Pre-Med Student- study abroad junior year?

katwkittens
Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:31:47 +0000

Agree whole heartedly with Bookiemom. Middle son is also an MS2 and he took a year between first undergrad and med school. He was offered a year abroad as part of his financial aid package and having many APs or graduating a year early. He opted to stay at his undergrad for the additional year of courses and adding more time to his research for his senior thesis. He really wanted to enjoy his senior year and left the app med cycle for the following year. Med schools then would see his senior year grades, research results and his completed and published senior thesis.

Made a HUGE difference in his acceptances and ensuing scholarships for med school which are usually few and far between. It was a win-win situation, more time at his undergrad which he adored, more time to prep for med school apps and interviews, and a much more complete and competitve application for acceptances and funding.

So if the overseas experience is something that is truly wanted, taking an extra year to be more competitve and complete would be worth it.

Kat