of the fact that many do the trips to add something else to their application. Adcoms identify this easily. Although I can't say nothing about studying abroad, I am sure it also contains its experiences and will most likely be more comfortable than a medical mission. For the right reasons, I would recommend you to go on a medical mission trip.

That is my opinion. Best of luck deciding OP 😉

Thanks so much! I know that medical trips can be seen as if people do them to pad their resume but that's giving a bad rep to all those that don't do it for those reasons, like you're saying. I guess it all depends on how I portray it in an interview etc. I guess I'll have to keep on thinking. I'm interested in both studying abroad and medical trips but money wise that'd be too much. I want to get true clinical experience and needless to say I love helping and personally know the medical conditions of other countries from having been born somewhere where the medical scene is sub par.

Anyway, thanks for all the help 🙂

 

[xffan624]

Thanks so much! I know that medical trips can be seen as if people do them to pad their resume but that's giving a bad rep to all those that don't do it for those reasons, like you're saying. I guess it all depends on how I portray it in an interview etc. I guess I'll have to keep on thinking. I'm interested in both studying abroad and medical trips but money wise that'd be too much. I want to get true clinical experience and needless to say I love helping and personally know the medical conditions of other countries from having been born somewhere where the medical scene is sub par.

Anyway, thanks for all the help 🙂

Your presence on any medical mission would be a spot that someone with actual medical training could have had. Any "true clinical experience" in another country are not the ones ADCOM's are looking for (certainly not one where you perform procedures on unsuspecting patients that you are not qualified to do). Anything beyond manual labor and administrative work at a medical mission for a pre-med that lacks proper training is unethical and will not impress ADCOM's.

 

[amar314]

Your presence on any medical mission would be a spot that someone with actual medical training could have had. Any "true clinical experience" in another country are not the ones ADCOM's are looking for (certainly not one where you perform procedures on unsuspecting patients that you are not qualified to do). Anything beyond manual labor and administrative work at a medical mission for a pre-med that lacks proper training is unethical and will not impress ADCOM's.

I wouldn't be one to participate in anything of the sort. What I mean by true clinical experience is more consistent exposure to patients, physicians and the medical world than the once a week hospital volunteering everyone does.

 

[amar314]

If anyone wants to shed light on this: would research abroad be considered with such a stigma as well?

 

[xffan624]

I wouldn't be one to participate in anything of the sort. What I mean by true clinical experience is more consistent exposure to patients, physicians and the medical world than the once a week hospital volunteering everyone does.

Is the environment a temporary clinic or a real clinic that is fully staffed? If it's the first, then a true clinic experience is not really what you're getting. If it's the second, then it's not really a mission, more of a shadowing experience and I wonder why they need you at all. And still, taking a week off to volunteer at a hospital in the states is a truer clinical experience than either of the former items. So save your money and spend it on studying abroad. A medical mission in Europe is a useless exercise for a pre-med and will do little to improve your application.

 

[amar314]

Is the environment a temporary clinic or a real clinic that is fully staffed? If it's the first, then a true clinic experience is not really what you're getting. If it's the second, then it's not really a mission, more of a shadowing experience and I wonder why they need you at all. And still, taking a week off to volunteer at a hospital in the states is a truer clinical experience than either of the former items. So save your money and spend it on studying abroad. A medical mission in Europe is a useless exercise for a pre-med and will do little to improve your application.

Okay, thank you for the advice. It's likely what I'll do.

 

[NickNaylor]

If anyone wants to shed light on this: would research abroad be considered with such a stigma as well?

No - research experience is much more solid and less stigmatized. You can also make meaningful progress on research progress; undergraduate students are more than capable of doing research work depending upon the field.

The problem with overseas medical trips, as mentioned above, is the utility that you're offering, which is next to zero. It comes across exactly as what it is: clinical experience you could've just as easily obtained from your local hospital but likely wanted the experience of "travel" or "getting cultural exposure." It'd be one thing if you're spending significant time (months) at a place and the clinical experience is simply one part of a broader set of programming. For example, I've interviewed a few students that have spent a year abroad after graduating working with NGOs and, as part of that work, are involved with clinical experiences that are also part of a research project or broader humanitarian project. That sort of experience is impressive. Going to a third world country for two weeks isn't: it's no different than going to your local hospital except you spent a bunch of money to do so.

The questionable benefits of these trips are also becoming a part of the public consciousness; I've read a few articles that question how ethical these short-term, "helicopter clinic" trips are, and the consensus seems to be "not so much." That's not to say that you shouldn't do this experience if you really want to or that you shouldn't list it on your app, but just understand that it's not any more impressive than any other shadowing experience, and you run the risk of some people being put off by your willingness to drop a bunch of dough on something you could've done at home.

