Study Abroad
Pre-Med Study Abroad: How to Choose Which Program to Attend
About Ryan
Ryan Hodge graduated from North Central College in May of 2021 as a biology major and Spanish minor on the pre-medicine track. After his sophomore year, he participated in the Atlantis Summer 2019 shadowing program in Tarragona, Spain.
Which Pre-Med Study Abroad Program Do I Choose?
With multiple study abroad programs out there for students longing for a career in the healthcare field, it can be challenging to select the perfect program. There are many competencies the AAMC believes students attending medical school should attain, but there is a limit to what one can gain from a single shadowing experience. Volunteering is essential in building one’s character, as the experience exemplifies selflessness, initiative, and a dash of ‘humble pie’ while working to help others.
However, very few (meaningful) volunteer opportunities are offered to pre-med students in a medical setting, especially abroad. Seeing a different country is an excellent adventure of cultural significance, as the experience allows one to reflect on the positive and negative sides of society in their home country. You become exposed to diverse situations in a new environment, which medical schools are always intrigued to find more about. However, it isn’t easy to find a pre-med study abroad program that fulfills multiple competencies.
The Decision-Making Process
As a pre-med myself, when considering the program I wanted to attend, I did research on pre-med programs that offered credible shadowing opportunities but also those that afforded opportunities to truly immerse oneself into a foreign culture. I weighed multiple variables, such as cost, location, duration, and true benefit of the project. My interests guided me to an Atlantis shadowing program in Spain, where I would be given the opportunity to shadow multiple specialties and visit neighboring cities in a foreign country. Additionally, I noticed that the cost seemed to be less than other travel abroad programs.
When making this decision, I believe pre-meds should keep some things in mind. Attend a program that offers shadowing in a country that would be significant to you. I minored in Spanish in college, and therefore wanted an opportunity to practice my Spanish-speaking skills. Pick a duration that is right for you. If you get homesick, a week may suffice, and if you don’t mind being away from home, attempt to accumulate as much experience as possible. Ultimately, pick a destination that will allow you to become a better version of yourself.
First Impressions
Upon arriving in Tarragona, Spain, in the summer of 2019, I was excited to see what I could take from my pre-med study abroad experience with Atlantis. I was jet-lagged and exhausted from the flight, but I was filled with excitement as this was my first time in a foreign country. A part of me was nervous as I had not been exposed to a new or different type of culture. I was excited to shadow physicians at Hospital de San Pablo y Santa Tecla and hoped I would be able to shadow more than one specialty. I had heard there might be volunteer opportunities available, but I figured I would have to be fluent in Spanish to contribute. My mind continued to race as the first day approached.
The Experience
Jump forward three weeks to the end of the trip. I’m on the flight back home, recollecting all that I had encountered. I was fortunate to shadow four different areas: orthopedic surgery, general surgery, internal medicine, and the emergency room. I learned Spanish medical terminology as physicians enlightened me on what specific procedures translated to in Spanish. I was exposed to a different type of medical system and noted the pros and cons of the system.
Two days during the week, we volunteered in the hospital system, tutoring hospital employees in the English language. With my minor in Spanish, the employees then reciprocated the volunteer services as I practiced my second language. Hospital employees spoke of local restaurants and venues to visit, which allowed our cohort to experience diverse eateries and locations throughout our stay. Each weekend, we had excursions to different parts of the country, including visits to Barcelona and Valencia, Spain. We observed historical monuments, busy tourist attractions, and beautiful Spanish beaches. I am thankful for the experiences I had during the program and the lasting influence it will have on my future.
My Takeaway
The Atlantis program was suited well for me. Pre-Med study abroad (or pre-health study abroad) programs are an investment financially, but also an investment in yourself, and one should make sure ample time and energy are put towards the search process to ensure you make the best decision. Learning about different medical systems will be increasingly valuable as you become a medical professional, no matter what specialty or branch of medicine you end up practicing. A pre-medicine study abroad program offers a chance to step outside your comfort zone. Ultimately, an experience like this can be discussed within your medical school application and can help you get accepted into a medical school of your choice which is something every pre-med wants!
Our Alumni Enter Great Medical Schools
John Daines
- Atlantis '17
- Brigham Young University '19
- Washington U. in St. Louis MD '23
Zoey Petitt
- Atlantis '17
- U. of Arizona '18
- Duke MD '23
Zoey Petitt
Hungary ’17 || University of Arizona (undergraduate) ’18
Completed Atlantis Program Location and Date:
Hungary, Summer 2017
Do you believe your Atlantis experience helped you get into your graduate program?
I believe it was very helpful.
Generally, why do you think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate program?
For me, my Atlantis experience played a key role in confirming my decision to go into medicine. This was important for me to discuss during the admissions process.
Specifically, did you talk about Atlantis in your interviews?
