Teaching Abroad During Off-Year Before Med School - Realistic?

[mry1010]

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I was wondering if anyone has had experience with this and how it worked out with interviews, etc?

I have been considering teaching English in Western Europe during my off year but was worried about getting to interviews, etc. and if it is even a realistic possibility? I know a bunch of programs that allow you to go abroad to teach but I am assuming that most people who go this route aren't planning on doing medical school the following year.

Would like to hear from anyone who has considered the same thing / or pulled it off, your help would be greatly appreciated and useful in my planning!

 

[MilkmanAl]

I think you'd definitely have your hands full, assuming it's possible at all. Those would be some seriously expensive interviews, too. You'd probably be better off teaching here, if it's the teaching you're after. If you want the international experience, do a mission trip, or get on with DWB or something. Committing yourself to a year overseas when you know (or strongly suspect) you're going to have to be coming back stateside frequently is probably not the smartest move.

 

[krs881]

Living outside of the U.S. during your application year is doable (I did it) but under specific circumstances. Other people have asked similar questions and you can read responses from me and others here, here, and here.

For me, the two important ingredients that made this possible were 1) having a job that allowed me to do the necessary travel (I discussed med school interviews and plans with my boss during the job interview process, so it was agreed upon by both parties going in) and 2) living somewhere (central america) where travel to the U.S. is easy, fairly fast, and not too expensive (similar in all respects to cross-country flights within the U.S.).

Regarding English teaching in Western Europe, depending on where you are the second factor may be true (though not the travel time per flight), but I suspect the first factor may be your dilemma. There are tons of americans and other english speakers trying to teach english abroad, and particularly in popular destinations like western europe. Howe attractive are you to your future employer that they would be willing to pass over another candidate without these travel needs and give you a job for less than a year and put up with you possibly traveling for up to 3 or 4 weeks at different times depending on the number/timing of interviews? (I had planned 3 trips of about a week each to do all my interviews). Sounds unlikely to me, but perhaps in your particular situation you can swing it, either because of the number/timing of your interviews or your specific job. You might get in touch with the particular programs to see if their class schedules/programs would work with your travel needs.

If it is hard, you might consider doing something shorter term that you can begin after your interviews end, probably no later than March. However, that would mean possibly missing revisit weekends. If you can swing it one way or another, don't give up a great opportunity!

 

[echolalia16]

I always thought teaching would be fun and if you're mentoring a chick, even better!

...or did you meant outside of the country?

 

[krs881]

I always thought teaching would be fun and if you're mentoring a chick, even better!

...or did you meant outside of the country?

One could be offended or just think it's gratuitous, but I have a special place in my heart for this particular homophone (or "oronym"? on a quick wiki search). I grew up in a household in which a lot of, well, colorful language was used. So, when one day my third grade teacher asked if anyone knew what "abroad" meant, you can imagine the surprise on his face when I answered nonchalantly "a woman." I learned my lesson -- and I think my mom might have gotten wind of the story too -- cause within a couple years I was well versed in the differences between Ms., Miss and Mrs, among other important points of feminist grammar and language usage.

 

[chocdoc1234]

I am currently teaching English abroad (in south america), and I'll be starting medical school this August, but I have only been doing it for a semester (I'm teaching at a University and the first semester runs Feb-July). I spent the fall living at home, working some part-time jobs and doing applications. Basically I just applied early, scheduled my interviews as early as possible, and was lucky to have acceptances in October and November, so I could apply to teaching positions abroad for the spring semester. It is definitely doable, the only downside is having to organize housing etc for next year from abroad, since I get home like two days before school starts, but still a great experience before medical school!! I'm not sure how doing an entire year would work if you're planning on going to medical school immediately after...maybe you should try for a semester instead, if you don't want to spend all that $$$ on traveling. Hope that helps, feel free to message me if you have any specific questions about my experience.

 

[Tedster]

I actually met quite a surprising number of people on the interview trail who where teaching for a year in China- from what I understood the key for them was applying early and really being smart about the organization of their interviews (aka doing ALL of them in a week or 2-week period). Didn't seem like it was a huge issue for them.

 

[mry1010]

Hahaah echo, good stuff. I'm never going to think of "abroad" the same again.

Thanks so much guys, these were extremely helpful responses. I had never even considered doing just 1 semester abroad, but that option is something that works out a lot better for someone looking to go into medicine. Yeah I am doing it mostly for the international experience and just to have a good time, but I also was considering other teaching options other than this so that is something I was looking forward to also.

If I do one semester and apply very early I could hopefully avoid having to return back to US for interviews, so that would be an amazing set up. The expense of the plane back and forth is basically what my main concern was.