 

[Angel252]

Everyone keeps saying you won't be a good asset to the team. It all depends on what you bring to the table. I was not directly involved in the procedures but was needed to translate between the patients and physicians. I don't see the problem in offering my services in a country that is in need. Yes, there are parts in the US that are in need, but nothing compared to the healthcare that farming villages on mountains obtain, that is if they obtain any at all.

If you decide to go on a medical mission trip, it is not like you will take a spot that someone with medical training could've had and didn't have the chance because you signed up first. There is a great need of physicians and health care professionals in medical missions and mission trips never fill up.

For info: I have done mission trips in the nation as well. I have also done numerous hours of shadowing.

 

[RussianFrolic]

Hi everyone, I'm currently trying to decide between studying abroad in France or doing a medical trip (somewhere in Europe). I love traveling, learning new languages and medicine of course and I'd love to incorporate all three.

Any advice from people who have done it? I was originally set on studying abroad but now I've been looking at doing medical trips with agencies like gapmedics or doctors w/o borders ??

The only con to a medical trip would be that I'd probably like to stay a shorter time, 2 weeks as opposed to 4-6 weeks if I'd be studying abroad. Mostly feel this way b/c I'd have to stay with a host family.

Thank you all!

p.s It's honestly looking cheaper to do a medical trip, what's the opinion on that?

I've done both, and I have to say that Study abroad is better if you are looking for true cultural immersion or language development. I think that medical service trips are great, but at the same time they aren't unique and while they will give you more experience in under-served clinics (not sure why you would do a medical trip to Europe, unless you mean uncommon Europe countries.) you won't be able to help as much as you want to. I also don't see the point in doing the all so common Spain, UK or France big, famous city study abroad. If you are going abroad do something thrilling and that will have people asking, "why did s/he choice that place?" (in a positive tone).

 

[fifm]

Do the study abroad. You will have more time to embrace the culture in a more relaxed way. More free time. More time to meet others. You can just sit around in a coffee shop and observe people one day, etc.

 

[amar314]

I've done both, and I have to say that Study abroad is better if you are looking for true cultural immersion or language development. I think that medical service trips are great, but at the same time they aren't unique and while they will give you more experience in under-served clinics (not sure why you would do a medical trip to Europe, unless you mean uncommon Europe countries.) you won't be able to help as much as you want to. I also don't see the point in doing the all so common Spain, UK or France big, famous city study abroad. If you are going abroad do something thrilling and that will have people asking, "why did s/he choice that place?" (in a positive tone).

I've been wanting to go to France for a few years now because I've had French classes and love it, so that is why I'm interested in doing the oh-so-typical study abroad. Idk, what country did you study abroad in?

 

[RussianFrolic]

I've been wanting to go to France for a few years now because I've had French classes and love it, so that is why I'm interested in doing the oh-so-typical study abroad. Idk, what country did you study abroad in?

In this case, the "oh-so-typical" study abroad would suit your interests and language abilities in which case it would be beneficial. Perhaps choosing a city in France besides Paris or other country that speaks french (Switzerland for example... PM me if you want to know more about this) would be your way of making the trip special. I definitely didn't mean to shoot down the typical study abroad's, I just tend to gravitate towards the odd ball countries I guess. I went to Russia for study abroad; highly recommend it, but definitely need basic language before going. Also, while you should take time to relax while studying abroad, make the absolute most of it. My personal feelings are that for medical service trips most people get a similar experience, but with study abroad you can stand out if you make the most of it.

 

[medschoolislife]

If you love traveling and learning new languages, I would travel abroad. Doing a medical trip, in my experience, does not give the same cultural immersion (in part because it is usually shorter). You will likely be concentrating on clinical duties during a mission trip as well, but if you are immune to fatigue, you can explore the city after an 8-hour shift. Also, I would definitely not go unless you are somewhat useful to the trip. As other people have said, a shadowing experience abroad is not a good use of your time. I was a translator on my trip (not to Europe), and there was no way anything was getting done without me.

Also, you might be different, but I've always separated my hobbies from medicine/premed activities. When I travel and experience new cultures, it's a full time thing. I certainly "wasted" that term with respect to my med school app (unless I'm asked about it in my interviews), but I have no regrets there. On that note, Paris is absolutely amazing. I can't comment on other parts of France, but there are few things I wouldn't do to have another term in Paris.