Torn between two study abroad programs

[medlover2015]

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Hey everyone,

I'm currently a junior in college right now, I attend Spring Arbor University. Going on a study abroad program is required to graduate, so not going is not an option. I caught between two different study abroad trips which is a 3-weeks in France and a semester in Guatemala.

Originally I was going to do a semester in Japan but that is geared toward education majors.🙁 So I have France set to go this summer in May, which I am taking French classes for as of now. I did want to be a French minor, but I would have to be here long than expected. I figured I can take two French classes, to get out of two other pointless classes, and my friends are going to France and I have always been in love with French culture.

On the other hand there is a semester trip in Guatemala, that offers internships/volunteer work there, working with doctors and helping health centers. The only problem with this is in order for me to save money I would have to take it either in the Fall or Spring semester. This is going to be difficult to do in those semester because I am taking a lot of science classes which are not offered while in Guatemala. The main reason for me going to Guatemala is so that I will be able to understand a different health care system other than Americas and have the opportunity to work under a doctor, which I was not able to do while volunteering at my local hospital this summer. Those are the only reason why I would want to go, but I feel it I do go that it will be a challenge since it will be a third world country unlike France.

What would be better in the long run? What would you do in my position?

Since the I did plan the trip for this summer I need to make sure that I cancel it if I do decide to go to Guatemala or they will charge me. I want to do what's fun for me, but I also want to do thing that are going to benefit me. 😳😕

I am planning on meeting with my advisor, he's not really a pre-med advisor but they work closely together, to try to help me with this situation.

 

[joonage]

My opinion? Go to France. Wine and dine, travel other countries in Europe, and enjoy life. You'll likely never have another opportunity to live for that long overseas. Have fun with study abroad!

And why not volunteer at a French hospital? With universal healthcare, you'll get a unique perspective of medicine over there as well.

 

[Lya]

As someone who researched abroad in Ghana and spent multiple weeks in Cameroon and Kenya for other projects, I would highly encourage a semester abroad, hands down.

However, if there are a lot of classes that you cannot squeeze in and you really need that extra semester to complete and graduate on time, I would have to go with France, not because of the location or cost or anything, but simply because of the number of courses you have to take in semesters.


If I were you, I would find every way I can to leave one semester blank so that you can spend that semester in Guatemala to do whatever you want. But whatever you want, I mean you should try to find out some meaningful work you can do there. I am not talking about shadowing or volunteering. I am talking about solid work that you can do over time in a semester and can write a paper or have some sort of the product coming to fruition that you can be proud of after you leave Guatemala.

Even after you try to find out all other resources and other ways to spend a semester and it doesn't work out somehow for whatever reason, then don't look back and go with summer study abroad (France, in this case).

 

[medlover2015]

As someone who researched abroad in Ghana and spent multiple weeks in Cameroon and Kenya for other projects, I would highly encourage a semester abroad, hands down.

However, if there are a lot of classes that you cannot squeeze in and you really need that extra semester to complete and graduate on time, I would have to go with France, not because of the location or cost or anything, but simply because of the number of courses you have to take in semesters.


If I were you, I would find every way I can to leave one semester blank so that you can spend that semester in Guatemala to do whatever you want. But whatever you want, I mean you should try to find out some meaningful work you can do there. I am not talking about shadowing or volunteering. I am talking about solid work that you can do over time in a semester and can write a paper or have some sort of the product coming to fruition that you can be proud of after you leave Guatemala.

Even after you try to find out all other resources and other ways to spend a semester and it doesn't work out somehow for whatever reason, then don't look back and go with summer study abroad (France, in this case).

lol it funny you said this because I just got done talking with my advisor about trying to fit my classes (non-science/major classes) into a semester so that I can do the semester abroad. He told it would be possible 😍😀😀😀😀😀 I'm so happy right now, but the only probably with it is that I have a crap load of paperwork and I don't know if I will be able to get into the program next semester (spring 2014) since people did all this information last year. 👎 But I praying that when I talk to the lady over study abroad that she can some how get me in, without having to kick someone else out the program. So I hope everything works out. If I attend a semester in Guatemala I will be working under a doctor and actually working with patients 😀, plus learn Spanish from natives which is becoming a big thing on top of the French that I am taking right now. All I need to do is find about two grand to pay for the trip plus extra things lol, and I need to make sure I can take inorganic chemistry in the summer or else I will not graduate on time.😱

I have heard stories about student giving birth to baby, removing catheter, physical therapy, ect. I still have no idea what specialty that I want to focus in but I know for a fact I want to do surgery.

Hopefully this can help me not only stand out a little more, but also change myself as a person and how I view medicine.

 

[medlover2015]

The reason I can't really volunteer at the France hospitals is due to the fact that it is not a program and my university does not have connects with France as well as they do with third world countries. I would enjoy going to France with my friends really I will, but I can go any time I want (I feel) later in life. This is a great way to gain hand on skills and patient care that I wish I could do here in America, but I feel like this is what is going to help me grow as a person.

 

[joonage]

The reason I can't really volunteer at the France hospitals is due to the fact that it is not a program and my university does not have connects with France as well as they do with third world countries. I would enjoy going to France with my friends really I will, but I can go any time I want (I feel) later in life. This is a great way to gain hand on skills and patient care that I wish I could do here in America, but I feel like this is what is going to help me grow as a person.

You seem like you're more wanting to go to Guatemala over France. Just go with your gut and you'll enjoy it either way!

 

[medlover2015]

You seem like you're more wanting to go to Guatemala over France. Just go with your gut and you'll enjoy it either way!

After hearing all the stories I got really excited about going. Thanks, I don't think I will regret is in the long run. Thanks for you advice.😀