International medical experiences really do stand out, and no, it's not the exciting locale. Hospitals, clinics, and vaccine outreach programs abroad tend to be all-encompassing. You'll witness health disparities different from and similar to those in the United States. You'll meet patients and their families, take patient histories, shadow multiple healthcare workers or one very intensely, and learn how to administer basic tests. Such an experience may also immerse you in another language.
How to choose an experience. When choosing an experience, watch out for glossy marketing. There are for-profit international programs that are high-priced and low-quality—admissions committees find them inauthentic. Some other for-profit and even nonprofit international programs can be sketchy because they let volunteers do work that should be left to medical professionals. You won't impress a school if you've done something unique but unethical. A 2017 survey of medical schools by the AAMC found that 45-50% of respondents expressed concern over pre-med students performing procedures well out of their league—from suturing to delivering babies. Volunteering at a public hospital in a developing country is an ideal experience if you're having it in an ethical, legal, and safe way.
If you haven’t had an international experience yet, we recommend taking the University of Minnesota's Global Ambassadors for Patient Safety (GAPS) online workshop before choosing one. It is a free and valuable resource for pre-med students interested in responsibly volunteering abroad.
How to share your experience. It’s awkward to write this, but we've noticed this problem occurring among applicants. When you're writing about working in underserved communities locally or abroad, be wary of creating a heroic myth. When describing a patient at a free clinic or someone receiving a service from a nonprofit you're working with, you are describing a peer. You can depict helping someone without painting yourself as a saint-like figure. A doctor's role can be outsized and seemingly miraculous at times—but most times the role is servant. Channel that.