Study Abroad, Atlantis
The Complete Guide to Pre-Med Study Abroad | Atlantis
About The Atlantis Team
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Is studying abroad as a pre-med possible?
For many students, studying abroad is part of the college experience. However, due to the intensity and unique challenges of the pre-med path, many pre-med students have fewer options that fit their requirements.
While studying abroad isn’t required to attend med school, the opportunity to learn about medicine in a different country and shadow leading physicians in a foreign setting can help pre-meds become better doctors.
Read on to learn all about the pre-med study abroad experience, including its benefits and testimonials from real students who have completed the Atlantis pre-med study abroad program.
What is Pre-Med Study Abroad
Pre-med study abroad isn’t your average studying abroad experience. While much of the core concepts are the same (traveling to a foreign country for educational purposes), the actual studying component is often much more in-depth.
With Atlantis, pre-med study abroad takes the stress out of trying to coordinate your own clinical experience and shadowing hours. Along with the typical study abroad experiences such as traveling, pre-meds also have the opportunity to shadow leading physicians and gain clinical knowledge to a greater depth, breadth, and quantity of hours when compared to other programs.
Pre-med study abroad experiences can take place over college breaks and last for a few weeks in a country with a developed healthcare system.
Read about one pre-med’s experience studying abroad in Portugal for a first-hand account of this path.
Is Pre-Med Study Abroad Right For You?
Every pre-med journey is different. And that means a pre-med study abroad experience may not be for everyone. If you’re deciding whether this option is right for you, check out some of these resources that have helped other pre-meds with their decision.
Atlantis programs give pre-med students a very meaningful clinical experience. Between the busy semesters and work, this time abroad affords them the “luxury” of maintaining their grades while also refining their skills and showcasing most of the 15 AAMC competencies medical schools assess candidates on.
Again, every student’s reason for studying abroad is different. Read about the reasons one Atlantis alum participated in this unique experience to see if they align with your own.
Benefits of Pre-Med Study Abroad
Though pre-med study abroad doesn’t allow students to practice medicine, they are still absorbing valuable clinical knowledge by shadowing top physicians. Here are a few other benefits of pre-med study abroad:
Experience different cultures – Pre-med study abroad immerses students in the local culture as well as the healthcare scene. This balance is often hard to come by in other programs.
Shadow complex procedures – In the U.S., students can’t always shadow complex procedures. Atlantis pre-med study abroad allows students to observe surgeries and high-level work they may not otherwise be able to see.
Determine your future in healthcare – Pre-med study abroad often helps students determine where their passion lies. There’s only so much you can learn in the classroom, and shadowing in a foreign environment can help you determine if you’re physically and mentally prepared for a career in the field. More so, this experience can also help you narrow your career focus and develop confidence in your chosen path.
Time and time again, students report that shadowing abroad programs like Atlantis have changed their interest in medicine for the better.
Learn about global healthcare – Pre-med study abroad gives students firsthand knowledge of global healthcare that you can’t learn in the classroom. In your future career, you will be faced with a lot of challenges, and having a global perspective of healthcare (i.e. what works for some countries and what doesn’t) is essential for success. Being able to speak on the universal healthcare landscape is also beneficial during med school admissions.
What To Expect From Pre-Med Study Abroad
Not all pre-med study abroad experiences are created equal. When choosing to shadow abroad as a pre-med student, you should ensure the program you are choosing emphasizes the following:
Practical hours: You want to ensure you are studying abroad and shadowing for an appropriate amount of time without it interfering with other work you may be doing. A designated study abroad program for shadowing can ensure that you are receiving 60-140 shadowing hours without sacrificing your free time or other academic studies. This balance is also important for enjoying your time abroad to the fullest by being able to explore local cultures and even neighboring countries.
Doctor ratio: A student to doctor ratio of 1:1 or 2:1 is ideal for the best, most personalized experience abroad.
Small groups: Shadowing and studying abroad with a small group of students (around 10-15) allows everyone to bond, ask questions, and have their voice heard.
Various specializations: A program should provide pre-meds with the opportunity to observe various specializations to determine which they are the most interested in.
Wondering which pre-med study abroad program is right for you? Read about how one pre-med student chose the program they attended.
The Pre-Med Study Abroad Experience
While there are many ways to study abroad, traveling to a foreign healthcare setting with a designated program can give pre-meds the most immersive and beneficial shadowing experience. And don’t be worried about learning in a new country, read one student’s take on “Atlantis Shadowing in Europe: Why the Language Wasn’t a Barrier For Me.” No foreign language skills are required to study abroad and shadow physicians with Atlantis. The vast majority of Atlantis alumni haven’t spoken the local language.
The opportunity to study abroad as a pre-med is the perfect balance of fun and education with Atlantis. Students are immersed in local culture and can experience the thrills of travel, but are also simultaneously becoming well-informed on how the healthcare system operates on a national and global scale through shadowing. All of this is to say that pre-med study abroad empowers students to become more well-rounded healthcare professionals in the future and also attractive candidates to med school programs across the country and around the world.
Other benefits of a pre-med study abroad experience include:
- Traveling and seeing the world while gaining practical experience
- Standing out on med school applications by including experience at top international hospitals
- Learning the nuances of global healthcare and different medical practices
- Gaining instructions from leading international physicians
About Atlantis Pre-Med Study Abroad Experiences
Atlantis is the global leader in healthcare experiential education. Atlantis has run programs for almost 15 years, and Atlantis alumni, after participating in Atlantis and graduating from college, have gone on to attend almost all medical schools in the U.S. Atlantis operates short-term shadowing abroad programs (1-10 weeks) over school breaks, aimed at U.S. undergraduates, that take place primarily in the U.S. and Europe.
Medical schools (from top Ivy Leagues to local universities) look for three main things in applicants:
- Healthcare exposure
- GPA/MCAT scores
- AAMC competencies
Pre-med study abroad with the right program can provide students with all three. Read about one pre-med’s review of Atlantis to learn more about what to expect from this unique program.
Explore study abroad opportunities with Atlantis by starting your application process, or by connecting with an Atlantis alum.
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Want to learn more about pre-med study abroad shadowing experience? Easily browse through the list of related blogs from Atlantis:
- Premed study abroad: a premed’s take on the best websites to help you decide
- Premed study abroad: 10 reasons I did it
- Premed study abroad: how I chose which program to attend
- Atlantis shadowing in Europe: why the language wasn’t a barrier for me
- Pre-Med Study Abroad? What the Ivy League Advises Its Own
- How Atlantis Changed My Interest in Medicine
- Three Weeks Shadowing in Barcelos, Portugal [Testimonial]
- One Pre-Med’s Review of Atlantis
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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