Trips to third world countries worth the $?

[apoptosis123]

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[apumic]

Do it because you want to not for the app. Since youvw done it I dont need to tell just awsome the experience is. I'd do it again but def not for any improvement on your app.

 

[iatros]

of course it looks nice...but DO it bc: you enjoy it, you like serving, you like travelling, you like doing things not many other people get to do

DONT do it to try to impress somebody.

 

[apoptosis123]

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[avksx]

I expect adcoms to be anywhere from neutral to positive.


It won't hurt you? Best answer you're going to get.

 

[patrick1674]

Just wondering how good a medical-related trip to a 3rd world country looks on an app. I've done one so far and it was an amazing experience (got to actually diagnose and prescribe medications to patients under doctor supervision) and I want to go on another one that is similar. Only thing is that the price tag on these trips is pretty high... I'm in a position where I can afford it but I was wondering if it's worth the investment. Particularly, does anyone know how UC schools look at these?

Thanks.

Is this an organisation that is affiliated with your school or is it a "known" orgization like the Red Cross???

What group were you planning on going with?

 

[Naijaba]

Personally, I have trouble justifying trips to help in far-away third world countries for short periods of time (<1 year). The flight cost alone would feed several families in poorer nations for over a month. I understand that it builds character in the volunteer, but at some point the perspective you obtain is undermined by the cost of the flight. Why not donate that $300+ overseas plane ticket to volunteers already in the foreign country?

 

[apoptosis123]

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[oh my god]

Personally, I have trouble justifying trips to help in far-away third world countries for short periods of time (<1 year). The flight cost alone would feed several families in poorer nations for over a month. I understand that it builds character in the volunteer, but at some point the perspective you obtain is undermined by the cost of the flight. Why not donate that $300+ overseas plane ticket to volunteers already in the foreign country?

Cause people are willing to dish out thousands of dollars to volunteer/visit a third-world country, but not even $100 if they get nothing out of it.😳

 

[Global Warming]

Cause people are willing to dish out thousands of dollars to volunteer/visit a third-world country, but not even $100 if they get nothing out of it.😳

Lets go to a third world country to help those poor brown people b/c we all feel so bad for their misfortunes in life..

 

[oh my god]

Lets go to a third world country to help those poor brown people b/c we all feel so bad for their misfortunes in life..

Brown people?!?! How dare you say such racist things! rooooooarrrr

 

[Global Warming]

Brown people?!?! How dare you say such racist things! rooooooarrrr

I don't remember brown being a race...I could be wrong though. If it is, they must spawn in third world countries...you know, w/ all the bacteria and germs and stuff.

 

[oh my god]

I don't remember brown being a race...I could be wrong though. If it is, they must spawn in third world countries...you know, w/ all the bacteria and germs and stuff.

I will probably go to hell for smiling at the end of your post.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

soon we'll be having people joining the Marines or any other military service to try to improve their app.

 

[Hoody]

soon we'll be having people joining the Marines or any other military service to try to improve their app.

I think we already do.....

 

[MegaProjectile]

Just wondering how good a medical-related trip to a 3rd world country looks on an app. I've done one so far and it was an amazing experience (got to actually diagnose and prescribe medications to patients under doctor supervision) and I want to go on another one that is similar. Only thing is that the price tag on these trips is pretty high... I'm in a position where I can afford it but I was wondering if it's worth the investment. Particularly, does anyone know how UC schools look at these?

Thanks.

Going to Africa or other Third world countries is almost becoming a cliche on medical school applications. Whether it will help you or not depends on the totality of your ECs. Was this a one time gig to stroke your resume or is there a trend in your application showing a strong commitment to working with underserved populations here in the US too?

Trip to Africa/Third world sounds exciting and "new" but are you also drawn to working with underserved populations like those in Detroit or Bonnieville, Kentucky? How they grade your trip will depend on how you answer these questions on your app.

 

[ahmcadams]

If you enjoy the work, go for it. It will definitely help an application. As for some sort of cost-benefit analysis comparing an overseas program to community clinic volunteer work in an underserved environment in essentially any big city, the trip abroad is in no way cost-effective. Adcoms want to see clinical experience and don't really give bonus points for someone who traveled to the third-world, especially since those trips are traditionally limited to students of a certain financial background. A saying I've heard at my school and many others is, "If you're interested in global health, go volunteer downtown."

 

[Naijaba]

Did you know that the majority of poor people in the US are white? There's just so many more white people than other races. Although, your chances of being in poverty are higher if you are from a minority race.

 

[patrick1674]

Well I hate to sound a bit selfish but it's for my gain as well. How many pre-meds can say that they have had one on one patient interaction that involved diagnosing and prescribing medication? But of course I'm not doing it just to be able to say that - it gives me experience doing what a doctor actually does so I know how I like it. And I'm not trying to brag either, I'm just saying you can't get the same experience in the US... I'm barely allowed to transport patients in my hospital volunteer job.

The organization is fairly well known... several schools across the country have clubs affiliated with it.

Lol whats the name of the orginzation?

 

[ThaliaNox]

Maybe I'm a bit harsher than some, but I find only a bit more value in expensive, short term international service trips than I do in pay-to-join honor societies. They're things that students with money do to pad their resumes that really do not mean much. One could "learn" as much doing an in-country alternative spring break, and it would make a greater impact per dollar for what you are spending. I am not on the admissions committee, of course, but I do interview applicants so I'm not totally speaking out of my behind.