Hello,
I recently applied for and was accepted for a 3-4 week volunteer/inter work in a Parisian hospital while also explaining that I am American and have only a decent fluency in French (one of the heads will take me under her wing). I’m really interested in hospital work so I want to take this opportunity but I’m worried that if I reported it that it would seem really cliche and pretentious to the college. My parents are able to pay for the trip but once again it concerns me that it looks like I’m only doing this to pad my essay when I really do have a passion for this kind of thing.
Any advice?
Note: I am ideally (when I say ideally I mean dreaming) to be able to attend Harvard College. What would universities of that caliber think?
Don’t worry about building a good resume for colleges that accept 5% of applicants. Focus on doing activities you enjoy and build a list of reach, match, and safety schools the summer before your senior year. You will find a school that you like and wants you, as long as you don’t get too caught up in the “prestige” factor. You can always do this internship, and not list it on your application if you feel like it will disadvantage you.
Generally, any type of program that your parents pay thousands of dollars for are not going to be impressive. It sounds like your parents are paying for your travel and living expenses, but not the internship itself, is that correct? If so, I would list in the application.
You also don’t need to write about this experience in any of your essays if you are worried that it will sound cliche.
Why a hospital in Paris, with limited French? What will really be accomplished? Is this balanced with local work in your home community?
I don’t see what it has to do with your essay. And what’s the “passion?” France? Because wanting to be in Paris for the summer is no tip. You can accomplish the same or more at home.
Seems likely this was arranged to look good to colleges right? Isn’t that the main point? You are correct about ti looking contrived. If you want to do it, you should. But I’d leave it off the college applications. It looks like something arranged by wealthy parents wanting to help their child with college applications. It might be loads of fun but I agree with your assessment of it.
During tourism high season, you had to fly to Paris (the cultural capital of the Developed World) to volunteer in a western hospital that takes care of rich 1st World patients with universal government-provided, world-class health care services.
No, it doesn’t sound contrived.
If you really had a passion for that sort of thing, there are cheaper options closer to home.
She’s being sarcastic; it sounds contrived, and colleges will see that from a mile away. That said, you only have a 1 in 20 shot for Harvard anyway, so it will make no difference one way or another, as statistically, you will lstill get rejected.
Just a bit…well no, actually A LOT. Nice attempt at a humble brag though! Do some volunteering closer to home. The only way this sound even remotely ok is if your whole family is spending the summer holiday in France for several months and you are looking to do something useful. In which case explaining that your family is holidaying in France for several months is just as pretentious.
But that’s just the point, isn’t it? Closer to home volunteer work doesn’t come with a 3 week expiration. An adcom would look to see how long the OP kept up. Hence the beauty of the Paris junket. Not only does the OP get to go to a fantastic tourist destination but after 3-4 weeks the volunteer work is done! Can’t expect the OP to keep putting in hours at that hospital once she/he is back in the States, can you?
They’re selling the OP and parents a gold-plated dream; build up some volunteer work in a hospital to show how kind and caring the OP and the after-hours time isn’t too shabby either! Only problem is that adcoms at elite colleges aren’t going to buy the story.
There is one huge advantage for the OP here. She/he might as well stamp their app “FULL PAY!!” in red letters 3" high. There are schools where this is going to be a big deal in admissions, and a junket to Paris for a few weeks makes it clear in a way that just failing to check the Financial Aid box does not.
I would just put on your application that you had a hospital internship. I doubt the admissions team would imagine that it was in Paris and supported by your wealthy parents. Then, separately you could say you stayed in Paris as part of a language immersion experience. (Trips like these are often through High Schools and not majorly expensive)
Go and enjoy, but know that if you mention it on your application, it’s much more likely to hurt you than to help you.
Apologies to everyone. I suppose I will not mention this. I did not mean to offend anyone here.