Year off before medical school-smart to be an au pair in europe?

[abh5h3]

I'm taking a year off before medical school and I'm considering being an au pair in a country in Europe, learning a new language while there, but still continuing to volunteer in a hospital and shadow doctors.
Essentially, how do you think this would be viewed by medical school? I really want to travel and become more cultured, but I want to get into medical school more. Should I forget the idea and try to get a job in a hospital or a research tech instead?
Anyone done something similar like teach English abroad or knows how this would be viewed on a medical school interview?

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[gumdrops]

I'm taking a year off before medical school and I'm considering being an au pair in a country in Europe, learning a new language while there, but still continuing to volunteer in a hospital and shadow doctors.
Essentially, how do you think this would be viewed by medical school? I really want to travel and become more cultured, but I want to get into medical school more. Should I forget the idea and try to get a job in a hospital or a research tech instead?
Anyone done something similar like teach English abroad or knows how this would be viewed on a medical school interview?

Since you want to get into medical school more, you should absolutely get a job at a hospital or as a lab technician instead. No question.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Only do this if your dad is Liam Neeson.

Seriously though, if your application is solid as is, I think you should go to Europe and have some fun. You won't get a chance for many years if you get into med school.

 

[deleted526486]

In my opinion, it would be better to do something directly related to medicine in the US during that year, and then spend the summer before medical school traveling. Living outside the US while applying makes it very difficult to schedule (and pay for!) interviews. Additionally, I'm not sure that being an au pair for a year shows medical schools any strong skills or characteristics that would make you a better doctor. Just get a job as a scribe or research assistant for the year.

 

[Oso]

I think that sounds interesting, but are you planning on flying back and forth from Europe for interviews? That could be (extra) costly.

Unless you need to make up for a 'deficit' in your app (no research, not enough clinical experience), then I don't think you HAVE to work in a hospital or lab. Plenty of people travel during a gap year. You could work in the U.S while you interview then travel abroad afterwards (I personally recommend this).

 

[fingerscrossed92]

I'd say focus on a medical-related activity for the bulk of the year, and if you are accepted into school use the summer to celebrate by doing something amazing (like going to Europe). That's been my plan anyway.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

There's no specific formula to get to medicine, but if you experience a health care system outside of the US, that can only be seen as positive.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

I guess I assumed that OP would not be applying during the year in Europe. That would certainly complicate things.

 

[mvenus929]

Well, I think it would be awesome to be an au pair for a year. Had I known about it earlier and had the opportunity to do so, I might've done it.

But if you're only taking 1 gap year, then having a job in Europe would make the application process very expensive and challenging to schedule. You'd be better off working as an au pair and then coming back to the states and doing a typical lab or medical job, or forgoing the au pair position and applying in that one gap year.

 

[DokterMom]

I'm taking a year off before medical school and I'm considering being an au pair in a country in Europe, learning a new language while there, but still continuing to volunteer in a hospital and shadow doctors.
Essentially, how do you think this would be viewed by medical school? I really want to travel and become more cultured, but I want to get into medical school more. Should I forget the idea and try to get a job in a hospital or a research tech instead?
Anyone done something similar like teach English abroad or knows how this would be viewed on a medical school interview?

Going to Europe? - Great, and it will look good for your applications
Teaching English abroad? - Great, and it will look good for your applications
Being an Au Pair? - Great life experience, but it will NOT look especially good for your applications. (Mommy track anyone?)

 

[LizzyM]

Absolutely agree with DokterMom. My niece has been an au pair during a gap year after HS and it is basically the equivalent of being a live-in babysitter.

And, you are not going to learn a foreign language if you are learning it from rugrats who can barely speak it themselves.

 

[mvenus929]

And, you are not going to learn a foreign language if you are learning it from rugrats who can barely speak it themselves.

Most Au Pair programs require that the host family provide funds for a structured classroom learning opportunity for the foreign language.

 

[DokterMom]

Even so, au pair is a half-step above teenage babysitter and a full step below nanny. Au pairs are considered 'helpers' for parents who are around, not full replacements for parents who aren't.

It's nurse-track, not doctor-track. Good for post-high-school / pre-college, OK for post-college / pre-entry-level job on a moderate-demand career track, but not for post-college / pre-med.

If you've got an acceptance already, it won't hurt your application. But if you don't, it will shape the way people view you to your detriment.

 

[Doodledog]

E
If you've got an acceptance already, it won't hurt your application. But if you don't, it will shape the way people view you to your detriment.

Just noting a dissenting opinion on this. It would depend on a lot of factors, but I would not consider it something that is MOST LIKELY to harm an application. As always, of course, YMMV.