Study Abroad/Research Advice

[Harumph]

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Heyo!
I'm new the forum, though I have to admit I've been creeping around here for a pretty long time. Which is good because I've learned alot, but also bad because watching you guys stress over your applications is absolutely horrifying. Anyways, I figured it's about time I actually joined since I'm already a junior in college and I'm hoping to apply for vet school next year. Anyways, I'd like to ask your opinons on a couple things I'm sort of torn over.

1. Would it be stupid of me to spend my entire junior year abroad? I'm currently studying in Egypt and I love it, but the grades in the second semester of sophomore year were a bit flat... so I'm worried that if my grades suddenly shoot up this year, vet schools will assume that it's just because the classes are easier. Junior year counts for alot, and I don't want admins thinking I spent the entire time screwing around. Still, it's the premiere university in Egypt, they're offering some awesome classes next semester, and I think there will be some great chances for research...

2. Which leads me to my second question. My Molecular Genetics class here is so small that for our lab portion we are going to conduct a 3,000$ research project and try to publish it in a journal. Would you count this as veterinary experience and, if so, how would you calculate the hours? I feel like it's cheating since it's part of a class.

Anyways, thanks in advance for any input and hope everyone applying right now kicks some serious ass.

 

[PrimalMU]

1. Most academicians recognize that in other parts of the world "undergrad" is more similar to American graduate schools. I don't think anyone, much less an entire committee, with assume that an Egyptian university class will be significantly easier than its American counterpart.

2. Count it as research experience and try your best to either keep track or estimate how much time you spent on the project.

 

[sumstorm]

check out IVIS. they have some stats about vets students (entering vet school) having participated in internantional experiences.

 

[Harumph]

Hey, thanks! IVIS is a cool website, I'd never seen it before. I haven't found the article you mentioned, but I'm having fun poking around it. And that's good to hear about undergrad schools and research. I need to do an independent project at some point so maybe this'll be a good starting point.