Yes
Yong-hun Kim
- Atlantis '17
- Stanford '19
- Mayo Clinic MD '24
Yong-Hun Kim
Budapest, Hungary ’17 || Stanford University
Program:
Budapest, Hungary – Winter 2017
Undergraduate:
Stanford University class of 2019
Major:
Computer Science
Honors:
Bio-X Grant (award for research)
Undergraduate Activities:
President and Founder of Stanford Undergraduate Hospice and Palliative Care, Volunteer for Pacific Free Clinic, Research Assistant in Wernig Pathology Lab, President of Hong Kong Student Association, violin performance
Describe Atlantis in three words:
Eye-opening. Spontaneous. Exhilarating.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I chose the Atlantis program because it combines opportunities to shadow physicians and travel abroad, both of which I had little prior exposure to.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
My favorite experience as an Atlantis participant came in the stories exchanged over meals or excursions and the breadth of conversation that reflected the diversity of backgrounds within our cohort and site managers.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I appreciated the chance to speak with physicians in Budapest and hear their personal motivations for pursuing medicine because it really helped better contextualize and validate my own interest in medicine. The physicians were also just really welcoming, relatable, and down-to-earth people.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
The Atlantis program has equipped me with a better understanding of what a career in medicine looks like, which I think is an invaluable gift considering the long road ahead of those who aspire to be a physician.
How has Atlantis equipped you for active leadership in the medical field?
The ability to interact and empathize with patients of diverse backgrounds and communities is a necessity to be a leader in the medical field. I think the Atlantis program, through my interactions with mentors and their patients, has helped me take my first steps toward attaining the cultural vocabulary and literacy required of a physician.
Megan Branson
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Montana '19
- U. of Washington MD '24
Sarah Emerick
- Atlantis '19
- Eckerd College '20
- Indiana U. MD '25
Snow Nwankwo
- Atlantis '19
- Catholic U. of America '21
- Georgetown U. MD '26
Tiffany Hu
- Atlantis '16
- U. of Maryland '17
- U. of Michigan MD '22
Tiffany Hu
Tereul, Spain ’16 || U Michigan Medical School
Program:
Teruel, Spain – Summer 2016
Undergraduate:
University of Maryland class of 2017
Admitted medical student at:
University of Michigan Medical School
Major:
Neurobiology
Honors:
Honors Integrated Life Sciences Program, Banneker/Key Scholarship
Extracurricular Activities:
American Medical Student Association Co-President & Advocacy Day Liaison, Alternative Breaks Experience Leader, Health Professions Advising Office Student Advisory Board, Biology Teach Assistant, Health Leads, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, NIH Research Intern, Physicians for Social Responsibility Environment & Health Intern
Describe Atlantis in Three Words:
Educational. Eye-opening. Exhilarating.
Why did you choose Atlantis?
I wanted to expand my horizons and understand a culture of health different from the ones I am accustomed to. I had shadowed doctors in the United States and Taiwan prior to my Atlantis program experience, and being able to see first-hand the healthcare system in Spain allowed me to draw comparisons between the different complex healthcare systems.
What was your favorite experience as an Atlantis participant?
Bonding with the other participants and celebrating our time together along with the doctors we shadowed. We would discuss our interests, passions, and motivation for medicine, and it was an incredible experience to learn from and alongside them.
What was your experience with the doctors you were shadowing?
Because of the pre-established relationships with the hospitals in which we shadowed, all the doctors were very welcoming and accommodating. They were willing to translate for us and explain in detail all of their medical decisions. My doctors and I had wonderful conversations about the differences between life in Spain vs. the United States.
What was the most meaningful aspect of your time shadowing?
I was excited to scrub in on surgeries and watch as the doctor explained what he was doing throughout the operation. Before and after surgeries, as well as in my other rotations, I observed how the doctors reassured and communicated with their patients. I was able to glean insight into differences between the experience of health in Spain versus the United States through observation as well as conversations with the doctors.
How has Atlantis helped equip you for the future?
Besides the wealth of medical knowledge I gained from shadowing the doctors, I challenged myself to step outside of my cultural comfort zone and explore more than I thought I was capable of. Atlantis allowed me to make connections with people from all around the United States and abroad, and the friendships I gained helped me learn so much more than I would have on my own.
Lauren Cox
- Atlantis '18
- Louisiana Tech '20
- U. of Arkansas MD '24
Lauren Cox
Libson, Portugal ’18 || Louisiana Tech
Completed Atlantis Program Location(s):
Lisbon, Portugal
Year of most recent program:
Fall ’17 – Summer ’18
Season of most recent program:
Summer
Do you believe your Atlantis experience helped you get into your graduate program?
Extremely helpful
Generally, why do you think Atlantis helped you get into your graduate program?
It exposed me to shadowing that was hard to come by in the states. It also gave me a chance to see other systems of healthcare.
Specifically, did you talk about Atlantis in your interviews? If so, how much relative to other topics?
Yes – they wanted to know about my experience, and specifically how the healthcare I saw in another country compared to what I had seen in the USA.
Kayla Riegler
- Atlantis '18
- U. of Kentucky '20
- U. of Kentucky MD '24
About Atlantis
Atlantis is the leader in pre-health shadowing and clinical experience, offering short-term programs (1-10 weeks) over academic breaks for U.S. pre-health undergraduates. Medical schools want 3 things: (1)healthcare exposure, (2)GPA/MCAT, and (3)certain competencies. Atlantis gives you a great version of (1), frees you to focus on (2), and cultivates/shows (3) to medical school admissions committees.
Watch Video: The Atlantis Shadowing Experience and How it Helps In Your Med/PA Admissions Future
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