Studying abroad: am I making the right decision?

<p>So I'm going to be studying abroad in Spain next year. I'm REALLY excited about it, but at the same time nervous that I'm hurting my chances of getting into Brown PLME, which is my dream. See, I've taken Honors Biology and I'm in Honors Chemistry right now. Next year, ordinarily I'd take Honors Physics and then senior year I'd take an AP class in one of those courses (probably Bio), but instead I'm going abroad. </p>

<p>In this program, the only science class is Environmental Science. Which looks very interesting and important, but does it throw me off the right track? I've been thinking maybe I should take Physics in summer school, just to have studied Physics before college, but it's regular Physics rather than Honors Physics, and if I spend my summer doing that, then I won't have time to do any kind of medical research internship, which people say is essential to getting in. I only have so many summers. </p>

<p>Also, I'm going to have to take 11th grade U.S. History senior year. So that might be considered an "easier" course, even though it's AP. And I won't be a leader in any school clubs when I get back, because people make those decisions at the end of junior year, which I won't be there for.</p>

<p>On the other hand, this is an incredible opportunity to stretch my limits, become fluent in Spanish, and explore another culture, which is why I'm doing it. But I'm still worried. Would admissions people be impressed by my year abroad even though I'm not going into the humanities or social sciences? Should I take Physics in summer school, or apply for research internships, or should I just relax a little?</p>

<p>I would definitely try to take Physics while in high school (during the summer, in your case),
so the first time you encounter it is not in college.
Also, while you are abroad…could you show leadership? Can you create a club and be the president? Like the English Language club where people could practice their Spanish.
Have you done any volunteering at a hospital? Can you do that in Spain or during the summer?</p>

<p>Also, another consideration is not to have your year abroad “count” for high school classes if that is possible. You are basically going to take 5 years to graduate HS. We hosted an exchange student and that is what she did.</p>

<p>Do the program. Go abroad. This sounds like an amazing opportunity and you’d be crazy to turn it down. Fluency in Spanish and exposure to a different culture are massive plus points on any application, and these are major assets for anybody, not just somebody going into the humanities or social sciences. Very few high schoolers have this type of experience. Familiarity with or fluency in Spanish is especially good for somebody planning to go into medicine.</p>

<p>Assuming you are a great student (and the type of student who applies for or gets into Brown’s PLME generally is), the lack of exposure to physics before college is not a big problem. While having some physics under your belt before taking college-level physics would be nice, it’s not crucial. General physics, general chemistry, and intro biology are all essentially introductory-level courses that start from the ground up.</p>

<p>Of course, it would be ideal if you could both study some physics during the summer and do some type of clinical volunteering or medical internship, but physics is not essential.</p>