I’m applying as an international relations major to a direct med program. I’m trying to write an essay, but am struggling to make the connection. How are they related? How does studying IR give new insights into field of medicine? How does it make you a better doctor?
I am not an expert in this area. I can see global collaborations among countries to fight against diseases like AIDS, SAR, Zika virus,… There are organizations to help people around the world like International Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders,…in crisis time. But I am not really sure they are factors to help students become better doctors. I am afraid you may not give a genuine and sincere essay to convince the admission committee with this idea. Why do you have to make a link between the two majors? Do you have to justify your undergraduate major?
@goggletangalore - I would cover population health management. Check out WHO or USAID or even CDC for international efforts
To ask frankly…why are you planning to major in international relations and go to a direct med program?
Not that there’s anything wrong with it! I highly encourage it. I think more social science majors should go into medicine. I see many connections - my educational background is public health.
But all of that is moot - you should be able to answer the question of why you want to major in international relations. You’re the one who wants to do it. So perhaps you should do some self-examination and answer the question why you want to. If the answer is simply that you are fascinated by IR, that’s good enough on its own. You don’t have to try to link the two or make it sounds like you have this grand plan from the age of 17 for how you will tie everything together. Just be honest and discuss why you like IR and why you want to be a doctor.