Studying Abroad

[Jeffy]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Someone at my undergrad told me that the interviewers at a few of the schools they looked at asked about where they had gone abroad and what their experience was like. In fact, some were so interested that I remember my friend saying, "we ended up talking about my trip for a good chunk of the interview." What kind of experience did any of you have discussing an experience abroad, specifically on one of them semester abroad type programs on your interviews?

 

[ispic]

I think its one of those things that "rounds out" you app, and could put you above someone with similar stats that has not had any international experience. One thing I've seen over the years us that there are so many "cookie cutter" applicants that adcoms are looking for something (sometimes anything) to distinguish one applicant from another, and experience abroad is something very significant that many people don't bother to do, whether its studying or volunteering for a humanitarian relief organization overseas. In my interviews, the topic did come up of my overseas experience and it was something "nice" to talk about to break up the usual questions of "why do you want to be a doctor" and so on...

If you're looking for something similar, try a "summer abroad" program, or if you live close to a border, try volunteering with a humanitarian group that goes to central or south america for the summer. I know several friends that have done it and they felt that it really broadened their perspective about what life is like in other countries. Hope that helps!

 

[linguo1]

This is definitely an ice breaker in interviews! Not to mention that I wouldn't have passed up the opportunity to study abroad for anything. It was a great time.

Most of my interviews started out with something like...so why Bath, England? One interviewer had just visited their with her sons, so that was what we talked about for at least 15 minutes. Not only is it good to make conversation, but it's pretty relaxing to talk about such a fun-filled time in your life.

If you're debating, Quagmire, GO GO GO! For 99% of people out there, it's a highlight of undergrad.

BTW, I miss the family guy. DVD comes out April 15th though!

 

[manicmaven]

I had a chance to talk about going to India during my Northwestern panel interview. It was nice because one of the other people in my group was from an area I'd visited. It made for a good little side discussion. If you're debating, linguo1 is right...go go go!

 

[Jeffy]

Well, the reason I ask is because I did have the chance to go abroad and had an amazing experience. On top of gaining a lot of exposure to the health care systems, I had the rare opportunity to actually help conduct a government-funded public health surveillance in a refugee camp for about a month while I was there. So, I guess I was kind of wondering if interviewers brought it up or if you kind of tried "mentioning it" at some point during the interview. If the interviewers did bring it up themselves, was it because your study abroad trip figured somehow into your personal statement?

 

[abw]

I actually had an amazing abroad experience that I was excited to talk about, but in 4 interviews, nobody asked. I did a semester at sea and went to 9 countries in europe and africa - I included it in my essay, but nobody really seemed to care.

 

[CRAZYTERP]

I went on Six interviews and not once did anything in my personal statement come up unless of course I brought it up. If you are thinking about going abroad definitely do it! I cannot think of a more profound experience than the time I spent traveling Australia and New Zealand. It doens't matter that I spent more time in the pubs than in the classroom bc thats not the stuff u try to bring up when applying medical school anyways.

The important thing when interviewing and when writing your letter for that matter is to have something you are passionate about. If it's research it's research, if it's ncaa athletics then there you go. I will say that I think going abroad offers some intangibles such as experiencing a foreign world, being independent (not like in college by any means) and it shows you can adapt to new settings. All very important for medical school. At my Miami interview I was asked if I thought ebing away from my family would be hard. Once I told him that I lived across the world for five months and didnt have a problem he seemed impressed. Also, it sets you apart and anything that does that in your app is money.

 

[ispic]

I kinda had a different experience. I did mention my foreign travel in my personal statement, but I did make a point to mention it during my interview and the interviewer was well surprised. Since the majority of my interviews have been closed app, I've had to take the time and give the interviewer a chronological history of my volunteer experiences and my experience abroad always comes up as something significant. One thing I've observed is that, in a closed app interview, you need to keep the interviewer attentive, or else s/he will promply end the interview. The more info the interviewer knows about you the better, and giving s/he a complete account of your experience abroad will not only make you stand out from the other interviewees, but will break up the interviewer's monotony of seeing applicant after applicant with the same stats, and they'll remember that. 😀

 

[ShortStuff]

I had an awesome study abroad experience in South Africa and my interviewer was very interested in hearing about it and we talked fabout it for quite sometime. I agree it sets you apart - proves you have human kind of side- and that you are an interesting person not just a pre-med.

I would say without a doubt DO IT!!! GO ! GO!! GO!! there is no reason not to take advantage and I have memories from my trip that I will never forget!!

 

[JMD]

First off, I have to say that studying abroad in London was the best experience of my life.

In terms of interviews, studying abroad came up in almost every one, and I really think it helped to set me apart a little bit from other applicants. I talked about how it made me more open-minded and made me realize how much I enjoy relating to different people, etc, etc... qualities that would be desirable in a Doc. All of the things I said were true, and I think my interviewers could tell that I enjoyed taliking about my experience abroad and that it was someting that greatly influenced me as a person.

In short, I think studying abroad is definitely something you should try to do (if you want), and it CAN help you in the admissions process.