<p>Does volunteering on a mission trip enhance my application? Is it as signficiant as research? I'm deciding on either research or mission trip.</p>
<p>I don't know why you wouldn't be able to do the trip and then do research when you get back, but if you must choose between the two, take the research, especially if you have no prior experience.</p>
<p>This mission trip includes 12 different countries. One week for each country. 3 months. All summer.</p>
<p>That's why I can't come back and do research. </p>
<p>Why is research (I have some experience) more important than mission trips?</p>
<p>Nothing (outside of clinical experience) is really more important than anything else. Do the thing that you are most passionate about. If it's a tie between research and the mission trip, I would choose the mission trip. You can always do research back at school.</p>
<p>As a side note, I would not refer to it as a "mission trip". Use the phrase "service project" instead.</p>
<p>Will medical "service project" or volunteer abroad impress medical schools? It would be cool to get out of the country and make a difference in the world.</p>