Where to put Study Abroad on Application

[dziewitm]

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How should I bring up study abroad in my application to medical school? I studied environmental science in Switzerland. How can I use that to my advantage in my application?😕

 

[Anita817]

It should be on your transcript. If you want to draw more attention to it, talk about it in your PS.

 

[dangit]

yea, there are sections in the application where you can write more about your experiences.

on the other hand, if you wanted to write about it in your PS, I'd make sure it's related to why you want to be a doctor. don't list your accomplishments and achievements in the PS. wisely spend the space you have talking about your passion for becoming a doctor and why you want to. so, if the experiences you have had in Switzerland somehow made you realize you wanted to be a doctor or further confirmed your desires to become a doctor, then i'd write it. otherwise, it might not really be beneficial to you as an applicant. you want to make yourself stand out, but at the same time, it should be in the scope of becoming a doctor. good luck and ask questions!

 

[Chocolate Bear]

How should I bring up study abroad in my application to medical school? I studied environmental science in Switzerland. How can I use that to my advantage in my application?😕

I agree with the above posters. I imagine you might not want to put this in your PS (assumption) though, but you'd still like for it to be highlighted outside of your transcrpit (which will be merely glanced at on your application). If that's true, I'd recommend mentioning this experience in one of the most important places, which actually hasn't been mentioned yet: SECONDARY APPS. They often ask why you'd be a benefit to the incoming class or why they should accept you. Tell them exactly what you learned/experienced in Switzerland that makes you unique/culturally diverse/tenacious/hard-working/empathetic/etc. and why you'll be a better doctor for having had the experiences. If you can't say *all* of those things based on the experience, just say what you *can* say, and fill in the rest based on other experiences in your life. You don't need to revolve the whole essay around studying abroad, but secondaries can be an amazing place to put these kinds of things, and believe me, SECONDARIES ARE IMPORTANT.

 

[MossPoh]

It should be on your transcript. If you want to draw more attention to it, talk about it in your PS.

It depends. I did two study abroad programs and neither were on my transcripts. My grades transferred over and translated as specific classes at my university. Honestly, for DO schools it isn't an issue. I put it wherever the ECs or whatever are. I had a travel section where I listed my two study abroad programs as well as my other major trips. I bounced around europe and worked at hostels for one summer, so I put that under the same area.

I wouldn't waste space in your personal statement with it unless it is just a brief example of something. My host mother at one place was a holistic medicine practitioner, so I mentioned that as exposure to alternative medical therapies.

I went on 9 interviews. Out of those 9, I can recall two that even asked questions about it. Most just kind of glazed over that part. When asked the "What are you most proud of with your application?" question, I used my study abroad in Berlin and cited the fact that I was enrolled in classes with all German students, read/wrote/spoke in German and complete the same classes as my fellow German students and got 4 B's and a B-. I noted that while the grades don't seem impressive in the US, Germans are a little tougher with grading and it wasn't my native language so I had to work my butt off for it.

 

[melv55]

I definitely put it on my AACOMAS and AMCAS applications under some sort of extra-curriculars/experiences section.

 

[JanikeyDoc]

Speaking about study abroad, how about working abroad? I am currently residing and working in Australia. Should I put my temporary Australian address as my mailing address? I am only going to be here until December at the latest. Is it better just to use my permanent US address? I have heard of issues with mail getting lost, so I am kind of worried about this.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Speaking about study abroad, how about working abroad? I am currently residing and working in Australia. Should I put my temporary Australian address as my mailing address? I am only going to be here until December at the latest. Is it better just to use my permanent US address? I have heard of issues with mail getting lost, so I am kind of worried about this.

I'd probably use the U.S. address if there's someone there who can open your mail. Otherwise, you'll have to do an address change mid-way through the cycle, which might prove difficult/annoying.

 

[MossPoh]

Just use your permanent address. Nearly every school does their secondaries online. Tell parents, friends, whoever to open up anything from a school for you.